my computer is underage, it should not be naked.

September 22, 2009 2:00 PM

A couple questions on laptop skins... it seems like (of the sites who mention anything) they're all made of the same 3M stuff, leading me to think that, no matter where you get it, they're all basically alike, and you're better off picking on design (or price.) True? There are quite a few on ebay for a third of what I see on most websites, which makes me wonder about the quality. And second, for those who have them, are they generally shiny or matte (and how bad to fingerprints show), and what's the "sticking power?"

I have a Toshiba Satellite with a super-glossy finish inside and out, which means it's constantly looking like a grubby fingerprinted mess, both on the top, and on the inside where my wrists touch while I type or my hands rest between sentences. It gets moved around a lot, since I take it to school with me, so I would ideally want a skin that is:

1. matte, so as to minimize the grubby greasy fingerprints I have now.
2. sticky, so it doesn't start to peel off after two weeks of being taken in and out of a bag half a dozen times a day. (while not leaving glue everywhere)
3. not too expensive, since I plan to get two so I can trim one to fit the interior as well, cutting openings for the keyboard and touchpad along the seams in the case construction, to help keep the interior smudginess to a minimum.

As I said, I'm curious about the super cheap ones on ebay- quite a few are listed as "buy two get one free" and the like, while being under $10 each. However, if someone knows of one that is vastly superior to all others in the qualities I mentioned then I'd gladly love the link.

posted by Kellydamnit to computers & internet (7 comments total)

I have one from SkinIt on my laptop. It was relatively easy to apply, though I have a crease or two. Mine is a Starry Night cap I uploaded that I liked. The print quality is definitely there. It feels like a vinyl sticker, because that's what it is. But it's definitely not going anywhere. It's semi-permanent, so it's removable if need be, but sure as hell not on its own. (You have to heat it up I think.)

I can't imagine applying one to the inside would work well at all, as it's a finicky, thick sticker, but perhaps... I think cutting it out would be an ordeal, frankly, to do accurately.

It's the 3M vinyl car-wrap type material, and I found a good coupon on ebay to use on skinit, so I was happy. While fingerprint resistant, I wouldn't define it as "matte", though. It's definitely not "glossy" in the traditional sense, either.
posted by disillusioned at 2:06 PM on September 22

ugh, that would be "how bad do fingerprints show."
posted by Kellydamnit at 2:06 PM on September 22

the fingerprint resistance is more of a priority than the matte finish. I've seen others do the interior self-cut stickers before, and I'm a fairly crafty sort of gal who is handy with an exacto, so I figure I should be able to manage. (but that's why I was thinking cheap, that way if I screw up it's a $7 screw up, not a $30 one)
posted by Kellydamnit at 2:16 PM on September 22

I have a clear skin on my aluminum macbook, and had it on my prior white macbook as well. I don't see any fingerprints, but that might be partly because the computers are light colors. If yours is a dark color, it might be different.
posted by kdern at 2:25 PM on September 22

I have a Schticker on my Toshiba Satellite which is also the vinyl stuff. It's somewhat shiny but nothing like the lid underneath, and doesn't show fingerprints at all. It is a little scratched but that blends into the pattern so it still looks good. The print quality is excellent. I agree that this stuff isn't coming off any time soon, the adhesive really does work (I don't have a proper laptop bag or anything protective, just throw it in my backpack), so you should have no problems there. At the same time you can take it off if you want and when I've changed skins on my iPod there is no residue at all.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind why buying a skin. Firstly is size. Many many places say they fit 15 inch wide screens but when you measure them they don't. Instead everthing is made in Macbook sizes which doesn't have an equivalent. So measure the lid and check that it fits. Secondly is the material. The Schticker is thick, was hard to put on, it scratches and overall feels just OK. For my iPod I use Gelaskins which are a far superior material, thinner, matt, easy to put on, no scratches, no bulges, look and feel great, but sadly only come in those Macbook sizes. If you want matt then Gelaskins are the way to go assuming you can sort out the size issue, but the shiny vinyl really doesn't show prints so you're probably fine with that. I'm happy with the Schticker but would be leary of getting something cheaper, I'd want to be sure it was the same 3M-style vinyl at least. There are lots of places with similar stuff so I'd go for pattern and price with the caveat that it needs to be the right material, don't skimp on that part.

The original shiny blue lid looked like crap within days while the skin looks pretty much the same after two years. Also I've had a couple of friends with their own Toshiba laptops ask me how I managed to get mine custom designed (as in, they assumed the pattern was part of the lid) so getting a decent skin it worthwhile.
posted by shelleycat at 2:45 PM on September 22

I have been using skins from DecalGirl.com for years, and love them to pieces. The one on my laptop has been in place for over a year, it gets regular use, and has not even given a hint of peeling. Not quite a matte finish, but fingerprints do not show on it. On the devices where I have changed the skin, they peel off with no residue and stick again just as well as the first time around.
posted by Lokheed at 7:09 PM on September 22

I'll second GelaSkins for quality & matte-ish-ness (not perfectly "matte", but far from glossy). Not exactly cheap though, but awesome styles.
posted by Laura in Canada at 6:21 AM on September 23