Getting the war zone look

[Billydelp4]

at this point a 2.2 ghz macbook pro from 2007 isn't worth the effort it requires to keep it pristine.

in the bag it goes, all by its lonesome. minus missing the rubber feet it has handled it like a champ.

 

[aaron11193]

My laptop came pretty scratched because I got it from eBay.
It's now spray painted with stencils of various stuff and a layer of scotch guard kind of stuff to protect the paintjob.

I like having my stuff scratched because then I don't care if it gets more scratched 🙂

 

[designgeek]

I'm careful with mine but not over zealous. It doesn't live in a case or invisi-majig voodoo thing but it still looks good. I want to find a good bag to carry it in just for portability and a place to keep the power adapter but otherwise it's a nudist.

 

[entity]

Post pictures of these battle scars 🙂.

 

[bartelby]

I guess it's like spending loads on a guitar. Some want them to be kept in minty fresh condition, others want the battered used look.
You can even get "relic'd" instruments and there are 3rd party companies who will do it for you

For me if stuff gets marked, scratched or dented from use then there's no issue. Going out of your way to artificially age something is a little bizarre. But it's up to the owner of the object.

 

[bolen]

There are a lot of folk out there who go to great lengths to protect the beautiful finish on their aluminium Macbooks, which is why I feel like a bit of a slob in taking the opposite view. You see I tend to keep my stuff forever so resale is not an issue, in addition I think a few scratches and perhaps a dent or two adds real character to your notebook and aluminium weathers a lot better than plastic. Therefore I plan to carry and use my new MBP 13" completely naked and I will celebrate, rather than commiserate every scratch.

Anyone want to join me? 😛

I'm already with you! 🙂

I hate all those plastic/rubber covers/shells and different kinds of "invisible" shields. They make the computer look ugly and cheap and it feels like a big waste hiding such a gorgeous machine.

I'm using my Macbook Pro naked, I put it in my well used laptop bag when transporting it, but that's it. It's meant to be used and it's meant to be shown as intended. I'm not scratching or denting on purpose, but it just seems silly to buy all those different covers and stickers just to prevent a couple of small scratches. The cover it self makes the machine look 10x more ugly then a scratch.

The same goes for iPhones/iPods and so on. I can't understand people that is running around with their iPhones in big rubber cases all the time, it's no longer a sleek well designed phone when doing so - It's a fat ugly rubber blob. The only reason I can see for using a protection on your phone/pod is if you transport it in a bag together with like keys or something.

Your pretty gadgets deserves to be naked and pretty! 😀

 

[Theclamshell]

i do that with my macbook i find it too much of a hassle to baby stuff yes its scratched up horribly but it works 🙂

 

[Jackers008]

Its always been strange to me how people will obsess over protecting their expensive car or £1,500 laptop, but yet be 75lbs overweight and thus incur suffering and medical bills which greatly exceed the cost of their toys.

Great Point. I myself prefer the naked look of my macbook pro. It was purchased this way so will stay like it 🙂

 

[Nermal]

My MBP is almost three years old and it's never had a case or keyboard protector or anything. It's probably not as "shiny" as it was when I first got it but it still gets the job done and the appearance doesn't affect the performance at all. After all, a computer is a tool, not a fashion accessory 🙂

 

[uberamd]

My MBP is almost three years old and it's never had a case or keyboard protector or anything. It's probably not as "shiny" as it was when I first got it but it still gets the job done and the appearance doesn't affect the performance at all. After all, a computer is a tool, not a fashion accessory 🙂

Why are people saying that keeping your computer looking nice equates it to being a fashion accessory? I wash my car but I don't consider it a fashion accessory. I keep my shoes clean but I don't consider that to be a fashion accessory. So why on earth is keeping a nice looking computer considered maintaining a fashion accessory?

Yeah, a computer is a TOOL, but some of us like to take care of our possessions to last as long as possible and retain their value for as long as possible. 20 seconds a day, maybe, I spend slipping my laptop in a sleeve. It keeps the laptop scratch free. Thus when I sell it, a buyer is likely to pay me more money than those of you who have this "Its a tool, I'll just chuck it in my bag, who cares about damage" attitude. Its called being responsible and valuing your purchases, nothing more. This dumbing down of the issue into being about fashion or obsessiveness is stupid.

