Wardriver Wednesday

The Elemental Road Warrior: Part I: Earth

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Compatibility Legend

12" G3 iBook
14" G3 iBook
12" G4 PowerBook
15" G4 Titanium PowerBook
17" G4 PowerBook

In this edition of Road Warrior Wednesday, we'll take a look at products designed to protect your portable. Not baggage, mind you -- that we'll discuss sometime down the road a way. No, I'm talking about protecting your iBook or PowerBook from the rigors of everyday use. There are those who believe that a notebook computer should always look like it's been through Hell a few times and survived to show its souvenir stickers. If you are one of those people, maybe next week's RWW will be more your kinda thing.

For the purposes of this article, we will categorize the forces of nature thusly -- earth, wind, fire and water. This week we'll be looking at ...

Earth, as in dirt and scudge. It can come in many forms and it gets on your screen, in your keyboard and on the case of your portable. It sucks. Wipe it off.

iKlear - Check out the fine products from KlearScreen.com. The Singles 12-pack is compact for carrying with you in your pack and contains little moistened towelettes that have been marinaded in iKlear, an anti-static, alcohol and ammonia-free solution that is also non-toxic, non-damaging and non-flammable ...sounds like water, but it works a lot better. You can use the various iKlear products to clean any portable's screen or the case and trackpad of your iBook.

+: the 12-pack is very handy indeed
-: I never got the "polished marble" feel the bottle promised no matter how diligent I was with my weekly polishing.

Ice Creme - Do you have an iBook with some fairly deep scratches. Ice Creme is a two part skin care system for iBooks that helps bring back the luster.

+: does a fine job of polishing minor scratches.
-: may require much of the small supply of Compound A to buff away the nastier scratches.

TiPaint - TiPaint is a specially formulated touch up paint for the scratches and blisters that have plagued the Titanium PowerBooks since their release. The paint is available in either Light Silver and Titanium to closely mimic the color of the inner and out case surfaces.

I have not personally tried this product, but it comes highly recommended from our readers.

Now that your 'Book is clean, keep it that way a bit longer by investing in a screen protector. Your 'Book's screen is the most expensive part. I have learned by experience that any damage to any part of the screen, lid or latch that necessitates service, means the replacement of the entire top component of your portable -- everything from the hinge up. Once the screws that fasten the case to the screen bezel are removed, your warranty is void. Apple will authorize no service that includes the separation of those parts. I'd take that to mean that the wiring and hardware in that thin little top is a bit touchy. Try to protect it, will ya?

iSkin - I've reviewed these before and I still recommend them. They protect both the screen and the keyboard (another component that is more expensive to fix than replace) and come in many fashion colors including the snazzy new Snow and Asphalt opaque models. I should warn you that you do have to clean them regularly or you will simply be transferring finger oil to the screen from the iSkin just the way you would have with the keyboard

+: Fine product. Helps keep unwanted bits out of the keyboard.
-: No iSkins currently available for the Aluminum PowerBooks. Opaque models hide the Caps Lock and Num Lock lights.

Wildeepz - This is just too simple. If you're having a problem with your keyboard touching your screen and getting it dirty, don't let them touch. Duh! Wildeepz are small squishy rubber cushions that help maintain distance between the screen and keyboard when you close your 'Book. A guide is provided with the Wildeepz that help you apply them properly so that the cushions themselves do not touch the keyboard and cause other problems.

+: Simple, inexpensive solution.
-: You might go through a few pairs of Wildeepz trying to find the best place to situate the ones near the latch. (Extras are provided)

ScreensavRz - No, that wasn't a typo. The product name is "ScreensavRz" and it's a lint-free, ultramicrofiber cloth intended to be used between the screen and keyboard when your 'Book is not in use. It can also be used as a cleaning/refinishing cloth for minor blemishes and since it is washable, you can use one ScreensavRz for double duty. An excellent product that is even better when used in conjunction with iSkins or Wildeepz.

+: Feels nice. Comes in many fashion styles with different imprinting.
-: You might lose it on the road since it has no place to be while you're using your 'Book.

Why would you want all three? My personal reason: the iSkin prevents hair, crumbs and dust from getting in the keyboard, the Wildeepz help align the top and bottom portion of the 'Book and prevent uneven wear on the hinge and the ScreensavRz add extra protection for the screen while coming in handy as a screen cleaning cloth when the need arises -- all things I need.

With the gadgets I've recommended here, you should be well equiped to protect your portable for our first force of nature: earth.

  


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