Is pitting really an issue?

[KnightWRX]

Spoken like a true conformist..

Oh please, if anything it's the people running out buying cases/protectors and other brand name items that are conformists if anything. The true rebels like it raw and naked and don't give a hoot about scratches and cuffs.

Hint : There is no more or less conformity in either position. You're not a rebel because your MacBook Air is unprotected and you're no less a conformist for using a case. To try to apply a social label to a piece of electronic is a flawed position. If anything, that denotes conformity to a consumerist society. Anyway, the Apple of today is the norm and very rarely step outside the boundaries. That paragraph you quoted does not apply anymore (if it ever did. IMO, Apple has always tried to give itself the "rebel" image, but it's been quite the opposite).

 

[clyde2801]

Oh please, if anything it's the people running out buying cases/protectors and other brand name items that are conformists if anything. The true rebels like it raw and naked and don't give a hoot about scratches and cuffs.

Hint : There is no more or less conformity in either position. You're not a rebel because your MacBook Air is unprotected and you're no less a conformist for using a case. To try to apply a social label to a piece of electronic is a flawed position. If anything, that denotes conformity to a consumerist society. Anyway, the Apple of today is the norm and very rarely step outside the boundaries. That paragraph you quoted does not apply anymore (if it ever did. IMO, Apple has always tried to give itself the "rebel" image, but it's been quite the opposite).

So the people running out to differentiate their gear are the conformists, and the people criticizing their decision to not be like everyone else is not?

I can't fathom the level of vitriol expressed at someone who dares fashion the laptop they bought with (hopefully) their own money the way they want it to look. At least you're posting an intelligent argument, and a persuasive one at that. The 'raw and naked' comment almost won me over...

 

[Raptura]

Here's what my 2008 MBP looks like. I know the unibody Mac's are different so the same problem may not even exist. Still I'm worried that the MBA that I'm getting will turn out the same way eventually. Either way, I'm not getting a case to protect it. If it happens, it happens.

 

[MillieWales]

It's ok people making a joke of it and bruising it off, most probably never saw a machine that had pitting. I am a heavy user really, I don't use an external keyboard and monitor setup, I use a laptop as is and use it hard, usually 8 hours a day of actual use (not a few hours plus lunch, breaks, watching films etc), and I have had to replace top covers on a 15" MacBook Pro and then a 12" PowerBook G4 (yes I downgraded, I needed a smaller machine).

The things looked awful and used to really hurt my wrists, some days I would have a rash and itching and on a few occasions when I had deadlines and typed for hours I would end up with bleeding wrists, it looked like an attempted suicide by excessive typing!

I am hoping because the Air is not just plated with aluminium its actually a solid lump that it will be different, but I will not be surprised if it happens again for me.

 

[KnightWRX]

So the people running out to differentiate their gear are the conformists, and the people criticizing their decision to not be like everyone else is not?

The people who think their gear represents them are conformist. "Customizing" material things does not make you a non-conformist. If you think it does, you've been had and have surrendered to "conformity through marginality".

There is no vitriol in this thread. I'm only pointing out the fallacy of believing that the buying of a mass-produced case somehow results in modifying your social persona.

 

[TheRealDamager]

I don't know what you guys are talking about. I put a Wrapsol on my 13" MBA and I absolutely love it. I use the top, bottom, and wrist guard. I decided against the trackpad protection because it screws up the feel of it.

It's mostly undetectable it's even there, and on the outside of the case, I actually think it makes it look *better* than stock. The palm rest "feel" isn't quite as nice at first, but I hardly even notice it now. Again, it's translucent and as such is mostly undetectable unless you are looking for something to notice

I highly recommend the Wrapsol, as you keep the beauty of the MBA with some pretty solid, lifetime warrantied scratch/wear protection.

That being said, I agree about putting an actual case on my MBA, I couldn't see doing it. Nor could I put on an iCarbon.. blah.

I'm a fan of wrapsol as well, except that I think you'll find that after a while, the palmrest part will wear and will look terrible. I ended up leaving the cover on the outside and removing the palmrest piece.

 

[Abstract]

Spoken like a true conformist..

How so? Am I the one who quoted an Apple sales pitch and try to use it in an argument? That just makes you look like "a true conformist".