But if its ok to get scratches and stuff all over your laptop, because its a tool, I hope its ok if you get scratches all over your car because thats also just a tool, right?

 

[wankey]

You are NOT alone. I repeat, not alone. I believe the same philosophy. I laugh at those people who buy hundred dollar protective casing for their iphones and macbooks to the point where you can't even see the macbook in all the disgusting purple colored plastic. Why buy Apple products then if not for the design? I have a rubber casing on my Blackberry, not because the design isn’t all that great, but I treat it as an usable product… but for my MBP, I’ve never put any sort of protective casing on, simply because it detracts from the design. I added a clearguard casing once, and it was horrendous, the metallic feel was gone and everything felt cheap when using it.

I don't see the point of that. Yes, I use a hardshell now for my mac when I put it in my bag for travel but once it’s out of the bag it’s naked as it was designed to be. Apple engineers probably spend years trying to get the aluminum to look silver, so much so that the last gen non unibody aluminum encasing is that much so brighter and more radiant and the previous generation before that.

Many people don’t understand my need to have it by itself, without the clear guard casing or the plastic casings because I simply don’t understand the point. What are you protecting? The only reason I can think of is the resale value, because having such a pristine product at the end of its life cycle has only one purpose, so you can sell it off… and I find that despicable.

This may sound a little corny, but it’s like having an attraction for a girl. Of course she can’t be as beautiful when you first met her, but getting a case for your MBP is like taping her up in duck tape so you can preserve that beauty until the day you’re willing to get rid of her, you take it off.

Pointless if you ask me.

 

[mcdj]

The Japanese have a word for this exact concept.

 

[hellfire88]

I change computers way too often (to upgrade or "try something new") so I always keep my computers in mint condition for resale value.

Also, scratches and "shiny keys/trackpad" from finger oil also bother me, so like another poster mentioned I get some relatively cheap protective products so I can use the laptop to its fullest and not worry about scratching it up etc.

I've used a lot of different 3rd-party protective products and I do agree with some that certain cases just adds a good amount of weight and size to the unit and subjectively make it look "more garish". Therefore, I've settled for buying "bestskinsever" protective film for all my gadgets. It costs like $30 for each laptop-sized film and about $10 for cellphone sized film. Its not too bad to put on and it keeps the original dimensions of the gadget while just adding a glossy "sheen" to it. Yes, it does make my Macbooks look less refined from the nice aluminum finish but none of my gadgets have scratches neither. I also use a Moshi Clearguard keyboard cover to protect against "oily keys" but found out recently that it also saved my Macbook from a watery death (spilled a bit of water onto my Macbook and the water was all collected in the keyboard cover thankfully, nothing got into the Macbook). Accidents do happen either by you or someone else around the Macbook so i consider the $30 I spend a good "insurance". For dent "protection" I just use a sleeve when I transport my laptops in my bag.

So no, I don't obsess over my Macbooks with daily/weekly iKlear cleanings or the like but I do just slap on a bestskinsever (pretty much same stuff as invisible shield but for almost 50% cheaper) and use the laptop as usual.

 

[Richard1028]

*slaps poster back*

it is just as the guy wrote - he is the opposite of the people who go to great lengths to keep their MBP pristine. what was sooooo hard about understanding that part?

The fact that the OP feels compelled to bring his decision here for approval. Who really cares?

 

[AngryApple]

My laptop came pretty scratched because I got it from eBay.
It's now spray painted with stencils of various stuff and a layer of scotch guard kind of stuff to protect the paintjob.

I like having my stuff scratched because then I don't care if it gets more scratched 🙂

Please post pictures!!!!!

I like your idea of liking scratches so you won't mind when it gets more. 😎

 

[Habitus]

Blah Blah Blah

I keep my 13" MBP protected (Speck Case, keyboard cover, palm covers, and track pad cover) at all times. I clean my Mac with iKlear about once a week and I always have a travel size micro fiber cleaning cloth with me. Why you may ask, because I want to. The OP started the thread for discussion, not criticism based on opinion.

