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Filing the corners off my MacBooks

kentwalters.com

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Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#321

Post by ta8903 »

PufPufPuf wrote: post #317
wraptile wrote: post #310

I used a macbook for almost 2 years and genuinely don't understand how people can tolerate these machines. My wrists would be cut up all the time to the point where I looked like I was self harming myself and the glary screen is entirely unsuable anywhere but a darkest basement. Not to mention the terrible keyboard. To this day I'm perplexed how macbooks have such high desirability by full time developers when they'r…

Laptops are unergonomic by default, no matter how you position them, either the screen is too low or the keyboard is too high. I think most developers just use them docked with an external monitor and keyboard most of the time (I certainly do).

On the other hand, placing your laptop on your belly when lying down on a couch is peak computing ergonomics.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#322

Post by RadiozRadioz »

estetlinus wrote: post #320

Mac users since 2010. Never noticed the sharp edges. I am just keen on not having that little red ball in the middle of the keyboard á la Elitebook.

Give the TrackPoint a go. If you configure the sensitivity and acceleration properly, it can be an extremely productive way to move the mouse.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#323

Post by Tepix »

wolvoleo wrote: post #316
wraptile wrote: post #310

I used a macbook for almost 2 years and genuinely don't understand how people can tolerate these machines. My wrists would be cut up all the time to the point where I looked like I was self harming myself and the glary screen is entirely unsuable anywhere but a darkest basement. Not to mention the terrible keyboard. To this day I'm perplexed how macbooks have such high desirability by full time developers when they'r…

Oh yeah I hate those sharp edges on MacBooks. The old pre-unibody macbooks were great but I can't stand anything that came after it. Always had red lines on my wrists. These days I'm completely off Mac luckily. And yes the keyboards are terrible too. Up to 2015 it was OK but I can't work with the butterfly ones and the "new and improved" scissor ones that came after that. They still have a lot less travel than the on…

I had one of those pre-unibody white plastic Macbooks. I hated the sharp edge on the front. With the later models it was less of an issue somehow.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#324

Post by beloch »

There are plenty of laptops out there that have square edges on the user-facing edge. However, most are tapered and/or have hinge designs that tilt the laptop surface towards the user, dropping that square edge away from the user's wrists.

Most Apple laptops, such as the latest Pro's, are level, rather than tapered, and sit flat so that the user-facing edge cuts into your wrists. It's bad ergonomics, plain and simple. If you value function over form enough to modify your tools in this way, choose better tools.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#325

Post by [deleted] »

vvpan wrote: post #101

I just came into Mac world for work and struggle to understand the choices Apple makes: - Sharp edges eat into my forearms. - Glossy screen makes it hard to see when it's light out. - The keys have a real hard stop when you press on them which tires out my hands. - An arrogant desire to obsolete ports. I don't understand the appeal of the machine, it feels like style over function everywhere.

[deleted]

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#326

Post by boxed »

ekianjo wrote: post #311
wraptile wrote: post #310

I used a macbook for almost 2 years and genuinely don't understand how people can tolerate these machines. My wrists would be cut up all the time to the point where I looked like I was self harming myself and the glary screen is entirely unsuable anywhere but a darkest basement. Not to mention the terrible keyboard. To this day I'm perplexed how macbooks have such high desirability by full time developers when they'r…

[flagged]

Or that it's a unix with taste that can render fonts correctly and has UI APIs that aren't absolute trash.

I'm pretty sure Apple doesn't pay any "influencers", but maybe they're doing the Mormon church thing and buying ads?

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#327

Post by numpad0 »

Tempest1981 wrote: post #298
jagged-chisel wrote: post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They’re all actually aluminum, anodized to the color you choose. The silver one is the only one not anodized. Filing off the anodized layer is indeed bound to look awful.

What tools are needed to redo the anodized color? Is it doable at home?

You have to grind off the existing Al2O3 protective layer using sandpapers/sandblasters and/or power tools, then ultrasound + acetone wash the parts, then dump it into an acid bath while running electrical current through the pieces. Special dyes can be added for color. Then the pieces are boiled in regular water to further improve durability. The combination of the acid and electricity then boiling cause Al to form beehive shaped surface micropores, and dyes - actually inorganic, so pigments - gets electrically jammed into the pores. The whole outer surface become thick insulating layer of highly chemically resistant and mechanically rigid white/transparent Al2O3 once the process is complete. Voltage, current, waveform, temperature, solution acidity, etc etc affect colors and oxide thickness and shapes and sizes therefore aesthetics as well as durability. "Anodization" refers to this process of electro-acidic-heat formation of the oxide layer, not the coloring. The coloring powder is an extra.

Technically it can be done in a garage, but spot and/or intact application might be difficult. Strict color matching against Apple made things would be impossible.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#328

Post by pmontra »

beloch wrote: post #324

There are plenty of laptops out there that have square edges on the user-facing edge. However, most are tapered and/or have hinge designs that tilt the laptop surface towards the user, dropping that square edge away from the user's wrists. Most Apple laptops, such as the latest Pro's, are level, rather than tapered, and sit flat so that the user-facing edge cuts into your wrists. It's bad ergonomics, plain and simple…

Choosing tools is not easy. Last time I bought a laptop was 2014. My goal was running Linux. My other requirements were, in order of importance, without explanation:

3 physical buttons below the touchpad. That removed really many laptops. They would be nearly zero today, or really zero.

15 inches screen. Common.

Matte finish. Common.

User serviceable hardware. That removed many other laptops.

No number pad. I had to give up on that or I would have no laptop to buy.

I ended up with the first generation HP ZBook 15.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#330

Post by thenthenthen »

xandrius wrote: post #300
jasoneckert wrote: post #222

Thanks for this interesting post - I've been showing it to co-workers to get their reactions, which was incredibly entertaining for me! Co-worker 1: Interesting. I wonder if that voids the warranty. It's Apple you know. Co-worker 2: May Jobs have mercy on their soul... Co-worker 3: Not a bad idea. But not sure if that would cause problems with structural integrity of the laptop, like if you drop it or something. Co-w…

C1: Homo-economicus C2: Homo-religious C3: Homo-enginerus C4: Homo-bros

There is some material loas but wouldn't rounded corners be way stronger on impact than sharp corners?
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