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Hard Shell Consensus?

To hard shell or not?

  • Yes! The protection is worth it!

    Votes: 39 42.9%

  • No! They do more harm than good!

    Votes: 52 57.1%
  • Total voters
    91
B

Breedlove

macrumors regular
Original poster
So what is the general consensus with using hard shell covers with new MacBook Pros?

Any heat issues?
Scratches on the aluminum body from dust trapped underneath the case?
Detracts from the aesthetics of the MBP?
Etc?

Comments and votes please!
 
Breedlove said:
So what is the general consensus with using hard shell covers with new MacBook Pros?

Any heat issues?
Scratches on the aluminum body from dust trapped underneath the case?
Detracts from the aesthetics of the MBP?
Etc?

Comments and votes please!
Click to expand...

Silicon would make it hotter than plastic.
 
Some people like to wrap their items in protection, other don't. I hate putting ugly plastic on the nice unibody, so for me it is a clear no.
 
i put a cheapy one on mine, no effect to temperature at all, and i like the look and feel of the matte black and the apple logo glowing through... looks neat.
 
I think they're dumb. Total false sense of security, impede ventilation, ugly, etc...

As far as I can tell, they're a psychological safeguard for people who can't be bothered to treat their laptops with care.
 
Have a Speck hard case on mine for just a few days so far, time will tell how long it will last before it breaks. I disagree that it does not provide any protection at all compared to naked MBP. The main reason is to prevent scratches to the MBP. I do realise I have to remove the case once a month to prevent dust built-up inside the case. I do realise it won't protect my MBP if dropped from 1m height onto a hard floor. You need a thick well-padded bag for that anyway, most sleeves can't protect you from that impact. As for looks, I like mine. My 2c.
 
I think Moshi cases are decent, heard good things about them.

----------

And I've heard of scratches, but if you take it off once a week or so, clean it off it should be good. If you're working in a dusty environment, a weekly cleaning should be fine.
 
johnnylarue said:
I think they're dumb. Total false sense of security, impede ventilation, ugly, etc...
Click to expand...

1. They do protect from things rubbing or dropping on them to an extent and not scratching/denting them

2. They do not they don't block the vents at all.

3. That's your opinion
 
Loving the hardshell on my MBA.
I don't know what kind of material they used, but it feels and looks nicer than any other plastic, glass, metal, or soft-touch material I've ever laid hands on. Been using it for a year, and doesn't have a blemish of any sort.. I don't even have to wipe it down cause it resists finger oil like a champ. It's the only case i've ever used for any device that I've never had the temptation to take off

Oh yeah, it also protects against scratches and such.. I can pop it into the backpack without worrying what else I currently have in there. Fits like a glove and doesn't add bulk nor heat.

P1020676.jpg
 
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mangotears said:
Loving the hardshell on my MBA.
I don't know what kind of material they used, but it feels and looks nicer than any other plastic, glass, metal, or soft-touch material I've ever laid hands on. Been using it for a year, and doesn't have a blemish of any sort.. I don't even have to wipe it down cause it resists finger oil like a champ. It's the only case i've ever used for any device that I've never had the temptation to take off

Oh yeah, it also protects against scratches and such.. I can pop it into the backpack without worrying what else I currently have in there. Fits like a glove and doesn't add bulk nor heat.

Image
Click to expand...

I like I like ^_^

I always fear scratches these shells may cause..
 
Good hard shells do not impede heat flow. Find one with proper ventilation holes.
I've used an incase one on my MBP for 3 years, and it hasn't scratched the aluminum externals at all. It gives the laptop extra grip when transferring it into backpacks/cases etc. When you guys take off the case to clean the laptop, spray some duster. then wipe it off as usual.
 
mangotears said:
Loving the hardshell on my MBA.
I don't know what kind of material they used, but it feels and looks nicer than any other plastic, glass, metal, or soft-touch material I've ever laid hands on. Been using it for a year, and doesn't have a blemish of any sort.. I don't even have to wipe it down cause it resists finger oil like a champ. It's the only case i've ever used for any device that I've never had the temptation to take off

Oh yeah, it also protects against scratches and such.. I can pop it into the backpack without worrying what else I currently have in there. Fits like a glove and doesn't add bulk nor heat.

Image
Click to expand...

where did you get this... batman...
 