I didn't say that using protection for your laptop isn't good. I don't care if you use it or not. I only said that if you're that afraid of producing pits in your laptop (not just wear and tear......"pits") because of oil from your palms, then you're worried about the wrong issue here.


The only reason you called me a "true conformist" is because it bothers you that I may be right. Do you actually believe that "Think Different" could refer to buying a protective case, and most likely one of the 2 or 3 brands of cases that many many many people have purchased??? Is that how little it takes to be considered "different" to you? If so, the outside world must be a scary place. But go ahead and sit in front of a computer and continue quoting Apple's old marketing material. You're safe there.

 

[iphonsteve4ajob]

My sister has the white plastic MB, and now it is dirty and gross (but still working--much to her displeasure because she won't upgrade till it dies) and I don't want to wish that I had taken better care of it earlier.

haha...I can imagine. My friend sold her white MB recently and it was pretty dirty.

This is the first time I've heard of acidic sweat that can eat through your computer case (not that I don't believe you).

As for you case choices, protect your MBA as you'd like. In my opinion, putting all manner of case, plastic, shields, and guards on your beautifully designed device only serves to make it UGLY. Just don't drink next to your expensive investment.

Also your Air manages temperature build up in the case through vents, which includes the keyboard. Hot air escapes through the spaces between the keys and aluminum. Covering it up can (and I say can because many people report it does, others swear it doesn't) lead to higher operating temperatures which can lead to some overheating.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7616145_silicon-macbook-intel-causes-overheat.html

----------

The people who think their gear represents them are conformist. "Customizing" material things does not make you a non-conformist. If you think it does, you've been had and have surrendered to "conformity through marginality".

There is no vitriol in this thread. I'm only pointing out the fallacy of believing that the buying of a mass-produced case somehow results in modifying your social persona.

So is this kind of like "hipsters" who consider themselves hip because they project an image of non-conformity by use of their wardrobe and other personal style elements. The irony being that you can pick them out of most crowds specifically because the aforementioned subtleties in their attire. Making them part of a large sub-culture rather than a distinct minority.

Oh and I couldn't agree more with your last sentence!

 

[P0stalTek]

I'm a fan of wrapsol as well, except that I think you'll find that after a while, the palmrest part will wear and will look terrible. I ended up leaving the cover on the outside and removing the palmrest piece.

Well that's a bummer. I've heard good things about the Moshi palm rests, so maybe I'll replace it with that when it's no longer tolerable. This *is* a 2011 MBA, so it's very possible they will "uglify" in the next year

 

[KnightWRX]

Here's what my 2008 MBP looks like. I know the unibody Mac's are different so the same problem may not even exist. Still I'm worried that the MBA that I'm getting will turn out the same way eventually. Either way, I'm not getting a case to protect it. If it happens, it happens.

Having had the first Unibody MacBook before owning this unibody Air, I can guarantee you this problem does not exist. I have typed the hell out of the keyboard on my 2008 MacBook and it still looked brand new when I sold it.

 

[lyrrad721]

Here's what my 2008 MBP looks like. I know the unibody Mac's are different so the same problem may not even exist. Still I'm worried that the MBA that I'm getting will turn out the same way eventually. Either way, I'm not getting a case to protect it. If it happens, it happens.

Poor Apple sticker, looks like a murder scene hahaha.. I bought the moshi wrist palm guard so I don't scratch it with my watch and for peace of mind.

 

[iZac]

What causes one's sweat to be so acidic to hurt aluminum? Bad diet? Disease?
Is everyone's sweat like this?

Xenomorphs?

 

[clyde2801]

How so? Am I the one who quoted an Apple sales pitch and try to use it in an argument? That just makes you look like "a true conformist".

I didn't say that using protection for your laptop isn't good. I don't care if you use it or not. I only said that if you're that afraid of producing pits in your laptop (not just wear and tear......"pits") because of oil from your palms, then you're worried about the wrong issue here.


The only reason you called me a "true conformist" is because it bothers you that I may be right. Do you actually believe that "Think Different" could refer to buying a protective case, and most likely one of the 2 or 3 brands of cases that many many many people have purchased??? Is that how little it takes to be considered "different" to you? If so, the outside world must be a scary place. But go ahead and sit in front of a computer and continue quoting Apple's old marketing material. You're safe there.

The conformist comment was mostly in jest. It had the little winky thing beside of it. Sorry, I didn't realize I had hit such a nerve.

