WARNING: DO NOT USE nail polish remover--Even Non-Acetone! (on macbook).

Question

Here's my experience with my pathetically stained MacBook after 4 weeks.
The discoloration arrived, seemingly all at once, after 2.5 weeks. I tried my usual, a gentle part-alcohol Staples Screen Cleaning Fluid (coincidentally, I asked them at my local Apple Store what they used and they produced the exact same bottle). That did nothing. I tried alcohol, peroxide, still no luck. Following some poor advice on this forum, I tried a bottle of clear "Cutex Advanced" Non-Acetone nail polish remover (hereafter, "NPR"). Rubbing a little in with a Q-Tip or paper towel, I tried to remove the horrible discoloration. There was no change. I put it aside for a few days... Today, after reading a very impassioned post by someone who claimed it really worked, I figured I hadn't tried hard enough. I resumed my struggles with the NPR. After more rubbing, I noticed that an area where I'd dripped the NPR directly on the accursed plastic, and left it for about 30 seconds while rubbing the other palmrest, was discernably lighter than the surrounding stain. Encouraged, I dripped a thin layer over the whole left-side discoloration, which is the worst side on mine. After letting it sit 30 seconds or so, I rubbed the area with a paper towel until dry and inspected the results. Some areas were definitely better, however, I noticed what appeared to my eyes to be a subtle change in texture. Intrigued, I scratched at it lightly with my fingernail to feel whether the texture had indeed changed...
I was horrified when a big scratch appeared in the surface. What appeared to be PAINT had scratched right off in my fingernail!!
So now my freaking $1200 computer is barely a month old and now has a huge scratch in the CRAPPY PAINT right on my palmrest!
This cheap paint stuff is what's responsible for the discoloration. It's clearly perfectly white underneath--why Apple chose to paint this plastic with this crap is beyond me.
Thoughts, anyone?
If anyone wants to see pictures, I have them. But I'd rather not because I only have a cameraphone right now and the quality ***** anyway.
MacBook 2.0Ghz, White   Mac OS X (10.4.6)   With discoloration and now a big scratch!

Answer 1

i'm sorry to hear that you damaged your new macbook! i can understand the frustration with the discoloration. the left palmrest on mine is slightly discolored also. so now, i'm just paranoid about touching it and i wipe it down after every use (and wash my hands before using it if i have to type). i'm also using a wireless mouse. just taking precautions.
could it possibly be not paint that dissolved but a layer of the plastic itself that dissolved after the prolonged exposure to the NPR?
if you can get it even or satisfactory looking, i would advise to put some sort of plastic protector over it. something akin to this : http://www.nushield.net/productscar_displayslexus.htm
again, sorry you damaged your computer.