The black macbooks DO flake/peel!

Question

Level 1

105 points

The black macbooks DO flake/peel!

So I've had my new macbook for less than two weeks and everything has been great: no overheating, NO MOO, no whine from the adapter, just perfect. Almost anyway. The screen bezel plastic is a little bent in the lower right corner, but I figure I'll send it in if it starts detaching more. Not a big deal.

Today, to my great horror, I noticed that right above the isight the LCD bezel has begun to flake! It's very very small, but it looks like there is an extremely thin layer of translucent rubber coating on top of the black - it's more peeling than flaking, but looks just like the original pictures of the problem posted online. It's like thin dry skin flaking off.

If it starts peeling more, it will look very ugly. The reason it's probably peeling there is that it's right where I put my fingers to open the lid. Also, because it's the sharp edge of the LCD top part, there's natural friction that inevitably would result in peeling if there's a layer on top of the plastics.

What can I say? It was a short period of 99% perfection. I CAN'T BELIEVE APPLE COATED THESE WITH A SUPER THIN LAYER OF RUBBER! It's so stupid that it borders on the unbelievable.

MBP, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Jun 26, 2006 9:56 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 26, 2006 10:03 AM in response to PaulNYC

Well if its indeed under 2 weeks old, I suggest you exchange it.

Mike

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Answer 2

PaulNYC Author

Level 1

105 points

Jun 26, 2006 10:08 AM in response to Michael Flynn

You know, this is my second macbook and it's been working perfectly. The problem is so small that I don't want to risk all the other potential issues of getting a replacement. It's clear from this that there IS some kind of layer on the black macbooks (they are black plastic all the way through though - just the outermost layer is different). If they're all like this, and I assume they are, it's just a matter of time before a new one would start showing the same thing.

I will call Apple though to put it on record in case it gets worse.

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Answer 3

Jun 26, 2006 10:21 AM in response to PaulNYC

I'm thinking this problem only going to get worse.

There's been a ton of black macbooks sold and only a handful (3 that I've come across) reported problems with the finish. This tells me the the finish is durable, but some defective cases had slipped through.

If it were me, I'd return it but I can understand where your coming from.

Mike

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Answer 4

PaulNYC Author

Level 1

105 points

Jun 26, 2006 10:29 AM in response to Michael Flynn

I think you're right about the problem only going to get worse. I do think that there will be more cases of this issue though. The real problem doesn't seem to be the durability when you try to scratch it straight on - it SEEMS very durable!

The problem is that when you open the bezel, your finger touches the thin edge of the top part of the LCD bezel and thus starts pulling the layer off from there. Because it's the edge it's more susceptible to peeling there. On my macbook it's so small you wouldn't really notice it yet. However, because it has started to peel, I suspect it will continue to peel off like on that first picture we all saw.

It's really sad that Apple added a layer. I mean, didn't they learn their lesson from the titanium powerbook paint fiasco. This will not look as bad, but it's still a stupid and unnecessary design flaw.

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Answer 5

juhs10

Level 1

96 points

Jun 26, 2006 10:41 AM in response to PaulNYC

It will probably become an issue with all of them over time. These MBs have so many defects jeeze... I love mine so much! I'm actually unsure if apple would even give you a replacement for that... I doubt it.

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Answer 6

PaulNYC Author

Level 1

105 points

Jun 26, 2006 10:54 AM in response to juhs10

I bought it from amazon so I could probably return it without a problem, but I don't want to! I'm really happy with this computer and would even say that it's one of the better mac laptops I've had - and I've had most of them over the past 15 years.

That's what makes me upset. WHY did Apple choose some strange coating and ruin this great laptop? WHY didn't they learn from some of their past mistakes? The first generation of Powerbook G3s (wallstreet) had rubber on top of metal. I still remember the first report of some poor guy putting his wallstreet on top of his seat belt on the plane and finding that it came off and exposed the underlying metal. Or the titanium powerbooks which were coated and painted all over the place -again, wonderful design ruined by something that can only be called STUPIDITY.

