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Some MacBooks Showing Discoloration

by , 12:55 PM EDT, June 27th, 2006

Enough owners of Apple's new MacBook are reporting discoloration around the trackpad that a Web site, stainedBook, has been created to document the issue. No one knows exactly what is causing some MacBooks to discolor, but some people are speculating that it is related to the high temperatures the laptop operates at. Others say that's not the case, since some of the staining appears in cooler parts of the computer case.

The Sydney Morning Herald tracked down some related discussion threads on Apple's support site. In one, a user notes that the they yellowish marks began appearing after only three weeks of use.


A discolored MacBook.

stainedBook reports that attempts to clean the stains off of affected MacBooks is unsuccessful, and that some users have permanently damaged their computer while using abrasive cleansers or acetone-based products to remove the marks.

This issue, along with the MacBook Pro's swelling battery problem, has some Mac owners questioning the quality of Apple's Intel-based portable computers.

To date, Apple has not acknowledged the MacBook discoloration issue.

[MacBook image courtesy of stainedBook]

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:stuartea Posts: 327 Joined: 08 Aug 2005
Subject:

They never really acknowledge the TiBook paint issue either.

Close Name:JimWCB Posts: 301 Joined: 29 Aug 2002
Subject:

"Enough owners of Apple's new MacBook are reporting discoloration around the trackpad that a Web site, stainedBook, has been created to document the issue."

Um... what does the number of reports have to do with the ability to make a website? Anyone can register and make a website these days for just the price of registering a domain (and maybe paying for awebhost if one is not already available). It's hardly an indication of how widespread the problem is.

Close Name:VSeward -   TMO Staff Posts: 971 Joined: 28 Jun 2001
Subject: Dirty hands

I've seen mice that would make you barf. People put an amazing array for crap on their hands to smooth, soothe, or whatever. Smokers are notoriously brutal on keyboards (I don't understand why, it's not like the smoke clings to their finger tips). I've seen keyboards from smokers that have such an accumulation of crud that you could plant potatoes in it.

White MacBooks are bound to show something, and that's what it looks like in the photo. I'd bet some Windex or rubbing alcohol would take care of those smudges.

Vern Seward

Close Name:hangtown Posts: 109 Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Subject:

I think the point was supposed to be that enough people felt strongly about it and had the problem that they created a web site about the issue.

Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2063 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: Look where it is

The "staining" is obviously from the users' hands, given where it is. I'd go with Vern, though I wouldn't use Windex or alcohol. Windex may contain ammonia, which can wreak havoc on some plastics. You definitely do not want to get either on the LCD screen.

As for using acetone and abrasive cleaners, just what did those idiots think that they were doing? Acetone is a solvent. It dissolves stuff, including many plastics. (The liquid cement for plastic models is primarily acetone. It's also used to remove nail polish.) Abrasive cleaners abrade--they remove material.

There is a material, Ice Cream, that polishes the plastics used in the iBook and iPod. It might work.

Close Name:Biff Posts: 1479 Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Subject: Hell has frozen over.

I agree with Vern! What has this World come to?!?

Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2063 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: In the nick of time ...

Another article on TMO led me to this product by Marware, also sold by Dr Bott, which could prevent those problems. Yet another is this from ShieldZone, which also makes the clear overlays for iPods. I would bet that there are others, as well.

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