-Habitus

 

[designed]

I can symphatize with the OP, I've found it much more relaxing to let every dent show and tell a story, instead of worrying for every single scratch, dent or mean look. I have a guess where this comes from but that's another matter of pure kitchen-psychology nature 🙄

I only got a sleeve for my MBA after I realized that the papers in my bag were dimming the surface (cleaned off nicely though but still) and I had a loose metal zipper in the bag as well. No need to take pointless risks.

On the other end of the scale I laughed out loud whenever someone asked me about my white Macbook which had pink armrests at the time (I was working in a festival, sweaty and/or just washed hands + pink crew wristband + Macbook armrest -> pink Macbook armrests), which was later replaced for free along some other operation.

But hey, if doing a cleanup every evening and a thorough polishing every Sunday is your thing, go ahead.

 

[sehnsucht77]

The fact that the OP feels compelled to bring his decision here for approval. Who really cares?

hey, the dude, asked a question...i answered. whether he needs compadres for his cause doesn't matter to me because I've doing the same thing with my laptops since back in the day. what you do with your laptop is your thing..slather it with mousse, dirt or b*llsweat, if it rocks your boat, moar power to yoooooo. *thumbs up*

 

[Harmless Abuse]

A lot of people think I'm just very protective of my Alu MacBook, when I guess I just protect it from things like spills. I don't care about scratches or minor dents, but I have a very hard time walking, so I drop things or fall down A LOT. I have a Speck case because I figured while it won't save my mac completely if I fall hard, little bumps into door frames and whatnot can be slightly absorbed. It is also always carried in a zero-impact case. I keep most electronics in silicone cases because that silicone seems to absorb falls a lot better than those plastic things, but they don't make MacBook silicone cases.

Because I am such a klutz, and because I own a gorgeous Siberian Husky who sheds like crazy, I have a Moshi clearguard. It's not going to save me from huge spills, but I do like my bottles of water or soda every now and then and it's, again, minor protection. Plus the extreme amount of dog hair wouldn't be good for the actual meat of the computer, so I'll keep it on.

If I weren't so prone to running into door frames or dropping things, I'd never have the Speck case, I like the smaller size of the MB without it.

 

[MultiFinder17]

My PowerBook's going into year five in the nude, and it's still holding up just fine 😀

Little AlBook's a bit banged up on the back corner, but nothing I haven't been able to fix numerous times in the past. Couple'a wee little dents on the back of the lid that I've gently banged back out, some scratches around the edges from being scooted across different surfaces on its sides, back, and front, but overall the little bugger still looks mighty fine! You can't see a thing from more than 3-4 feet away 🙂

 

[uberamd]

My PowerBook's going into year five in the nude, and it's still holding up just fine 😀

Little AlBook's a bit banged up on the back corner, but nothing I haven't been able to fix numerous times in the past. Couple'a wee little dents on the back of the lid that I've gently banged back out, some scratches around the edges from being scooted across different surfaces on its sides, back, and front, but overall the little bugger still looks mighty fine! You can't see a thing from more than 3-4 feet away 🙂

What about the nude keyboard and trackpad? Usually those get pretty shiny and oily after 3-4 years.

 

[felt.]

The Japanese have a word for this exact concept.

thanks for the lesson, I'm a fan of wabi-sabi 🙂

 

[efuggetta]

There are a lot of folk out there who go to great lengths to protect the beautiful finish on their aluminium Macbooks, which is why I feel like a bit of a slob in taking the opposite view. You see I tend to keep my stuff forever so resale is not an issue, in addition I think a few scratches and perhaps a dent or two adds real character to your notebook and aluminium weathers a lot better than plastic. Therefore I plan to carry and use my new MBP 13" completely naked and I will celebrate, rather than commiserate every scratch.

Anyone want to join me? 😛

I used to carry my BlackBook naked, but since I went aluminum I've stepped it up to a thin sleeve that I made myself 🙂. I'm not punting it or anything, but I'm not carrying it around in bubble wrap either.