What's a good way to "pretty up" a laptop?

Not to sound stupid, but I want to decorate my Sager NP8170 somehow and I'm not really sure what would be effective, inexpensive and good-looking. I'm thinking along the lines of skins, paints, stickers etc. Anyone have any ideas or maybe an example they might be able to show me?

 

Decals can look good, and not too overwhelming like a full skin.
Walking Dead Promotions by Walkingdeadpromotion on Etsy

 

I've always appreciated a well-done carbon fiber texture, hehe. Here's a person who did it on a X7200. It would work better if it started off unbranded though.

Sager : Mobile Gaming @ Its Best v3
Sager : Mobile Gaming @ Its Best v3
Sager : Mobile Gaming @ Its Best v3

 

I'm going to keep my eye on this topic. I might look into customizing my own chassis as well.

 

Honestly... best way would be to find a graphic you like and bring it in to a local sign shop and have them print you up a decal... I work at a sign shop and we do stuff like this (... usually for clients with larger accounts) for a few bucks.

 

I have the same exact question. I do not want to use stickers because they can peel off and leave a nasty glue feeling, and they also look tacky, but I can't afford to have an NP8150 painted either. What should I do?

 

Gamer,

I'd recommend using higher end vinyl decals (stickers) such as Avery or 3M. They won't peel up, unless you pick at them. If they do, there are lots of adhesive removers available that remove the residue without damaging the surface of the laptop. I'd recommend Auto-Tech - it would be best to stop by a sign shop or body shop and ask if you can spray a bit (offer them $1.00 or something). They'll probably let you use it for free. you just spray it on the adhesive, wait 30 seconds, and wipe it off with paper towels.
Otherwise, you should be able to buy pinstriping or other stencils online. Lookup TCPGlobal on ebay - he has some pretty nice stencils for 10-20 bucks. You buy those, either airbrush them, or if you're too cheap to rent an airbrush, buy yourself a small can of OneShot Sign paint ($15) from your local PPG or automotive paint store, invest in a nice brush ($7), and just follow the stencil carefully. You'll have a design that looks like you paid $250.00 for striped on your laptop for under $50.00

 

Other than removing tacky decals, and cleaning, it's all downhill from stock

 

Maybe it's just me but I actually enjoy the simplistic look of the NP8170/8150 while knowing beneath the exterior lies massive kick power. It's as if to compare a quattro Audi R8 engine resting inside of an Acura Integra frame (if that was possible)

 

When I bought skyim, I got a skyrim sticker with the logo on it. It's just big enough to cover the sager logo. now i have a skyrim branded lappie

 

Pretty much, stickers or decals are your best bet. An awesome sticker in just the right spot on your case can make all the difference, and they tend to be cheaper than skins/sleeves. The problem would be them peeling or falling out on you, but that really depends on how you handle it. My sister has a 5 year old laptop that is still being used, and not a single sticker has fallen off.

 

@Travis, really good tips. I will keep that in mind. Thank you.

 

I'd recommend a simple and clean, large "Born to f#$%" sticker

 

You could always do something like the skin I'm designing for my 8170. It's a drunk Leprachaun riding a dolphin and punching a Unicorn in the face. It's going to be pretty sweet when I'm done with it (Vinyl print with reflective, gold leaf, and airbrushed effects).

 

Please post a pic when you done, that just sounds amazing

 

Cocaine is a hell of a drug...

How much is airbrushing + gold leaf impressions going to cost you anyway?

 

I'm a graphic designer at a sign and custom auto pinstriping shop - it's not going to cost me anything

 

I thought about vinyl decals but just couldn't go through with once I saw the CLEAN AS *** p151 in person. Plus I could never figure out 100% if they leave residue when removed.

 

I can appreciate a clean finish on a laptop. See my post #7 on the previous page for how to professionally remove residue from a laptop without damaging the finish. It's a simple chemical compound that gels the adhesive on the back of vinyl and makes it easily removable.

 

That link to etsy decals I posted is a friends and I can confirm there is no residue on anything from those, walls, plastic, metal glass etc. I would imagine most leave no residue.

 

A mixture of that. Its like a ninja, nobody really knows you are there, but when the time comes, your true power get revealed.

 

Maguja - as someone who makes vinyl graphics for a living, if you leave the decals on for more than a month, they're most likely to leave residue behind when you remove them. If they don't, they were very low quality to begin with, and would likely peel and fail quickly. I did give a quick post with a run down of how to remove decal residue, it's pretty easy and safe for the laptop surfaces. It's not hard, just a matter of knowing what to do and what compound to use.