Flat black finish - protection?

I recently found a couple of X220's and an X201T that I'd undoubtedly bought as spares and forgot about, and I've decided to keep them.

What surprises me most about these is how incredibly battered my existing X201T's and the recently-departed X220's look/ed in comparison. I think my old Sony Z1's got way more mobile use in the same sort of timeframe, they have a (unfounded IMO, but anyhoo) rep for being flimsy and they didn't look anywhere as bad as my TP's do. I do not exactly fling my machines about, although they're used very casually with no special care. The main culprit for this appears to be the flat black finish, which appears to be pretty delicate in reality.

Another sorta nail in the coffin of the Thinkpad Legend in my book especially given how often my X's have been in the shop, but hey, it's only cosmetic this time - but either way, what I'd like to do is to keep these 'new old' machines now looking OK.

Skins? Snap-on cases? I think an Invisibleshield (if available) would end up looking unbelievably janky but if someone can persuade me otherwise I'd be prepared to take a look. Options please.

 

A skin with an adhesive like the stuff used with Post-It notes is a good option.

 

Laptop Skins

 

Given how easily the finish appears to rub off, how much risk is there of it peeling off along with a skin after it's been on a while?

 

There is no best way to "protect" and "restore" the ThinkPad rubbery lid coating. I have come to accept hand-oil traces, surface scratches and corner rub-offs as part of the charm. Even wiping with a damp cloth reveals tiny glittery particles in the coating.

 

Eh. That's what happens. Ever since the rubberized coating was introduced it's been prone to wear. Even the venerable 600 series wears on its parts that aren't full rubber (i.e. not the palmrest).

It's a trade-off. The rubberized coating is good for grip and even appearance, but not great for good looks over a long lifetime of use.

 

Right. Because it's a tool, not an ornament.

 

I was wondering who'd be the first apologist on the scene

But seriously, I don't think it's an entirely unreasonable expectation. The system may not deliver it, so the question is, what option would be the best alternative.

 

ThinkPad is about innate beauty rather then the superficial beauty. The rubber coating was never meant to be tough, and they do wear off rather quickly compared to those anodized coating on MBP or those metallic paint coating on the Sony Z series.

This is how it has been for quite a long time.

 

I say go the NASCAR route. Cover it with stickers.

 

It would be nice to have a more durable coating, but I still think it's nicer than simple black plastic, in any case.

You can try this, arsenic004 has some good pictures and a link.

 

While the "classic" ThinkPad look has remained over many iterations, one cannot deny the fact that many, many, *many* (expression courtesy ThinkRob ) elements have been revised and "improved," either by Lenovo or by integrating latest technologies: the overall design, the materials, the keyboard, the trackpad, etc. Even a relatively simple thing as the UltraBay has been going through subtle changes frequently.

Then why not the not-so-durable coating? Maybe NASA Materials Research should be involved.

 

Or Sig Sauer.

Nitron® Black anyone?

 

putting a layer of invisi shield should keep it in pristine condition and still have the same "grip" of course it would make it a bit shiny though

 

Admit it, you take your Thinkpads to bed, don't you?

If I had to cover it with my sponsors, that'd be a lonely sticker list.

 

Yeah, the SGP is one of my options. Though they don't have one for the X201T if I 'm not mistaken. However was wondering re: finish and sticker, i.e. whether there's a long-term effect. Skins on the 3M sheets don't adhere fully to the surface, but given the finish I was wondering if e.g. the finish would come off in a stippled manner.

edit: nvm I saw they do X201T skins. Question re: coming off though remains.

 

It's strange that the "rubber coating" is this weak on the ThinkPads. My several years old cellphone with rubber coating doesn't have a scratch while my soon one year old ThinkPad already starts to show a lot of wear.

 

Yeah.

On the matter of covering it with stickers:

AmIdoingitrite?

 

Because your cellphone is an ornament!!!

 

Funny. I put an Apple in the middle of my T61p a long time ago and people thought I was using a MacBook. That's actually how my nascar look started. I had to add other stuff so people would get that it was a PC.

 

I think it depends on the material. Many of the rubberized cellphones that I've seen have body panels made entirely of a rubbery material. It's not that they don't wear, but rather that they wear down to more of the same. The ThinkPads that have had similar rubberized panels also are equally-slow to show wear. Most ThinkPads have a rubberized top-coat, hence why wear is visible: it's wearing down to a different material.

 

Rather incredibly, the joke Apple sticker moment has already resulted in some cosmetic damage of the coating when I was removing them.

I think I'll just have to accept that Thinkpads, contrary to the myth have mediocre build quality, right down to the superficial elements... and live with it until I move on.

 

Eh, even that innocent-looking Energy Star sticker will damage the coating!

 

Which is why the stickers come off immediately after I receive any machine.

 

See my new post in that thread. I bought one from the same eBay seller and it was plastic. Am demanding refund.