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Level 3

548 points

How to make logo less prominent on black MacBook

Has anyone had a go at making the Apple logo black or charcoal on the black MacBook? I'm thinking about getting the black model because the matte finish looks a little more durable but the garish looking white logo is a put off.

Posted on Jun 4, 2006 1:44 AM

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ArchUrban

Level 4

1,160 points

Posted on Jun 4, 2006 2:27 AM

well, previous ibook was easily taken a part display to change . but macbook display, frame seem to attach by some strong glue instead of screws, or nut like ibook. this is point. you have to open shell, and change apple logo whatever you want. but macbook looks hard. so I don't recommend.

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Christiaan Author

Level 3

548 points

Jun 4, 2006 6:43 AM in response to Rod Hagen

I suspect a decent sticker might actually look better than many more permanent "fixes" Christian.

Yeah, on second thoughts, you might be right. Wouldn't be as durable but I can think of a few types of adhesive plastics that will look reasonably subtle (such as a perforated one).

Find something of quality that suits your personality or interests and use it as a way of "personalising" the computer, not just covering the existing logo.

Whoa. This is definitely not about "expressing my personality". Please kill me if it is!

Jun 4, 2006 7:02 AM in response to Christiaan

I'd be hesitant to apply anything to the case that may ruin the finish. I suggest that you try out the Macbook for a while, you may not even care after a while. Its not like you see the the logo when you use the computer.

I still think the white logo on the black macbook it slick 🙂

Jun 4, 2006 7:09 AM in response to Christiaan

I feel your pain Christiaan; not so much the Apple logo (which I personally like), but logos on clothing etc. which I find intrusive. Whenever possible I unpick them. If you've ever seen Grandstand on BBC1 on a Saturday afternoon, the presenters all sit round with Powerbooks, the logos of which are covered with a football sticker! So you're not alone.

Ade

Jun 4, 2006 8:02 AM in response to Christiaan

Everyone has different tastes. As a professional designer whose tastes seem to be aligned with those of Apple's design team, I LOVE the look of the black MacBook with the white Apple logo. Just like I LOVE the look of a Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty, or the Parker Fly in all black with it's white logo. To me it represents the perfect balance of great design and branding.

That said, there's a MacFixIt page where they show you how to disassemble your MacBook. Of course it will void the warranty, but if the color of the logo is important to you, then it may be acceptable.

Another thing you could try is using an adhesive-backed colored gel or mylar of some sort, and honing your exacto skills to cut two pieces of precisely trimmed overlay. Then, later if your tastes determine it was not so "garish" after all, you can remove them.

Might be cool to have one color for the Apple, another for the leaf/stem.

Red Apple, Green leaf/stem. Purple or indigo Apple, Yellow leaf/stem.

It would work, I think. I know that there are some clear adhesive films available:

http://www.misterart.com/store/view/001/group_id/656/ULANO-Masking-Films.htm

http://www.misterart.com/store/view/003/group_id/313/GRAFIX-Funky-Film.htm

or if you want to go black, this looks interesting. Some are labeled as "solid" referring to transparency, however, it is most often not the intention of the manufacturer to have them backlit.

http://betterthanpaint.com/store/category.php?CATEGORY=1

Or you might try Rubylith or Amberlith:

http://www.misterart.com/store/view.cfm?group_id=656&store=001

In any case, you may want to try to go this route, detailing what you did, and maybe post images so that others may accomplish it.

An enterprising young person with a good die cutter could actually make a business outta this!

Bob

MCOJerry

Level 2

239 points

Jun 4, 2006 8:21 AM in response to Christiaan

If you open your MacBook to mess with the display, you will absolutely VOID your warranty. If you don't care about this, then by all means, get out the crobar and have a whack at it.

Personally, it's not worth possibly damaging the fragile display. Additionally, the display is held together with glue, making it all the more difficult to open up.

I think you need to just deal with the logo, or go get some other brand of computer...they all come in black an have the crappy design you are looking for.

Nick A

Level 4

1,522 points

Jun 4, 2006 8:24 AM in response to Christiaan

I understand your reasoning as to not wanting to advertise for apple, but even if you buy a dell or other computer they have a big logo on the back of the screen. While dells may not light up, its still very obvious. When trying to cover it up, if not done well, will make everything look really cheap.

VivaLaCaz

Level 2

262 points

Jun 4, 2006 8:25 AM in response to Christiaan

Maybe you can spray paint? but if it wsas a different color black that would look really stupid.

Buty about the stickers, what you could do is instead of 1 sticker right in the middle of the back you could put a bunch of stickers on the back so there is no black just on the back. I think that would look kinda neat if non of the stickers had wrinkles. just my opinion.

Duffy

Level 2

315 points

Jun 4, 2006 8:43 AM in response to VivaLaCaz

You can get to the backside of the Apple fairly easily. The trim around the screen is just snapped on. Once you remove the trim you can remove the screws that attach the screen to the lid. The screen should pivot forward revealing the Apple. You can then cover the apple with something opaque. It should be something thin so as not to cause pressure on the backside of the display.

I wouldn't think disassembling the display would void the warranty unless you broke something while you were in there.

MCOJerry

Level 2

239 points

Jun 4, 2006 1:17 PM in response to Duffy

Duffy - You'd be surprised what a Apple tech can see if you end up having to take your machine in for service. Any hint of opening something you shouldn't and the warranty is GONE.

