Customer Reviews

ProTouch Keyboard Protector, MacBook 13-Inch - Arctic

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I purchased this silicone keyboard protector when my Macbook was brand new, as I wanted to do everything possible to take perfect care of my investment. The silicone cover is easy to put on and comfortable to use, requiring only a little extra effort when typing. So initially, I was very pleased with it.

After several weeks of use, however, the edge began to "lift" a little, so I pulled the keyboard protector off to reposition it and was surprised to discover a good deal of heat coming up from beneath it. The Macbook's sound was suddenly much clearer, too. With the silicone cover on, the sound had been muffled--something I hadn't noticed until I took the cover off.

I called Apple directly and asked the technical department about this product. I was told APPLE DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF THIS ITEM because it causes the computer to suffocate. The technician said that Macbooks vent from small openings beneath the keys. These, he explained, should never be blocked.

I now feel bad that I ever used this product. The decision is for you to make. But I thought I'd pass this info along in case it might be helpful to someone else.

I was hesitant about this keyboard cover--after reading some negative reviews online. But in owning my MacBook for only 6 weeks, some of the keys were already starting to become "glossy" and a little worn ( I am a writer). I also smoke and eat around my laptop--which were both always getting too close for my comfort to the keyboard (and hence the computer itself).

I was very pleased to find how much I like this cover. It fits well (despite some negative comments by others), which considering the keys on the MacBook are actually seperate, is a great feat. I found I adjusted to the new typing sensation quickly (I touch type 90WPM): it does slightly affect typing--it feels softer, and makes the keys much quieter. What has made me a believer and lover of this product is seeng all the crud that has formed on it in just a few days--this stuff will no longer be getting onto my keys and into my MacBook, and that is great!

<<<!>>>UPDATE: Well, I went through two iSkin, both of them turning brown in certian spots--it looked as if a very heavy smoker had been typing away on my MacBook. It might just be an issue of my body chemistry and the silicon, but I did not care for the dirty brown haze over certain keys and areas--as much as I liked this product (and it does work well), back it went. My keyboard is now naked and exposed again...!

I have one of these that I've used on a Titanium PowerBook G4 for a few years and I love it. I've also used it on my MacBook Pro keyboard. It's a perfect fit for the PowerBook, and nearly so for my MacBook Pro (and the later Aluminum PowerBooks), enough that I'm looking to get a second one for that computer. It's good for more than just keeping drinks out of your keyboard (although it did keep some water out of mine when a stewardess spilled some on a flight one time). It keeps dust, dirt, food crumbs, and everything else out of there as well, and it protects the keys from wear. If you look at an unprotected laptop keyboard that's used a lot, you'll see that the keys get worn and shiny. That doesn't happen with an iSkin in place. It's soft, very flexible, and I've never felt like it interfered with typing. As the other reviewer says, it's not clear, but there's a reason for that and it's never bothered me. The underside is not sticky, it's just very smooth. If the top were as smooth it would be clear, but I think it would also tend to feel sticky, and I'm guessing that's why they didn't design in that way. It's made of silicon rubber, which is why it's so flexible. In fact it feels almost delicate since it's so thin, but it seems to be pretty durable if treated appropriately. It also cleans up easily with a very soft brush and some soapy water. I wash it from time to time to clean off all that dust that it's keeping out of my keyboard. To dry it I just lay it inside a towel and press down all over. Much easier that cleaning a keyboard. Great little product.

I use it when there is a danger from spills, and it does the job. The only concern I have is that the macbook pulls air from around the keys on your keyboard to blow out the vent in the back to keep the processor cool. When I cover the keyboard, the macbook runs about 10 degrees Celsius hotter than without it. Take it off and it cools back down. The guy at the mac store said that it wouldn't hurt anything, but I'm not so sure. If you put a fan against a wall and it has no air to pull into itself it will burn up, and the way I see it, that is sort of what you are doing here.

Conclusion: It works, I just wouldn't keep it on the keyboard all of the time.

I kept having near-misses with my new Macbook so I bought this keyboard protector. I like the feel it gives the keys and I feel much more comfortable eating and drinking around my computer because it keeps out crumbs and although a large spill might be able to seep in around the edges, it would greatly increase the odds that you wouldn't have a problem by giving you more time to get your computer shut down and keeping out the vast majority of the spill. The clear one you can hardly see that there is a keyboard protector on there. I think a protector like this should be included with the computer.

This is the third and last iSkin keyboard protector I have purchased. The previous ones for the Powerbook/iBook were much more durable. After a short amount of usage, the membrane over certain keys was showing obvious signs of wear, eventually dissolving away until the keyboard was actually exposed beneath. My receipt from Apple shows a one year warranty for this item. They told me I had to contact iSkin directly. iSkin insists that the warranty has always been just 90 days. If you look at their website now, they don't even accept returns or exchanges past 30 days from their own store, and products must be in perfect condition.

I bought this item to protect my keyboard from accidental spills and also from skin oils (which the Macbook seems to really pick up). I like that it does not have any adhesive and is easy to remove and clean. The edges were curled so it did not lay as flat as the previous models which I found disappointing. This probably varies item by item. The cover also leaves imprints on the laptop screen, including the iSkin logo itself. These marks wipe off without too much trouble, and they'll probably sell you another product to get this done. The cover also seems to trap some of the heat produced by the laptop, though I've not taken cpu temperature measurements to determine the impact.

In summary, the ProTouch did a decent job for a limited time, and now I have to decide if it's worth spending $75 to $100 a year replacing my keyboard cover.

I bought this for my brand-new MacBook (White). I looked at a lot of other brands, but this one seemed to be the thinnest and least intrusive one that I could find, and the price wasn't bad either. I found that some of the edges didn't stay down very well at first, but I think that this is just due to the fact that it is folded up a bit in the box. Now that I have had it a while, it sits nicely on the keyboard and doesn't interfere at all with the MacBook closing tightly because it is so thin. This fits perfectly around the keys too! The bottom side of the skin is slightly "stickier" than the top, so it holds to the surface well, but doesn't leave any residue on the keyboard itself. It did feel strange at first to type with the skin over the keys, though I am a fast typer and this makes the keystrokes a bit slower and softer at first. It's a little less responsive than normal keys. However, I got used to it quite quickly, and now I really kind of like the fact that it dampens the sound of the keys and is softer on my fingers. The fact that it protects the keyboard from scratches and dust, though is the best part! I don't have very long fingernails, but I was finding myself scratching the keys with them as I typed - this solves that! I also don't have to worry about dirt and oils from hands, or dust. With a white MacBook, I was really worried about it getting dirty or stained from use. A quick rinse and pat dry will clean this cover well. Or, if you don't have time to wash it, I've found that rolling one of the sticky, tape-like lint rollers over both sides will remove any dust or particles that have accumulated. I haven't noticed any of the problems mentioned before with the computer running hotter than usual because of the cover. I do tend to use my Mac for long periods of time, and didn't notice much of a difference with the cover on or off. I also haven't notice any problems with discoloration yet, but I haven't had it for too long. Even if it does, I'd much rather have the cover discolor than the keyboard itself! All in all, a great purchase - I'm so glad I bought this right away so my Mac keys will always stay in (almost) factory-looking condition!

I repair MacBooks and the great majority of the units that come to me for repair are the victim of spill damage. Most of the time the MacBook will require a new logic board that is very, very expensive... usually more than the laptop is worth. My wife was making me very nervous drinking coffee and other beverages while using her laptop so I thought I better try something before the inevitable "accident". I did a little research and bought this keyboard skin because of the positive reviews and reasonable price. I have to say that it is a very good keyboard skin. It looks nice on her white MacBook, does not substantially interfere with keyboard feel, and should at least help in the event of a spill. It is simple to apply, stays in place, and does not detract from the good looks of her MacBook. I would highly recommend this to anyone with a MacBook. I would also recommend you not drink while working on the laptop, but in lieu of heeding that advice, buy the keyboard skin.

It's been about 2 months since I purchased my Apple MacBook and I bought this right away. Already I can see the grease marks on the frequently used keys and think to myself "this could have been permanately on my keyboard!!". It stays in place very well. The only annoying part is it attracts cat hair which sticks to it really really well. Small price to pay for protecting a thousand dollar investment!

I have had my Macbook for less than a week now, and this keyboard protector was one of the first things I bought for it (I got mine at the local Apple store). At first I didn't want to buy it since I didn't think it was worth the money, but after using the Macbook for just a day I realized that I really needed to get a keyboard protector to prevent crumbs, dust, hair etc from getting in there and making it look nasty. Thing is, this is my first Mac so I'm used to black laptop keyboards which tend to hide the dirt etc a lot more. Plus I tend to have long nails which over time damages keyboard keys (my previous laptop, an IBM thinkpad, had big scratches on several keys and even the letters "e" and "s" wore off after few years of use). I didn't want that to happen to this laptop, especially since it's white so any dirt etc will stand out like a sore thumb.

And yeah, the keys do feel different after you put it in, but I actually like the feel of it, since I feel more comfortable typing on it...I feel like I can hit the keys as hard as I want and it will still be ok (before I had the iskin i felt like I had to "tip-toe" type since I felt like my nails would scratch the keys if I hit it too hard).