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How Rugged is the MBP?
- Thread starter karebihun
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I've bumped my MBP against a desk while pulling it outta my bag. I was going at a pretty good clip (in the pull action) and I didn't dent or scratch it. That being said, these things aren't really made for some major damage, though they have been shot and survived.
yeah, i know it can "survive" a bullet or what not but all these little "dings" are kinda getting to me. the things so beautiful, you know what i mean? lol. I dunno, the aluminum is kinda warping on me. Doesn't look like the result of dropping my laptop or anything considering I never have. Thing is - apple probably doesn't cover any of these aesthetic issues unless it affects performance, right?
my mbp's have been so fragile that i've needed to invest in a speck case. i carry my computer around from room to room and sometimes misjudge when to turn to go through a door (i'm clumsy.) and always bump the lid into the wall. without the case, i'm sure i would have a bunch of little dents and nicks here and there. also when i first got an mbp (i've gone through quite a few), i put it in a bag with the power adapter. the computer didn't have a separate compartment so when i took it out, it had a little indentation on the top lid from the power adapter pressing on it. i was so mad!
The Macbook Pro cannot be said to be rugged in the usual sense of the word, unless you consider taking out a crushed aluminum can... opps... I mean a dinged and scratched MBP out during a client meeting to be "professional".
Like all Macs they just have to be babied.
Like all Macs they just have to be babied.
I don't baby my MBP at all. I travel with it intensively. From my experience it is very durable. Not scratches or dents. [Touch wood!] I am however investing in a nice Crumpler laptop bag as the traveling intensifies. I fear my luck may be running out .... that's if is luck and not just the case that MBP's are built very well.
The design itself shows off imperfections more than anything else, and the shoehorning process into the thin dimensions has meant a weaker chassis.
I think that despite protestations otherwise, people do baby the MBP - it's to do with the design once again. because it shows dirt, marks, etc and it's an investment for many, they do tend to baby it as a matter of course. A Dell wouldn't get that kind of respect.
I think it's OK if you don't cart it around that much - my 'unbent' 17" is still managing to stay straight with a portage once every two weeks or so, and the 15" seems to be holding up OK although I did send this or the other one back due to an excessively bent screen. That I have to worry about something like this is pretty unique to me since I've switched from (and now back to) machines designed properly for the purpose they're to be put to.
The aluminium is scratch resistant - it's hard-anodised, and the anodising layer seems to be reasonably thick. But once you've scratched it or worn off the anodised layer, that's it - you're left with something that's basically weaker than even ABS. All in all I'd say it's OK - but it's not durable in the sense of other more travelworthy laptops.
I think that despite protestations otherwise, people do baby the MBP - it's to do with the design once again. because it shows dirt, marks, etc and it's an investment for many, they do tend to baby it as a matter of course. A Dell wouldn't get that kind of respect.
I think it's OK if you don't cart it around that much - my 'unbent' 17" is still managing to stay straight with a portage once every two weeks or so, and the 15" seems to be holding up OK although I did send this or the other one back due to an excessively bent screen. That I have to worry about something like this is pretty unique to me since I've switched from (and now back to) machines designed properly for the purpose they're to be put to.
The aluminium is scratch resistant - it's hard-anodised, and the anodising layer seems to be reasonably thick. But once you've scratched it or worn off the anodised layer, that's it - you're left with something that's basically weaker than even ABS. All in all I'd say it's OK - but it's not durable in the sense of other more travelworthy laptops.
MBP is quite resilient
The MBP is pretty resilient: about half a year ago I dumped citric-acid laden juice all over the keyboard of my MBP. Luckily, the MBP has what most other laptops lack: a fluid-resistant layer of clear rubber under the keyboard. The keyboard did its job, and when I opened the MPB, which I expected to be full of juice, not one drop of fluid had gotten through. After that, it was a simple matter of letting the keyboard dry out, and it has worked perfectly fine since.
So, I'd say the thing is pretty rugged.
The MBP is pretty resilient: about half a year ago I dumped citric-acid laden juice all over the keyboard of my MBP. Luckily, the MBP has what most other laptops lack: a fluid-resistant layer of clear rubber under the keyboard. The keyboard did its job, and when I opened the MPB, which I expected to be full of juice, not one drop of fluid had gotten through. After that, it was a simple matter of letting the keyboard dry out, and it has worked perfectly fine since.
So, I'd say the thing is pretty rugged.
i dunno, everytime i see the small dings and a little bit of the bending aluminum i cry a bit inside. haha. anyway. do you guys get your cases fixed? Apple probably doesnt cover it.. but i'm sure after enough dents i'm going to want to maybe get a new case or get it fixed or something. Any suggestions?
Uhmmm, there's no layer of clear rubber underneath the keyboard. There's a thin layer of plastic under the keypad, and a layer of metal under that. The rubber is just under the keys themselves to provide the tactile feedback.
Well, they may be *rugged,* but they scratch so easily it's scary. Sure, it can stop a bullet and still work, but if you move your watch across the anondized aluminum it can scratch quite easily.
I am not saying this is typical, but my laptop has fallen from my iCurve into an open drawer at the bottom of a desk multiple times, and has come out looking perfect. Gave me a heart attack every time though 
Wow there mariahlullaby, quite an upgrade you have there in your sig from the Powerbook I bought from yaI am not saying this is typical, but my laptop has fallen from my iCurve into an open drawer at the bottom of a desk multiple times, and has come out looking perfect. Gave me a heart attack every time though
, congrats!P.S. The fiancee absolutely loves it, she's on it probably 5-7 hrs. a day between teaching at school and playing around at home!
One of the big reasons my next computer will be a MacBook is durability.
I found my aluminum PowerBook to not be very durable at all. It's difficult to scratch the anodized surface but very, very easy to dent to the aluminum.
I found my aluminum PowerBook to not be very durable at all. It's difficult to scratch the anodized surface but very, very easy to dent to the aluminum.