Here’s my quick look video review of the MacBook ProTouch keyboard protector from iSkin.
Video Notes
Available for the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
Simple, no adhesive static cling style design.
Protects keyboard from food crumbs, finger grease, etc. Not designed to protect against spills as liquids could flow under it.
Made of Microban, a silicone material that inhibits the growth of odor and stain causing bacteria.
Washable.
Doesn’t hinder typing, but does make typing feel spongy and softer.
Product Information
| Price: | 29.99 |
| Manufacturer: | iSkin |
| Requirements: |
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| Pros: |
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Minor point, but the other thing that this keyboard protector might actually do – is protect your screen.
Not sure if the new MacPros have this problem, but the older iBooks and Powerbooks were known to develop screen marks of the keyboard over time. In part because of the screen flex, and in part because of the oil etc that gets on the keys and then is transferred to the screen.
I’ve been using a screensaver from Radtech for years because of this, and when I went to buy my MacBook recently, I took a hard look at this product for that purpose.
Decided against it because I didn’t know if the silicone would hold my finger grease and transfer it to the screen or not.
Anyway – great review.
Mike:
I’ve not noticed any keyboard marks on my MacBook Pro and I’ve had it now for a couple of years. I was trying to see if this ProTouch skin made marks on the screen, but as far as I can tell, it doesn’t.
Thanks for the comment!
I’ve had one since the first day I brought home my MacBook Pro, and yes it does mar the screen. However, since the cover is silicone and not plastic like the keyboards of older machines, it doesn’t scratch (at least it hasn’t scratched my screen yet). It just leaves marks. They’re simple to wipe off with screen cleaner and a microfiber cloth.
If you’re worried, put a cut-up, soft t-shirt over your keyboard before you close it. There’s really no need to buy a special screen protector unless you want to. 😀
[Edited at August 01, 2008 16:00:54 PM.]
Hey Gadgeteers…
I’ve been using one of these on my MacBook Pro for a year or so. Primarily to keep the dust and grime out of the keys while I am using it in the field (well from my laptop mount in my vehicle anyways) during work. It has left smudges as a previous post had mentioned but they do indeed wipe off. If my windows (vehicle, not XP ones) are open, there is a tendency for it to flutter around and pop off the keys as I am traveling along the road.
I do find that if you are in lower light conditions and looking at the keyboard from a ‘low’ angle…say watching a movie on it from the couch…that the letters on the keys are somewhat obscured from view because you have to look through the silicone at such a low angle. (Mine is an opaque grey colour) This is not an issue if the keys are backlit however. The silicone (both sides) wipes pretty clean with a warm, wet rag if it gets grimy.
cheers
=)
I agree with mike i have an ibook g4 and a macbook pro the ibook has now a broke screen hinge and marks on the screen but i agree with julie I do not like a spongy keyboard so I probably won’t get one since I don’t eat at any of my pc’s but i do drink at it though
I have one of the clear colored ones for my MacBook Pro. I like how it quiets the sound of the typing but am annoyed at how it obscures the markings on the keys.
In dimly lit conditions its pretty hard to see the keys. In full darkness the keyboard lights up and then you can see just fine, but there’s a wide range of lighting conditions that make it hard to see the keys through the silicone. As a hacky fix, I’ve installed LabTick which gives me full control of the keyboard backlights so I can leave them on all the time.
It would be better if iSkin made a protector with a smoother outer surface and possibly thinner overall. The smoothness would make for less obscuration of the letters.
I have used this for my iBook G4 and now one for my new Oct. 2008 unibody MacBook Pro. To address two issues mentioned:
1) Food is not the only issue whatsoever. Keyboards collect dust and hairs over time that cannot be removed without carefully removing EVERY SINGLE KEY CAP first and using a tiny brush and/or tweezers, then replacing each one. This was especially a problem with my first iBook (G3) as you could see right thru its clear key caps to the debris. After removing each key to clean thoroughly (before selling), I looked into this and was glad to find this product. Look closely if you’ve had your laptop for a while and you’ll see what I mean. Also, it is more important if you leave your MacBook always open and connected to the Internet as I do. As far as spills go, while I would not suggest you “pour a whole can of Coke” over your keyboard, the silicone along with the seal or lip around the perimeter would certainly prevent most of the liquid from entering (but drinks are not a problem when typing for me). The newer designed keyboards of the post-Nov. 2007 MacBooks, brand new MacBook Pros (except 17″) and all MacBook Airs have a slightly more debris-resistant keyboard design, but it is still made for these too and over time they will also collect foreign matter.
2) As far as the problem of transparency or seeing the letters on each keycap thru the clear (I always get the non-colored, “Arctic” ones) silicone, it slightly blurs each key. This is not a problem when keyboard is illuminated (if yours has that feature) but there is an even better solution for using in lit environments: The new iSkin ProTouch “FX”. The letters are printed on the solid colored keycaps so they stand out and look sharp, and more like the actual keyboard and less like a cover. I bought both iSkins, for light and dark environments each. Here is the link:
http://www.iskin.com/store/i2shopkbrdair.tpl?cart=1226659753678940#
Hope this helps! 🙂
[Edited at November 24, 2008 03:28:36 AM.]
[Edited at November 24, 2008 03:29:14 AM.]
[Edited at November 24, 2008 03:29:48 AM.]
[Edited at November 24, 2008 03:30:12 AM.]
[Edited at November 24, 2008 03:30:51 AM.]
I had one of these for a while. It worked well and I was pleased with it. The above comments are all true. There was a lot of gunk in it after a few weeks even though I do NOT eat at the computer. I just picked up the guard and washed it and then put it back on.
However, it it fairly fragile. I have kids and cats and it did not take long for it to tear. I really liked it and would buy another if I did not know that it would be destroyed in short order.
I love the fact that iSkin proTouch protects the keyboard from grease and dust particles. When I take it off to wash and see all the dust it captured, I know it is good to have it.
The one thing I don’t like is that I have to press the keys harder, so it would be great if they made one thinner. I have more typos than when I don’t have it on, because if I press the key softly, it won’t work.
how about capdase? are they any good? it is so difficult to select since there are lots of brands. thanks
This is a very good keyboard skin but it does not come with a palm rest protector. With using this keyboard skin alone, it is good enough. While for palm rest area, I prefer one that with adhesive and stick well in position. I get mine from http://www.skinstyler.com/classic-wrist-cover-page-20.html (with my name on it). It work like charm with the keyboard skin and both protecting my macbook pro.