[tavilach]

Before I start using my PowerBook, I'd like to know what accessories I should have.

I'll be purchasing a Targus laptop backpack, but once I take it out, I'm worried about the PowerBook being...well...naked. I'm thinking about getting something like this...is that the best option? Would it be too thick to fit inside a laptop pocket in the backpack (something like this), typically?

I hadn't been thinking about anything more than cases, but a friend of mine suggested an iSkin for the keyboard, as well as a screen protector. Are these necessary? I'm worried about the iSkin pushing up against the screen when the laptop is closed, and it's a hassle to constantly remote it. As for the screen protector, it seems very tedious to lay it over the keyboard everytime I close the PowerBook. If most people use these items, and they're necessary to keep the laptop in tip-top shape, I guess I'll be getting them...

...it just makes the PowerBook more of a hassle to use.

I could use some input on this. Thanks .

[Cadaver]

If you're going to be that nervous about using a laptop, such as laying a plastic/rubber cover over the keyboard every time you take it out, then you're going to drive yourself nuts.

Buy a good quality case/backpack. Place PowerBook in said case. Take to location. Carefully take out of case and place on table/desk/lap. Use. When done, carefully place PowerBook back in case.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but if you're going to be afraid of every little spec of particulate matter floating thru the air landing on your machine, then perhaps carrying around a $2000ish laptop is not for you. Going overboard on the laptop "accessories" (skins, triple padded sleeve-within-a-sleeve-within-a-backpack will just (1) make your laptop a hassle to use, and (2) begin to weigh so much that you may as well just carry around a desktop.

[tavilach]

Originally posted by Cadaver:
If you're going to be that nervous about using a laptop, such as laying a plastic/rubber cover over the keyboard every time you take it out, then you're going to drive yourself nuts.

Buy a good quality case/backpack. Place PowerBook in said case. Take to location. Carefully take out of case and place on table/desk/lap. Use. When done, carefully place PowerBook back in case.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but if you're going to be afraid of every little spec of particulate matter floating thru the air landing on your machine, then perhaps carrying around a $2000ish laptop is not for you. Going overboard on the laptop "accessories" (skins, triple padded sleeve-within-a-sleeve-within-a-backpack will just (1) make your laptop a hassle to use, and (2) begin to weigh so much that you may as well just carry around a desktop.

I totally agree with you, and wasn't planning on using all these accessories! It's just that people have been recommending them, and I didn't know what to make of that.

I think it's just easier to use the PowerBook within a little binder-type thing (and then sticking that inside a Targus backpack), regardless of damage...just comfort-wise. It doesn't make it much heavier.

[Spheric Harlot]

Don't bother with the screen protector.

[tavilach]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
Don't bother with the screen protector.

Thanks for the advice .

Is it an exaggeration, then, that so many screens experience scratches and oils from the keyboards and mouse buttons hitting the screen? I hope so!

[Stradlater]

Originally posted by tavilach:
Thanks for the advice .

Is it an exaggeration, then, that so many screens experience scratches and oils from the keyboards and mouse buttons hitting the screen? I hope so!

Body oils will always be a slow-burning problem. Keep your PB clean. Use a custom "screen protector" when it's closed.

[tavilach]

Originally posted by Stradlater:
Body oils will always be a slow-burning problem. Keep your PB clean. Use a custom "screen protector" when it's closed.

Mixed feedback, people!

[cloudaj]

if you are worried about the body oils getting on the screen just get a piece of printer paper and stick it on the keyboard every time you close it. Solves the problem and costs you practically nothing.

I have the same machine you got, and it came yesterday. I am buying a case to transport it in (the timbuk2 carrying case with the shoulder strap...any opinions on that case, btw?), and maybe I'll do the printer paper thing...not sure yet. But you can't worry about it too much or you will never enjoy the machine. While not having the machine in a laptop binder might cause the machine to look used after some time, that is fine with me. I'd rather enjoy my powerbook as I sit here on the couch with my powerbook "naked" on my lap than worry about how it is going to look a few years down the line.

The iskin is more about not letting stuff into the keyboard (food and such), and it will cause the same problem with oils getting on the screen. As long as you don't eat around the powerbook, its not too much of an issue (IMO).

My advice is to just get a nice, well-protected bag, maybe use a piece of paper to protect the screen from body oils, and that is it. Don't worry about your new powerbook getting old and just enjoy it

[tavilach]

Originally posted by cloudaj:
if you are worried about the body oils getting on the screen just get a piece of printer paper and stick it on the keyboard every time you close it. Solves the problem and costs you practically nothing.

