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Ideas to remedy the Macbook Pro sharp edges...?

LedCop said:
Maybe he meant top RIGHT! (i.e. the correct (right) one in the top half). ;)

Because when I first saw the diagram I had the exact same thought he had - to have the correct posture as the top section means I'd have to squeeze my elbows together and that can't be RIGHT!
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I meant top left of course ;)
 
What about filing the edge?

I often sit in my easy chair and type with the laptop in my—well, my lap. Not the best posture for back of wrists, to be sure. And I do find the sharp edges very unpleasant. An earlier respondent suggested using a file, and that appears to me to be a very reasonable suggestion. I'd have to be careful of getting filings into the works, of course, and I'd have to be modest in the amount of aluminum I remove, but I can't imagine that the case is so thin that taking off 1/64 or so should make a difference.

Am I wrong? Would I harm the machine?
 
Actually, the top left picture (that says Right) has a posture that is physically impossible to assume by a human being whose bones are unbroken. Try to place your arms that close and parallel to each other as shown in the picture... good luck.
 
rshays said:
I often sit in my easy chair and type with the laptop in my—well, my lap. Not the best posture for back of wrists, to be sure. And I do find the sharp edges very unpleasant. An earlier respondent suggested using a file, and that appears to me to be a very reasonable suggestion. I'd have to be careful of getting filings into the works, of course, and I'd have to be modest in the amount of aluminum I remove, but I can't imagine that the case is so thin that taking off 1/64 or so should make a difference.

Am I wrong? Would I harm the machine?
Click to expand...

You'd void the warranty, why dont you just return or sell it and get something that is more in line with poor wrists and not being able to adapt to a different conformity :D

Have a great day
 
I honestly don't know you can possibly do that. It doesn't matter how high/low my chair is to my MBP, if I try to press my wrists down to the sharp edge, it doesn't feel comfortable at all and it strains my wrists. If I randomly type on it, I don't feel the edge at all.

Main point: Your "support point", kind of like a fulcrum between fingers/hand and your lower arm should be right at the place where your hand is attached to your arm. I'm not saying the wrist, just the place where your big thumb muscle ends. If your "support point" is your wrist, and it cuts circulation, then you're typing wrong, not just slightly wrong but majorly wrong and I suggest you change.
 
Phineas: really?

Thanks for the warning, but I find myself wondering if it's true. You probably know much more about this sort of thing than I do. The thought never crossed my mind.

Are you serious? Would beveling the front edge of the case with a file *really* void the warranty?
 
If your wrists are hanging off the edge of the machine on that edge, you are typing wrong. improve your keyboarding posture and elevate your arms.
 
The sharp edges of the aluminum MacBook are a design flaw.

Those who say that if you type "right" you don't touch the edges are just saying that for those people who type a lot of text and never ever stop and rest their hands, for these people the edges are not a problem. They don't provide an argument in favor of the sharp edges.

The only argument I saw in favor of the sharp edges is that it looks good. Maybe. But it would have looked just as good, if not better, if the edges inside would have been rounded off like the outside of the shell. It would look good AND it would feel good.

So far nobody has claimed the edges are not sharp enough. That already tells something. In short: the edges should have be rounded off.

I'd say Apple is excessively focused on visual design. They wanted the MacBook to suggest a round stone sliced in two. That explains the sharp edges. They want the computer to look simple. So they removed the numerical keyboard and other navigation keys. The keyboard now looks friendly, but you need 2 hands to press page up or down. The design is visually near prefect, but from other points of view, it is quite questionable.
 
Remedy for Sharp Edges

We just purchased the Mac Pro 15 and my wife had the same complaint. I ordered a laptop stand from www.raindesigninc.com and it provides complete relief. They offer a number of different lap stand options. We got the iLap, which provides relief from the sharp edges, it also elevates your wrists a tad and if you use your laptop on your lap, is dissipates the heat very well.

Good luck
 
Simple fix

The sharp edge is a big problem for me. I bought a wrist support that keeps my wrists off the edge and that is of some relief. A temporary fix that works best is to prop up the back of my computer with a block of wood. It changes the angle of your keyboard enough to avoid chafing. It can't be seen and seems to do the trick.

I'm hoping to take out a patent for my new IWood and make a sweet profit.
 
Another Option

Oh, one more thing. My IWood is upstairs. When I'm using my Mac downstairs, I just grab a hardcover novel and prop up the rear of my Mac on that. Why do you think they call it a MacBook anyway?
 
btkm.jpg
 
This is the biggest reason why I don't want to get a mac.

I use the mIcrosoft Natural Keyboard 4000 on my dekstop and I love it. It, along with my logitech Marble Mouse, has cured all my wrist pains. Looking at that picture postedo n the last page about how to type "correctly", it looks quite painful to put my hands together like that.

What I want to know is, if I can't get used to it, can I take it into the Apple store and return it without a restocking fee? Ive used hte white plastic macbook before and the edges there were sharp as well. I don't think it is a good idea to sell a laptop that tries to slit your wrists.
 
scotch brite.

Use the green side. It's fine enough not to produce deep scratches. Use at your discretion. I am 100% sure you can achieve rounder edges with this. Remember, whatever you do, it is your responsibility.

OT**

I use the scotch brite cleaning pads on my rolex and omega bracelets (clasp) and it's good enough to give it the "satin" finish. :apple:
 
Someone212 said:
Hm... do you have the same pictures with a laptop?
Click to expand...

It doesn't work with a laptop, because the screen is connected to the keyboard. The keyboard should be such that your elbows are at a 90 degree angle, but with a laptop on your desk, that doesn't work at a normal sitting height. It you raise your chair unusually high or have an unusually low desk, the keyboard would be in the right place, but you would be looking down at the monitor, which may cause neck strain.

Someone should make an ergonomic laptop with a display that attaches kind of like the old iMacs with the swivel monitor.
 
operalover84 said:
Or, does anyone have any ideas for home remedies? I thought of maybe buying some moleskin or foam and applying it over the edge but that would prove to be quite unsightly I'm sure. Any ideas...?
Click to expand...

Yesterday I cut my right hand on my MB Pro. :mad: I searched the Web for solutions and found that several people were filing and then sanding their MB Pro edges. It seemed a bit crazy, but I did it too and the results are amazing.

Just stick to the edge to avoid scraping the top. I'm on the road now but plan to sand a bit more tomorrow night and will post pictures of the end result if anyone is interested. The top edge is not a seam so it doesn't do any kind of damage to the integrity of the machine. We're not talking about major metal removal, just taking the sharpness off the edge. Honestly, if the problem is a sharp edge, get rid of it! :)

Just cover your keyboard & speakers since some aluminum dust will come off in the process.
 
phineas said:
Yea, buy a wireless keyboard and monitor and use it as a desktop.

You have a Computer that is a work of art and the edges bother you? Huh
Click to expand...

Computer is a tool, not art. When you buy a tool and can not use it, it might bother some people.
 
A laptop is purchased so you can use it everywhere and anywhere.

Therefore there will be times when the laptop isn't at the 'ultimate position' to practice the recommended ways to hold your arms/hands when typing.

Sharp edges like that on a laptop is a MAJOR DESIGN FLAW, period.

Stupid on Apples behalf.
 
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