Sharp Edges on Mac Book Pro

Question

Level 1

18 points

Sharp Edges on Mac Book Pro

The sharp edges on the mac laptops hurt arms a lot while working. It almost cuts the arms during typing on apple laptops hence making impossible to work. I have got marks on my arms now due to the sharp edges.

Mac book pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jun 22, 2010 4:37 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

coreytodds

Level 1

6 points

Jul 5, 2010 10:43 PM in response to ironman699

Yes, designed without ergonomics in mind at all...

the threadstarter is right. I've owned a half dozen laptops, both Macs and PCs, and I have never experienced this pain and sharp cutting into the wrist before. Generally, I can be on my older laptops for hours before my wrists begin to fatigue. With the MBP (which I love, btw...) it is literally within 20 minutes they're feeling sensitive and painful from the constant leaning against the sharp edges. It's just annoying, and probably not good for the nerves.

It shouldn't matter whether or not you have correct posture, as you're going to regularly bump against it, as it is simply a bad place to put sharp edges. Common sense, really.

For those of you blindly defending what is essentially poor ergonomic design, give it a rest. It's a clear product flaw. If you cared about Apple, you would help it make better products...

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Answer 2

tywai

Level 1

0 points

Apr 5, 2011 7:14 PM in response to mnq

I'm not a big feedback guy. I never write letters to companies or fill out comment cards 🙂 But, I have to say something about this just because I'm a huge fan of Apple. I love everything about Apple. I love the OS. I love your hardware. The design of your products. Everything. I have pretty much every mac product. But I have to give up on using a Mac as my main computer due to this sharp edge problem. I've tried putting up with it. I've tried different models (MBP 15, MBP 13, MBA). And they are all fine when using them at a desk. But when using them in any other position (what laptops are for!) is just downright painful. I can't use them for more than 10 mins without getting soar. I see that other people have no problems with it.... maybe it's just the makeup of my arm/hand length. I dunno. But, I just know it's not comfortable at all. So just letting you guys know! I don't want to do it... but I put in an order for a pc laptop (bleh) for the sake of my wrists. Hopefully I can get Mac OS loaded on it 🙂

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Answer 3

mnq Author

Level 1

18 points

Jun 28, 2010 12:15 PM in response to iVmichael

Thats a lame excuse michael..
Its a laptop, try keeping it in ur lap and then type something u will urself see the result.. U dont have to have a knife like sharp edges on it...no other laptop in world has..the edges on its screen are round and smooth but its other way round on the keyboard..

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Answer 4

ubergoob

Level 1

0 points

Jun 12, 2014 10:57 AM in response to mnq

So after having bought my new MacBook Pro, I too sent out on a venture to find a solution and found either no solution, or unacceptable solutions (for the most part). So having a wife who is a scrapbooker, who also owns a Cameo cutter.. I got to thinking I should pimp out my MacBook with some sweet custom cut vinyl decals. Then a thought came to me. What if I created a vinyl wrap for the front edge with some sort of "padding" under just the corner!

Prototype before I have her cut me a sweet set of vinyl wraps:

Here you can see that the vinyl is very thin and adds almost no thickness to the wrist area:

You can see the slight padding I have under the vinyl that just wraps the edge. For this "prototype" I just cut about a 1/4 inch strip of a paper towel. I used a "towel" type paper towel, not that harsh rough stuff. I had Viva brand on hand:

It's not impacting closing the MacBook at all as you can see here:

I've used this for 2 days now working for approx 12 hours each day and I have no more harsh edge lines on my wrist. And she happened to have some scrap black vinyl that happens to match the keyboard perfectly. Looks pretty sweet. Of course I could find a brushed or just aluminum color so they would virtually be unnoticable.

Also, these are completely removeable without leaving any residue. If there is any left, it's very minor and removed by just slight rubbing of the residue. This is the same vinyl used for signs or crafts.

