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boonlar

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 30, 2008
259
0
Has anyone gotten a dent on their new MBA?

It seems to me like thin aluminum might be a bad material choice since it will dent instead of flex like plastic does. So just wondering on the toughness of it.
 

Ann P

macrumors 68020
Jun 29, 2009
2,311
9
California
Like you said, its aluminum, it can dent quite easily. It all depends on how you handle it imo. My first unibody MB was dented within the first week. I was in a rush to school running to my car. My laptop hit the door and the result was a huge dent in the back. NOW, with my latest purchase of my MBP, I know better now. Sleeve, case, shield, you name it. It might be a little over the top but you can never be too careful with your investment.

Not a single dent over the course of 5 months. Knock on wood!
 

boonlar

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 30, 2008
259
0
Like you said, its aluminum, it can dent quite easily. It all depends on how you handle it imo. My first unibody MB was dented within the first week. I was in a rush to school running to my car. My laptop hit the door and the result was a huge dent in the back. NOW, with my latest purchase of my MBP, I know better now. Sleeve, case, shield, you name it. It might be a little over the top but you can never be too careful with your investment.

That kinda scares me since the purpose of the unibody is to be tough right? So most people buy the shield for it anyways?
 

Ann P

macrumors 68020
Jun 29, 2009
2,311
9
California
That kinda scares me since the purpose of the unibody is to be tough right? So most people buy the shield for it anyways?

Where will you be using it the most? At home or on the go? If you're gonna be carrying it everything, I highly recommend a case inside a sleeve! As for the shield, I only bought it in hopes of preventing scratches. Minor case of ocd.
 

bcaslis

macrumors 68020
Mar 11, 2008
2,184
237
That kinda scares me since the purpose of the unibody is to be tough right? So most people buy the shield for it anyways?

The purpose of the unibody is to rigid (not flex). That's completely different than being able to resist dents. It's aluminum, not steel alloy.
 

BeyondtheTech

macrumors 68020
Jun 20, 2007
2,147
715
I'm assuming that the new Fall 2010 models (especially the 11.6" version?) were made more durable and compact than previous models.

For those that own these new ones, do you have any dents, bends or warping?

I want to know, as I am thinking of reinforcing the inside of my bag with a firm material like a thin board or the like.
 

gwsat

macrumors 68000
Apr 12, 2008
1,920
0
Tulsa
I'm assuming that the new Fall 2010 models (especially the 11.6" version?) were made more durable and compact than previous models.

For those that own these new ones, do you have any dents, bends or warping?

I want to know, as I am thinking of reinforcing the inside of my bag with a firm material like a thin board or the like.
I have no dents in any of the aluminum Mac laptops I have owned over the course of the past 8 years. That's because I have been pretty careful with them. For example I bought a nylon case for my 17 inch Powerbook G4 that had a built in fitted sleeve. As my 17 inch MBA is the same size as the old 17 inch PB, I continued to use my original bag with it. When I got a 13 inch MBA, I bought a fitted nylon bag for it, too, because the old 17 inch bag had been so satisfactory. I never take my MBA away from home without first putting it in the fitted padded sleeve in the nylon bag. I also have a thin, extremely lightweight, leather sleeve for the MBA, which I use as a liner for the sleeve built in to the bag and by itself when I am not using the bag. As a consequence of my careful handling of my Macs, even the old PB G4 still looks brand new.

The bottom line is that MBAs are not Tough Books. As such, they are not designed to absorb abuse. That said, though, by exercising reasonable care and caution, there is no reason whatever to dent your new MBA.
 

KPOM

macrumors P6
Oct 23, 2010
18,311
8,324
For the love of all things tasting of peanut buttermilk, don't knock it on wood, you'll dent it!

:D

My Rev B had a slight dent on the hinge when I dropped it after falling asleep on my couch a few months ago. Apart from that, it was dent free after 2 years. The Rev D seems a bit more sturdy but I'm not planning to test it out.
 

wirelessmacuser

macrumors 68000
Dec 20, 2009
1,968
0
Planet.Earth
Has anyone gotten a dent on their new MBA?

It seems to me like thin aluminum might be a bad material choice since it will dent instead of flex like plastic does. So just wondering on the toughness of it.

The particular aluminum alloy Apple uses is very high quality. It combines structural rigidity with just enough "give" to resist denting in most cases.

I'm on my sixth MBP, as well as the original MBA, plus a new 11" & 13". I've yet to experience any issues with the aluminum housings.
 

foiden

macrumors 6502a
Dec 13, 2008
809
13
My MBP 13" is still precisely pristine, knock on wood. No dents and not even a scratch. Then again, I avoid putting my 13" MBP on any surface that could be abrasive and slide the unit anywhere. Technically, it should take some punishment, and I'm not at all worried about function. On the other hand, when your product is pristine for so long, you care a little extra about the aesthetics. This is actually a still-naked MBP 13".

On the other hand, I do realize I carry my MBA 13" a lot more places and ways than I do my 13 MBP. I have a bigger padded bag for my 13" I carry it in because I'm not as pressed for tiny size on that unit.

I'm looking for a sleeve for my MBA, though, mostly because of how I'd carry it a lot more, and in different bags and such. A good sleeve should provide just the right amount of protection (on the go) to keep it pristine. I want it to be able to take some bumps, be concealed, perhaps be placed with other items, and not worry about dents.
 

ninjadogz

macrumors newbie
Oct 27, 2010
13
0
Singapore
I got a bump on mine the first DAY. I had it inside my backpack, I dropped my backpack and it fell on its front corner. It's just a slight dent but it was a really traumatic experience. :(

Now, I've got sleeves and bags, keyboard skins and screen protectors. And I'm super careful with my backpack whenever it's in it. :)
 

chatuchak

macrumors newbie
Sep 11, 2008
7
0
very easy to get dented on the edges

I travel a lot, almost every week... the other day, after going through the airport security I noticed a dent on the back side corner of my new 11.6" MacBook Air :( It's quite noticeable.
 

D-Love

macrumors regular
Jan 15, 2008
164
0
I travel a lot, almost every week... the other day, after going through the airport security I noticed a dent on the back side corner of my new 11.6" MacBook Air :( It's quite noticeable.
Oh I would be so pissed.
 

Ann P

macrumors 68020
Jun 29, 2009
2,311
9
California
Chatuchak, would you mind posting a picture of the dent?

Here's a slight dent on the back of my old MB. Not a big deal but its bothersome knowing that its there.
 

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pinzip

macrumors newbie
Nov 18, 2010
4
0
Mine slipped when I was removing it from the Air Manila Leather Laptop Envelope/Sleeve, fell about 1/2 feet onto a tile, and the corner of the lid and body was nicked. So I'll say it can be dented quite easily. But the upside is it's personalized now ;) It's just a good reminder that nothing is permanent :)
 
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