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Maintaining your MacBook Pro Aluminium UniBody

I

iOrbit

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 8, 2012
569
30
i wondered if anyone had advice and could possibly share their experiences with keeping and maintaing their macbook pro to good condition.

at the moment i have the speck case and a 'mediadevil' keyboard cover in use. (basically the same as the moshi but arguably better)

but the palm rests of my macbook are exposed. so i wanted to discuss - how durable is the macbook pro unibody from wear? my old plasticky acer laptop wore quite horribly, i think it was the combo of hot plastic and my palm sweat. :eek:

do MacBook Pro Unibodies wear? are they known for the same? what about this 'anodized' unibody? i have the 2011 model.

i dont usually rest my palms on my macbook while i type anyway, and i usually use a mouse on my desk.

is it also true that speck cases are prone to scratching the macbook pro with dust/dirt trapped between the casing and the macbook?

i want to keep my macbook pro in good condition, simply because i love it and i usually treat my favourite valuables in the best way i can.

it also doesnt hurt for its resale value either. i wonder how much my macbook pro may be worth on ebay in 2 years time. any ideas?

thanks again for any helpful replies :)
 
There are several palm rest covers available, I think moshi offers them? They also sell trackpad protectors too.

It shouldn't wear like plastic does but it could still pit like the Magic Mice do.

My plastic WhiteBook got scuffed pretty badly by using a shell case but I'm not sure whether or not it would do the same thing to the aluminum. You could get a full body Wrapsol sticker case for scratch protection then use the Speck case over it? It comes with the palm rest protectors too.

If you're using a keyboard cover, I'd suggest getting something to protect the screen from getting marked when the lid is closed. I've heard good things about the Shaggymac cloths.
 
iv seen the term pit used here before, i don't understand what it means?

either way, it doesn't sound like something i want to happen to the laptop.

i dont understand why people would protect the trackpad, what am i missing?

its glass and i dont see it ever wearing away.
 
Turn it off, wipe everything down with a a barely damp (water) microfiber cloth once a week. That should keep you good. These machines are really durable and hold up well if you take care of them.
 
iOrbit said:
iv seen the term pit used here before, i don't understand what it means?

either way, it doesn't sound like something i want to happen to the laptop.

i dont understand why people would protect the trackpad, what am i missing?

its glass and i dont see it ever wearing away.
Click to expand...

I edited my post to add a bit more information.

The glass might not wear away but it could get scratched.

Pitting refers to this:
macbookpropitting.jpg
 
TheMacBookPro said:
I edited my post to add a bit more information.

The glass might not wear away but it could get scratched.

Pitting refers to this:
Image
Click to expand...

wow , that looks absolutely horrible! thats worse than wear.


i trust myself with my trackpad, i might try and find / buy a thin rubber matt of some kind, like what came with my Antec 900 case a few years ago. and just make a cut out shape for the macbook pro, and particularly use it for while i do gaming (which is where i would actually rest my palms on the laptop.)

does pitting happen often? is it rare? and does it occur quickly?


a microfibre cloth, is that the one that came with the laptop?? i don't think i own one otherwise.

i need to take my speck case off at the moment actually, i have noticed a slight build up of little specs between the case, its probably been about 2 months.

i did wonder this because i bought virtually the same kind of case for my ipod touch (a crystal plastic cover) and some specs appear to have gotten between it and the casing and left marks on the back. they don't look like line scratched but general marks. i haven't had a proper go at trying to get them off yet.
 
iOrbit said:
wow , that looks absolutely horrible! thats worse than wear.


i trust myself with my trackpad, i might try and find / buy a thin rubber matt of some kind, like what came with my Antec 900 case a few years ago. and just make a cut out shape for the macbook pro, and particularly use it for while i do gaming (which is where i would actually rest my palms on the laptop.)

does pitting happen often? is it rare? and does it occur quickly?
Click to expand...

It's not all that common, but appears to be a major issue with the Magic Mice.

a microfibre cloth, is that the one that came with the laptop?? i don't think i own one otherwise.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's a microfibre cloth.
 
I had some pitting just on the front edge (not on the actual palm rest surface) on my last unibody, and now on my new one I've noticed one mark already formed. Theories range from metal on your wrist (I don't ever wear any) to oils from your hands (very possible with me) to simply friction. You can get palm rest covers, or you can just try to avoid resting your hands on that area of the computer, which is ergonomically better, I'm told. I can't pull that off, so for now I just haven't worried about it, but I'll probably get one of the palm rest covers eventually.

jW
 
TheMacBookPro said:
It's not all that common, but appears to be a major issue with the Magic Mice.



Yep, that's a microfibre cloth.
Click to expand...

i find that a bit odd, the magic mouse surface isn't aluminium, so is it pitting on the sides, maybe where the fingers sit?

i might consider laminating its side or something when i get the mouse.

i wonder how long my apple remote will last, i dont use it much since apple have decided not to come up with a good way to make the mouse only work with one device at a time. i can't dock my ipod and use my remote, it makes my laptop and ipod play itunes! argh.
 
iOrbit said:
i find that a bit odd, the magic mouse surface isn't aluminium, so is it pitting on the sides, maybe where the fingers sit?

i might consider laminating its side or something when i get the mouse.
Click to expand...

Yes, the sides are the part which pits. The top just scratches easily.
 
in my experience with a late 2008 unibody macbook, I didn't take special care and it's basically pretty good. I sometimes wear a metal watch, and while the metal/metal contact bugs me (sometimes I'll remove the watch but not always), I haven't noticed any increased wear on that side's palmrest. No pitting, I was horrified to see that image--maybe pitting is partly a manufacturing defect (ie a problem with the metal itself?). This thing held up great, I can see why they wanted to rebadge it as a "pro" after the initial launch.
 