I may have my wife cut these on her Cameo with the theme of the OS releases. Lion (would have been) lion paws, Mavericks will be waves and Yosemite will be silhouettes of El Capitan and maybe Sentinel Rock. But who knows, maybe they will be flames or something else fun. We'll see. 😎

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Answer 5

Jun 28, 2010 12:31 PM in response to mnq

In defence to Michael he is correct

Taken from http://www.safecomputingtips.com/laptop-ergonomics-tips.html

"9. Avoid resting your wrists while typing. Keep your wrists as flat as possible. Use whole hand and arm movements to navigate the Laptop Ergonomics keyboard. Avoid bending your neck and head forward to see the screen. This is the way to arrange your seating posture to avoid Ergonomic Laptop disorders."

I can understand that resting your wrist on that area hurts, but even if it were rounded off
#1 the design would look funny from a side profile view.
#2 Components would have to be smaller as the fillet in the aluminum would need support as to not deform under pressure.

and lastly and most important.
#3 "Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist." resting your wrist on that area wether sharp or rounded WILL CAUSE CARPEL TUNNEL. In fact one reason why I like that it is sharp is that it keeps my wrists off it. Must like a stove is hot so you won't touch it.

I hope you can easily correct your habits. In fact Michaels suggestion is a great easy fix form most people. But if you insist doing work on your lap they make pads/stands for that.

FYI Apple does not recommend the use of their notebook computers on laps, for several reasons. Air flow is restricted and people tend to use bad ergonomics. Apple recommends the use of their notebook computers on a flat surface like a table or desk.

http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro/care/
"General Safety Instructions
Read and follow all instructions marked on the product and in the manual before operating your MacBook Pro. Be sure to keep the instructions handy for your reference and for others.
Set your MacBook Pro on a stable work surface.
Keep your computer away from sources of liquids, such as drinks, sinks, bathtubs, shower stalls, and so on.
Protect your computer from dampness or wet weather, such as rain, snow, and fog.
The MacBook Pro power adapter port contains a magnet. Do not place magnetically sensitive material or devices within 1 inch (25 mm) of this port.
Never push objects of any kind into the MacBook Pro ventilation openings."

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Answer 6

tjk

Level 9

51,142 points

Mar 24, 2011 4:11 PM in response to wie715

wie715 wrote:
I readily admit that my ergonomics are appalling. I slump, I type on my lap, on crap desks in the back of developing market focus groups, in hotel beds and on planes. That's why I have a portable computer. Maybe I will get carpal tunnel, but I'll also get my email out by the end of the day today. If only the computer I otherwise love didn't make my wrist look like I'd hurt myself in the process. Can't we accept that my technique isn't perfect and just make it work for me anyway? I'd lose weight getting up to change the channel, too, but I do like using the remote. P-lease.

😉

Product Feedback

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Answer 7

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Jun 22, 2010 5:52 AM in response to mnq

Welcome to Apple Discussions 🙂

Your wrists should not be anywhere near the edge of the laptop when typing that's bad ergonomics and posture ...

Try placing a book or something the same thickness in front so your wrists don't hang down in that way.

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Answer 8

mnq Author

Level 1

18 points

Jun 29, 2010 9:12 AM in response to Steve Lessard Jr

This is not my complaint only..In this discussion forum itself its evident how many customers are complaining..
This also means that children shouldn't use apple laptops, when it hurts adults a lot what will happen to their young soft and delicate arms.
Apple should bold admit the wrong design.. and find a solution to it which should be replacing such laptops of customers world wide with soft edges one..till the time this is done provide long wrist bands to the customers so that they wear them while working on apple laptops...

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Answer 9

mnq Author

Level 1

18 points

Jul 2, 2010 7:47 AM in response to Steve Lessard Jr

Read and watch this...It should open your eyes so that u can admit and fix this issue.
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnGAlf1hjs4&feature=player_embedded
2) http://onemansblog.com/2010/03/11/video-rant-taking-the-sharp-edge-off-the-macbo ok-pro/

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Answer 10

Jul 2, 2010 12:23 PM in response to mnq

I am not going to argue about this point. Ergonomics win. If you properly support your elbows while using your MBP you should not have any problems with your wrists. I have owned several unibodies and the only time I have experienced this problem is when my wrists were supporting the notebook.

