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How careful are you at handling your MBA? It's more fun throwing it around.

V

VMMan

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 29, 2009
766
239
I really like my 11" MBA for its mobility. I'm bringing it out with me during times I would never want to bring my MBP.

Although in the beginning I was really careful not to bump it against anything and carried it carefully in a padded bag, I realize that this behavior gets old really quickly if you're always bringing the MBA.

The best thing I did for myself and enjoyment of the MBA was to just carry it around like my iPhone and iPad in that I stopped treating it like a fragile conventional laptop.

I do have it in an awesome Speck plastic shell to keep it looking nice, but now I literally throw it into a regular bag or just carry it like a book and plop it down wherever I go.

Am I right in thinking the MBA is pretty tough, like an iPad?
 
now, all mac, ipad, ipod, iphone use the same material. so they are very very rigid. as you said, it's ok to throw. I don't care about little scratches or bump on my MBP 15 inch anymore because it seems to be intact even I have used it like abusing. unlikely other companies laptop, Apple laptop has proved how strong, reliable it is. I really like it.
 
Ever since I dropped a glass of wine on my 2010, I've been more careful. I don't expect Apple to give me any more free repairs. :)

That said, for a notebook, the MacBook Air is pretty durable. My Rev B had a slight crease in the case from being dropped onto a hardwood floor, but otherwise worked well for 2 years until I sold it and purchased the Rev D last year. The Rev D and Rev E are even more solidly built.

I carry it around in a neoprene sleeve. That lets me put it in the document pocket of my Windows notebook case, or in my suitcase, or even in a small briefcase. Just keep it away from liquids and it should have a nice long life for you.
 
I handle paper back books more gently than I have seen some people handle MBP's, and MBA's. It makes me cringe when I see someone tossing a $1600.00 peice of equipment around like a rag doll. I guess they have it like that. I get agitated when someone bumps the table when my machines on. I'm probably really annoying to be around with my MBP.:D
 
Cicatrix said:
It makes me cringe when I see someone tossing a $1600.00 peice of equipment around like a rag doll.
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I never thought about how others may be bothered by how I handle my MBA! I guess it's how I feel whenever I see some parent losing it and spanking their kid in public. I look at them ticked off and stare at them like a hawk to see if they're any signs of child abuse or something along that line.
 
There are no moving parts, so yes, it's like an iPad.

It's also more expensive than most any notebook on the market, so don't be stupid with how you handle it. It's not a Toughbook.:rolleyes:
 
I do treat my Macbook Air like a king. But I don't lose sleep over a scratch, a dent, or two, or more... I care more about how clear the screen looks, how the device is functioning, and how long the battery lasts.
 
bill-p said:
I do treat my Macbook Air like a king. But I don't lose sleep over a scratch, a dent, or two, or more... I care more about how clear the screen looks, how the device is functioning, and how long the battery lasts.
Click to expand...

I always get, and have installed by zagg, a full body invisible shield on my MacBooks, minus the trackpad of course.

It's the optimal solution. Good grippy surface, not ice cold (wrist rest) in the winter, and scratch proof.
 
coolbreeze said:
I always get, and have installed by zagg, a full body invisible shield on my MacBooks, minus the trackpad of course.

It's the optimal solution. Good grippy surface, not ice cold (wrist rest) in the winter, and scratch proof.
Click to expand...

In contrast, this is my first mac product (2011 MBA 13") and I treat it the same! I went with Wrapsol instead of Zagg on this particular Apple item, but they are basically the same with a different texture :)
 
Well, I prefer to go by what Apple has intended for their device: bare naked, or completely without any additional form of protection.

That way everything would function as Apple has intended for them to be. I have learned my lesson from the time my Macbook Pro almost overheated because the case I was using didn't let the aluminum body dissipate heat as fast as it could originally.
 
bill-p said:
Well, I prefer to go by what Apple has intended for their device: bare naked, or completely without any additional form of protection.

That way everything would function as Apple has intended for them to be. I have learned my lesson from the time my Macbook Pro almost overheated because the case I was using didn't let the aluminum body dissipate heat as fast as it could originally.
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Have owned over 5 aluminum macs. Every one covered by an Invisible Shield.

Never has one overheated.

