Column: Laser Etching Makes Its Mark On Apple Gear

Pete Mortensen ()

Leander’s got the full story over at the Mothership. Anyone else have some gorgeous laser-etched Apple stuff they’d like to share?

Image via Flickr

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Signatures From Original Mac Etched Onto PowerBook

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About the author

Petemortensen

Pete Mortensen is a design strategist for consulting firm Jump Associates and the co-author of Wired to Care: How Companies Prosper When They Create Widespread Empathy, a book and blog that are significantly more interesting than you might initially think. Pete's particular Apple avocations are both around design--interface and industrial. Follow him on Twitter!

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Posted in Hardware Hacks |

  • http://macsecure.com John

    I’ve had mine etched for a while now:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/jabella/sets/72157600033633262/

    Gets quite a few questions at conferences.

  • imajoebob

    No offence, John, but why do people tamper with classic industrial design? You can still buy Coke in those classic green twist bottles. The periodic element graphic is cool, but the PowerBook design stands on its own – and has for about 6 years. I completely understand the desire to personalise, but I just think the starkness of the metal with the glowing white apple is head and shoulders above any etching. If you just can’t resist, then a small postage stamp-size design makes it personal without completely destroying the inherent beauty of the case. And it will draw the viewer in to see it, not shout it from the rooftops.

    Of course, if somebody can make me one of them naked lady mud flap designs…

  • http://macsecure.com John

    I absolutely understand the idea of not messing with such a well known (and liked) industrial design. In my particular case, I use my laptop to present at number of conferences every year — conferences were having a Mac is becoming more common. It makes mine easier to identify in a crowd, and since it IS so well known now – it makes it less of a target for theft, or at least that’s what I tell myself.

  • imajoebob

    Good point, John. I skipped including that a discreet personal identifier (across the bottom, perhaps?) would likely not detract from the overall look. I’m just one of those annoying “less is more” types.

    But I’m still looking for that mudflap design. Or maybe one of those contraband Calvin images whizzing on the Windows logo? Classy.

  • http://www.exotech.biz Bastien

    Another story with the delicious Leah Culver who etched her mac too
    http://leahculver.com/laser-etched-laptop/