Filed under: Hardware, Bad Apple, Apple, MacBook
White MacBooks Turning Yellow
When TUAW reader Rich sent us this link pointing to an Apple Discussions page discussing the tendency for some of the plastics on the new white MacBooks to turn yellowish after just a few weeks, I initially dismissed it as one or two overly-sensitive Mac users complaining about the inevitable hand grease, dirt, and muck that all of our laptops experience during their average use. At least that's what I thought until I saw the pictures [2] [3] [4] [slideshow] and started reading the many posts from many users experiencing the same problem.This discoloration is not dirt and cannot be cleaned by anything that people have tried, and the list is extensive: iKlear and similar cleaners, hot water, Windex, diluted bleach, a Magic Eraser...the list is long.
There definitely appears to be a problem here with the plastic that Apple has used for the palm rests on the first-generation white MacBooks. I have not seen this yet personally (I've yet to even see a MacBook in person), but the numbers and anecdotal evidence is looking pretty convincing. Now, I wonder if Apple will acknowledge the problem and replace the plastics, or whether they'll pass this off as "cosmetic damage" as they've done in the past (cracking lines on the G4 Cube, anyone?).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Laurence Anderson said 10:39AM on 6-13-2006
Glad I bought me a Black MacBook :).
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mrtotes said 10:40AM on 6-13-2006
2006. The year of the beta.
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SPower said 10:41AM on 6-13-2006
This is the exact same problem that many have had with the last iBook G4 model. My wife and I have identical machines (iBook G4 1.42 Ghz) and both developed yellow/orange discolouration on the palm rests just a couple of weeks after we got them. For us, repeated cleaning (with a damp soapy cloth) did gradually reduce the marks, until the problem stopped occuring. Perhaps there is an intial reaction between hand grease/sweat and the plastic (or some residue on it) that then tails off? I am getting a new white MacBook soon, and I plan on cleaning the plam rests (to get off any production chemicals/residues) before I use it and every day within the first couple of weeks. My guess is that this will prevent the problem. In other words this is a weird issue that should not happen, but it may be preventable/curable.
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arkowi said 10:44AM on 6-13-2006
You know, I was all set on a Macbook Pro. Then I went into the store and fell in love with the black Macbook so I decided to do the the BlackBook and a 23" cinema display instead of the MBP. The same day, I start seeing all this stuff about the BlackBook paint flaking off. Over several days I decide to do the white MacBook (I am going to an Apple store tomorrow). Then, last night I started seeing all this stuff about the white MacBooks staining...it actually seems more prevalent than the BlackBooks flaking. So...now, to quote AC/DC, I guess I am "back in black". Can anyone commment on the durability of the black? Can anyone comment on the staining of the white? It sucks Apple is having so many issues with these things...
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amade1974 said 10:47AM on 6-13-2006
I don't know if this is heat related, the button on the touchpad should not get too hot. Maybe there is a batch of cases that came out crappy? If this would be more common with the macbooks, I am pretty sure it would be all over the news by now (they have been out for a month or so already). It will be interesting to see what turns out to be the cause
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Chris said 10:55AM on 6-13-2006
The flaking black MacBook report turned out to be a hoax, as far as I can tell. The photos come from a single source.
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Rol said 11:01AM on 6-13-2006
@arkowi go for the MBP. Mine is as shiny as the moment I bought it 47 days 22 hours 16 minutes and 23..24... at any rate why take the chance...
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Richard Earney said 11:02AM on 6-13-2006
This happened on the old iBooks as well. It was possible to clean with "Magic Eraser Block"
http://www.lakelandlimited.co.uk/product.aspx/solutions/clean!9009
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Jason said 11:06AM on 6-13-2006
I wouldn't be too surprised if the yellowish stains are from nicotine, which is very difficult to get out.
The combination of body sweat and nicotine (especially nicotine excreted through the pores) make for a perma-stain extavaganza, especially on a porous, soft-white surface like the MacBook.
Maybe I'm wrong, but it looks like nicotine to me.
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John said 11:06AM on 6-13-2006
Reminds me of the problems I have with my AlBook. Sweat and oils from my hands have caused the palm rest to corrode. There are tiny pin-prick holes and pitting that aren't very pretty. And Apple claims it's my fault for having sweaty palms.
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Jon H said 11:08AM on 6-13-2006
I've had some gunge accumulation on my MacBookPro's palmrests, but that comes off pretty easily with water.
It hasn't been bad lately. I think it mostly happened when I was using a moisturizer on my hands.
Also, a cortisone cream I used on a rash on my wrist made an unpleasant crust on the left palmrest, but that also cleaned up with water.
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JT said 11:11AM on 6-13-2006
Got a Powerbook for 2 years, now a macbook since march. Never had this kind of problem. Aluminum seems less sensitive to human secretions...
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justin said 11:12AM on 6-13-2006
Actually, even though it's not as bad I think the BlackBook has a similar problem - after only three days I had shiny wear on y trackpad and my spacebar and apple keys, the kind you see after a year or two of use! It's NOT grease or dirt either, I tried every cleaner (that is safe to use) under the sun... granted it's not as noticeable as this, but it's definitely there.
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arkowi said 11:15AM on 6-13-2006
Rol,
True, the MBP is awesome. But I like the size of the MB better. I don't game. And I can get a MB and a 23" cinema display for the same cost as a MBP.
Richard Earney,
A lot of the people commenting on this say it is much different from the stains on the iBook. They have trield all the "ole' standby" remedeys and none of them seem to work (including the magic eraser, iKlear, etc).
Jason ,
If you read the forums/postings linked in the article, all of the people say they do not smoke. I agree, it does have that gross smoke stained look, but it does not seem to be the case.
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chho. said 11:19AM on 6-13-2006
it's a fake.
just drag to desktop
and view its property
it's done by photoshop cs
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Guillermo said 11:27AM on 6-13-2006
chho.:
That doesn't mean it's fake, they could have just cropped or resized it with Photoshop.
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dan said 11:31AM on 6-13-2006
Yes, looks like a Photoshop fake … but whatever. I advice, never buy a 1st generation apple product!
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arkowi said 11:34AM on 6-13-2006
"it's a fake.
just drag to desktop
and view its property
it's done by photoshop cs"
so every image opened and saved in photoshop is a fake?
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tpen said 11:50AM on 6-13-2006
Get one of these:
http://tinyurl.com/fqzx6
I have one for my PowerBook, and it's great. Basically a very slim cushion that adheres Post-It Note style to the handrest and a soft chamois for covering the keys and wiping the screen.
I don't think the MacBook version is available yet, but it should be soon.
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john said 11:51AM on 6-13-2006
oddly enough, the only discoloration i've seen on my macbook pro seems to be caused by my watch. not just any watch...my titanium alloy watch. when i wear my stainless steel watch, my wrist rests stay clean.
the gunk does come off with a little scubbing, though.
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