/urban legend about "heat dissipation" If it's stuffed into a case while running, well, then you are on your own. Never a good idea anyway.

Sorry. Skinning and overheating scary posts are simply not true. Stay off the internet if you are stressed about it. :)
 
The Trouble Is

We all buy our Apple stuff because a) it works great and B0 it looks great too.

Then (and I am guilty as charged) cover up the Bling factor to protect our stuff from scratches etc. Gave an old Symbian phone away to a mate in need yesterday ( a Nokia press music) which I never covered, it rattled around in my pocket but there wasn't a mark on it.

My iPhone goes ou with the full Terrapin rig on it :) :) if you looked at the covering you probably wouldn't even know it was an iPhone.

I didn't buy the full rig for my iPad, but it is covered at all times, only coming out when indoors and sitting on it's stand.

I know Apple stuff holds it's value better than any other PC or Netbook laptop etc, but maybe we should show them off more?
 
When I was a kid, I remember people who would have their sofas covered in plastic. Remember that?

I swore that I would never be like that kind of person.

But now many years later, I find myself keeping my MBPs and MBA in those Speck plastic cases...

I do it to make them easier to sell later and to protect against damage that goes beyond cosmetic.

But at the same time, as I'm getting older, I realize that you gotta enjoy the things that you have because in the end, nothing material is that important..

So, I'm trying to make myself less like those people I remember as a kid with the plastic covered sofas, and more like the person who enjoys their material items while realizing that they're only material items...
 
Last edited:
VMman

I do remember people who kept those covers on furniture! And also car upholstery. I'm like you, want to retain premium condition for my stuff. Oh well, at least it's proudly on display at home indoors:D
 
Like a newborn! I just installed to it the Moshi Palmguard and it sleeps in a Hard Candy Bubble Sleeve :D.
 
VMMan said:
When I was a kid, I remember people who would have their sofas covered in plastic. Remember that?

I swore that I would never be like that kind of person.

But now many years later, I find myself keeping my MBPs and MBA in those Speck plastic cases...

I do it to make them easier to sell later and to protect against damage that goes beyond cosmetic.

But at the same time, as I'm getting older, I realize that you gotta enjoy the things that you have because in the end, nothing material is that important..

So, I'm trying to make myself less like those people I remember as a kid with the plastic covered sofas, and more like the person who enjoys their material items while realizing that they're only material items...
Click to expand...

Forget about protection! I have a blue clear speck case and it looks amazing on my 11"!
 
Normally no

However, my MBA belongs to Amazon --- mixed up my order, and sent wrong computer, so I am using it until my 11" arrives on Monday. I feel ethically responsible to return it in the condition I received it in, therefore I am very careful how I use it, and I have not allowed anyone else to play with it for fear of scratches, dings, etc.

When my computer gets here, though, it will be used much like my MB and MBP, carefully but not pampered. I don't use cases, except for sleeves, because I love to see the sleek, attractively designed computers exactly as I think Apple intended: naked:D
 
I use an carbon skin on my computer to enhance unconcerned use. But it did occur to me that people buying all sorts of protection eat up the cash they would normally lose when selling a computer with minor cosmetic defects.
 
I dropped my MBA 13 the first night!!!....in the apple box from stomach high (I'm 6'1), on to a rugged over cement deck. Opened and nothing was wrong.
I use a Radtech.us sleeve now and put it in their STM MBA bag, when i need to it in something. Or i use my Brenthaven laptop bag for travel.
Have not used it as a frisbee yet..... :rolleyes:
 
VMMan said:
I never thought about how others may be bothered by how I handle my MBA! I guess it's how I feel whenever I see some parent losing it and spanking their kid in public. I look at them ticked off and stare at them like a hawk to see if they're any signs of child abuse or something along that line.
Click to expand...


Maybe that's what the parents are thinking about the MBA abusers, lol. I'm not really bothered by it.

There have been a few cases that I've seen where people were treating their Mac's so bad I had to confiscate them. lol. jk.
 
I look after mine so that when it comes to resale / upgrade I can get the maximum back for a machine that looks as new.

It takes very little effort to look after my equipment, so why not make that effort. I work hard enough to pay for my equipment - if I didn't look after it I would feel I'm disrespecting myself and pi55ing money away.
 
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