Covering a nice macbook pro with a cover gives me these kind of associations:

img_01313_66jbi3S4p1g_600x450.jpg


Anyway....there is more to the aluminium of a macbook than just aesthetics. The aluminium is part of the thermal formula of the macbook and helps getting the heat from the inside of the machine to the outside.

When covering it with a plastic shell the heat on the outside can not be radiated away and thus the mac will run hotter.

Not a good idea!!
 
yabot said:
where did you get this... batman...
Click to expand...

The shell itself is semi-translucent so the apple logo shines through. I cut out the logo from card-stock and taped it to the inside of the shell.

tmoerel said:
Covering a nice macbook pro with a cover gives me these kind of associations:

Image

Anyway....there is more to the aluminium of a macbook than just aesthetics. The aluminium is part of the thermal formula of the macbook and helps getting the heat from the inside of the machine to the outside.

When covering it with a plastic shell the heat on the outside can not be radiated away and thus the mac will run hotter.

Not a good idea!!
Click to expand...

In theory yes, but I've tested thermals with and without the case. The difference was 1 degree in the worst case scenario... insignificant when you compare it to fluctuating ambient temperatures.

Aesthetics are of course a personal preference. I like the look of the aluminum body but I go to my university or starbucks and about 60% of the laptops look the same. I like being able to use a macbook without having it shout "i'm a sheep". Plus, the MBA in satin black looks pretty sleek - it gets compliments all the time.
 
Domdog31 said:
hard cases are akin to screen protectors on an iPhone - unecessary and detracting.
Click to expand...

The equivalent of an iPhone screen protector is actually …a MacBook Pro screen protector - and unless you carry your MBP flipped open in your pant's pocket with keys and change, the value is questionable.

'Hard shell' would be more something like this:
61nlVmyp0NL._SL1500_.jpg
71eJ%2BshMTdL._SL1500_.jpg


On the upside, it can turn your MacBook Pro into a Bondi Blue iBook.
 
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people hating on cases...theyre not gonna protect your mbp from bullets or 6 foot drops, they are designed to stop scratching from EVERYDAY USE so when you sell in 2 years you can say it's in "good" condition rather than "fair"...
 
jondunford said:
people hating on cases...theyre not gonna protect your mbp from bullets or 6 foot drops, they are designed to stop scratching from EVERYDAY USE so when you sell in 2 years you can say it's in "good" condition rather than "fair"...
Click to expand...

the problem is they actually do end up scratching the aluminum. people who are doting on these cases are likely new mbp owners.

I've had two speck cases, one for a cMBP and one from last years rMBP - both scratched the aluminum through everyday dust buildup in-between the case and the laptop. The clips also snap and because of that the case slides around and scratches the laptop even more.

I had to get a screen replaced due to dead pixels on my rmbp last year, I took the case off at the genius bar and it was full of dust and the laptop was scratched. the dude basically said that he'd never put a hard case on his machine and since then i've agreed.

Sleeves all the way for me now, hard cases are a waste of money.
 
sabbyp said:
the problem is they actually do end up scratching the aluminum. people who are doting on these cases are likely new mbp owners.

I've had two speck cases, one for a cMBP and one from last years rMBP - both scratched the aluminum through everyday dust buildup in-between the case and the laptop. The clips also snap and because of that the case slides around and scratches the laptop even more.

I had to get a screen replaced due to dead pixels on my rmbp last year, I took the case off at the genius bar and it was full of dust and the laptop was scratched. the dude basically said that he'd never put a hard case on his machine and since then i've agreed.

Sleeves all the way for me now, hard cases are a waste of money.
Click to expand...


Speck, enough said.
 
Didn't vote because I can't say it does more harm.

However, I NEVER... that's like putting a bra on a Ferrari. I got a beautiful woman, I don't want to cover her up. Be damn the scratches. If I can't lay my eyes on it and appreciate its beauty everyday then it seems am worrying about her skin getting damage by the sun but I can't enjoy her at the present.

Make enough money and go, heck, if I damage it, I just get another one! 😉
 
I had a Speck See-Thru Clear case on my old Macbook Pro and INSTANTLY knew I would buy the same for my new rMBP. Nothing like it, keeps it clean and doesn't scratch. You just have to clean it once every like 6 months. I could not live without a hard shell speck case on my rMBP.
 
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