[P1] new ibooks... any better re warping & screen marks??

[Pam Sorooshian]

Do you see a reason not to just stick a clean piece of paper over the 
keyboard before closing the iBook?

-pam


On Monday, July 7, 2003, at 01:24 AM, e.mkeene wrote:

>> I'm almost ready to buy a new iBook. Are there any models--the newest
>> ones, perhaps??--that don't have the problems mentioned with warping
>> and/or screen marks?
>
> I have listened to all the discussion on this list about these two 
> issues and finally dedicded to share the results of my research, 
> opinions and experience.
>
> Everything about the iBook is as small, as thin and as lightweight as 
> possible. Everything about the iBook is carefully designed to be as 
> stylish as possible and to let the mechanical stuff be as invisible as 
> possible. There are some consequences with all these restrictions.
>
> 1. Warp issue—in line with keeping the mechanics invisible, we have 
> the matter of the latch. I suspect space problems required the 
> redesign of the hinge and latch. The Clamshell was my favorite but I'm 
> sure it took more room to make it work successfully. The design of the 
> TiBook hinge (which preceeded the iBook) was  discarded because of 
> some design flaws with it and because of the smaller size of the 
> iBook. The ibook hinge gives us full use of the screen and a sense of 
> roominess that we would not get if the screen sat on top of the 
> keyboard and it would also mean we might have to give up the speakers 
> or put up with less ones.
>
> With the matter out of the way, there is till how do we firmly close 
> the thing and make sure that it signals the processor to go to sleep? 
> The pre TiBook and iBook generations had a very firm, large, "normal" 
> metal tongue and latch device. They also had much thicker, heavier and 
> metal enclosures and frames. Once the die was cast, the edge was true 
> (pardon the die pun). The iBook didn't have any of these options so a 
> new design was needed and it was kept in line with the rest of the 
> "lightness " of the ibook design.
>
> A tiny, firm piece of metal (tongue) fits into the latch and locks in 
> place. So far just like the old PBs. But they had the tongue 
> permanently protruding and visible, The iBook tongue is invisible when 
> the lid is open. As it closes, gravity gently eases the tongue out and 
> down, When it gets close to the latch slot, a magnet gently eases it 
> down and "sucks" it into the latch securing it and closing the circuit 
> to be sure the cpu stays asleep.
>
> Obviously, the lid weighs more than the little tongue and the magnet 
> maintains a certain amount of tension on the tongue to keep it 
> securely latched. The lid exerts a slight weight tension in the 
> direction of "open" and the magnet exerts an opposing tension towards 
> keeping it closed—balance and counter balanced, opposing and 
> counteropposing forces. Except the weight of the lid wins a tiny bit 
> more in this contest because the tongue is in the middle and there are 
> no equalizing forces or latches to hold in the weight on the free 
> edges. Voila! a slight variation between the  air space at the edge 
> and in the middle. Optical illusion further magnifies the difference 
> and makes it look like warping. If you put a level on all edges of the 
> lid, there is no warpage. They are still true.
>
> 2. The close tolerance and spacing between the lid and the keyboard 
> creates another problem—The screen bezel rests on the keys. This 
> actually is two problems. Oil marks on the screen and scratch marks on 
> the bezel.
>
> When you use the keyboard, the keys pick up a thin film of whatever is 
> on your fingers and there will always be a thin film of oil on even 
> the squeekiest clean fingers. If you are like me and many other 
> computer users, you drink and eat around your computer and you never 
> wash your hands each and every time you plan to use the keyboard.
>
> When the lid is closed, all this grime and oil transfers to the screen 
> if the lid closes really tight and there is NO AIR SPACE AT THE EDGES 
> to keep a margin of separation between the keys and the screen and 
> bezel.
>
> Screen Marks Solution: Pick your choice
> 1. Wash your hands each time you are using the keyboard and do not 
> touch anything but the keyboard without re-washing.  Not practical and 
> nobody would do it.
>
> 2. Clean the keyboard everytime it is used and just before closing the 
> lid (each time the lid is closed even for a few seconds), Better but 
> who would remember to do it for the few seconds the lid is closed to 
> sleep it while you get the phone or similar tasks?
>
> 3.Clean the keyboard everytime it is used AND use a CLEAN intervening 
> material between the screen and the keyboard—BEST SOLUTION but also 
> not always practical or remembered.
>
> 4. BEST COMPROMISE—Keep a CLEAN material handy to put on the keyboard 
> EVERY TIME you close the computer.
>
> Bezel Scratches Solution:
> Placing material on the keyboard large enough to cover the entire 
> surface prevents the bezel and keys from contacting and scratching 
> each other.
>
> Wash the material frequently in a non oily soap and don't use and 
> fabric softners on it, they may contain a light oily substance that is 
> transferred to the material. Many of the commercial products sold are 
> made from a specially processed leather which is great as far as it 
> goes. The problem is the leather gets thrown around and handled and 
> never washed so it will eventually pick up enough oils or substances 
> to stain or etch the screen.
>
> The company that makes the screen cleaner for Apple also makes 
> disposable cleaning cloths that can be used as screen protectors also. 
> They als make a microfiber cloth that can be used as a cleaning or 
> protecting material. It is also washable so it can be kept oil and 
> soil free. There are also other companies that make similar items. In 
> a pinch a very soft paper towel or clean sheet of paper will solve the 
> problem. The piece of foam that was on the keyboard when you opened 
> the box is an excellent  option if you wash it frequently.
>
> One final caveat from personal experience:
> When you pack your laptop (any and ALL kinds of laptops) in a case, 
> NEVER pack irregular shaped objects next to the screen. Always pack 
> something firm and flat next to the screen, ie, a magazine, a legal 
> pad, etc. Never over pack the case. If you place a hub, a 
> surgeprotector, a mouse, etc next to the screen and then you also 
> overpack the bag, it becomes possible for the irregular shape to press 
> unevenly on the screen and break the TFT layer—expensive repair.
>
> I lucked out and even though I had overpacked because I made sure no 
> objects could create pressure points, I didn't have any problems. A 
> friend of mine on the same trip wasn't as lucky and lost his screen.
>
> If you already have indelible screen marks and they interfere with  
> your use of the ibook, MacResQ.com has perfected a method of removing 
> the polarizer layer which contains the stains and then restoring the 
> polarizer for $299 which includes shipping costs.
>
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