Rust in new Macbook Pro- Cause for Concern?

Hi kmore,

Interesting thread! We certainly don't see many like this... 🙂

Apple's specs say this:

_Operating temperature:_ 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
_Storage temperature:_ -13° to 113° F (-24° to 45° C)
_Relative humidity:_ 0% to 90% noncondensing
_Maximum operating altitude:_ 10,000 feet

Now, unless you were using the machine for extended periods at greater than 35ºC (@ 100% humidity) I would say you should be covered. Even 90% humidity is quite high at 35ºC. At that temperature and humidity the humidex could have been close to 50ºC. Even if the machine was just being stored at 45ºC, it should not rust. I doubt you'd see temperatures much higher than that, even in the Mexican jungle. I would give Apple a call. Tell them about the conditions, but also reference those numbers. The machines are made to be portable, and though I doubt they design the machines to operate perfectly in those extremes, they should nonetheless work and not be subject to damage. I believe you should be covered.

Again, just my opinion.

--Travis

This does not sound like something that should happen. Are you still under warranty? If so, you may want to ask about it. It may be a gray area as to whether using it in the Mexican jungle would be considered normal wear and tear. But I don't think a MBP should have rust problems.

Good luck!

... Are you still under warranty? ...

Are you kidding? I wouldn't have the nerve to try to get Apple to warranty repair/replace any electronics item I took into Mexico's jungles - where hot, drenching humidity not only keeps the region lush and thriving with wildlife - but is also known to be one of the most harsh environments for electronics items.

I don;t see any "grey area" here - I see inappropriate use.

Just my opinion, of course. I could be wrong.

We're a long ways from the days when computers filled a room and had to be used in strictly climate controlled conditions. Portables are portable, and are going to be used in a wide variety of conditions. I have not read of any restrictions other than a recommended temperature range for use.

People buy portables and take them all over the world and use them in a variety of ways in a variety of environments, including harsh ones. It is up to Apple--not us--to say what is appropriate usage and what is not. It is notable that the OP's MBP still seems to be working without issue (other than some external rust), even after exposure to such a harsh environment.

I am still surprised that there is rust, as I did not think that there were materials used in the MBP that would rust, even in adverse conditions. If it were mine, I would certainly want to look into whatever was rusting, and replace any rusty items wherever possible. I would want to do this whether or not I was covered under warranty. I'm thinking that the screws may be plated steel rather than stainless steel, and that may be one of the things producing rust. If so, they can and should be replaced.

Just my opinion too.

" I noticed some rusting in the ports"

What does that mean? What exactly is rusting? The connector pins and surfaces are plated. Are you confusing "discoloration" with "rusting"? Are there any operational problems, or are you simply concerned that the ports don't look brand new?

OK - good for you. Now, then - what is the stuff? Is it mildew? Does it come off easily with a Q-Tip? What color is it? If you don;t know what the discoloration/stuff is, do you have a college campus near you - where someone can analyze what it is?

If only on the outside of your machine - great. Might be able to be cleaned up with a lot of patience and small cleaning tools.

But if it's on the inside, too, it's best to know what it is as you strategize cleaning it up.

I think it's very likely that the jackets around the MBP's FireWire, USB, and mini-display ports are made of steel, and I doubt very much that it's stainless steel. There are many other steel parts inside the case, including all the screws, which are certainly not stainless though they may be chrome-plated, and the hard drive and optical drive cases. And there are other metals used in the MBP which are variously subject to corrosion.

Steaming jungles and gritty deserts are implacably hostile environments for all computers (not just portable computers), and it should be taken for granted by everyone who uses computers in such places that the useful life of such equipment will be shortened, perhaps drastically, by doing so. The need to use outside air for cooling makes it impossible to isolate even the machines' innermost recesses from the huge variety of harmful atmospheric and environmental conditions that are encountered on Earth.

In Canada's drier climate the rusting should advance much more slowly, if at all.

I would tend to agree that plated steel is more likely than stainless steel, as it is likely a lot less expensive to produce. The screws in my admittedly older MBP seem to be slightly magnetic, so I assume that they are plated steel. I think that some of the contacts could be plated brass, and could corrode if the plating got rubbed thin with use. And as you say, any computer used in less than ideal circumstances may well suffer the consequences.

I am reminded of another thread some time back, where the Mac was used near the sea shore in a hot humid and salty environment and suffered a considerable amount of internal corrosion.

Still, it sounds like the OP's Mac is working without issue despite its trip into the jungle, and I think that says a lot about its overall durability. The only issue seems to be what the external discoloration might be and what to do about it.

I hope the OP will post some pictures so we can tell what we are talking about.

Kmore said what he's seeing is "rusting in the ports". That sounds pretty clear and specific to me: the steel jackets around the ports are rusting. I doubt that anything can be done to remove the rust or prevent it from advancing without depositing foreign matter on or in the computer, so I think kmore should simply leave it alone, keep an eye on it, and stay in Canada as much of the time as possible.

Message was edited by: eww

+hot, drenching humidity+

The Apple Warranty applies in Queensland, Australia which has similar climatic conditions so I don't see why they wouldn't cover him ...

+Just curious about whether or not I should find a way to deal with the rust before it gets out of control.+

I'd deal with it a.s.a.p. whether for cosmetic or practical reasons ...