I still love my macbook, but this should not have happend. If it gets worse in the coming weeks, I'll reconsider what to do. I just don't think replacing it will fix the underlying issue.

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Answer 7

Jun 26, 2006 12:53 PM in response to PaulNYC

Hmmmm - this was reported by me a week or so back. However, at first I thought it was flaking but after inspection it proved to simply be skin flakes. A little rubbing with my RadTech cloth and all was returned to pristine condition.

I will agree this area will get lots of rubbing/scuffing etc as this is the point of contact for opening the screen lid.

My guess is that ALL black MB will have this issue.

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Answer 8

PaulNYC Author

Level 1

105 points

Jun 26, 2006 1:24 PM in response to BarryXSharp

I sacrificed myself for the community and gently rubbed the flakes off. What is underneath is SHINY black plastic. There is NO doubt that the matte surface is gone right there and underneath is shiny black.

I had lots of doubts about whether there was really a coating or not, but now it is completely beyond doubt that Apple put a very thin coat of something that give it the matte finish it has.

It ruines the sleek lines of the display bezel because it looks like there is a piece missing - even though there isn't.I'm still in disbelief that Apple made this choice...not to mention the plastic choice for the white ones.

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Answer 9

Jun 26, 2006 1:43 PM in response to PaulNYC

My question is why did apple just make a normal black macbook like the psimo? its not like they forgot out.

Mike

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Answer 10

PaulNYC Author

Level 1

105 points

Jun 26, 2006 1:57 PM in response to Michael Flynn

yes, why on earth did they not just use the simple, time-proven plastics of the pismo, the best powerbook every made? I mean, come on, there are so many PC laptops with perfectly nice plastics (but bad design) that would have been great and durable too.

I can't imagine that any PC laptops are coated! It just doesn't make sense of a tool that is in constant use on the road.

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Answer 11

Gary Bohn

Level 2

190 points

Jun 26, 2006 3:50 PM in response to PaulNYC

If you look at any of the black keys on titanium powerbook keyboards or older standard mac black keyboards, they all start to turn shiny from use of the most oft used keys. I have opened my MBBlack 4-10 times daily for the past two weeks and see no sign of wear or flakes. But I think over time it will develop a shine, a typical natural occurence of two surfaces continually rubbing against each other. I would not advertise the fact that your computer has shiny spots on it though as Apple may charge you more for a two-tone paint job!

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Answer 12

jdmnerd

Level 1

10 points

Jun 26, 2006 4:42 PM in response to Gary Bohn

haha, 150 for the matte black and 400 for the two-tone.
Man, Im really hoping that my BlkMacBook doesnt do this same thing.
Have you tryed contacting Apple or the Apple Store as to them solving this or giving you a new portable? So many things I see going wrong with people MacBooks on this board and Im really hoping that mine doesnt do the same.

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Answer 13

mdeppi01

Level 1

0 points

Jun 26, 2006 5:02 PM in response to PaulNYC

Funny. I've had mine for going on a month without any problems.

I mean, it shows oil from your skin very easily, but that wipes away without a problem.

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Answer 14

PaulNYC Author

Level 1

105 points

Jun 26, 2006 8:37 PM in response to Gary Bohn

this is definitely not the result of two surfaces rubbing against each other. This is on the sharp edge of the top LCD bezel. It peeled off rather than just wore down. I probably opened it around 50 times in the past ten days, my hands are clean, I have short nails etc - there is no reason on earth why the surface should have started to peel off.

It's very very slight at this point, but it's there and chances are it will continue either there or somewhere else. I'll call Apple tomorrow to see what can be done.

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Answer 15

Jun 27, 2006 4:24 AM in response to PaulNYC

Hmmm, I've also had mine for a month now and it's still perfect, even though it gets a lot of use and I carry it to work and home again everyday.

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