Keyboard marks on Macbook screen - how common?

[Snide]

I have a Core 2 Duo Macbook (week 1, '07) which has been flawless except for
what appear to be permanent keyboard marks on the screen (won't wipe off).
For the first few weeks I used the foam insert that the unit shipped with, but eventually lost it.
Also, I was under the impression that the Macbook was designed as to prevent this.
Besides, dealing with a screen protecter is an unholy PITA. In any event, there's
a really noticeable mark in the middle of the screen (from the space-bar) which
measures about a millimeter wide, 4 " long, as well as outlines of most of the keys.

My friend's iBook (Nov '05), has no such marks, neither does a friends last-gen Powerbook.
I also have a well-used and trashed 550 Mhz Ti Powerbook, which has no such marks.
My Pismo however, has plenty of the same marks (but not from the space-bar).

Any others out there? I'm not even sure what could be done to fix this,
if the tolerances are too close (keyboard too high/screen sitting too low).

Perhaps I'll post some photos later if there's enough interest (my camera is at home).

 

[Luigi239]

Hmm...no, I havnt had anything like that in the 8 months of owning my Macbook. I would take it to a genius bar, and have them look at it, cause that isn't normal.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

I get those on my iBook, they aren't very permanent though. It generally happens when carrying the iBook and the case gets pressed together a bit. They rub off easy enough though.

 

[WillMak]

I get them on my macbook - they come off easily with a simple wipe tho.

 

[kwood]

I got them on my laptop (pre-Macbook) from my laptop bag. I had the lid against my leg and the back against my books. This pressed the screen onto the keys in the middle. I flipped it around and didn't have any further problems.

I find it best to have the screen rest against something hard and flat and big enough to encompass the entire screen while carrying.

 

[iQuit]

I bought this at the Macworld Expo in January and have been extremely pleased with it. It's very affordable too.

http://www.radtech.us/Products/NotebookScreensavRz.aspx

 

[taylorwilsdon]

iKlear will clean that right up. What it is is the oils from your fingers going from the keys to the screen. It happens on alot of portable (small) laptops and a screen protector is a good idea.

 

[daze]

I have a Core 2 Duo Macbook (week 1, '07) which has been flawless except for
what appear to be permanent keyboard marks on the screen (won't wipe off).
For the first few weeks I used the foam insert that the unit shipped with, but eventually lost it.
Also, I was under the impression that the Macbook was designed as to prevent this.
Besides, dealing with a screen protecter is an unholy PITA. In any event, there's
a really noticeable mark in the middle of the screen (from the space-bar) which
measures about a millimeter wide, 4 " long, as well as outlines of most of the keys.

My friend's iBook (Nov '05), has no such marks, neither does a friends last-gen Powerbook.
I also have a well-used and trashed 550 Mhz Ti Powerbook, which has no such marks.
My Pismo however, has plenty of the same marks (but not from the space-bar).

Any others out there? I'm not even sure what could be done to fix this,
if the tolerances are too close (keyboard too high/screen sitting too low).

Perhaps I'll post some photos later if there's enough interest (my camera is at home).

Do you use handcream? Maybe when you type, the residue from that sticks to the keys and gets moved to the screen. Just a thought.

 

[BioChron]

That is most odd! I have never heard of that happening.

 

[Snide]

I bought this at the Macworld Expo in January and have been extremely pleased with it. It's very affordable too.

http://www.radtech.us/Products/NotebookScreensavRz.aspx

Too bad I missed their booth at MWSF - that's where I found B&H show specials
(got my mid-range Macbook for 1199.00 shipped). Anyway, I just ordered one of
those cloths; thanks for the tip.

I haven't been able to get the marks off the screen using damp micro-fiber cloth.

Is there any hope?

 

[makismagoo99]

I'm not sure how common they are, but it's happened to a lot of notebooks that I've seen, which is why I've been careful to keep the foam insert thingy. Do you put it in a backpack or something? If so, if you have books and whatnot in your backpack at the same time, you're probably squeezing it together. I don't know if the marks that are made are scratches (can't be wiped off) or just some sort of grime or oil that can be gotten rid of.

Try some LCD cleaning solution (you can make this with diluted alcohol....but I'm not sure of the proportions) with a microfiber cloth.

 

[robby818]

Too bad I missed their booth at MWSF - that's where I found B&H show specials
(got my mid-range Macbook for 1199.00 shipped). Anyway, I just ordered one of
those cloths; thanks for the tip.

I haven't been able to get the marks off the screen using damp micro-fiber cloth.

Is there any hope?

I don't think you can fix the marks. I've tried and generally those marks are permanent. iklear or any polishing solution will fill in the scratches and make them less visible but once the polish wears off the scratches will still be there.

Try to live with them. I see people with powerbooks that have clearly visible impressions of the keyboard on them..I mean you can see every key on the screen and it looks awful but I guess that they stop seeing them at some point.

I caution against rubbing too hard with a microfiber cloth. even though microfiber is very very fine and supposedly doesnt cause scratches, any cloth can cause a scratch if you rub it hard enough. If you trap some dirt or dust between the cloth and screen that can also cause another scratch. The plastic coating on LCDs are really susceptible to scratches so it is best to clean very gently and infrequently.

 

[taylorwilsdon]

I don't think you can fix the marks. I've tried and generally those marks are permanent. iklear or any polishing solution will fill in the scratches and make them less visible but once the polish wears off the scratches will still be there.

Try to live with them. I see people with powerbooks that have clearly visible impressions of the keyboard on them..I mean you can see every key on the screen and it looks awful but I guess that they stop seeing them at some point.

I caution against rubbing too hard with a microfiber cloth. even though microfiber is very very fine and supposedly doesnt cause scratches, any cloth can cause a scratch if you rub it hard enough. If you trap some dirt or dust between the cloth and screen that can also cause another scratch. The plastic coating on LCDs are really susceptible to scratches so it is best to clean very gently and infrequently.

Er, I don't think these are scratches. Infact, I'm sure they're not. In my experience, its just oils from your hands that soak onto the keys and then move onto the screen when its closed tightly. A gentle cleaning should clear them right up.

 

[drewnamis]

I have the same problem on my 2.0GHz Blackbook.

 

[Romulus]

I have exactly the same marks on my screen... One long one in the middle of the screen which I think is the space bar and some others... They wash off easily, and I need to put that protector back on the keys... My old latitude did not do that... interesting...

 

[Ludde]

I don't take any risks with my Macbook, so I keep a piece of microfiber cloth over the keyboard whenever the lid is down. It works like a dream.

 

[MacDann]

Er, I don't think these are scratches. Infact, I'm sure they're not. In my experience, its just oils from your hands that soak onto the keys and then move onto the screen when its closed tightly. A gentle cleaning should clear them right up.

They are. This is a well documented issue that folks like RadTech have done a great job of addressing with their products.

I have always told my clients to purchase a Screensavrz (or whatever it is they call them) for their notebooks for just this reason. I wouldn't think of having a notebook/laptop computer without one.

MD