Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Filing the corners off my MacBooks

kentwalters.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

331–340 of 700 posts

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#331

Post by numpad0 »

ranger207 wrote: post #304
sitharus wrote: post #250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They can’t, it’s caused by the capacitors required to suppress electromagnetic interference caused by the switch-mode power supply. These allow a very very tiny amount of current to leak through from the mains side, which is then capacitively coupled to the metal case (IIRC Apple do not connect the case to power negative) reducing it further, but it’s enough for humans to sense it. It can be avoided by using a ground…

Why do only Macbooks suffer from this problem? When I had a work-issued Macbook I charged it and my personal Framework off the same USB-C charger and I only every felt the leaking current from the Macbook

Only Apple is insane enough to make actual laptop chassis with unpainted anodized aluminum. Others either do it in plastics and/or painted metal. And paints are kind of liquid plastics.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#332

Post by kzrdude »

inatreecrown2 wrote: post #168

Lovely writing! And I think the understanding that one can and should modify their tools to their needs is rather rare and should be appreciated.

Presumably the understanding on the forum is greater when it comes to software tools. And I would usually say: don't be your computer's tool! :)

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#333

Post by suzzer99 »

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…

I have a plastic case which helps with the bottom, and when I'm at an angle where my wrist rests against the edge, I have a wrist brace thing that takes the edge off (literally).

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#334

Post by koonsolo »

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…

I switched as a long time Linux user to a MacBook because of the hardware:

- Battery: no other laptop comes even close

- Trackpad: I don't use a mouse anymore, no other laptop comes close

- Audio: No other laptop comes close

"Sharp edges" really don't bother me to be honest, I wouldn't have noticed it if nobody told me.

I have a nano-texture screen, and it works great in daylight.

Just goes to show how opinions can differ.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#335

Post by ben-schaaf »

boxed wrote: post #326
ekianjo wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[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?

> can render fonts correctly

macOS font rendering has been worst in class since they removed subpixel-antialiasing. It's now a blurry mess on regular displays.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#336

Post by wraptile »

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).

it's not a binary equation. My thinkpad is plenty ergonomic for a full work day on the road. Sure the monitor position is suboptimal but keyboard is brilliant, no sharp edges, no screen glare and there's a trackpoint. It's no home setup obviously but at least I don't actively suffer when I do need to use a portable computer for it's primary purpose.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#337

Post by baddash »

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…

Now I gotta hear these four coworkers' opinions on other things

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#338

Post by raverbashing »

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…

I think the main problem is that you lose the surface anodization and might end up with a more frail surface there (surface, the structural integrity is going to suffer but not much I guess)

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#339

Post by Tzk »

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?

Yes it’s doable at home, even with fairly primitive tools. You need several chemicals and (if you wish) colored dye.

Anodizing works as follows:

1. Take the MacBook apart

2. Clean it

3. Chemical bath to remove old anodized layer

4. Clean it again

5. Chemical bath with power supply attached. applied voltage+current and duration will determine hardness and thickness of the anodized layer.

6. Clean it

7. Dye it.

8. Seal the dye in a hot water bath.

It’s fairly straight forward to do.

Post reply on HN