MacBook Pro erosion

[mrsir2009]

The edge of my 13" MBP is eroding in the place where I rest my hand while I use the trackpad. I've had the computer for 14 months

Anyone else noticing erosion like this?

 

[Ceebee1980]

I was getting erosion through the plastic on my early 2006 MBP 15", but my understanding is that since then, they've moved to anodized aluminum unibodies? How would that erode? Do you have any abrasive material on your wrist like a metal watch or something?

 

[mrsir2009]

I was getting erosion through the plastic on my early 2006 MBP 15", but my understanding is that since then, they've moved to anodized aluminum unibodies? How would that erode? Do you have any abrasive material on your wrist like a metal watch or something?

I've got a unibody MBP, and yup, its eroding all right. I've got no watches or anything (although my dad has eroded his palmrest with a metal watch).

There's little black speckles on the edge of the palmrest, and if you run your fingernail over them you can feel they're bumpy.

 

[NickZac]

Weird...I wear a watch on one hand and a bracelet on the other 24/7 and I've never had anything as little as a scratch. IMO it sounds like the treatment may not have been up to par...the finish they use on these things are pretty durable. With that said, I have no idea how warranty may work with cosmetics nor how much it does or does not bother you, but it may be worth calling Apple given I have seen these finishes take quite a beating without issue...they are almost as beefy as whatever the ThinkPads are finished in, which IIRC is magnesium and not aluminum based.

 

[mike 2011]

I managed to erode the palm area on my 2004 PowerBook G4 all the way down to the white plastic. I hope my 2011 13" MBP doesn't suffer the same fait.

 

[Nermal]

Weird...I wear a watch on one hand and a bracelet on the other 24/7 and I've never had anything as little as a scratch.

I have a bracelet on one arm and it certainly wore off the "paint" on my old plastic MBP, but so far my aluminium one looks like new. It'll be interesting to see whether mine does start wearing out over time.

 

[Ceebee1980]

Weird... I wonder whether you got something with lighter or bad aluminum underneath the anodized layer.

 

[DewGuy1999]

This isn't the first instance I've read about of this occurring, see these threads:

MacRumors Forums > Apple Hardware > Notebooks > MacBook Pro > Macbook Pro Aluminum Case Chipping

MacRumors Forums > Apple Hardware > Notebooks > MacBook Pro > Macbook Pro unibody, edges' paint is wiped out

 

[ghostlyorb]

Pictures?

 

[Dalton63841]

I have a 2009 13" MBP. I have officially owned it 14 months now, and it shows no signs like this, so it must be simply isolated cases.

Another hypothesis is that it could be something with your body chemistry. I have seen some peoples oils/sweat be acidic enough to do a pretty significant amount of damage over time.

 

[edifyingGerbil]

I have a 2009 13" MBP. I have officially owned it 14 months now, and it shows no signs like this, so it must be simply isolated cases.

Another hypothesis is that it could be something with your body chemistry. I have seen some peoples oils/sweat be acidic enough to do a pretty significant amount of damage over time.

My understanding of Aluminium is that it forms an oxide layer that's thin enough to be transparent but strong enough to protect the aluminium from corrosion. The only way to get Al to react with acid is to boil it first which removes the oxide layer...

I don't know the chemistry or physical properties of Al that has been anodised, however. Anyone care to shed any light?

 

[mrsir2009]

I have a 2009 13" MBP. I have officially owned it 14 months now, and it shows no signs like this, so it must be simply isolated cases.

Another hypothesis is that it could be something with your body chemistry. I have seen some peoples oils/sweat be acidic enough to do a pretty significant amount of damage over time.

Well my MBP gets so hot it makes my hands sweat. That happens a lot