Who thought Alcantara was a good idea?

Kinja'd!!! "Maxima Speed" (maximaspeed)
08/22/2017 at 09:14 • Filed to: None

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Just in case you guys haven’t seen the advertisements for it, this is the Microsoft Surface Laptop. The keyboard and keyboard surface is covered in Alcantara. How is this a good idea? What designer thought, oh yeah let’s put an expensive material, that doesn’t stand up well to wear, human oils and sweat, on our laptop wear people will be touching it. I’m giving them 6 months before they’re grossly filthy and worn off.


DISCUSSION (22)


Kinja'd!!! boredalways > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 09:17

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I’m giving it less than 30 minutes before someone blows their load on it watching porn


Kinja'd!!! Nibby > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 09:20

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those keyboard covers are so stupid

$100 a pop and they’re built like a 1970s Lada


Kinja'd!!! McMike > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 09:24

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I thought the same thing when I saw that.

“Ewww”


Kinja'd!!! MrDakka > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 09:32

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As Clarkson would say, its “to absorb the diseases” of the commoners.


Kinja'd!!! Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 10:11

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Pity. The surface tablets are class-leading but the laptop is an unmitigated disaster for reliability, durability, ease of repair, and design.


Kinja'd!!! TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 10:27

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And yet alcantara steering wheels and seats are pretty common.


Kinja'd!!! Jetstreamer > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 10:31

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It’s supposed to have a light coating on it to protect it against the worst of it, including stains from liquid as long as you wipe it off fairly quickly.

Just take care of your shit, clean it once every few weeks or months and it will look fine. Same if it was metal or something else. Rubbing your paws over it for 6 months will make most materials look dirty as f***.


Kinja'd!!! TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Jetstreamer
08/22/2017 at 10:40

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I don’t get why people are freaking out about an alcantara keyboard when alcantara steering wheels and seats are a thing. If alcantara can survive swamp butt I’m sure it can survive sweaty palms.


Kinja'd!!! Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 10:49

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Mine has held up just fine over the last two years *shrug*


Kinja'd!!! Nibbles > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 10:53

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If it’s the same cover material that’s been on the Surface keyboards for years, I don’t see a problem. They hold up incredibly well


Kinja'd!!! nj959 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/22/2017 at 11:04

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But it can’t. Unless your hands are bone dry, if you daily a car with an alcantara steering wheel, it will end up looking like this:

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There are things you can do to prolong it, but it will happen eventually and it’s silly to have a high wear area covered in alcantara. Now, an alcantara dash or headliner? That’s lovely.


Kinja'd!!! benjrblant > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 11:13

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Alcantara is just a spiffy name for ultrasuede. It’s even made by the same company, Toray, they just found that with a fancy schmancy name people were more accepting of it and willing to spend more money on it.


Kinja'd!!! CaptDale - is secretly British > boredalways
08/22/2017 at 11:27

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*shutters*


Kinja'd!!! DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 11:48

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This is one of those things, no matter how much money I had. I wouldn’t buy it because of how pointless it is.


Kinja'd!!! Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > CaptDale - is secretly British
08/22/2017 at 11:51

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You rang?

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Kinja'd!!! CaptDale - is secretly British > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
08/22/2017 at 12:24

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Kinja'd!!! DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 12:37

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I saw the fabric one, looked like a cool alternative to plastic, but I agree, Alcantara isnt the brightest choice


Kinja'd!!! Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > CaptDale - is secretly British
08/22/2017 at 12:50

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Hey man, I’m a dad now, it comes with the territory.


Kinja'd!!! BahamaTodd > Nibbles
08/22/2017 at 17:22

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Not the same. I think this one is a bit more fuzzy/softer.


Kinja'd!!! BahamaTodd > Nibby
08/22/2017 at 17:25

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I think it is worth it if you have a surface. The buttons have a good feel and are backlit, and the magnetic connection is quick and convenient.


Kinja'd!!! Nibby > BahamaTodd
08/22/2017 at 17:40

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No, they’re actually terrible and the whole thing is flimsy and definitely feels like a cheap $10 keyboard more than a premium one.

Poor touchpad too. I think the surface is really not that good, especially for the money. Zero expansion, mediocre battery life, still a bit bulky for one handed use, limited connectivity, and it’s kinda poor to use the smartcover on your lap with the kickstand.


Kinja'd!!! ranwhenparked > Maxima Speed
08/22/2017 at 18:58

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I don’t know, I just saw a plumbing supply store selling leather wrapped bathroom fittings, so maybe they can figure durability this stuff out.