Booq Powersleeve scratches the T-Series Surface

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gattler · #1 Post by **gattler** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 8:11 am

I received the Powersleeve and after sliding my T42 inside of it 2 or three times i recognized a long scratch on the T42 surface along the whole case. It is a result from the seam inside the sleeve. It is the seam from the exterior seem. This is obviously a profound design flaw, at least if using the sleeve for the fragile surface of the T-Series - dont forget i paid $65 for the good looking booq - therefore the Sleeve has to go

I'm planning to try the waterfield next. Somebody recognized the same issue with the waterfield? Are there any seems inside? Is the neopren nice to the Thinpad T-Series Surface?

Gimeral · #2 Post by **Gimeral** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 8:36 am

You gotta be kidding! I just ordered the Powersleeve 14. Did anyone else have this problem? Pics? I guess I'll see for myself anyway.

byron · #3 Post by **byron** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 9:37 am

i have a powersleeve14 for my t42 and couldn't be happier. i'm not sure how new your thinkpad is, but mine is around 18 months old and the lid is very prone to marks. yes, i have some very light marks that go down the length of the case, but i have been using this powersleeve for 6-8 months and i didn't notice it until i just looked to post a reply to your thread. i think i am extremely anal about taking care of my thinkpad (example... i keep a fellowes glass cleaning cloth over my keyboard when the lid is closed so i don't get key marks on my LCD), but IMO this is a non-issue.

gattler · #4 Post by **gattler** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:00 am

Dont get me wrong, it is nothing like a deep profound scratch. But it is a thin yet recognizable scratch about 10inch. I tried to reduce it with a dampened cloth, which reduced the effect somwhat, but the bitter taste stays. And so does my Thinkpad out of the sleeve.

I already wrote to booq about the issue, lets see what they have to say. I hope they take it back, beacuse i also dont like the gaps top and bottom in combination with the T42, i need something that fits snugly. Nevertheless the booq is a beautiful case for a notebook. I would recommend it to anybody without a T-Series Surface.

edit: i also take care of the computer. The Thinkpad is one year old and has marks from hand-touching on the lid. I dont like that. For screen protection i use a radtech screensaverz. http://www.radtech.us/Products/NotebookScreensavrz.aspx

Kenn · #5 Post by **Kenn** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:49 am

Just about EVERYTHING scratches the soft rubbery surface.

I'm not exaclty sure what IBM's reasons were for using it, but it certainly isn't a durable finish compared to the harder plastics used in any cheap laptop. I still like it aesthetically, of course.

As an aside, I have a Motorola V300 phone that also has a smooth, rubbery matte finish, and for some reason that thing is durable as all heck - it doesn't scratch at all compared to the thinkpad surface

byron · #6 Post by **byron** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:24 am

thanks for the radtech link. mine isn't that big, i'll def be ordering on of those.

brainpicker · #7 Post by **brainpicker** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:07 pm

Kenn wrote:I'm not exaclty sure what IBM's reasons were for using it, but it certainly isn't a durable finish compared to the harder plastics used in any cheap laptop.

The surface grip is better to the naked or gloved hand, especially a sweat covered one! Hard plastic is slippery. Lets face it, most Thinkpads are still corporate owned and I don't think any of those are being cradled in $100 sleeves and having screen cloths protecting the screen from the keyboard, etc., like a lot of us here are doing. The inside of an Xterra isn't all that attractive and it scuffs easily, but the grime washes out pretty nice with a hose and the owners that Nissan markets to LOVE rubber coating for that reason and could care less about the scuffs! We have to remember these laptops are tools first. If the corporate folks didn't like it do you think the coating would still be around after all these years?

Yak

dansu · #8 Post by **dansu** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 2:41 pm

I have had the booq powersleeve 14 for about 3 months now. With everyday use, I don't see anything on my t42 that would resemble a scratch, no matter how anal you decide to be.

