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Level 1

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Yellow Discoloration

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I have a three week old Macbook. The plastic on the palm rest and on the screen bezel where you open the screen has begun to have a yellow discoloration. At first, I thought it was dirty so I cleaned it with the stuff that I used to clean my iBook with and it had no effect (tried several things, a damp cloth, Windex, Magic Eraser). I thought it was some dirt from touching it but then I noticed that it was starting to appear at the bottom of the screen, where I have never touched this thing. I am concerned that there is a problem with the plastic that they made the palm rests out of. It is a different material than what was used on the iBook, I think.

So, does anyone have any insight into what caused this or how to clean it off? I know it doesn't affect how it operates but I don't want a brand new laptop that looks like I chain-smoked three packs a day while using it.

PowerMac G5 2x2GHz, Macbook 1.83, Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Posted on Jun 10, 2006 11:00 AM

262 replies

Sean P2

Level 2

315 points

Jun 11, 2006 8:21 PM in response to stauffere

Wow thats terrible, I thought the problem of 'pitting' on the AL Power Book's was bad, but that looks a lot worse. Hopefully Apple will replace these computers.

SP2

Jun 11, 2006 8:26 PM in response to Nick A

Nick A, you are right you caught us, we are all lying. It is a mass conspiracy against you and Apple.

Nick A

Level 4

1,522 points

Jun 11, 2006 8:40 PM in response to ArianBlackthorne

lol, this kind of attitude because I would like to see some pictures and want to know if cleaning the computer fixes the problem? Wow!

nick

jisu Min

Level 1

0 points

Jun 11, 2006 8:42 PM in response to Nick A

Nick read the previous posts. They tried everything from Windex, iKlear and Eraser.

Nick A

Level 4

1,522 points

Jun 11, 2006 8:45 PM in response to jisu Min

Thank you I have. I see he's taking it to applecare, hopefully they can resolve such an ugly situation.

Nick

stauffere Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 11, 2006 8:50 PM in response to Technarch

No, I don't smoke. I also don't eat while using the computer. I don't use any tanning products or lotion or anything along thoe lines. I can't imagine what could be causing this.

I tried to take some pictures today but it is really difficult to photograph. Do you think it is worth calling Apple about? Maybe they could at least give me a case number to follow up on if it gets worse.

Nick A

Level 4

1,522 points

Jun 11, 2006 8:54 PM in response to stauffere

You definately should call Apple if it's bothering you. No one on these user threads can really help with a problem like that since it's no technical. Tell them exactly what you just told us about not smoking, etc and see what they say. It's under warranty and if it bothers you get it taken care of.

Nick

Jun 11, 2006 9:15 PM in response to stauffere

My white MacBook is becomming discolored also. It seems that the plastic is actually changing color and it is not a stain. I have tried removing it with AJAX which would remove ANY stain like this, but it did not

I do not smoke and keep myself clean, so I don't know why it would do this. Kind of makes me mad.

Jun 11, 2006 9:37 PM in response to stauffere

That looks like discoloring from heat, but there is nothing underneath there to give off heat is there, I mean beneath the palm rests. is there any of this happening on the outside of the notebook? If so then check for a texture difference between the plastic inside and the plastic outside where the discoloring is.

Jun 11, 2006 9:57 PM in response to tswartz

Mine looks exactly like this, and is on the palm rests, below the space bar and command keys, around the R and T keys and right below the page down key.

It's absolutely horrible, but I'm going to wait until Apple has announced some sort of fix or I've at least read it on here to call and complain.

lexxmac

Level 1

0 points

Jun 11, 2006 10:34 PM in response to StickClicks5

There's nothing to put out heat underneath the palm rest?! Under one side of the palm rest is the hard drive, one of the biggest heat producers in the machine. The battery is under the other side. My iBook's battery never get's warm, but the MacBooks use a new lithium polymer battery that may indeed have different properties (such as getting warm).

Jun 11, 2006 11:01 PM in response to stauffere

yeah, that problem *****. i just recently got a macbook and it crashed, wouldnt turn off properly, and web pages loaded soooooooooooooooo slow. it basically sucked a lot. I returned it and got a new one because they called my last one DOA so i was hopeful for a new one that didn't suck. now im really ****** because this yellow color thing is probably going to SUCK BIG TIME too. seriously, some of you guys posting opn here are taking defense for apple its seems more to convince yourself you made the right decision getting it and are trying to defy the "haters". whatever to that logic. i like macs but when there are ALL THESE PROBLEMS with a particular machine design because apple is trying to cut corners in very poor and unsuccessful means then we can't just brush it off or it will get worse not better. IF ANY APPLE STAFF READ THIS PLEASE TELL YOUR DESIGNERS THAT THE BUYING PUBLIC IS ****** OFF AT LACK OF PROPER MATERIALS AND EXCESSIVE GLITCHES ON THE NEW MACBOOK.

m4ttsn0w

Level 1

0 points

Jun 12, 2006 12:07 AM in response to stauffere

Have any of you thought about taking apart the case to see if it is indeed heat related?

See instructions here for disassembly: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/86.1.7.html

There is a layer of aluminum that separate the guts from the keyboard.

What is the common thread here? So far it looks like everyone posting has a 2.0GHz model.
The 2.0GHz model will use more power and has a bigger hard drive.
Is it possible the batteries have a different model number on the 2.0GHz?
What model hard drive is in your 2.0GHz?
My 1.8GHz has a "TOSHIBA MK6034GSX", here is a page I found with temp limitations of the drive:
http://www3.toshiba.co.jp/storage/english/spec/hdd/mk6034gsx.htm

I would love to see some more data collected on this topic. I find it hard to beleive that this is anything but a stain. but Apple has F-bombed in the past so who knows. 😟

Macbook 1.8GHz, 2GB Mushkin RAM, External USB DVD-DL burner Mac OS X (10.4.6) Bootcamping, and partying with Parallels.

Jun 12, 2006 12:48 AM in response to stauffere

Additionally, some others and I have found that part of the bezel under the keyboard is chipping off:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2357814

HiramvdG

Level 1

24 points

Jun 12, 2006 5:19 AM in response to Technarch

technarch said:

Smokers sweat nicotine out of their pores and it's yellow.

Nicotine is a colourless substance.

MacBook 1.83 GHz, 1 GB RAM (dead on arrival, to be replaced) Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Yellow Discoloration