I have the same machine you got, and it came yesterday. I am buying a case to transport it in (the timbuk2 carrying case with the shoulder strap...any opinions on that case, btw?), and maybe I'll do the printer paper thing...not sure yet. But you can't worry about it too much or you will never enjoy the machine. While not having the machine in a laptop binder might cause the machine to look used after some time, that is fine with me. I'd rather enjoy my powerbook as I sit here on the couch with my powerbook "naked" on my lap than worry about how it is going to look a few years down the line.

The iskin is more about not letting stuff into the keyboard (food and such), and it will cause the same problem with oils getting on the screen. As long as you don't eat around the powerbook, its not too much of an issue (IMO).

My advice is to just get a nice, well-protected bag, maybe use a piece of paper to protect the screen from body oils, and that is it. Don't worry about your new powerbook getting old and just enjoy it

Hmm...printer paper...

As for the binder, I simply would find it more comfortable.

[Stradlater]

Yup, a piece of paper suffices. I used to just use the small styro-paper that came with it, but that got torn somewhere along the line.

[jayliv26]

I recently bought a sleeve from stm, and then bought a commuter bag from timbuk2. It will be sufficient for laptop protection as well as books for school, etc.

[kafoochy]

I agree with Cadaver. Take a little initiative and decide what you think you are going to need. People can make suggestions, but you are going to be the only person using your computer. Sometimes people like to accessorize their computer like they accessorize before going out but in the latter case they actually serve a purpose. If you keep your computer in a good case, that's all you really need. As Cadaver said, if you're worrying about taking it out of the case and getting it scratched, then you should and bought a Dell. Granted, I'm not a huge fan of the large scratch on the bottom of my 15", but it would have happened eventually no matter how well I treated the computer. I keep a keyboard protector on it just because of the horrible marks that the keyboard made on the screen of my mom's powerbook. I don't think this really anything to worry about though since there is more clearance now. It is just something that I bought before I even took the computer out of the box so it's become second nature.

[tavilach]

Originally posted by kafoochy:
I agree with Cadaver. Take a little initiative and decide what you think you are going to need. People can make suggestions, but you are going to be the only person using your computer. Sometimes people like to accessorize their computer like they accessorize before going out but in the latter case they actually serve a purpose. If you keep your computer in a good case, that's all you really need. As Cadaver said, if you're worrying about taking it out of the case and getting it scratched, then you should and bought a Dell. Granted, I'm not a huge fan of the large scratch on the bottom of my 15", but it would have happened eventually no matter how well I treated the computer. I keep a keyboard protector on it just because of the horrible marks that the keyboard made on the screen of my mom's powerbook. I don't think this really anything to worry about though since there is more clearance now. It is just something that I bought before I even took the computer out of the box so it's become second nature.

The only basis for my decision is learning from other people. I am taking initiative...by asking! I'm only asking because I really don't know how necesssary these accessories are, and many of you do.

...and I didn't buy a PowerBook for its thickness.

[kafoochy]

Originally posted by tavilach:
The only basis for my decision is learning from other people. I am taking initiative...by asking! I'm only asking because I really don't know how necesssary these accessories are, and many of you do.

...and I didn't buy a PowerBook for its thickness.

I meant take initiative and find out what YOU need. There are plenty of posts that start out like "HELP! I dropped my PB!" or "Help, I fell asleep on my PB and drooled over the keyboard which stopped working!" I'm glad you're asking for help, but I'm telling you to figure out your own needs. Do you want help? Advice? Here's my advice, if you have the Targus case, don't buy anything else until you've used and toted your computer around for a week. You've got the case to protect it and you'll quickly find out if you want more protection or "accessories" as you say. Why spend the money and cause a hassle returning things if you don't need to? You won't get horrible marks on the screen if you don't buy a screen protector in the first week, just use a sheet of paper as someone said, or the packaging material. What I'm trying to say is that if you have a specific question about how well a product works, or if you should get it, then ask it. Everyone uses different accessories, so wait until you get your powerbook to find out what you need.

[tavilach]

Originally posted by kafoochy:
I meant take initiative and find out what YOU need. There are plenty of posts that start out like "HELP! I dropped my PB!" or "Help, I fell asleep on my PB and drooled over the keyboard which stopped working!" I'm glad you're asking for help, but I'm telling you to figure out your own needs. Do you want help? Advice? Here's my advice, if you have the Targus case, don't buy anything else until you've used and toted your computer around for a week. You've got the case to protect it and you'll quickly find out if you want more protection or "accessories" as you say. Why spend the money and cause a hassle returning things if you don't need to? You won't get horrible marks on the screen if you don't buy a screen protector in the first week, just use a sheet of paper as someone said, or the packaging material. What I'm trying to say is that if you have a specific question about how well a product works, or if you should get it, then ask it. Everyone uses different accessories, so wait until you get your powerbook to find out what you need.

