News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

November 29, 2006

huh

How to avoid the black tax

Posted Nov. 29, ’06, 2:03 PM PT by Scott Silverman
Category | Apple » Huh?

MacBook SharpieI was sitting in my Astronomy class this afternoon, diligently listening to the lecture and taking notes. I look up and slightly to the right of where I’m sitting and something catches my attention—it’s a MacBook. Now, this wasn’t any ordinary MacBook. It seemed to have something wrong with it. Upon closer inspection I realize what it is: permanent marker!

Some girl had defaced the bezel of her own pretty white MacBook with a black Sharpie! I was absolutely astounded. This was one of the oddest things I had ever seen someone do to their (brand new) computer. I stealthily took the picture above with my cell phone (click for an enlarged version) but still can think of no explanation other than 1) she went temporarily insane, 2) really likes black scribbles, or 3) wanted a black MacBook but didn’t feel like paying the “black tax.” After class I secretly held a moment of silence for this poor defaced soul.


16 Comments

Tim said:

Oh my god why?
It is not even completly black

November 29, 2006 2:21 PM
Geoff said:

Wow.

November 29, 2006 2:25 PM
Derik Author Profile Page said:

Scott, clearly she was left alone with a bottle of vodka and a sharpie.

College hijinks ensued.

November 29, 2006 2:28 PM
Jeff Author Profile Page said:

How sad-making. :'(

November 29, 2006 3:04 PM
Erin B. said:

Ahh, the black tax. A girl in my boyfriend's hall wanted a black MacBook but didn't want to pay the extra $$. I'll be sure to remove all her Sharpies and black nail polish next time I go visit ;)

November 29, 2006 3:13 PM
Chris Griffin said:

1) Scribbling black sharpie all over your macbook...

2) MySpacing during a lecture...

I guess not all mac users are geniuses.

November 29, 2006 3:32 PM
Tom Carmony said:

I love the fact that she's on MySpace in the middle of the lecture, too!

November 29, 2006 3:38 PM
exnihilo said:

I wonder if she would do that to her own face...

November 29, 2006 3:45 PM
3square said:

Were you in MySpace class??

November 29, 2006 4:25 PM
Philippe Azimzadeh said:

Is that a *real* black Macbook that I see in the top left of the enlarged picture?

November 29, 2006 4:29 PM
Dan Moren said:

Okay, either this is a thing going around, or I've seen the exact same computer the other day (which is not impossible, as it was in Davis Square's Diesel Cafe, just a mile or so from where Scott goes to school). I was wondering what the heck was the deal. Scott, score us an interview. :)

November 29, 2006 4:33 PM
spiderbat said:

Perhaps, it is the result of an access of rage, after having installed windows on it!

November 30, 2006 1:31 AM
Step Schwarz said:

Maybe there's a toddler with a Sharpie running amok in Davis Square? I live there, too, so I'll have to keep a closer eye on my iBook. :^)

November 30, 2006 5:30 AM
brainbox1100 said:

Or her 6 year old sister thought it could do with hilights.

November 30, 2006 10:09 AM
rueyeet said:

One possible reason I can think of that would actually be practical: Maybe she found that the brightness of the white bezel was distracting her from the screen's contents.

Whatever her reasons, why she didn't paint the bezel instead of scribbling on it, I've no idea.

December 1, 2006 1:06 PM
Chris said:

Let face it, it's bloody obvious why did it!

A Macbook is an expensive bit of gear that's easy to steal, so she has put pen all over it so everyone knows it's her Macbook.

No one will steal a Macbook when it stands out. It would be harder to sell on and use in public again.

This used to be done to Orange amps back in the 1960s in London. People would paint their orange covering black so it would be harder to sell on or use in public.

Ok so it does make it look horrible now though!

December 11, 2006 6:45 AM

Leave a comment

 



Visit other IDG sites: