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How to radius the harsh edges on your MacBook...

Typing considerations aside, I spend a lot of time just surfing the web, reading things, clicking around with the track pad... and my hands and wrists come into contact with the edges of the laptop all the time. Often I'll rest one or both hands on the body (and edges) of the machine while reading docs on the screen... I spend a lot of time doing that. Plain and simply, for me... there's a lot of contact with the edges of the machine during use. And the sharp edges didn't feel at all good to me. Especially those sharp points near the center of the front edge... dang!

The way the edges feel now, soft and rounded... makes handling the machine a much nicer "feeling" experience. Some other people may never touch anything but the trackpad and the keys and if they like working that way, who am I to tell them what to do? How I like to use the machine may not be everyone's preference, but it works for me and I'm liking it a LOT better with soft, rounded edges! :)

A good night to you folks.
 
I did the same thing about 5 months ago I used a diamond dust 600 grit sharpening stone.

looks great and feels miles better. The original sharp edges are garbage, style over substance. The typing nazis who say "learn to type" are bonkers. I found the edges cut more when I was just using the trackpad than the keyboard, because my hand was nearer the edge of the top surface.

No black marks 5 months later. Not one. I can't understand where they would come from - it's just an oxidised Al layer. Just like the dozens of bits of rock climbing gear I've got. Tough as old boots.
 
PsychOfMSE said:
So you're going to have to clean it a couple times a day, every day, for the rest of the time you own it.

Filing it down was a bad idea man. You're gonna deal with black buildup on it for a long time.
Click to expand...

PsychOfMSE.. your credibility is pretty much toast after this post of yours.

WOW... you state that there will be a black build up that will have to be cleaned off "a couple of times a day, every day, for the rest of the time you own it..."

This is garbage. You don't know what the heck you are talking about. Why would you spew this nonsense?

I don't know what else you spout off about with such "authority" around here, but if it's anything like this, your opinion on this forum is worthless.

I have no black build up or cleaning issues with aluminum... and like others, have a fair bit of bare aluminum parts of this or that around that I use and work with and it's no issue whatsoever.
 
That looks terrible.

Bye bye resale value, I guarantee it. Even if you miraculously find someone who likes it, they definitely won't be willing to pay the PREMIUM you are expecting for it.

Oh, and bye bye warranty.

Mac users really kill me. Nowhere else on the planet have I seen so many people whine about sharp edges on everything. If it's not sharp edges on the Macbook Pro, it's sharp corners on the iPod nano. If it's not sharp corners on the iPod nano, it's sharp edges on the edge of the Cinema Displays.

Typing using the proper method aside (which is a very legitimate piece of advice as your wrists should NEVER come in contact with the edges if typing properly), I use the trackpad exactly as shown in that linked flickr image. And you know what? It doesn't bother me one bit. It's not sharp.

You know why it doesn't bother me? Because I'm a man.

Some of you should really try putting down the latte and picking up a shovel once in a while, and grow a thicker skin. Hell, I'm a white collar worker who doesn't do any day labor and the edges don't bother me.

"Let your balls drop" as they say, quit whining, and grow a thicker skin.

Sharp edges, LMFAO.
 
puma1552 said:
That looks terrible.

Bye bye resale value, I guarantee it. Even if you miraculously find someone who likes it, they definitely won't be willing to pay the PREMIUM you are expecting for it.

Oh, and bye bye warranty.

Mac users really kill me. Nowhere else on the planet have I seen so many people whine about sharp edges on everything. If it's not sharp edges on the Macbook Pro, it's sharp corners on the iPod nano. If it's not sharp corners on the iPod nano, it's sharp edges on the edge of the Cinema Displays.

Typing using the proper method aside (which is a very legitimate piece of advice as your wrists should NEVER come in contact with the edges if typing properly), I use the trackpad exactly as shown in that linked flickr image. And you know what? It doesn't bother me one bit. It's not sharp.

You know why it doesn't bother me? Because I'm a man.

Some of you should really try putting down the latte and picking up a shovel once in a while, and grow a thicker skin. Hell, I'm a white collar worker who doesn't do any day labor and the edges don't bother me.

"Let your balls drop" as they say, quit whining, and grow a thicker skin.

Sharp edges, LMFAO.
Click to expand...

LOL
 
Wow. Harsh!

He took all this time to write that post and add pictures to it and people attack him?

He is just trying to help.

I admit I learned to type a few years ago so my wrists don't wrest on the edges (or if they do not full weight) and its fine. But it doesn't look THAT bad.

