On the Z6 series, does the brushed aluminum come off onto your hands over time?

I am strongly considering buying a V6 [edited from Z6] series ASUS soon, but the question in the title keeps bugging me.

My only other candidates are the T60 Thinkpad and its Merom successor (not yet released). I am in the market only for SXGA+ 1400x1500 resolution.

 

Not sure what the Z6 model is, you mean the V6?

And no matter which model, any one with B.A. will not fade because it's not paint, it actual anodized brushed aluminum.

 

Thanks, coriolis. I meant V6, not Z6. I wonder if there is a way to edit the title of the thread.

 

No prob, you're question has been answered already

 

These are great questions which apparently aren't obvious enough, so they keep gettings asked...

As Coriolis said - it's not paint or a decal - it's anodized brushed aluminum.... if you don't k now what anodizing is, google it.. it's an eletroplating... similiar to how chroming is done to steel..... however really more similiar to say the green patena that forms on copper or even rust on steel - if you're familiar about what I'm talking about. It's an oxidizing which forms a protective barrier... Anodizing is similiar... aluminum oxidizes is normal untreated conditions and anodizing is basically an advanced form of that... What it does is create a harder finish on top of the alumihum... giving it four advantages...

1. it's a light as aluminum

2. the finish is tough as steel - which helps against scratches and things - aluminum is a soft metal by itself. Aluminum by itself is fill of microscopic imperfections - like veins and divits.... anodizing fill those and creates a smooth finish..... it's only reason why aluminum can attract finger prints - there's places to pick up the oils from your screen.... anodizing doesn't really allow for that as much..... most people are surprised that their W series notebooks don't show smudges and fingerprints as much as they thought they would..

3. the color finish is one with the substrate - will not chip, peel, fade, or rub off.... since it is part of the metal in the end, surface finishes still show through - such as the nice brushing..

4. speaking of brushing, the brushed finish not only looks good but is also great for hiding any deep scratches you may put on the laptop..... it's really not possible, but if you were to use a knife or something very sharp and purposely try to damage the lid - it would take a lot, but even if you were able to, it would be difficult to pick up among the brushed finish of the lid.

Again - when we speak of brushing - it's not like paint brushing - it's like metal brissel brushing.... they're little gouges in the aluminum because the steel brush used to do them are are harder meterial than the aluminum before anodizing...

 

Thanks, PROPortable.

Your answer is the most informative of all I have seen.

I am tending toward getting a V6Va now, for the IPS wide-and-deep-angle-viewing screen (there are a few left new with warranty scattered about), and down the road getting one of the V6 successors, probably transplanting the IPS screen and if necessary the cable and inverter from the V6Va.

If I get the V6Va, I will get the Crystalscreen screen protector available on Ebay from Screenpatronus. This protector reduces glare (I had been averse to getting a glossy screen before finding out about this protector).

 

good luck finding the V6va, I can't seem to find any reseller who still has it in stock.

 

I wouldn't still buy a V6va only because we're getting into two generations ahead of it and the current screen is not bad by any means, the ips screen is just better and a LOT more expensive..... That model went end of line here in the second week of January and Asus hasn't had any since - which means you'd be buying VERY old stock... and given the small numbers that were brought into the country, I'd also find it very hard to believe anyone really still has one......... however, i would not put any "protector" over this screen.. the screen had a hard coating and it's basically like the best crt monitor you've ever seen..... do NOT cover it with anything because it'll diminish the quality and you really don't need to protect it... trust me on that.