Pitting from exposure to one's sweat is probably a bit overblown, though I have had wrist watch crowns (Is that the name for the dial protruding from the side used to set the time?) corrode and rust off. Though I suspect it has something to do with prolonged exposure and cheaper metals.

Admittedly, I may have been a bit thin skinned about criticism-not necessarily from you-about the choice to put the carbon fiber on the MBA. But out here in the 'real world' I haven't seen anybody else doing it.

And pointing out the 'think different' slogan may now be considered a sign of conformity is an irony I haven't considered. Huh.

As for the real world, I'm trying to find out a good guide to setting up a paperless office. Does anyone know of something besides the Joe Kessel "take control" epub, or is that it? Is the Devonthink software really necessary? Come to think of it, I'll look in another subforum.

 

[KnightWRX]

And pointing out the 'think different' slogan may now be considered a sign of conformity is an irony I haven't considered. Huh.

The fact that you thought it was a sign of marginality in the first place is puzzling. If it had been, the slogan would have been "Think Differently". It's not, it's "Think Different".

Reflect on the proper use of this nomenclature in English and you'll understand the subtility. Apple was not encouraging you to think outside the box, it was encouraging you to think about their own box. Think "Different" (our stuff is different, think about it!). Different doesn't mean marginal and with Apple's adoption as a mass consumer company, the conformity in owning Apple products is becoming more and more common place.

Anyway, like I stated, mass produced electronics or accessories are not really anyway to promote marginality. At the end of the day, you're conforming to a consumerist society. You can't buy personality and you can't buy marginality. You just have it or don't.

 

[Niki*Nicole]

Personally I wouldn't worry about it. The extra ugly that a skin adds is nothing compared with some minor surface damage. You will get much more noticeable marks by wearing rings, bangles, etc while using the MacBook.

It's a much less serious issue than with the coated 2007 model MacBook Pros, my own is pictured below. This was from my repaired MacBook, my original top case was much, much worse.

What happened to your laptop? Is this just normal wear or did you use it to fend off zombies or something?

 

[clyde2801]

The fact that you thought it was a sign of marginality in the first place is puzzling. If it had been, the slogan would have been "Think Differently". It's not, it's "Think Different".

Reflect on the proper use of this nomenclature in English and you'll understand the subtility. Apple was not encouraging you to think outside the box, it was encouraging you to think about their own box. Think "Different" (our stuff is different, think about it!). Different doesn't mean marginal and with Apple's adoption as a mass consumer company, the conformity in owning Apple products is becoming more and more common place.

Anyway, like I stated, mass produced electronics or accessories are not really anyway to promote marginality. At the end of the day, you're conforming to a consumerist society. You can't buy personality and you can't buy marginality. You just have it or don't.

Let's talk definitions here...what do you mean exactly by marginality? The definition that word connotes to me is marginalization, as in being pushed to the edges of a group, such as the homeless or jobless being marginalized.

BTW, I reserve the right to hold the rest of this discussion in abeyance-it's 97 degrees in Oklahoma, and I'm waiting for the AC to be repaired in my office. My brain may be melting.

 

[sleepie]

i don't think having a skin make it look ugly...i actually like the way my macbook air looks like. i always like to keep my electronics in top notch condition like it was just opened out from the the box. heres photos of my macbook air.

http://www.mediafire.com/i/?mj63z92uu90qn4n
http://www.mediafire.com/i/?uaj27ijadq1sd6s
http://www.mediafire.com/i/?9b58ukcxc83iauk
http://www.mediafire.com/i/?xbrndf2u8a0bdda
http://www.mediafire.com/i/?ivq17b1yoc4y530

i didn't put on the trackpad skin that came with the full body skin.

 

[MagicWok]

I had slight issues with pitting on the palm-rest area when I had my 15" G4 powerbook.

However with the unibody construction, there has been no sign of even very light wear or pitting on my MBP. So I think my Air, and all others, should be ok.

However it is an investment, so if you want to protect it from scratches or the minor potential for pitting, don't feel hesitant to get a palm-rest guard. It'll mainly protect it from scuffs from rings/watches/bracelets etc.

And certainly don't give a damn about opinions thinking it's ugly. I myself think MBA's with them look fine. If you are one who sells and upgrades periodically, it's worth a small purchase.