I just don't want to permanently damage it before I buy anything to prevent the damage.

Do the keys ever scratch the PB?
Can the oil stains ever not be cleaned?
Does the top half hit the keyboard half to cause scuff marks?
Can hairs not be removed after they fall through the keys?

If the answer to any of these is "no," then it seems that I have to buy something now.

If the answer is "yes" to all, then I'm no longer interested in ever buying any of these accessories . I'm only worried about permanent damage.

[azdude]

I'll give you the same advice I gave you before:

Get out of the forums for awhile.

Doing so will:

a) Give you time to enjoy your laptop
b) Stop freaking you out about other people's problems
c) Allow you to assess on your own, without peer pressure & bias, exactly what you need for the way that you use your powerbook.

This thread applies to (c).

[Ryan1524]

i have a sleeve and a radtech screensavrz. the sleeve goes with the PB inside my regular school backpack, inconspicuous and stealthy, while the screensavrz protects the screen (maybe - i don't think it touches at all anymore now), and can be used to clean dust off the screen, and clean the exterior of the powerbook in general, so it's more of a glorified terrycloth thana screen protector, it just adds a personal touch to the machine, so i bought it. i think that should be all you need. getting a special laptop bag is big no no, it'll just show people that you have a notebook with you, not a good idea.

[azdude]

Originally posted by kafoochy:
I meant take initiative and find out what YOU need.

Agreed... my point exactly.

Don't ask people what they think you may need for your new powerbook that hasn't even arrived yet... You'll find out what gaps need to be filled once you start using it.

[tavilach]

Originally posted by Ryan1524:
getting a special laptop bag is big no no, it'll just show people that you have a notebook with you, not a good idea.

The Targus laptop backpacks are just ordinary backpacks with laptop compartments .

Originally posted by azdude:
Agreed... my point exactly.

Don't ask people what they think you may need for your new powerbook that hasn't even arrived yet... You'll find out what gaps need to be filled once you start using it.

As I said above, I'm just worried about permanent damage .

As for getting out of the forums...it was my Mac-head friend, not MacNN, that got me nervous this time.

[Ryan1524]

ok, those are exceptions. but i'm talking about bags that 'looks' like they might be carrying something specific inside.

[tavilach]

Originally posted by Ryan1524:
ok, those are exceptions. but i'm talking about bags that 'looks' like they might be carrying something specific inside.

At the Berkeley orientation, we had a police officer talk to us about theft. He explained (even though it was already obvious) that one shouldn't be too obvious about having a laptop. Those students who tote around laptops in the middle of the night, with glowing Dell or Apple logos...well, the laptops are shouting, "Steal me! Steal me!"

You're absolutely right about that. Fo' sheezy .

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by tavilach:
Thanks for the advice .

Is it an exaggeration, then, that so many screens experience scratches and oils from the keyboards and mouse buttons hitting the screen? I hope so!

The keyboard DOES NOT TOUCH THE SCREEN.

It used to on the tiBooks, but the problem is non-existent in the Alubooks, despite what quacks will tell you about bodily oils.

<strangelove>
"Bodily fluids..."
</strangelove>

By all means, spend $20 on a custom piece of pigskin if it'll make you feel better.

-s*

[kafoochy]

Originally posted by tavilach:
If the answer to any of these is "no," then it seems that I have to buy something now.

Not that Apple hasn't had some design hiccups in the past, but there is no product Apple makes today that would sustain damage from normal use in only a week or so of usage (except possibly the beautiful iPod's stainless steal back). As azdude and I said, take a break and wait until you get your computer. There are just as many people that buy a powerbook and stuff it in a briefcase and their powerbooks never sustain permanent damage. Before you buy anything else, you need to treat your computer well, in order to do this you actually need to have it.

[ARENA]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
The keyboard DOES NOT TOUCH THE SCREEN.

It used to on the tiBooks, but the problem is non-existent in the Alubooks, despite what quacks will tell you about bodily oils.

<strangelove>
"Bodily fluids..."
</strangelove>

By all means, spend $20 on a custom piece of pigskin if it'll make you feel better.

-s*

The problem of the keyboard marks on the screen does happen in current AlBook 15" PowerBooks. At least in mine it does, so i always use the sheet of foam that came with the PB.
In my 12" inch, it doesn't ocurr though.