[Mastrap]

I mean, it's so perfect. Shiny. Virginal even. Not a single bad pixel. Not a single scratch. No fingerprints. I want to keep it that way.

Then I look at the state of my 18 months old iBook and I'm shocked. Scratched to buggery. Used and abused. Much travelled by plane, bus and automobile. A screen that could do with a good clean. Track-pad worn, mouse button too. Keyboard needs hoovering. Showing all the signs of a busy, useful, productive life.

Then I look at my PB again, gently put it back into it's pristine sleeve, sigh deeply and pick up the iBook before heading into the garden to do some work. Madness.

[gator]

Well... if you're not going to use your PB, you're free to give it to me, I'll make sure it gets good use

[spaced]

Originally posted by gator:
Well... if you're not going to use your PB, you're free to give it to me, I'll make sure it gets good use

You beat me to this comment.

[craigthomas]

Guess that's one of the things that make us Mac users - we're a visual lot. Give him a couple of weeks and there will be sneeze spots on his PowerBook too.

[yellow no.5]

My life must be backwards. Everytime I get something new/cool, and I try to keep it pristine, it normally breaks, and everything new/cool I have that I use (sometimes abuse) all the time and put it to the max lasts me forever even with seemingly lethal accidents.

My brother and I used to have the exact same remote control car...mine went through every substance known to man and fell off of about everything I could get it on top of, and it still runs 12 years later. My brother kept his pristine...it just quit working after a couple months.

I drop my minidisc player at least once a week, and it still rocks everytime I use it.

On the other hand, with some music gear I own, I've tried to keep it nice, but it normally breaks down for one reason or another.

So, like you, Mastrap, I'm a little concerned about the things you mentioned in your post, but I'm also worried NOT to use it based on my history with equipment.

So I have a bi-weekly *throw my PB out the window onto cement* time. Keeps it healthy.

This post really has no point concerning your original post, so my apologies Just random story-time.

-yno.5

[KeriVit]

I know what you mean.. my iBook looks like crap. I've got scratches everywhere, masking tape on the latch to keep it shut, the case is warped. But it's so cute! And it looks like it enjoys life. I can't imagine my 17" AlBook would ever look like that.'

Then again, I never thought the iBook would either.

[todrain]

I used to be like that too, but after getting scratches on my iBook and my iPod, I consider them beauty marks.

[tonewheel]

It's no different that the attitude toward a new car. Over time, the inevitable chips, mars and dings occur. It's what make your car, and in this case, your computer, yours. It's unique, and you'd best consider it a fact of life.

IMO, the 17's will suffer less blemishing than the rest of the notebook line, simply because most who have purchsed them will not be toting them around like other, smaller notebooks. Many will have them stay put in one place, or, by virtue of their size, will be forced to transport them carefully instead of tossing them in cases or backpacks.

Having said all of that, I hope this topic thread doesn't truly reflect your attitude. I assume it doesn't. The 17" is indeed a work horse. Use it. It will take more abuse than you think, and, will get "customized" along the way.

[CyberPet]

Oh, that new computer look sure fades away fast.... my "new" PowerBook (got it in the beginning of december) has now a scratch on the top surface, below the left speaker. No idea how it got there. Looks like it's done by a sharp object. The one rubber thingy that goes between the computer and the monitor has fell off, there's some sneeze marks on my monitor, the spacebar has a blank spot where I have my thumb and there's a blank spot on the trackpad and the mouse clicker.

No new smell of new computer anymore *sighs*

[beanman]

Here, here! I too miss how that first day look and smell(my god, did I just say that?). I try to shut my computer down once a week and give it a decent cleaning. I take it with me a lot, so it gets dirty from just my hands from time to time. I wash my hands twice as much as I did before.

[bluejam]

Compare someone's 1979 Ferrari to a 1979 Ford Taurus...
At $3300, I think most of our new PB17's will still be pristine a couple years from now. I know mine will and I am taking it everywhere.