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Questions on Front-Edge Pitting

E

ender land

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 26, 2010
876
0
Hi everyone,

Couple quick questions on this topic. My 13" macbook pro (purchased about 14 months ago) is showing some serious signs of pitting on the front edge - see picture.

  1. Is this covered by Applecare at all? None of the threads I found seemed to address this.
  2. Short of buying a cover, what can I do to stop this? Or am I just screwed?
  3. Is this a problem all current mac laptops have?

Advice would be appreciated.
 

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gtessier00 said:
I'm 95% sure that Apple Care won't cover that. How did you do those chips?
Click to expand...

I did not "do" those chips - that is through use. I don't even wear a watch or any jewelry which would explain them.

I also have similar "chips" on the little indentation for opening the case.
 
I guess my question is, did you notice anything when first bought it? I ask this b/c metal doesn't just pit from human skin contact or oils. (please don't take this as a personal attack either)

Do you use a sleeve with a zipper?
 
Last edited:
ender land said:
Hi everyone,

Couple quick questions on this topic. My 13" macbook pro (purchased about 14 months ago) is showing some serious signs of pitting on the front edge - see picture.

  1. Is this covered by Applecare at all? None of the threads I found seemed to address this.
  2. Short of buying a cover, what can I do to stop this? Or am I just screwed?
  3. Is this a problem all current mac laptops have?

Advice would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

cuffling? sleave with a zipper?

do you use a bag may the zipper on the bag is rubing on it?
 
That's odd. I travel extensively for work with my MBP (currently in Johannesburg), which is protected by a Speck case and cosmetically it's still as good as new. How did that happen? Is anyone besides yourself using your computer?
 
Same thing happened to my 13". I do not wear jewelry or anything else that would scratch it. it's only under where my right palm rests on the edge. I'm convinced it's from sweat/oil from my hand, since it's only where my hand rests.
 
jknight8907 said:
Same thing happened to my 13". I do not wear jewelry or anything else that would scratch it. it's only under where my right palm rests on the edge. I'm convinced it's from sweat/oil from my hand, since it's only where my hand rests.
Click to expand...
considering he/she mentioned that it was also on the lid leads me to believe it's from a zipper on a sleeve or a bag.
 
It is possible that if the person has a very alkaline skin that it can react with the metal, not very common, but it does happen.

Also he never mentioned it being on the lid, just the indent for opening the lid.
 
iisforiphone said:
cuffling? sleave with a zipper?

do you use a bag may the zipper on the bag is rubing on it?
Click to expand...

I don't use a bag. I did for a while but I'm about 99% sure this is unrelated to that (it seems to be getting worse? hard to say).

Dweez said:
That's odd. I travel extensively for work with my MBP (currently in Johannesburg), which is protected by a Speck case and cosmetically it's still as good as new. How did that happen? Is anyone besides yourself using your computer?
Click to expand...

Not that I'm aware of :)

jknight8907 said:
Same thing happened to my 13". I do not wear jewelry or anything else that would scratch it. it's only under where my right palm rests on the edge. I'm convinced it's from sweat/oil from my hand, since it's only where my hand rests.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking this is unfortunately the case for me, too. Which is really annoying, since it means that I will probably not get a mac laptop again until they change the case material...
 
My magic mouse is doing the same thing where my fingers rest, I definitely think it has something to do with the oils and the aluminum reacting. Hopefully they fix it for you because this is a big let down.
 
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sweetbrat said:
If you do purchase another MBP in the future, you might want to invest in one of these. It won't fix the damage you have now, but it might prevent it from getting any worse. I have one on my 15" MBP and I don't even notice it being there anymore. http://www.amazon.com/moshi-PalmGuard-Macbook-13-Unibody/dp/B001T57PD0
Click to expand...


I doubt that would stop my problem (does it go around the edge? I'm having issues on the edge.. I don't think that'll do it).

It's just frustrating to spend this much on a laptop I legitimately enjoy a lot and have something so stupid happen, I guess.
 
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ender land said:
I don't use a bag. I did for a while but I'm about 99% sure this is unrelated to that (it seems to be getting worse? hard to say).



Not that I'm aware of :)



I'm thinking this is unfortunately the case for me, too. Which is really annoying, since it means that I will probably not get a mac laptop again until they change the case material...
Click to expand...

The good news is mine has been pitted for several years and has not gotten any worse. Could have also been my environment back then making it worse, as I spent a couple of years in a high-salt, high-temperature area.
 
RC85 said:
I ask this b/c metal doesn't just pit from human skin contact or oils.
Click to expand...

Yes, it does. This is a well-documented issue that has been going on since the unibodies came out. It is only a minority of users who experience it, but it happens.

I can't remember if it's mainly been chalked up to body chemistry, or a certain manufacture date, or what - but a simple search would have pulled up 8 pages of threads, more than a few of which are about this exact scenario. Just saying.
 
SuperCachetes said:
Yes, it does. This is a well-documented issue that has been going on since the unibodies came out. It is only a minority of users who experience it, but it happens.

I can't remember if it's mainly been chalked up to body chemistry, or a certain manufacture date, or what - but a simple search would have pulled up 8 pages of threads, more than a few of which are about this exact scenario. Just saying.
Click to expand...
I know los f MBP owners, including friends who work at the Apple Store and this is first they have heard of it as well.

Either way, that sucks and might want to consider a case to help hide it.
 
It happens. My last 3 macbook pro's had them. For me, they were generally caused by me spinning my mechanical pencil and dropping it and hitting the edge. Every drop = a dent on the edge. I bring that up because I noticed a pen in the picture. :p
It really doesn't take much to get that kind of pitting.

EDIT: The MBP is not painted. It is anodized aluminum. You are essentially chipping away at the aluminum. Once you chip it, there's no fixing it. If it REALLY bothers you, you can always sell your macbook pro and buy another one like I always do.
 
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