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To Shield or NOT to Shield .. ?
- Thread starter mike000
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Finished up putting a BSE on my Air and an IS on my iPod.
I'm almost certain they are the same material. The texture and composition of the material seems identical, including the slight "tackyness" (which does make the Air a lot easier to hold btw).
Observations:
- Air looks much better glossy!
- The BSE is cut differently than the IS for the wrist rest area. I believe the IS is composed of 3 pieces: wrist rest, touchpad and touchpad button. The BSE on the other hand is made up of 4 pieces: left/right wrist rest, touchpad and touchpad button. Coverage difference is negligible (~1/2 square inch difference).
- Found no streaks whatesoever with the BSE (i.e. no 24 hour curing period). After application I was waiting for streaks to appear after reading so many application stories here - but none ever did. No bubbles! Not sure if this is due to the composition of the application solution, but I followed the BSE website's recipe using some liquid hand soap. Some streaks on the IS, but to be fair I didn't have the same surface area as the Air, so I couldn't squeegie as effectively.
Tips:
- Don't be afraid to use solution!
- Use a slightly flexible card rather than a stiff credit card to squeegie (I used a library card). This worked great on the tapered edges.
- Dip your card into the solution while squeeging - it'll keep everything gliding nicely.
- Have lots of paper towels on hand
- Really clean the surface well before applying
The IS obviously has a flashier website and makes bolder promises, but IMO that's just marketing - and you pay for it in the marked up price.
Go with a BSE and you won't be disappointed!
I'm almost certain they are the same material. The texture and composition of the material seems identical, including the slight "tackyness" (which does make the Air a lot easier to hold btw).
Observations:
- Air looks much better glossy!
- The BSE is cut differently than the IS for the wrist rest area. I believe the IS is composed of 3 pieces: wrist rest, touchpad and touchpad button. The BSE on the other hand is made up of 4 pieces: left/right wrist rest, touchpad and touchpad button. Coverage difference is negligible (~1/2 square inch difference).
- Found no streaks whatesoever with the BSE (i.e. no 24 hour curing period). After application I was waiting for streaks to appear after reading so many application stories here - but none ever did. No bubbles! Not sure if this is due to the composition of the application solution, but I followed the BSE website's recipe using some liquid hand soap. Some streaks on the IS, but to be fair I didn't have the same surface area as the Air, so I couldn't squeegie as effectively.
Tips:
- Don't be afraid to use solution!
- Use a slightly flexible card rather than a stiff credit card to squeegie (I used a library card). This worked great on the tapered edges.
- Dip your card into the solution while squeeging - it'll keep everything gliding nicely.
- Have lots of paper towels on hand
- Really clean the surface well before applying
The IS obviously has a flashier website and makes bolder promises, but IMO that's just marketing - and you pay for it in the marked up price.
Go with a BSE and you won't be disappointed!
Thanks Meagain
Thank you Meagain, glad it was useful.
FourFridays - Very nice blog on the Air and photos. Thanks for posting that.
I might be an Air owner next week.
Thank you Meagain, glad it was useful.
I really have to bite my tongue when I'm showing someone something on my Air and they touch the screen... I just know I'll have to be wiping those greasy prints off later!
Computer faux pas #1 should be touching another person's screen - mobile or otherwise!
So true. This is particular painful when I'm showing something to a client and he/she touches a part of the screen. Impolitic to say, 'please DON'T touch my computer's screen!" Have thot that it'd be nice to have a mild electrical force field to discourage such grubbiness.
After a few days of using the BSE, I decided to remove it from my trackpad. I find it just too slow, and my fingers don't slide over it nicely.
Anyhow, this left me with a piece of the skin material to play with! This stuff is great. It's definitely better at protecting from punctures rather than cuts, but using a sharp Swiss Army knife it does take a decent amount of force to cut through. Using the tip of the knife and a sharp pencil, it's almost impossible to pierce the material.
I was also pleased with how it came off. I was definitely expecting a lot of residue, but there was absolutely none! It really does just peel right off (but why would you want to?).
It's wonderful stuff... I think I'm hooked!
Anyhow, this left me with a piece of the skin material to play with! This stuff is great. It's definitely better at protecting from punctures rather than cuts, but using a sharp Swiss Army knife it does take a decent amount of force to cut through. Using the tip of the knife and a sharp pencil, it's almost impossible to pierce the material.
I was also pleased with how it came off. I was definitely expecting a lot of residue, but there was absolutely none! It really does just peel right off (but why would you want to?).
