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Sakino · Oct 2, 2003, 09:17 PM

I just wanted to pass on another flaw I seen with my powerbook. The keys are starting to touch the screen, I am guessing it is just oil form the keyboard? But I can no see my keys etched on the screen. Has anyone else notice this? I thought apple solved this problem. I guess not.

nagromme · Oct 2, 2003, 09:46 PM

That's odd, with the new case design, you ought to have to crush the machine quite hard to jam the screen into the keys.

Are you missing some bumpers that ought to be holding the gap when the PB's closed?

Speaking as a G3 owner, it's oil and grime and can be carefully cleaned off. But you don't want it in the first place, and other people have reported that it's fixed in their new PowerBooks.

Toutgood · Oct 2, 2003, 09:52 PM

My feeling is, if you travel a lot, even with a sleeve, it's going to get pressed a bit. However, at first I freaked, and now I just calmly wipe my screen after each trip, no problem. However I'll probably get a screen protector at some point.

I've got a ti, by the way so maybe it's irrelevant to you all.

schk · Oct 2, 2003, 10:00 PM

I was looking at my new 12" PB to determine whether to get something to protect the screen. Right now I'm using that sheet that came with the unit. There seems to be enough clearance on the keys that even with pressure on the screen when being in something like a carrying case, they should not touch the screen. What is extremely close to the screen is the trackpad button. Due to it's location at the front of the case, I think theres a good chance it will touch the screen if pressed a bit. I think Radtech WildEepz would be overkill for a 12" and possibly add more stress to a perfectly fine latch, so I will opt for their cloth sheets, Screesavrz. I was hoping to be rid of such things with the newer aluminum designs, but it's better to be safe since I'm anal about such trivial things

Sakino · Oct 2, 2003, 10:15 PM

Originally posted by nagromme:
That's odd, with the new case design, you ought to have to crush the machine quite hard to jam the screen into the keys.

Are you missing some bumpers that ought to be holding the gap when the PB's closed?

Speaking as a G3 owner, it's oil and grime and can be carefully cleaned off. But you don't want it in the first place, and other people have reported that it's fixed in their new PowerBooks.

I checked, I have a separate bag by waterfield that I use to carry ONLY my powerbook around with. I have their cargo bag with the sleeve. I see nothing that would cause great pressure when I carry this computer around. I wonder what�s up with that. I will probably be getting a replacement anyways, so we will see. I was just shocked to see oil on my screen, taking the fact I thought apple fixed the problem.

iDaver · Oct 2, 2003, 10:55 PM

Originally posted by nagromme:
That's odd, with the new case design, you ought to have to crush the machine quite hard to jam the screen into the keys.

Are you missing some bumpers that ought to be holding the gap when the PB's closed?

Are there supposed to be bumpers? There are none on my new 17" model. Some of the keys do barely touch the screen if I press down on the corner of the top (like when I grab it to pick it up.)

nagromme · Oct 2, 2003, 11:02 PM

The bumpers are obvious in the 12" photos... in the other two, it looks like they may be built into the plastic outer edge? Or is it just the latch mechanism that holds the gap? Something has to hold that gap.

iDaver · Oct 2, 2003, 11:15 PM

Originally posted by nagromme:
The bumpers are obvious in the 12" photos... in the other two, it looks like they may be built into the plastic outer edge? Or is it just the latch mechanism that holds the gap? Something has to hold that gap.

Only the spring in the hinge. Otherwise, the gap closes easily with slight pressure.

James L · Oct 2, 2003, 11:53 PM

I am still on my 600 iBook until I buy my new machine, and I use the little sheet that was in the machine 2 years ago when I bought it. I have never had a problem, but wouldn't want to NOT have something between the keyboard and the screen.

bcaslis · Oct 3, 2003, 01:45 AM

I'm on my second Al 15" now and I don't see any touching at all. I travel back and forth to work everyday with it, and today I traveled 600 miles via plane in the morning with return tonight and still nothing.