I can honestly say that I've not been taking as good care of my mbp as i should. I only wipe it down when its dirty, and thats it.
I dont use case or a sleeve, i just toss it in my bag when I'm taking it to university , work or wherever.

I've had it for nearly a year(july) and the only marks i have are underneath. From metal zippers etc. No marks after by palms, no nothing :)
 
I hate putting covers/cases on any of my stuff. I bought it because it looks and feels nice. I'm not paying extra to hide it! That being said I do have a smart cover for my iPad, but that's it!
 
I wipe mine down about 2x a week with a damp microfiber cloth.

I would put a case on mine but I'm scared of wearing down the screen's hinge. I ordered a 2012 MBP and got it exchanged the next day because it wouldn't stay open when laying on my bed and having it propped up vertically at any angle greater than 45 degrees. It would just close on me each and every time. The new one that I've received is a lot better but I still experience the issue a bit. I read a lot of reviews about how after using cases their screens don't stay open and hinges are much more flimsy.
 
I have a Moshi keyboard cover and a Palmguard. I didn't have any problems with pitting on my last (2008) MBP, but I do rest my wrists in that area and there was a little bit of discoloration over the few years I used it. If I had wiped it down more often it might not have happened, but this time I got the Palmguard to make sure I don't have the same problem. Other than that, I just wipe it down with a damp cloth when needed. I usually use a damp cloth but have used disinfecting wipes from time to time if I've let someone who was ill use it.
 
2008 Unibody Aluminum

I have found that even with the unibody after years of use there is some discoloration around the trackpad (I guess sweat affects even aluminum). I count it as a well loved device
 
natebookpro said:
Turn it off, wipe everything down with a a barely damp (water) microfiber cloth once a week. That should keep you good. These machines are really durable and hold up well if you take care of them.
Click to expand...

Best advice. That's all I do and my machines look almost exactly as the first day they were taken out of the factory box.
 
Newton63 said:
I have found that even with the unibody after years of use there is some discoloration around the trackpad (I guess sweat affects even aluminum). I count it as a well loved device
Click to expand...

It only affects the coating I guess.. Aluminum creates a sealing layer of rust (in contrast to steel which isn't sealed and thus keeps on rusting). Only if you constantly rub on the rust and damage that seal it can keep on rusting. I'm not sure about colorization but it's the coating 90% certain.

Things I have noticed:

1. Wear on the right palmrest edge (due to my titanium watch strap).
2. Scratches on the bottom.
3. An ever so slight scratch on the display (not noticeable with the backlight turned on and when that's off it's only visible at certain angles).

Things I have done to prevent things:
1. Keep my battery healthy by now and then calibrating it (once a quarter year or so).
2. Keep a RadTech cleaning/protection cloth between the screen and body when it's closed and clean the screen with that cloth. Hand wash it once a quarter/half year.
3. Be gentle with my backpack when the MBP is in it.
5. In general treat it with care, as a student I can't dish out €2249 on a new Macbook every year or two (mine is from 2011 and looks and feels like new).
 
I have used my early-2011 MBP without a case or any type of skin since I got it. I do transport it in a sleeve, though. The keys are a little shiny from wear or oils from my skin. There's a couple shallow scratches on the bottom of the case and the feet are a little worn, but other than that, my laptop is in pristine condition. I notice some discoloration on the lid due to dirt accumulation over a year, but I wipe that down with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol, and it's completely clean and as shiny as the first day I got it.
 
Patrick-Photo said:
1. Keep my battery healthy by now and then calibrating it (once a quarter year or so).
Click to expand...
The built-in batteries in the newer Mac unibody notebooks come pre-calibrated and do not require regular calibration like the removable batteries in older Apple notebooks.

Run on battery whenever you need to and plug it in whenever you can. You can plug or unplug any time you need to, regardless of the charged percentage, and you never need to completely drain your battery.
​
The link below should answer most, if not all, of your battery/charging questions, including tips for maximizing battery performance. If you haven’t already done so, I highly recommend you take the time to read it.
 
I had my late 2010 Macbook Air for over 4 four years.
About two months ago I sold it to help finance a new Macbool Pro 15".

Never used any sort of protection on it.
I used that Air for several hours every day; oftentimes ate in front of it (spaghetti bolognese makes a MESS of your laptop, it turns out); brought it to the office (toilet); regularly stuffed it in packed backpacks, bags and suitcases; wore wristwatches (leather with metal buckles) while using it; and whatever else you can imagine.
Point is: I did not take ANY care about using that thing.
Whenever it started looking too gross I cleaned it with a damp cloth.

And two months ago, after more than four years of abuse, that Mac still looked stunning.
The keys did no longer look new though, they looked a little more ...shiny than new keys.
Apart from that: no scratches, no marks left by my sweaty wrists, no discoloring what so ever; beautiful.

I would never put any sort of protection on a Macbook :)


My iPhone and iPad however, plastic screen protector for the phone, plastic skin on the back for both. No case, ever. Ugh ;)


EDIT:
I did open it up occasionally to blow dust out though. You have to show it a little love now and then.
 
GGJstudios said:
The built-in batteries in the newer Mac unibody notebooks come pre-calibrated and do not require regular calibration like the removable batteries in older Apple notebooks.

Run on battery whenever you need to and plug it in whenever you can. You can plug or unplug any time you need to, regardless of the charged percentage, and you never need to completely drain your battery.
​
The link below should answer most, if not all, of your battery/charging questions, including tips for maximizing battery performance. If you haven’t already done so, I highly recommend you take the time to read it.
Click to expand...

It's a thing I still do coming from a 2008 Macbook. Truth be told It's more of an habit which happens to help (or at least it looks like it helps). Currently rocking around 96% health after roughly 350+ cycles so it doesn't harm it either.
 
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