5 ms·

A thorough investigation into why old computers turn yellow

44 points by marketer 18y ago

sidsavara 18y ago
This is one of the few times where the word "thorough" being used to describe a post is particularly apt.
- whatusername 18y ago
  Really? Try this one for "thorough" http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=79859 http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=79859 The 'ne plus ultra' car detailing.. Taking cleaning a car to fanatical levels. It almost warrants it's own HN submission - but part of it's just fancy car pics... not sure how it would fly.
  - daniel-cussen 18y ago
    Great article, I just posted it at http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=295560 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=295560.
    - whatusername 18y ago
      126 points - top page for a few days.. yeah - looks like everyone else loved it as well. :)
Raphael 18y ago
Good thing they started making computers black.
- derefr 18y ago
  However, a thought: the NOA rep said that they still used the same plastics for their newer products, just that the discoloration wasn't as noticeable due to their darker pigmentation. So what of the Wii, clad in (as of now) pure white?
  - someperson 18y ago
    the Wii has a protective coat over the white plastic (not to the extend of a DS though) that hopefully will protect it.
kajecounterhack 18y ago
And for a second I thought my old computers were growing some sort of mold... It never really occurred to me that it could just be plastic discoloration. Interesting self reflection, in this case I happen to have blamed myself...I wonder what that makes me
kylec 18y ago
This is why I didn't buy a white MacBook. I have a feeling the palmrest discoloration problem that the white MacBooks experienced a little while ago will only be the tip of the iceberg.
- watmough 18y ago
  The palmrest discoloration has been fixed by using different plastic, as my wife's MB can testify. My MacBook is covered in stickers, so case whiteness becomes less of an issue.
shutter 18y ago
I almost didn't give yellowing a second thought on old devices, since I saw the same effect on all types of old paper (especially newspapers).
louislouis 18y ago
Jeeez I spent a whole 5 minutes scan reading the article for the answer. Why can't people start long articles with the conclusions first? Would save everyone a lot of time.
- jgamman 18y ago
  sucks having to think...
  - louislouis 18y ago
    its not the thinking that sucks, it's the time it takes reading these huge articles on HN when a brief conclusion would help ease those like me passing by for a quick scan of the front page on HN before stories get buried.
- nuclear_eclipse 18y ago
  It's the journey that provides the excitement, the warm/fuzzy feeling, and the great memories, not the destination.

44 points by marketer 18y ago

sidsavara 18y ago

This is one of the few times where the word "thorough" being used to describe a post is particularly apt.

whatusername 18y ago
Really? Try this one for "thorough" http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=79859 http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=79859 The 'ne plus ultra' car detailing.. Taking cleaning a car to fanatical levels. It almost warrants it's own HN submission - but part of it's just fancy car pics... not sure how it would fly.
- daniel-cussen 18y ago
  Great article, I just posted it at http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=295560 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=295560.
  - whatusername 18y ago
    126 points - top page for a few days.. yeah - looks like everyone else loved it as well. :)

Raphael 18y ago

Good thing they started making computers black.

derefr 18y ago
However, a thought: the NOA rep said that they still used the same plastics for their newer products, just that the discoloration wasn't as noticeable due to their darker pigmentation. So what of the Wii, clad in (as of now) pure white?
- someperson 18y ago
  the Wii has a protective coat over the white plastic (not to the extend of a DS though) that hopefully will protect it.

kajecounterhack 18y ago

And for a second I thought my old computers were growing some sort of mold... It never really occurred to me that it could just be plastic discoloration. Interesting self reflection, in this case I happen to have blamed myself...I wonder what that makes me

kylec 18y ago

This is why I didn't buy a white MacBook. I have a feeling the palmrest discoloration problem that the white MacBooks experienced a little while ago will only be the tip of the iceberg.

watmough 18y ago
The palmrest discoloration has been fixed by using different plastic, as my wife's MB can testify. My MacBook is covered in stickers, so case whiteness becomes less of an issue.

shutter 18y ago

I almost didn't give yellowing a second thought on old devices, since I saw the same effect on all types of old paper (especially newspapers).

louislouis 18y ago

Jeeez I spent a whole 5 minutes scan reading the article for the answer. Why can't people start long articles with the conclusions first? Would save everyone a lot of time.

jgamman 18y ago
sucks having to think...
- louislouis 18y ago
  its not the thinking that sucks, it's the time it takes reading these huge articles on HN when a brief conclusion would help ease those like me passing by for a quick scan of the front page on HN before stories get buried.
nuclear_eclipse 18y ago
It's the journey that provides the excitement, the warm/fuzzy feeling, and the great memories, not the destination.