ibook smell

This is a URL I saw from another posting (for "cleaning keys"). It looks like a flexible cover that can be overlaid on the keyboard. Perhaps this might keep the smell down? (Although perhaps when you take it off after a while, the buildup of the smell may explode into the room!)

http://www.iskinprotect.com/iskin4ibook.html

I like the smell.

...
I can't believe I just sniffed my keyboard...

It doesn't smell bad though, just plastic-ish. I got it on the 4th of this month (Go Switchers!), and I have noticed though that when I run it for long streches of time (like, 5-10 hrs w/ no sleep cool-down breaks) it does start to have more of a heavy plastic smell. Like, if I leave my room and come back in, I can smell it. I dunno. Not a bad smell, just a hot-plastic-cause-theres-so-much-computer-in-so-little-space smell. I dunno. Maybe some warranty-voiding modifications would help. A water-cooled iBook.... hmmmm.... ^_^

Although my keyboard (as yet) doesn't smell like anything but regular plastic, I think this problem definitely has to do with the plastic reacting to the heat of the machine for this reason: I once had a lamp that came with a plastic shade (same basic type of plastic, too; sort of translucent white), and which called for 100 watt bulbs so it got pretty hot. Without fail, every time it heated up it smelled that way.

In matter of fact, I like the smell, too.

Mine (iBook) doesn't smell anything like B.O. [thank god], it smells more like a "new computer" with my fregrance and sweet plastic.

My wife said, "hey our iBook smells so nice". Let me tell you this, I have smelled so many new notebooks and some of them smelled awful, including SONY's VAIOs. There were worse, i can't tell you how many times I was scared that it was melting my laps or the bedsheets.

By the way, i got mine exactly a week ago, and it is still new, so the B.O. of iBook may get to mine sometime later. Well keep you posted. 😉

Just this month I made my last payment on my Dual USB iBook and I started noticing a strange smell coming off of the keyboard. I thought it was something temporary but it is now permanent.

My warranty has expired (1 year) and I thought I would check if anyone had this strange problem. I cant believe someone has described this smell the exact same way I thought of it!... B.O.

Anyway, I don't hold much hope for any help from Apple since I'm one of the first people that posted information about the eMac's video problems and they sort of dealt with that after a year or more after the issue became HUGE! The moderators were no help, seems they take the same stance as Apple.

This is my second Apple purchase that in my opinion has quality control problems. I suggest we keep investigating the smell problem ourselves because I find it VERY hard to believe Apple will do anything.
I hope I'm proven wrong.

I just bought an 800 mhz 12" iBook will I experience the smell?

Right now it smells like new plastic... much like my iMac did when I got it. Smells good for now.

Ok i know that this is not really that related but i thought that it may be of interest. When i take a music CD out on loan from my local library it too has BO smell ( i have never experienced this before with anything, or have experienced it with anything else).

at first it took me a while to determine that it was the CDs from the library and not me (or anyone else in close proximilty) but it happens with EVERY single one i check out!

I am very intruigued with the hypothesis that it may be the plastic causing the smell...

I fully sympathise with all those of you who have a problem and hope that a solution is found soon. if it is anything like the smell with the library CDs it really is disgusting!

louise
my library is in NY for what it is worth humidity wise.

I just stumbled across this topic today... strange. i have a 12" pb. no stink problems...

thats really odd, sorry people

I once went around all day wondering why everything smelled like apples. I mean, everywhere I went I smelled apples. Then I realized it was my breakfast stuck in my mustache.

Actually that was kind of embarrasing 😉

My iBook keyboard smells just like plastic should smell - nothing. But it's a 500 MHz model. My iMac 800 15" keyboard smells like coffee, but I think my wife spilled some into it once (and now the left option key doesn't work).

Sorry but this topic was too weird to pass up. I feel for the unfortunate ones who have to put up with their "stinky" iBOok.

yeah David,
I was hoping you all would notice that BO is the iBooks middle name

kind of like a fashion statement - i BO, OK?

Stuart

Hey, tomorrow I might be more helpful, but today my iBook smells like new plastic ... six weeks old so it hasn't really broken a sweat yet

Same here. My other half has a 500MHz iBook and the keyboard STINKS! I've opened it to install ram and the rest doesn't stink. The keyboard is spotless and regularly cleaned with alcohol swabs to remove dirt and oil from hands using it. Apple should offer a keyboard exchange similar to the G3 Powerbook exchange. I don't blame them 'cause they couldn't know what the plastic would be like after six months of use, but still should offer something.

here are some tips from my lab:

you may want to try using a 10% bleach solution, gently (but sort of liberally) wiping it on the tops of your keys, the wrist rest area, the track pad and button (make sure not to make it drippy!), and very carefully around the bezel of the screen. let it sit until dry, reapply then wipe clean. finish off with a 70% alcohol solution (ethanol is best, but isopropanol (standard rubbing alcohol) will do, wipe it down, let it air dry, then repeat the process a couple times. it's really important to let your alcohol air dry (and to use a 70% solution), because that's the best way to kill mold and bacteria.
I wouldn't be surprised if you guys have a nasty little skin bacterium growing in the tiny crevices of the keys on your keyboard, which makes for that BO smell.
Oh, and if all else fails, repeated swipes with a qtip dipped in hydrogen peroxide (buy a new bottle -- it loses its strength pretty fast) on the keys will probably be able to kill it.

one other idea -- do you guys carry your iBooks in a dedicated laptop sleeve/bag? it may need a trip through the washer (or dry cleaners). especially if you keep your dirty undershirts in there with the ibook. 😉

This has to be the weirdest posts i have ever read. I don't own a iBook yet but will in a few months and hope i don't run into this.

But i think i found your problem, you guys are burning the little Mac people in your iBooks. Poor poor little Mac people, what did they do to you.

Sorry I Couldn't help myself, but this is the first time I've ever heard of a computer with

B.O.!!!I'd try a powder deorderant, just a little bit. Test it on a peice of like plastic, and see if it doesn't crode or conduct first. Other than that order a new keyboard if its

B.O.!!!gets to bad.
Please visit The Mac Forum that George Jin, James McDowall and I from the Apple Discussions are trying to get off the ground, I'm not trying to spam just asking you guys. We just started it earlier this week and are looking to get at least a few users. Tell your friends, family, and other users please.
Duo †