I have a friend that has ataxia and because she has it... she can't type properly on a keyboard. I might just do this for her aluminum MacBook and because of her muscle spasms sometimes she puts her arms/wrists down WAY too hard on the edges of the computer.

I want to thank you for your post. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I won't be doing it myself but maybe for someone else and now I know how.

So, thanks!
 
spillproof said:
Your post read like a 3 am infomercial.

Anyway, I love it. I too hate the sharp edges.
Click to expand...

Haha yes an infomercial, but a good one!
Interesting thread, looks like a good job! Thanks god I don't have problems with the edges, I think I would have some problems touching my holy "MacGyver" with a steel file!? :eek:

:)
 
why would a cosmetic alteration void the warranty??

anyway... i doubt you could sell it for a premium... but based on your pictures, it looks like a very clean job and i cant imagine it hurting the resale value...

it is your MBP, do what you want with it! i havent bought mine yet so i cant comment on the sharp edges but i could see how that would be annoying overtime.
 
shadygrove said:
I like it. I think it feels invigorating.
Click to expand...

It never rubs against my wrist but whenever I'm using the trackpad I'll rest my thumb on the sharp edge and rub it when I'm bored:p

Never-the-less. I think the OP's mbp looks nice. He has the right to do whatever he wants to his laptop, he paid the premium for it.
 
Nice job! I agree - modding your stuff to fit you is absolutely the right thing to do. I say to hell with the naysayers - these are probably the same folks that think it is a necessity to leave their cars and bikes as the manufacturer told them it should look instead of modding it to look and feel how you like it.
 
Use better typing position. Putting your wrist weight on laptop can lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
 
unamused said:
why would a cosmetic alteration void the warranty??

anyway... i doubt you could sell it for a premium... but based on your pictures, it looks like a very clean job and i cant imagine it hurting the resale value...

it is your MBP, do what you want with it! i havent bought mine yet so i cant comment on the sharp edges but i could see how that would be annoying overtime.
Click to expand...

I once almost had a warranty service refused because of a small surface scratch on the lid of my MBP, so I think you'd count yourself lucky getting any sort of warranty service from Apple after filing down the edges of the macbook.

Personally I didn't notice the sharp edges until reading the gazillion posts about them on macrumors. I actually like them, they're nowhere near sharp enough to cause cuts and have a comfortable sharpness (at least to my hands), without usually being masochistic in any way shape of form!

I would be worried about taking too much material off, don't expect the aluminium to be any thicker than 1mm in some places on the palm rest - sounds quite hollow when you tap on it.
 
DHart, good on ya for modding your mac. I remember a few years ago when a colleague of mine hand painted each of the keys on his white macbook - people gave him the same ****** response you seem to be getting but they overlooked one important factor: he enjoyed his machine MORE because of his modification. Your mod is even more subtle than his and it's quite obvious how it will improve your satisfaction with the machine. Kudos for that.

I would suggest that you keep an eye open for a dead MBP though, just so you can have a spare unibody shell. That way, if something goes wrong and you have to applecare your computer, you could swap out shells and save yourself re-filing? OR: you could do something even more radical with the spare shell with less risk.

It is funny though how people can do laser etching, etc. and they get 'oh cool, wow' but you do something far less and get 'dude that's going to be worse than cleaning up after a puppy'

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know that not all of us have egos and attitudes. um, just like the other half dozen folks who posted before me. :)
 
Consultant said:
Doing anything with your hands and wrists can lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Click to expand...

FTFY

It's more about the internal structure of your wrists and the sensitivity of the synovium as it's the inflammation of that, which leads to CTS.

Anyway, kudos to the OP. It looks really good despite what others post on here. As it is said, If they're shooting at you, you must be doing something right.
 
Its a nice idea, but something i would never do, it would bug me how it wasn't perfect ever :rolleyes:
 
I'm really disappointed...

Got everything ready including a 1500 grit sanding block. THEN did a careful inspection and realized that you can't do anything like this to a MBA, not enough material. But idid run around a couple of times with the sanding block and it made a difference. As to typing correctly.....obviously these are people who type at a desk, not on a plane, airport gates, limos, airport lounges, sofas, beds or all the other places many of us actually USE a laptop. Nice Job!
 
Man... there are some real bozos on this forum! No matter, though, who cares if they are jerks... jerks are everywhere and best left alone in their jerk-worlds.