Also, if he permanatnly changes the logo on the machine, it will be prety evident that it was meddled with...again warranty GONE.

Jun 4, 2006 1:27 PM in response to Michael Flynn

I just bought a black Macbook. I'ts amazing that so much energy can spent on a logo that was there in plain view before the purchase. The sticker idea is excellent.

Jun 4, 2006 2:02 PM in response to Christiaan

Krylon, or perhaps one of those Sharpie markers!

Christiaan Author

Level 3

548 points

Jun 4, 2006 3:50 PM in response to Christiaan

Robert Martin 1 wrote:

To me it represents the perfect balance of great design and branding.

Branding, as far as I can see in the profit driven world, is used to try and make people buy things for reasons other than the purpose of the product and even to disguise the externalities resulting from its production. That's one reason I find it all so distasteful. And thanks for all your very good advice.

musiccomposer wrote:

Don't all laptops have the manufacture logo on the cover?

I don't know if other laptops have logos on them and I don't see the relevance.

greyghost wrote:

I'ts amazing that so much energy can spent on a logo that was there in plain view before the purchase.

I haven't purchased it yet.

Michael Flynn wrote:

I'd be hesitant to apply anything to the case that may ruin the finish.

Me too, that's why I'm trying to ascertain which coatings wouldn't.

VivaLaCaz wrote:

Maybe you can spray paint?

Yeah but what kind I wonder. I guess I would need to talk to a paint specialist.

Nick A wrote:

I understand your reasoning as to not wanting to advertise for apple, but even if you buy a dell or other computer they have a big logo on the back of the screen.

I'm not interested in Dell's hardware. I'm interested in the black MacBook and I'm just curious how I might overcome one of the things I don't like about it.

Ade Fowler wrote:

If you've ever seen Grandstand on BBC1 on a Saturday afternoon, the presenters all sit round with Powerbooks, the logos of which are covered with a football sticker! So you're not alone.

Yeah but I'm picking that has more to do with advertising money than anything else.

Christiaan Author

Level 3

548 points

Jun 4, 2006 3:59 PM in response to MCOJerry

MCOJerry wrote:

If you open your MacBook to mess with the display, you will absolutely VOID your warranty ... Additionally, the display is held together with glue, making it all the more difficult to open up.

Duffy wrote:

You can get to the backside of the Apple fairly easily. The trim around the screen is just snapped on. Once you remove the trim you can remove the screws that attach the screen to the lid. The screen should pivot forward revealing the Apple. You can then cover the apple with something opaque. ... I wouldn't think disassembling the display would void the warranty unless you broke something while you were in there.

MCOJerry wrote:

You'd be surprised what a Apple tech can see if you end up having to take your machine in for service. Any hint of opening something you shouldn't and the warranty is GONE.

Also, if he permanatnly changes the logo on the machine, it will be prety evident that it was meddled with...again warranty GONE.

I wouldn't want to void the warranty but my understanding from reading the warranty is that only damage is not covered. Have a read of it:
http://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/hardware.html

As to how easy it would be to disassemble the display I found these instructions but they don't include pulling the display apart:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/86.1.0.html

Duffy, do you have experience with disassembling the display?

Jun 4, 2006 4:40 PM in response to Christiaan

I'm interested in the black MacBook and I'm just curious how I might overcome one of the things I don't like about it.

If it bothered me as much as it seems to bother you, I just wouldn't buy it if I thought a sticker over the logo wouldn't be satisfactory.

You really never see it yourself, you know?

The whole branding thing started with the alligator on polo shirts, and has gone from bad to worse. I won't walk around, paying a premium for being a walking billboard, either, but the Apple logo on an iBook is a whole different thing, in my opinion. You don't have to be an "Apple fan-boy" to love your computer (and be proud of it). If you're going to be ashamed of having an Apple computer, don't buy one.

I never use my iBook in public. You could go that route, too, and nobody will ever see the Apple logo. If you must use it in public, you could choose a table or desk that faces a wall so nobody sees it. You don't see it because you're looking at the opposite side of the display.

What kind of computer are you using now? Have you solved this problem with it?

Again, if it were going to bother me as much as it seems to bother you, I just wouldn't buy it. Vote on the design with your pocketbook.

Rod Hagen

Level 7

32,000 points

Jun 4, 2006 4:53 PM in response to Christiaan

This is definitely not about "expressing my personality". Please kill me if it is!

Ah, we could have a lovely philosophical debate about that, Christiaan, before deciding whether euthenasia was, indeed required! 😉 Isn't a foreceful determination NOT to express one's personality self contradictory? One adopts this course because one's personality is averse to such forms of display, etc etc! (still, its not the time and place for such discussions , I know, and I'd have to report my post if I entered into a debate about it! 😉 )

Getting back to the primary subject, though, I would be genuinely worried about attempting to dismantle the display to achieve your ends. When display problems occur Apple usually simply replace the entire display & lid as a unit. Its actually pretty easy to do harm while messing around inside the displays of notebooks. Misaligned ribbon cables, lost airport aerial connections, problems with hinges etc etc are all too common when people play around with notebook displays. Any of these things will be seen as damage when it comes to seeking warranty repair.

Cheers

Rod

How to make logo less prominent on black MacBook