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Solution to the MacBook Pro's sharp edges

yep this thing is an instrument of torture

decided to get a mac having used dell pc's the past 12 or so years.
i bought it last night, took it home and started to type on it/play around with it and found my wrists hurting from that ridiculously sharp front edge. apple works so hard to be 'ubercool' yet they overlook something as simple as rounding out an edge where your wrists hit. ya, brilliant.

so i'm bringing my 13" hunk of (sleek) junk back to apple for a refund and am going to get an hp.

this is one bad apple.
 
iWrists?
 

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I know this problem, same thing here. I bought Moshi wrist protection but it has only made it worse, cuz that donkey at apple store did not stick it properly so 2 edges are sticking out more. I tried to trim it with a knife but instead only scratched the case.
 
Steve Jobs is a Masochist.

Finally made the leap to buy the macbook, and after about an hour of use noticed my arms were hurting, flipped them over, and there are slits where the macbook was making indentations into my arms. Any normal person would think this is painful stop doing it.. not me, convinced I was imagining things, I continued on my quest to be an apple fan boy,(Or girl in this case). Finally it was hurting enough I googled it, and yep there are a lot of us out there and we are all collectively thinking, Steve jobs is indeed a masochist.

One thing I have noticed not all users have this issue, it's a theory, that they don't simply hold their hands in the correct position, but Apple manufacturing cuts for the body of the notebook was made on a different machine, if you are part of the unlucky few that have the machine that is misanthropic, welcome to my world.

I haven't found a good solution, but happily have passed my brand new pretty macbook over to my husband with my blessings and went back to my HP, and my wrists have never been happier. I love apple, but sadly it has become an abusive relationship so I'm having an affair with someone softer. Sorry Steve.
 
@ Stillhere4today:

I have been using various computers since 1984 and yes, I can type and yes my wrists are in the correct position. I, like the majority of MBP owners, have no issues.

Instead of people blaming Apple, which makes a product for millions of users, adjust the computer to fit you. This is like blaming Honda for putting the steering wheel 2 inches to high for you. Make the physical adjustments necessary to fit YOUR needs.
 
it bothered me at first but my hands are positioned in some way that i don't even notice it anymore, i think just getting used to it and figuring out the most comfortable way is the best way to do it
 
Covart said:
@ Stillhere4today:

I have been using various computers since 1984 and yes, I can type and yes my wrists are in the correct position. I, like the majority of MBP owners, have no issues.

Instead of people blaming Apple, which makes a product for millions of users, adjust the computer to fit you. This is like blaming Honda for putting the steering wheel 2 inches to high for you. Make the physical adjustments necessary to fit YOUR needs.
Click to expand...

Okay buddy, and exactly how do you propose that I make the physical adjustments necessary to fit my needs? The fact of the matter is that the edges are SHARP. I haven't seen any other laptop with the front edges as sharp as a MBP's. When your wrists rest there, there WILL be indented slits. It honestly looks like I'm trying to kill myself when looking at them after a couple hours of typing.

Do you expect me to revamp my typing position? Hold my forearms out in the air? I guess Apple fanboys are going to say I'm typing the wrong way, just like people are holding the iPhone 4 the wrong way, huh. :rolleyes:
 
It's those two points on the thumbscoop that I found too sharp, I had to just smooth them off with wet/dry sandpaper, 400 grade. Worked a treat.
 
Yes, it IS an instrument of torture!

:mad::mad: I totally agree. I've had the 15" for three days and my lower arms and the heels of my hands are red, sore, and extremely painful. I sit with the computer on my lap or on the coffee table where my arms and hands rub on the extremely sharp front edge of the computer often.

For 6 years, I have used my Dell laptop in exactly the same way and NEVER had a problem with pain or soreness. So, please do NOT tell us it's an ergonomical issue because I know better. Six years using the Dell touchpad - NO pain whatsoever! (Obviously, because it has a nice ROUNDED edge.)

I Googled this pain and got here for help. I'm sure everyone else who has written with the same problem is like me - we do not want to hear from anyone who doesn't know what he or she is talking about. We are here for help and do not need to be told it's the "way we are holding our hands or we are imagining the sharpness, etc." We want constructive help from someone who has actually experienced and fixed it.

My question is this: has anyone put the hard protective case over their Mac and solved the problem? I read on another forum that someone had "fixed" it that way, but would like to know if anyone else has had the same results. Or is there something else that you have used to fix the problem? I certainly don't want to file it and wearing anything on my hands and wrists would be too hot and confining.

Thanks to anyone who can help with something constructive. It's not funny and not a joke.
 
stillhere4today said:
Finally made the leap to buy the macbook, and after about an hour of use noticed my arms were hurting, flipped them over, and there are slits where the macbook was making indentations into my arms. Any normal person would think this is painful stop doing it.. not me, convinced I was imagining things, I continued on my quest to be an apple fan boy,(Or girl in this case). Finally it was hurting enough I googled it, and yep there are a lot of us out there and we are all collectively thinking, Steve jobs is indeed a masochist.