It's wonderful stuff... I think I'm hooked!
Am also thinking of peeling off the track pad invisible shield but am concerned about the protection for the trackpad.... agonise, agonise...
To me the wrist rest area is the part that needs the most protection in that area. My watch made all kinds of scratches on my old MB.
The trackpad will I assume eventually lose it's texture in areas from constant use. For me, I use the trackpad gestures so much that I'm willing to accept that wear rather than deal with the stickyness of the shield. On the outside, the tackiness adds a great feel to the Air, but I want my fingers sliding on the trackpad, and found I just couldn't do it smoothly enough with the shield on.
The trackpad will I assume eventually lose it's texture in areas from constant use. For me, I use the trackpad gestures so much that I'm willing to accept that wear rather than deal with the stickyness of the shield. On the outside, the tackiness adds a great feel to the Air, but I want my fingers sliding on the trackpad, and found I just couldn't do it smoothly enough with the shield on.
Man. I guess the great thing about being older than God is that I've come to think of all computers (or for that matter, all computing devices and computer peripherals) as being more or less like just another kitchen appliance.
I have never examined my toaster or blender to see if they have any little marks or them or stray fingerprints on the non-food-processing surfaces. Ditto my laptops and iPods. Particularly the iPods. They're AUDIO devices, not Barbie dolls.
Now if someone tried to plug a USB cable into one of my USB-or-FW drives while it was actively being used as a Firewire device... I would go ballistic.
I have never examined my toaster or blender to see if they have any little marks or them or stray fingerprints on the non-food-processing surfaces. Ditto my laptops and iPods. Particularly the iPods. They're AUDIO devices, not Barbie dolls.
Now if someone tried to plug a USB cable into one of my USB-or-FW drives while it was actively being used as a Firewire device... I would go ballistic.
Alphaod - I searched and am coming up with Track Pad Film by Power Support. Is that what you meant? Where you use no 'solution' to install? If so, I was just thinking the ideal situation for the trackpad would be the Power Support film I have on my iPhone glass. Smooth as silk and don't even know it's on.
Can you or anyone confirm that this product is indeed identical to the Power Support iPhone glass cover?? Cuz that would make total sense over the BSE or IS more textured product.
Can you or anyone confirm that this product is indeed identical to the Power Support iPhone glass cover?? Cuz that would make total sense over the BSE or IS more textured product.
Hey, thanks for the tip. Will try that...
Pls confirm that it is the power support product.
Last night I spent over an hour putting IS on my MBA. I've used IS products before but on smaller coverage areas. Yes, the trick is to use lots of spray, but even then it's next to impossible unless you're very lucky to get that bubble-free look. I only put it on the top screen portion and not the bottom as I'm concerned about the heating problem that others have reported.
i have the IS on the top, bottom, wristpad, and trackpad. I've never had a problem with the bottom area even when the laptop was burning hot to the touch. once the IS is fully cured, it will never move around.
Could not resist the thought of a naked track pad... just removed it and feels real great! Will have to order that track pad film soon!
Yes that's the one, but no it's not like the iPhone one. It's similar, but it's not the same; it's like the matte one, but the adhesive seems stronger. Originally I used the TrackFilm for the trackpad button, but I like the grip on the InvisibleShield for the button.
Yes it is. They come with 2 sets per package. Just make sure you clean your trackpad well before applying and do it one try; you will get dust if you retry; also you don't have to rub it down, just put it on and it will be fine.
Doesn't help me that much; the accidental setting is in the Preferences.
System Preferences --> Keyboard and Mouse --> Trackpad --> Check 'Ignore Accident Trackpad Input'
Am I on crack? I can't find this option where you mentioned.
Attachments
I just realized I can't either; at the Apple Store asking right now!
The old machines had this option.
I've installed the BSE on my MBA, IPT, and Blackberry. I'm loving it!! It was fairly simple and straight forward. After about 24 hours the few air bubbles and "streaks" I had on the MBA disappeared. The BB and IPT went on perfectly - no bubbles or anything.
Yesterday I installed the Best Skins Ever MBA skin. I ordered the fully body skin but decided not to use the trackpad skin.
Installation of the top, bottom, and wrist skins took me only about 20 minutes. It was incredibly simple. There were no bubbles or anything. I was a bit worried about the way it would make the MBA look but I think it looks great!
Installation of the top, bottom, and wrist skins took me only about 20 minutes. It was incredibly simple. There were no bubbles or anything. I was a bit worried about the way it would make the MBA look but I think it looks great!