Questions on Front-Edge Pitting

[ender land]

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.

 

[gtessier00]

I'm 95% sure that Apple Care won't cover that. How did you do those chips?

 

[ender land]

I'm 95% sure that Apple Care won't cover that. How did you do those chips?

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.

 

[miles01110]

You could try, but they aren't obligated to do anything about the pit marks.

 

[RC85]

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?

 

[heisenberg123]

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.

cuffling? sleave with a zipper?

do you use a bag may the zipper on the bag is rubing on it?

 

[Dweez]

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?

 

[RC85]

cuffling? sleave with a zipper?

do you use a bag may the zipper on the bag is rubing on it?

that's exactly what I was thinking. My previous Early 2010 model Core2Duo MBP I used a Case Logic with the protected zippers.

 

[jknight8907]

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.

 

[RC85]

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.

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.

 

[jknight8907]

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.

He did not mention the lid.

 

[heisenberg123]

He did not mention the lid.

yes it was not in his first post but the OPs 2nd post on this thread

 

[squeakr]

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.

 

[jknight8907]

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.

yes it was not in his first post but the OPs 2nd post on this thread

.

 

[ender land]

cuffling? sleave with a zipper?

do you use a bag may the zipper on the bag is rubing on it?

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).

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?

Not that I'm aware of

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.

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...

 

[bumzo1]

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.

 

[blueroom]

Chalk it down to normal wear and tear. I've got little bangs and dent's all over my MacBook.

And no Apple won't fix it for free.

 

[sweetbrat]

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

 

[ender land]

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

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.

 

[jknight8907]

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...

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.

 

[SuperCachetes]

I ask this b/c metal doesn't just pit from human skin contact or oils.

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.

 

[RC85]

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.

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.

 

[miles01110]

It is not uncommon. The paint that covers the unibodies doesn't stick well to the sharp edges... just like every other kind of paint.

 

[iforbes]

It is not uncommon. The paint that covers the unibodies doesn't stick well to the sharp edges... just like every other kind of paint.

I don't think the Macbook Pro aluminum body is painted?

 

[syan48306]

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.
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.