I'm not quite sure which seam you're talking about. It's a rectangular shaped bag with seams along the adjoining peices of material. Meaning, if the seams were to scuff the laptop, it would be along the corners.

Would you take a picture or describe exactly where your scratch is?

ehsu · #9 Post by **ehsu** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:19 pm

I have been using my booq powersleeve 14, 6 days a week, for almost half a year without any problem. There isn't any scratched on my lid and is well protected. Maybe a picture shown the scratch and the design flaw will help.

califas · #10 Post by **califas** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 9:04 pm

Same thing happened to my T23 and Booq case. Two scratches that run near the entire length. I got a new T42 that I still store in its plastic bag until
I get one of those cloth sleeves to use with the Booq.

Another option would be to put the TP in with the seams facing the bottom of the TP.

Jona · #11 Post by **Jona** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 5:52 pm

Personally I really like the rubbery surface of the lid. I had the same material on the back of my Sony Ericsson T68 mobile phone and every little scratch disappeared with a little wiping. I have had no scratch on my T41 either since I bought it a couple of months ago. I guess only sharp things can make scratches in the lid.
And it looks and feels good too BTW

Kenn · #12 Post by **Kenn** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 7:32 pm

brainpicker wrote:We have to remember these laptops are tools first. If the corporate folks didn't like it do you think the coating would still be around after all these years?
Yak

Sure, but don't forget there are plenty of Dell and HP enterprise and govt. customers as well, and none of these are hurt by the matte finish. Also, I seriously doubt IBM would lose any corporate accounts (or fail to gain more) if they suddenly stopped making them matte! I really don't think it's that important of a purchasing decision.

christopher_wolf · #13 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 7:44 pm

The finish on the T-Series is the best out there...It is one of the reasons I actually got a Thinkpad in the first place, way back when.

brewt · #14 Post by **brewt** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 7:55 pm

No matter how much you baby your T-Series notebook, that rubberised top will get scratched. The scratches might not be really noticable, but they will be there if you look at the top at an angle. I find that most light scratches will 'buff' out by just rubbing the scratched area.

I own a Waterfield SleeveCase and I haven't noticed any long scratches resulting from inserting the notebook into the sleeve (I have the vertical orientation sleeve).

emorphien · #15 Post by **emorphien** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 10:39 pm

I don't think the rubber is so much for looks as it is for grip. Sure it gets scuffed and gets lots of fingerprints but it's easier to hold on to.

gattler · #16 Post by **gattler** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 10:13 am

There are two seems inside of the sleeve, holding the bag sides together. You can't miss those, they are all way down the bag. The top-end of those seems is the most scratchy area. I guess you could avoid that scratching if you slide the Thinkpad carefully enough inside of it or as another member suggested put it in upside down, which i won't do.

Plenty of replies are telling another story, so maybe i got a bad fabricated model, but i think i just should be more careful when using the sleeve.

Off topic: Is here anyone who could order a waterfield bag for me, i pay in advance via paypal, i dont have a credit card..

dansu wrote:I have had the booq powersleeve 14 for about 3 months now. With everyday use, I don't see anything on my t42 that would resemble a scratch, no matter how anal you decide to be.

I'm not quite sure which seam you're talking about. It's a rectangular shaped bag with seams along the adjoining peices of material. Meaning, if the seams were to scuff the laptop, it would be along the corners.

Would you take a picture or describe exactly where your scratch is?

stgreek · #17 Post by **stgreek** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 2:18 pm

I have both the old powersleeve for my 14" T42 and the new powersleeve for my X31. I have not had any scratching problems whatsoever, but I also didnt have the seems that gattler suggested, so maybe your particular order was indeed defect.

On another note, the new 12" powersleeve is amazingly small. Fits the X31 perfectly, and looks pretty [censored] good. Highly recommended.

Booq Powersleeve scratches the T-Series Surface

Booq Powersleeve scratches the T-Series Surface

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