Aluminum Pitting

Question

Level 2

220 points

Aluminum Pitting

Hi. I just bought a sleek MacBook Pro and was wondering if anyone new about the status of aluminum pitting that used to occur on other aluminum laptops. I have a powerbook G4 from late 2005 and about 6 months after I got it, pitting began occurring in the aluminum where my right hand would sit. This apparently was an issue on all of the aluminum powerbooks up until that generation. I was wondering if anyone knew about the state of this issue in newer aluminum PowerBooks/MacBooks. I don't see many posts about this anymore. In any case, I will use a cloth under my right hand as, apparently, I have corrosive sweat (actually some postulated that it was an electrolytic effect between sweat and low level currents running through the aluminum oxide).

Thanks

MacBook Pro 2.8GHz, 320Gb, 4Gb, Mac OS X (10.5.5), iPhone 3G, PBG4 1.67, iMac G4/800, PB WallStreet G4/500 upgrade

Posted on Nov 18, 2008 9:39 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 18, 2008 1:51 PM in response to lsmall

yes. I brought up this subject here.

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8439407#8439407

I've opted to buy invisibleshield I would hate for my new MBP to suffer
the same fate. I already seem to see a faint line where my palm has
rested...pretty faint for now but I see it being a problem over time so I went
ahead and ordered invisibleshield yesterday. Until it gets here I very conscious
of not resting my palm down.

With all the time Apple spent showing us how the
durable unibody construction is best in class. Showing
us the behind the scene action in the October video.
They seemed to have failed in addressing this issue.
This laptop frame is built very tough,but this unsightly pitting
is will still be a issue imo.

null

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Answer 2

lsmall Author

Level 2

220 points

Nov 19, 2008 6:59 AM in response to john ooten

Thanks for your reply

Unfortunately (or fortunately), it doesn't happen to everyone so Apple doesn't address it officially. However I think they have addressed it amongst themselves, because when I brought the PBG4 in to the Apple store when it was still under warranty, they said, in a very scripted and hip shot way, they can't be responsible for damage caused by hand creams. An interesting "party line", but I'm not that dainty. In any case, it isn't covered by warranty as it is considered wear and tear and is only aesthetic. I've tried various shields, but they get dirty, so I just keep the screen cleaning cloth under my wrist.

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