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Discoloration posts

Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, Odds and ends, iPhone

White iPhone discoloration: Not just heat

Last week, several readers were pointing out stories of white iPhones that had taken on a yellowish hue. It was assumed that heat was the issue. Keen to tempt fate, I played Star Defense [App Store link] for 30 minutes straight last night with my iPhone resting on my bed. It warmed up pretty good, but stayed white.

Earlier today, frenchiPhone.com reported that the issue is most likely the combination of a hot iPhone and a certain case, though they did not specify which one. Additionally, they state that cleaning the effected area with a cloth and some rubbing alcohol will remove the stain. We haven't tried this, so we can't confirm that it works/won't damage your phone.

Our best advice, based on the limited information we have, is to remove your white iPhone from its case if you're going to be doing someting intensive for a long time, like play StarDefense, run a GPS app, etc.

I probably don't have to tell you this, but just in case ... do not apply stain stick to your iPhone.

Filed under: Portables, How-tos, MacBook

Clean your MacBook with toothpaste

Toothpaste is such versatile material. When I was in college, I used it as drywall spackle to fill in nail holes. As a kid at summer camp, I used it to write my name on the rafters of our cabin. I've heard that some people even clean their teeth with it.

Check out this tip from Lifehacker. It seems that a dab of Arm & Hammer Dental Care Advance Cleaning toothpaste can be used to rub the nasty wrist stains clean off of a white MacBook. A reader also suggests that a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (which is free of abrasives) also works.

MacBook owners, rejoice! A cheap solution is probably in your bathroom.

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Macbook Pro, MacBook

TUAW Poll: Your MacBook/Pro experience

Yesterday, we pointed out an article at Infinite Loop that was describing yet another (allegedly) melting MagSafe connector. Many of you wrote in to state that your MacBook/Pro experience has been trouble-free. Still, the issues people are having are very real, so let's take a brief (and informal) poll.

How has your MacBook/Pro experience been? Is it noisy, hot, discolored...melting? Is it a dream come true, the best laptop you've ever used? Leave your answer below, and check back tomorrow for the results.

How has your MacBook/Pro experience been?
It's been a nightmare
I've had minor issues
It's been a dream!
  
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Filed under: Portables, MacBook

TUAW Poll: Does your MacBook exhibit discoloration?

Does your MacBook exhibit discoloration?
Yes
No
  

With many owners of Apple's MacBook reporting strange discoloration of their machine on areas that come into frequent contact with the skin (wrist rests, trackpad, button and areas near the iSight being the main concern), we've created this poll to get a better idea of how many MacBooks are affected. When I first saw this issue I believed that the people reporting these problems were simply neglecting to wash their hands; that's until my own white MacBook started displaying symptoms.

If you believe that your MacBook has this problem, vote on this poll, submit your details to Stainedbook.info and make sure to contact Applecare to notify Apple of the problem.

Disclaimer: Please, only vote on this poll if you own a white MacBook. We're trying to get a handle on the percentage of white machines affected by this problem. Black MacBooks do not seem to exhibit this problem.

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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