Keeping a Mac pristine

[charleski]

One of the downsides of a Mac is that it looks so good. I had no problems scratching up my old Dell laptop, but find myself obsessively polishing away any marks on my MacBook Pro. I've considered various products like the Speck casing and different types of keyboard cover but would like to know if anyone's tried them.

The Speck casing is something I'll probably buy, but they warn that you should take the machine out regularly and clean it as any grit that gets trapped inside is more likely to cause a scratch than if you weren't using any casing at all. Has anyone got any experience of using this product?

I'm also looking for a keyboard protector like the iSkin Protouch. But I have my worries about ventilation, as the keyboard is a source for air through the heatsinks and I commonly run numbercrunching tasks on my MBP. Does anyone have one, and if so, how does it affect running temps?

[arizonagroove]

If you want to keep your MacBook Pro pristine leave it in the box.

One more helpful tip I will give is to hang on to the piece of material that was between the keyboard and screen when you unpacked it. Stick that back in whenever you close the lid and it'll help make sure you don't end up with marks on the screen from the keyboard. Though if you don't go carrying it around in a way which squeezes the screen against the keyboard that shouldn't be a problem.

[lost eden]

It's a machine, not a museum piece - just use it & accept the scratches as they come. My MacBook has stickers, scratches, the wristwrests are grubby as hell - who cares?

[charleski]

LOL, useful responses

[RoganJosh]

Keep your MBP inside a Tucano or similar second skin - this stops it getting scratched inside a laptop bag/case. My wife has her iBook g4 inside one since she got it - it travels to work everyday in the back of the subaru on northern irish b roads - and, it's immaculate (no pun intended). So I have one too. Fully recommend them - though the kids still poke their fingers at the screen when peppa pig appears.
But I think it's overkill to stick additional armour over your beautiful mbp - it'll be grand in a 2nd skin IMHO.

[Lowe]

Just bought a 2nd skin style thing for mine - since it'll be on my back in a rucksack on the push bike! Hopefully it'll be OK.

[Gordy]

My mbp is coming up for 2 years old and there isn't a scratch or mark on it. I just take care of it properly. It always goes into a tucano style case that came with my crumpler bag. I can't see why things get scratched apart from freak accidents or misuse.

[Stoo]

I just give my macbook a quick buff with a microfibre cloth once in a while, seems to do the trick

[Guy]

Whilst lugging my Macbook round I use one of these cases Apple Store - U.K. - Incase Neoprene Sleeve for 13" MacBook - Black

It has done a really good job of protecting the mac, and I give it a quick dust/clean every so often, and its still in good condition

[mightymouse]

just a note to arizona if you do keep the sheet in between the screen and keyboard make sure you dont have any abrasive dust/dirt each time you remove it otherwise you wont be a happy camper.

[Garf]

I caused a massive scratch on the lid of my macbook. Was upgrading the memory (4GB mmmm) and turned it over on the workshop desk. Was a little hard something on the surface and scraaaaaaatch.

I just end up buying screen wipes for my macbook. Scrubs up the whole thing well. Until I use it again!