I also never saw any key marks on the screen on my rev A 17" after 5 months, but I saw the marks on every Titanium I had the past two years.

kentuckyfried · Oct 3, 2003, 01:00 PM

speaking of sheets and screen protection (how timely a question):

Is it ok to put that foam insert sheet of the piece of cloth from radtech on the 15" while it is sleeping? I can't recall exactly, but I think this is the first time I've had a laptop where the ventilation holes are on the top surface of the keyboard (as opposed to my old ibook which is....smooth?...on the top surface. Will putting the sheet there impede ventilation and possibly cause damage during sleep?

Originally posted by schk:
I was looking at my new 12" PB to determine whether to get something to protect the screen. Right now I'm using that sheet that came with the unit. There seems to be enough clearance on the keys that even with pressure on the screen when being in something like a carrying case, they should not touch the screen. What is extremely close to the screen is the trackpad button. Due to it's location at the front of the case, I think theres a good chance it will touch the screen if pressed a bit. I think Radtech WildEepz would be overkill for a 12" and possibly add more stress to a perfectly fine latch, so I will opt for their cloth sheets, Screesavrz. I was hoping to be rid of such things with the newer aluminum designs, but it's better to be safe since I'm anal about such trivial things

Daniel Bayer · Oct 3, 2003, 01:04 PM

Even though I think the 17's keyboard distance is safe from the screen, I still use the shippng foam when I close it for transpo.

Just a good habit I can't quit.

nagromme · Oct 3, 2003, 02:14 PM

If that's the case, and the hinge spring is the only protection, with only tiny pressure needed to make the keys hit the screen... then why have a gap at all? What has really changes since the TiBook?

After all, when do you ever travel without the slightest pressure on your 'Book? Just zipping it in a bag does that.

Yet people say the issue's fixed... ah, if only the laptops at CompUSA weren't bolted open, I could see!

iDaver · Oct 3, 2003, 02:59 PM

Originally posted by nagromme:
If that's the case, and the hinge spring is the only protection, with only tiny pressure needed to make the keys hit the screen... then why have a gap at all? What has really changes since the TiBook?

After all, when do you ever travel without the slightest pressure on your 'Book? Just zipping it in a bag does that.

Yet people say the issue's fixed... ah, if only the laptops at CompUSA weren't bolted open, I could see!

On my 17" model, when I use a flashlight to look inside while pressing on the top to close the gap (in front) I can see that the front row of keys might barely be touching the screen. It's hard to tell.

The gap goes all the way around, on all four edges of the PowerBook. I'm nearly convinced that the purpose of the gap is to release some heat during closed-lid operation, NOT to protect the screen from hitting the keys.

Who knows! I wish Apple would explain it. Without an explanation, it seems like bad design.

crouchingtiger · Oct 3, 2003, 03:15 PM

my Pismo and iBook and all the Titaniums I've seen all had the keyboard mark problem. My 12" Powerbook has 0 marks after 6 months of use. It commutes daily to and from work and is constantly being moved around while closed so I'm confident that no marks will be forthcoming.

Josh Reid · Oct 3, 2003, 03:22 PM

My iBook 600 gets the screen marks after being carried around in a bag, and I've noticed that the times I've used a screen guard (just the foam sheet that the iBook came with), it seems to be just a bit too thick, as somehow it managed to wake the iBook while it was still closed.

When I took the iBook out of my bag, it was awake yet fully latched and closed. It seems that when the iBook had pressure put on it in the bag, the foam was just thick enough to tap the trackpad button or a key. So for now I use nothing, and just put up with the few small marks.

-Josh

nagromme · Oct 3, 2003, 05:27 PM

Yes, the bumpers on the 12" are clearly visible. But what about larger PBs? It looks like the 17" has plastic bumpers beside the latch slots, and the 15" has them on each side by the AirPort antennas. But small--just part of the edging--so it's hard for me to tell without going back to the store. And even if they are there, that doesn't mean they work. So I'm curious about the possibility of "tiny" pressure causing keyboard contact.

BTW, if you can't see daylight above the keys, that doesn't mean contact necessarily: the screen IS recessed slightly within the bezel.