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How 'tough' are Macbook Pro's?

B

berthenderson

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 7, 2012
31
0
I often carry my MacBook, with my iPad, mouse, external hard drive etc on top of it.

Am I okay to do this, or could the weight cause damage to the screen? Or is the metal casing strong?

Also, carrying it in a bag, what is the best way to keep it protected?
 
I use a booq Vyper, which is the best protection I've ever seen in a notebook sleeve. In my opinion, it offers far better protection than any neoprene case, the zippers never come into contact with your MBP, and it looks great!
VYP4.jpg
You can put the MBP in the sleeve in a bag and not worry about other things scratching or denting it.
 
It's "strong." I mean it feels secure and tight - no lose parts or anything. It feels solid as well.

You can't drop it off of a building (well you could and it may still work afterwards) but I have accidentally hit my MBP on tables or corners before and it doesn't have any visible dents or anything. It's sturdy enough to take some hits - within reason of course.
 
Do something like GGJstudios recommends and/or get a decent laptop bag and treat your MBP with care. I wouldn't exactly use the word "tough" to describe a MBP relative to the Panasonic Toughbook's I use at work. Those are *tough* and take quite a beating in our patrol cars. A MBP wouldn't survive a week in a car like that.
 
GGJstudios said:
I use a booq Vyper, which is the best protection I've ever seen in a notebook sleeve. In my opinion, it offers far better protection than any neoprene case, the zippers never come into contact with your MBP, and it looks great!
VYP4.jpg
You can put the MBP in the sleeve in a bag and not worry about other things scratching or denting it.
Click to expand...

Someone once told me it makes your MBP yellow and gives it a ‘stink’. I’m sure you can find this review somewhere on Amazon. Anyhow, is this true? I’d rather take your word than some random joe-shmoe on Amazon.
 
saberahul said:
Someone once told me it makes your MBP yellow and gives it a ‘stink’. I’m sure you can find this review somewhere on Amazon. Anyhow, is this true? I’d rather take your word than some random joe-shmoe on Amazon.
Click to expand...
Not true at all. I've been using one for over 4 years. Zero problems. My MBP still looks new... and it smells nice, too! :D
 
Tough enough i have travelled extensively and use Apple`s 15" MBP in some of the most extreme environments on offer and never had a problem;

Sub Tropics, Shekou
Western China Korla (Taklamakan Desert)
North East China Tianjin
Middle East Doha
Tropics up country Malaysia

FWIW it`s two - three years in each location :eek:
 
Wow that sleeve looks great! Going to have to invest in that I think.

So I'm still okay to carry my iPad etc. on top of my MacBook - out of the sleeve - with no problems then? I wasn't sure because I imagined the weight would press down on to the screen, you see.
 
GGJstudios said:
I use a booq Vyper, which is the best protection I've ever seen in a notebook sleeve. In my opinion, it offers far better protection than any neoprene case, the zippers never come into contact with your MBP, and it looks great!
VYP4.jpg
You can put the MBP in the sleeve in a bag and not worry about other things scratching or denting it.
Click to expand...

Looks like that particular model bas been discontinued by booq.
 
It's strong in that for the most part everything is secured to a single block of aluminum; it likely wont break into a bunch of small pieces if you were to drop it. However, the aluminum is also fairly soft. Minor impacts will scratch and dent the aluminum. But not to the extent that anything fails - it'll just look well used after a while (unless you use it with a case).

Of course the LCD is also always a weak point - that's the one area I would be worried about in the event of a fall.
 
For me, working in hot humid conditions, occasionally driving around in a jeep over bumpy roads, and being a frequent flyer, I prefer a pelican 1090 for my 15" (they have a 1080 for a 13")

Although it may actually damage any other items in your bag :eek:
 

Attachments

  • Pelican - 1080 Hardback Case - Girl sitting on rock in wilderness using laptop inside case[1].jpeg
    Pelican - 1080 Hardback Case - Girl sitting on rock in wilderness using laptop inside case[1].jpeg
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I have a 2006 first gen Macbook Pro. I've been travelling a lot with it. I only have a cisco bag that was free from a conference I attended. I also put external HDDs, mouse, a tablet and the charger in the same bag.

I did some repairs on it in the first year (I think they replaced the logic board) because mine had the macbook pro "whine" (remember that?). I also changed the battery once. The new one broke way too soon (in like 6 months?). Now it works without being plugged in for only 10 minutes or so :p

But other than that, I am pretty happy with it. It proved to be solidly built and I wasn't really being that careful with it, although I haven't really dropped it ever, either.
 
Blackberryroid said:
Put it together with a MacBook Pro and with that weight, you can have a workout. Those things are heavy when you're bringing two of them. And noisy too. The two aluminums scratching each other will really be painful to hear.
Click to expand...

I don't really treat a Macbook differently to that of a Windows HP laptop or something. Walking around with a book or a mouse or an ipad on top of it won't push through to the screen.
 
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