By all means take a file to your MBP, or if you are still within they 14 day return window return it.

If your wrists are getting hurt like that then like I said in my other post
#3 "Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist."

If the edges were rounded off, and did not cause discomfort, and millions of people complained because they all developed carpal tunnel syndrome because their MBP supported bad ergonomics.

BTW I used my friends dell on my lap for about 10 minutes. His dell is plastic and has rounded off corners...and guess what... MY WRISTS HAD MARKS!

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Answer 11

Jul 5, 2010 10:58 PM in response to Steve Lessard Jr

Steve Lessard Jr wrote:

If the edges were rounded off, and did not cause discomfort, and millions of people complained because they all developed carpal tunnel syndrome because their MBP supported bad ergonomics.

BTW I used my friends dell on my lap for about 10 minutes. His dell is plastic and has rounded off corners...and guess what... MY WRISTS HAD MARKS!

OK, first of all, you're using the term ergonomics incorrectly: Ergonomics is the science of designing the job, equipment, and workplace to fit the worker. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability.

So, you're saying that Apple put those sharp edges there in order to correct the posture of people not practicing "ergonomics" (what you meant was "correct posture", but I understood what you were trying to say).

That is a bit sadistic, and intrusive, isn't it?

I just think you're wrong. It is bad design, ergonomics were not factored in, and they don't really care. It's no secret, for Apple: Aesthetics > Ergonomics

PS- That iPhone 4 you have? "You're holding it wrong."

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Answer 12

Jul 5, 2010 11:57 PM in response to coreytodds

It's an interesting issue.

For most folks (like myself) the edges simply aren't an issue. I've used my MPB for 8 hour+ stretches at a time and have experienced zero pain. Same with my wife.

But a good friend of mine complains he can't work more than twenty minutes without the edges driving him crazy.

If Apple rounded off the edges I doubt anyone would really care. So it seems like an easy fix in the next rev.

Obviously if someone feels so strongly about it they're willing to take a file to their MPB it's a valid problem -- for THEM. It's a lot of money to shell out for a device you feel you can't use comfortably.

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Answer 13

Aug 1, 2010 3:56 PM in response to coreytodds

I agree with Corey. I too have owned many laptops, all Macs, and I've never experienced this sharp, cutting problem on my wrists before. It looks like I've attempted to slash them. For the money spent on this otherwise wonderful machine, Apple could have 'cut corners' on their world class design look and made the MBP more comfortable to use. I'm not going to take a file to the razor sharp edge since that would destroy the clean look of the uni body design and might even create an opening that would allow dust to enter. So I'm stuck with a piece of art that I can't use without some pain. Too bad.

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Answer 14

Aug 1, 2010 5:09 PM in response to edwinsail

Mea culpa to mnq (above) who posted the videos of a guy (maybe him) who took a large metal file to his MBP to file down the sharp edges. I said above, that I wouldn't ever do that... but then got to thinking if the file were less industrial looking, maybe...

So I used the finer of the two, diamond encrusted files on my Leatherman® WAVE, very gently and the razor sharp edge did get 80% blunted. Then I used a small piece of 000 steel wool and cleaned up any rough edges from the file work. Now it's not near as sharp and painful, and it in no perceivable way destroyed the look of the machine. But... as someone else said, Apple should definitely round those corners in the next gen of this MBP.

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Answer 15

Aug 20, 2010 4:34 PM in response to mnq

I agree with mnq. I had my Macbook on my desk while I was sitting on the floor stretching and I got like a mini papercut from the front edge of my MbP. I came on here to see if it was just me and came upon this post. Those edges are indeed sharp. I thought about trying to file the edge down slightly by rubbing the flat side of a pencil on it but it literally scratched off all the paint instead. Mine has like an ever so slight barded edge which makes it have a sharpened knife quality to it. I'll admit, I'am learning to stay away from those edges.

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