Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

ducatiti

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 18, 2011
932
153
Is there such a thing? My trackpad gets semi greasy even with my hands clean after a few hours. I’ve tried the BSE skins but I rather have the feel of real glass.
 
Is there such a thing? My trackpad gets semi greasy even with my hands clean after a few hours. I’ve tried the BSE skins but I rather have the feel of real glass.

That would just be sticking a piece of glass on a piece of glass, does it matter which one you have to wipe every few hours??
 
That would just be sticking a piece of glass on a piece of glass, does it matter which one you have to wipe every few hours??

I was thinking more like a quality glass with an oleophobic coating such as Zagg.
 
Apple use a laminated glass with an oleophobic coating already, as far as I can tell from a few patent postings anyway.

I used to work for Genentech's hardware deployment team and saw the most gross hardware to include trackpads that had major stains... would like to protect the existing glass if possible.
 
I used to work for Genentech's hardware deployment team and saw the most gross hardware to include trackpads that had major stains... would like to protect the existing glass if possible.

I have had two MBP's and the glass on my 2010's trackpad at 8 years old is still perfect, my late 2013 is still mint as well. Of course your mileage may vary but I don't think its anything to worry about. However I have found what you are after you may have to order from Germany.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/atFoliX-Pr...753&sr=8-11&keywords=glass+trackpad+protector
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
  • Like
Reactions: ducatiti
People weirdly do this on their smartphones. Take a premium expensive product and wack a piece of $1 glass on it, win .

I sort of get that, it may provide a little extra protection when dropping the phone, I don't think it makes much difference but you may just get away with a new screen protector rather than a new screen not worth it for me but I sort of see the point. If you drop a MacBook the last thing you worry about is the trackpad glass however.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ducatiti
I sort of get that, it may provide a little extra protection when dropping the phone, I don't think it makes much difference but you may just get away with a new screen protector rather than a new screen not worth it for me but I sort of see the point. If you drop a MacBook the last thing you worry about is the trackpad glass however.

I don't believe so. I think those cheap flimsy glass protectors are inherently fragile (It's glass and super thin, no engineering can overcome the material), just try taking one off and you'll see how easy they crack. I think, people put them on to 'protect' their device, and when it drops even the slightest distance it'll shatter. Thus it reinforces a belief that they needed it, and so get another. Any significant drop will break the screen no matter what is on it, so all these do is create a kind of placebo reinforcement loop...

As to on a MacBook it'd likely be a bad idea, it is just cleaning one surface over another as you mentioned. But there's also not the clearance to put one in, it'd come up at the edges through use of the keyboard (Palm rest area) and lift through dirt. This could eventually lead to either cutting your hand, or damaging the screen when the laptop is closed.

The short answer is things get dirty, anything with use will get dirty, even if you don't use it it'll get dusty. Just a fact of life. So nothing you can do will prevent that other than cleaning it when it gets grimy.
 
I don't believe so. I think those cheap flimsy glass protectors are inherently fragile (It's glass and super thin, no engineering can overcome the material), just try taking one off and you'll see how easy they crack. I think, people put them on to 'protect' their device, and when it drops even the slightest distance it'll shatter. Thus it reinforces a belief that they needed it, and so get another. Any significant drop will break the screen no matter what is on it, so all these do is create a kind of placebo reinforcement loop...

As to on a MacBook it'd likely be a bad idea, it is just cleaning one surface over another as you mentioned. But there's also not the clearance to put one in, it'd come up at the edges through use of the keyboard (Palm rest area) and lift through dirt. This could eventually lead to either cutting your hand, or damaging the screen when the laptop is closed.

The short answer is things get dirty, anything with use will get dirty, even if you don't use it it'll get dusty. Just a fact of life. So nothing you can do will prevent that other than cleaning it when it gets grimy.

I agree with you totally its just a psychological thing about protecting your phone as I said I'm sure it makes very little difference to how safe your phone is.

Hey if the Op wants to try out a track-pad protector then that's down to them, we have pointed out the logical futility of it and you have pointed out the possible pitfalls. If they still want to waste their money who are we to argue.
 
I don't believe so. I think those cheap flimsy glass protectors are inherently fragile (It's glass and super thin, no engineering can overcome the material), just try taking one off and you'll see how easy they crack. I think, people put them on to 'protect' their device, and when it drops even the slightest distance it'll shatter. Thus it reinforces a belief that they needed it, and so get another. Any significant drop will break the screen no matter what is on it, so all these do is create a kind of placebo reinforcement loop...

As to on a MacBook it'd likely be a bad idea, it is just cleaning one surface over another as you mentioned. But there's also not the clearance to put one in, it'd come up at the edges through use of the keyboard (Palm rest area) and lift through dirt. This could eventually lead to either cutting your hand, or damaging the screen when the laptop is closed.

The short answer is things get dirty, anything with use will get dirty, even if you don't use it it'll get dusty. Just a fact of life. So nothing you can do will prevent that other than cleaning it when it gets grimy.

I like the point you make and have wanted to test this myself (but am hesitant to waste several thousand dollars on cracking screens.)

I agree that I also feel the protection a tempered glass screen protector adds will be limited to scratch protection with only very limited impact protection. Further, when such a screen protector fails, it can pose serious injury risks that can, do, and will continue to happen.

As for the MBP/MBA trackpads, at least in regards to the silver finish, they are very, very, very hard to stain (like a decade+ of daily usage with hands that have moisturizers on them will have minimal effect.)
 
Im curious of this too. Definitely not thinking of the cheap stuff. I'm talking about the tempered glass screen protectors you put on top of screens. Cheap and premium feeling.
 
I've seen how people say the finish of the trackpad will come off.

People say a lot of stuff, have you ever seen a window finish come off? Glass is glass, you can't wear it (Yes you could sand it...) and it isn't coloured.

What you may have been referring to or confusing in amongst everything is natural colour wearing of a unit though. The aluminium is exceptionally hard wearing in the colour department, but if you put a cheap tacky skin all over it for 5+ years, then when you remove it there is a possibility that UV has worn the uncovered areas more than the covered. Hence you will get a slight discolouration.
 
Aluminium is highly resistant to corrosion, some people may well have a particularly sweaty disposition however, which over time can lead to a discolouration. Although, regular cleaning of the product will make this issue all but disappear, and by regular like once a week - pretty good practice to give your laptop a good clean every now and again anyway isn't it?

Otherwise the glass trackpad corroded by sweat? It'd need some abrasive material in there, I suppose using it in a sandy environment and producing a lot of sweat, never cleaning it and using the trackpad with the palm of your hand could lead to an issue eventually.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.