I also filed the corners off my MacBook
Owners of recent MacBook models are increasingly frustrated by the laptop’s sharp aluminum edges, which some say cause discomfort, bruising, or even cuts during everyday use. Many praise a carefully executed DIY fix—filing and sanding the case to soften the edges—while others prefer add-on accessories, 3D‑printed trims, or simply refuse to modify an expensive device for resale and warranty reasons. The exchange broadens into a debate over Apple’s design priorities, ergonomics versus aesthetics, and how “precious” people should be about tools like laptops, books, and other everyday objects.
Ergonomics and Sharp Edges
- Many commenters report genuine discomfort: sore thumbs, wrist calluses, even bruises and small cuts from MacBook edges, vents, and exhaust areas.
- Some trace long-term irritation to the trackpad corners or front edge; a few say they can’t comfortably use the laptop on their lap.
- Others say they’ve never noticed any issue, suggesting it may depend heavily on posture, anatomy, or use patterns.
Filing / Modifying the Hardware
- Several users have already filed their MacBooks (including older unibody and plastic models) and report immediate comfort improvements.
- There’s praise for the careful, patient approach in this article compared to earlier, rougher examples.
- A few are too risk‑averse to file metal and instead:
- Use leather cases or lip-covering accessories.
- 3D‑print attachable edge pieces.
- One person tried a deburring tool plus fine sandpaper and liked the result; other commenters strongly advise against deburring tools for precision work, preferring files and sandpaper.
Tools vs. “Precious Objects”
- A strong theme: a laptop is a tool, not a shrine. If fear of cosmetic damage stops you from improving usability, it undermines its purpose.
- Counterpoint: treating tools carefully is also rational, especially delicate instruments; modifying a very expensive, hard‑to‑repair device may hurt resale and warranty.
- This spills into analogies with guitars, watches, cars, and paper books: some embrace wear as “evidence of use,” others feel moral or sentimental duty to keep items pristine.
Apple Design Priorities
- Multiple commenters complain that sharp edges conflict with Apple’s otherwise thoughtful hardware and UX details.
- One theory: aesthetics and “square” looks are prioritized because many buyers value appearance highly.
- Some suggest the edges might even be an implicit “posture correction” cue; others respond that real-world cramped environments make that impractical.
OS, Control, and Alternatives
- A thread branch discusses software control: people running Linux (including Gentoo, Asahi) on Macs to escape Apple’s restrictions.
- Others argue that for average users, MacBooks remain hard to beat on performance, battery, and build, though price and compatibility push some toward ThinkPads/Windows/Linux.
Miscellaneous
- The animated background on the linked site draws both admiration and complaints about high CPU/GPU usage.
- Minor nitpicks about wording (“lo and behold”, “edges” vs “corners”) appear, mostly as light corrections.