One thing I have noticed not all users have this issue, it's a theory, that they don't simply hold their hands in the correct position, but Apple manufacturing cuts for the body of the notebook was made on a different machine, if you are part of the unlucky few that have the machine that is misanthropic, welcome to my world.

I haven't found a good solution, but happily have passed my brand new pretty macbook over to my husband with my blessings and went back to my HP, and my wrists have never been happier. I love apple, but sadly it has become an abusive relationship so I'm having an affair with someone softer. Sorry Steve.
Click to expand...

yea, it's another reason I'm loving my Sony Z so much, no more indentations in my forearm ....
 
Wow, I didnt even notice this topic at all until today. I dont think they are sharp nor do I have any problems with them. Maybe I just have stronger wrists due to being an ex chef or something haha. Or maybe because i type more on an angel than straight up and down (think of those wavey keyboards...that is how I usually position my wrists)
 
Easy solution.

I have the 13" and it is sharp. I have used Scotch double-sided poster tape to tape down two strips of tennis racquet grip wrap. I used the double sided tape because it does not seem to leave residue and because after several weeks, the grip is still in place. I used Yonex grip in a dark blue.

There is no issue with clearance and I like the tactile feel of the wrap.

I tried typing the "right" way, but it hurt too much.
 
hmm... you guys must be typing poorly if your wrists are resting on the edge... they shouldn't be there. Now i agree though... it was a stupid design and apple should have thought of that.
 
entatlrg said:
Does anyone have a sensible solution?
Click to expand...

The new MBA seems to not have the same effect/feel as the MBP did with its sharp edges... it doesn't have that cliff drop edge that the MBP does. I really think the solution is for Apple to move to the tapered wedge for future MBP revisions with much slimmer overall designs (and no optical drive).
 
Those who are bothered by the edges need to elevate your elbows, so that the bottom of your arms are level (horizontally) with the keyboard. Should also be more comfortable to type this way. If you are not at home and can't put something under your elbows, try to adjust your position or the position of your MBP.

The really sharp edges are the two corners of the indentation to open the screen, but nobody I know types with their arms/hands that close to one another (dead center).

If you really can't adjust like I suggested, and sometimes you can't, put a towel or a shirt over the edge for the time being. You can even cover the trackpad if you're typing a long paper, since you won't be using it. This can come in handy when laying in bed - just fold a bed sheet over the edge and type away ;)


ps: a laptop stand might also help, as it can be set up to raise the backside of the MBP and thus, lower the front side at an angle, so that the near 90 degree edge isn't perpendicular to your forearms anymore.
 
I think you guys need to learn how to type properly.

I use my Macbook on my lap all the time and never have a problem... are there some macbooks out there with extra 'razor sharp' edges? I just got mine 2 weeks ago and it doesn't seem extra ordinarily sharp to me.

If your arms are at a perfect 90 degree angle, there shouldn't be a problem. An ergonomic chair and a desk at proper height is also key. I touch type on my 13 and my wrists never come close to the 'edge'. I cannot even imagine how one would press so hard on the corner with their wrist as to cause deep red marks. Maybe you are all sitting too low?



Computer_Workstation_Variables.jpg



::::notice in the picture what that woman's wrists are resting on?.... right, nothing. ;)
 
Im sorry to say but some of you complainers have to have fat arms or something. Ive been using my laptop all day today in multiple position and there are no marks or anything on my arms. I cant even get into a postion where my arms rest against the supposed "sharp edges"
 
I know this is the macbook pro forum but this was one of the problems I had with my 13 inch mbp and sold it. I was awaiting a time where they would fix this problem cause I don't want to have to use proper form all the time to be comfortable. The fix? The new Macbook Air. I know there are differences but if you are like me and don't really need the ports or user replaceable parts then this is a no brainer. I couldn't be any happier with this notebook.
 
if any part of your arms or hands are resting anywhere while typing it should be your palms on the palm rest. hence the name. the palm rest is giant and works beautifully for even the biggest of people. no part of your arms should be even touching that edge.

this is how it should be in theory anyway. as a longtime MBP owner i can't say i've ever experienced this problem myself. there are enough people speaking up about it that it's clearly a legitimate issue though. it would be interesting to see some videos of said users.
 
wow, I finally read a post reply that is more condescending than "UTSF!".

Sure its way easy to tell people to "type properly". But that doesn't work when you are sitting with the MBP balanced on your lap or knees. You have to exert some pressure with your forearms to keep the mac from moving around as you type.
It also doesn't address that hey, some folks use laptops in unergonomic ways. They put them on the nightstand while they watch TV. They put them on the floor, lie belly down and surf the web. And so on.
Of course the solution isnt to make a more wrist friendly laptop, its for all of us to sit up straight and type correctly as if we are in a puritan secretarial pool.
I personally think the sharp edge on the laptop serves a similar function to the sharp edged mute button on the iphone. It makes the device feel "precision". For that reason I dont think its a design flaw but an intentional design choice. Kind of like using black and red if you are designing a death metal website. Even if its hard to read.
 
I've got the moshi palm guard and the Speck incase so the "sharp edges" are gone completely:) Plus my beutiful macbook pro is protected :p
 
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