Fortunately, there are a lot of good spirited, kind people as well... they are the ones who matter! Thanks good folks. :)
 
DHart said:
I'm thrilled with the result and those who get the machine after me will like it too. I don't see what all the fuss is about. Really. It looks great and more importantly, feels great to the wrists.
Click to expand...
Kudos, you did a great job. I really like it. I too have lots of experience with aluminum of various types and I know yours will continue to look good for years. It's got to make a huge difference in comfort.

I've always wondered who would design a sharp edged palm rest like this.

Black stuff? Those must be pretty dirty people. They would have black crud on their Macs either way...ha..ha...

Thanks for the great pictures, I'm going to get out the file and work mine over now. You've given me a perfect example.

Resale? Who cares? I can't see it making one bit of difference other than some may really like it, and many won't even notice. Besides in my case I never sell my Macs anyway, they last a long time and by the time I'm ready to buy a new one, the old one is worth more to me that the current market value.

Cheers... :)
 
puma1552 said:
That looks terrible.

Bye bye resale value, I guarantee it. Even if you miraculously find someone who likes it, they definitely won't be willing to pay the PREMIUM you are expecting for it.

Oh, and bye bye warranty.

Mac users really kill me. Nowhere else on the planet have I seen so many people whine about sharp edges on everything. If it's not sharp edges on the Macbook Pro, it's sharp corners on the iPod nano. If it's not sharp corners on the iPod nano, it's sharp edges on the edge of the Cinema Displays.

Typing using the proper method aside (which is a very legitimate piece of advice as your wrists should NEVER come in contact with the edges if typing properly), I use the trackpad exactly as shown in that linked flickr image. And you know what? It doesn't bother me one bit. It's not sharp.

You know why it doesn't bother me? Because I'm a man.

Some of you should really try putting down the latte and picking up a shovel once in a while, and grow a thicker skin. Hell, I'm a white collar worker who doesn't do any day labor and the edges don't bother me.

"Let your balls drop" as they say, quit whining, and grow a thicker skin.

Sharp edges, LMFAO.
Click to expand...

Agreed 100%.
 
The sharp edges don't bother me but I am certain they bother others. Looks good, DHart! Glad you can enjoy your Mac the way you want to enjoy it. That's all that matters. :)
 
Nice job well done.

Right now I'm laying on my bed with a cushion on my lap and the MBP on top. The sharp edges are on my wrists.. Annoying and uncomfortable, but I'll be keeping my sharp edges, at least for now :)

(and yeah, im aware of the temperature thing with cushions)
 
My reason for posting this is because I'm very happy with the result and wanted to share it with those who might wish to soften the edges on their MacBook. Those who don't like what I did to my machine can really just bugger off, or perhaps try to contribute something positive elsewhere, because I'm not interested in your opinion. I have no desire to please anyone but myself with this and that job has been wonderfully accomplished! :D

To those who checked in with a positive attitude. Thanks for the visit. For those who checked in to act out your immature impulses... :rolleyes: back to your kindergarten, children! The adults aren't listening to you.

For the record, I presently have 11 Macs running in my home and studio. Everything from Mac Pros to MacBook Pros, to iMacs, to MacBooks, and a new MacMini as well. I use Macs anywhere from 8 to 14 hours a day in a variety of settings and have done so for many, many years. After decades of computer use, I am not new to typing nor to using computers... I have been using and modifying Macs exclusively since my first Macintosh 512, which I think I bought around 1984. I have had dozens of Macs over the decades.

So to the unseasoned wise guys here who think they've come to this thread to teach me a lesson, you can worry all you like about whatever you think I am doing wrong, I really could not care less. As for me, I'm comfortably happy doing just what I am doing... my Mac modification is perfect for me and no worries guys, but thanks for your concerns! ;)

TO those who would like to soften the edges on your MacBook... yes, you can do it and be thrilled with the result. If you don't wish to take on such a project, that's fine too! You can just gently soften the edge with emory cloth if you want to. These computers are not sacred idols, they are simply tools, short-lived, replaceable, and rapidly depreciating with every passing day. Make 'em how you like 'em, use 'em up, pass 'em on and keep on truckin'. Just machines, folks, just machines. They are not sacred. Enjoy your machines.

Puma1552.... oh wow, I am so impressed by your "manliness"! I'll bet the women just swoon over you and your wonderful attitude. And your obvious dislike of "Mac users". Oh I wish I could be just like you, but I guess I just can't let my "balls drop" quite like you do. And I wouldn't want to be such an immature sad sack like you anyway. It's so clear to anyone who reads your post that you are truly one "class act" kind of guy... oh yeah! A real man! ;) Now, back to your kindergarten. :D
 
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