Filing the corners off my MacBooks • Hacker News Board

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#501

Post by xbar » Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 1:47 PM UTC

jmkni wrote: post #467

baud147258 wrote: post #450

> This was on my work computer is this an employer-issued computer? Like if I did something similar on my DELL laptop (us lowly devs at %DAY_JOB% don't have Macs), management would be up my ass the minute they saw this, if only because the maintenance agreement the company has with our supplier will likely be voided for my machine.

That was my first thought, I don't think my employer would be cool with this somehow

I have done this to every work Macbook I have received since 2015. No one has ever said anything.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#502

Post by bb88 » Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 1:55 PM UTC

maccard wrote: post #491

fooqux wrote: post #469

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, it's property of his workplace, and they're usually resold when the employee gets a new one. And it's not exactly mint any more, is it.

> they're usually resold when the employee gets a new one Are they? Everywhere I've worked they get shoved into a storage closet and ignored for another 5-7 years

Apple has a buyback program for corporations.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#503

Post by psd1 » Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 2:02 PM UTC

chubs wrote: post #409

420official wrote: post #144

I just did this to my MacBook not because of the sharp edge but because the pitting turns a sharp edge into a sawblade. Something about the grounding on on the frame when plugged in mixed with my sweaty hands leads to damage along this sharp edge on every MacBook I've ever owned. See https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/s/hbyVh5SJhw for another poor soul with the same caustic skin

Holy moly, that guy in the reddit post needs to see a dermatologist asap and figure out why their skin is emitting acid.

It is within the range of physiology. Nobody has pH-neutral skin, and aluminium is reactive.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#504

Post by samrus » Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 2:04 PM UTC

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to freak out about it. I did so, but only a little bit. Then i thought about how i have sometimes felt the bottom corner to be a bit uncomfortable. But then i thought that it wasnt a big enough issue to be worth the effort of filing off the edge

Also a little bit pedantry, you seem to have mostly filed the edge off, which seemed to be the real issue, the corners on that center divet are filed off, but its mostly edges

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#505

Post by oofbey » Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 2:17 PM UTC

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 love the line “People like to freak out about this, so I wanted to post it here to make sure that everyone who wants to freak out about it gets the opportunity to do so.”

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#506

Post by juleiie » Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 2:18 PM UTC

Honestly I love these things because they are so sturdy that you can do it. It’s like a slab of metal

I know people hate apple and I get it but like if you sign the pact with the devil you get many benefits from that ecosystem

Besides I can’t imagine going back to windows, I would have to use Linux. It wouldn’t be a tragedy alright but I am at the point where I like less customization and more the readiness and it just works aspect

I never found comfort in the endangered Linux ricing communities either that usually enriches the experience above just OS

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#507

Post by Sardtok » Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 2:27 PM UTC

Slow_Hand wrote: post #344

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 hear people complain about laptop ergonomics all of the time and I don't understand it. I have zero issues with either of my Macbooks. I can go for hours and not be fatigued. If I have it in my lap, the outer ball of each wrist is resting on the body to the left and right of the trackpad and that means my forearms are angled upwards, away from the edges. They never rest on the edge of the laptop until I use the tra…

That sounds like you have your desk too low. You're going to get some major repetitive strain injuries in 10-20 years.

If you have your arms at your sides, elbows should bend 90 degrees. Then just move your arms slightly forward and you'll end up somewhere around 95 degrees. Now you can rest your forearms on the desk. This won't save you from all kinds of RSI, but it might help your wrists, elbows and shoulder joints last a bit longer.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#508

Post by ryukoposting » Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 2:32 PM UTC

html5cat wrote: post #46

Not all heroes wear capes. This is excellent and can't wait to get aluminium mac next to try it – don't think Space Black is a good way to go. Author's another post on "The Seasons are Wrong" [0] is excellent too and I fully support both approaches. [0] https://kentwalters.com/posts/seasons/

It's funny, because back home by the Great Lakes, the solstice system aligns better with the seasons than his system. Peak "cold" is usually in January or early February, and you'll generally get one straggler snowfall sometime in March. Peak "hot" is sometime in July or August, with June being when the temperature noticeably goes from "springy" to "summery."

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#509

Post by rbanffy » Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 2:37 PM UTC

cdmckay wrote: post #448

rbanffy wrote: post #433

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I strongly suspect 3 is correct - removing material from the corners might weaken the structure. I would use a CNC machine to round them more precisely and uniformly though.

Haha I was thinking the same when I read he hand filed it

As it is with any box, there is only so much material you can remove from the corners before it disintegrates into disconnected surfaces.

Re: Filing the corners off my MacBooks

#510

Post by stusmall » Sat, Apr 11, 2026, 2:43 PM UTC

maccard wrote: post #491

fooqux wrote: post #469

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, it's property of his workplace, and they're usually resold when the employee gets a new one. And it's not exactly mint any more, is it.

> they're usually resold when the employee gets a new one Are they? Everywhere I've worked they get shoved into a storage closet and ignored for another 5-7 years

It's pretty common if you have IT and finance teams that are paying attention. Sure a lot of shops let them waste away on a shelf, but that's what it is, waste. If you have fungible inventory that isn't likely to get used soon it is just a mistake it let it sit around unutilized. If it is cash, it is easier to utilize on other projects.