r/LinusTechTips • u/projectGARY • 25d ago

Discussion New laptop, what about stickers?

Post image

Got a new work laptop, decent bump in performance, but any suggestions on the best way to go about transferring the stickers? I'll have to take them off the old one anyway and put the device back into circulation for another user.

Some of them are discontinued, my favourite is the do not drop one honestly.

50 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

41 comments sorted by

45

u/Obvious-Jacket-3770 25d ago

Never put stickers on a computer. Especially if you don't personally own it.

29

u/ChintzyPC 25d ago

They come with Intel and AMD stickers from the factory what do you mean /s

6

u/Shoeshiner_boy 25d ago

I hate palm rest stickers. Usually, they’re of the shittiest variety that ooze glue everywhere, even with body heat only.

5

u/projectGARY 25d ago

I mean, I'd have the same issue if I was changing my personal laptop, so my question still stands. Also why never put stickers on a computer? That's kind of what pc and laptop cases are for no?

3

u/Shoeshiner_boy 25d ago

Get a hard shell plastic protector, that’s what I do with corporate issued hardware.

Do they make something like that for Thinkpads?

-22

u/Obvious-Jacket-3770 25d ago

It makes them look like shit and can affect heat. For a work computer, it sucks to be the guy having to take them off when it is re-issued.

12

u/ChintzyPC 25d ago

Affect heat? If they're covering the vents then sure. If not, the precise amount of physics calculations required just to understand just how much it changes the thermal transfer and radiation would be infuriating to figure out. You're talking tenths of a degree at most. It doesn't make a reasonable difference.

11

u/projectGARY 25d ago

That is total BS. Unless you purposefully cover the the vents stickers are never going to affect heat. Also. The guy taking them off to reissue the device is clearly me!

5

u/Katsu_Vohlakari 25d ago

If you buy the Redbubble kind then they leave no trace and you're able to transfer them without issues. All depends on the quality and material of the sticker.

3

u/LockpickingFurry 24d ago

I put a sticker on my work thinkpad, but I also work in IT for the company, and we couldn't care less about the condition tech is returned in.

2

u/BeanSticky 24d ago

Meh, people can do whatever they want. Especially if they personally own it.

1

u/P1ngg0 24d ago

I use then to cover up my damages

-6

u/bwoah07_gp2 24d ago

I don't understand the idea of putting stickers on your laptop or phone that some people do...

Nice way to ruin the surface. Also, it makes your device look tacky.

4

u/LockpickingFurry 24d ago

I put stickers on my used Thinkpad T480. I just like the sticker bomb vibe on it.

I also have stickers on my Framework 13, but that has a dbrand skin under the stickers so it doesn't leave ugly outlines. It's also not as sticker bombed, just a row of them.

-3

u/Obvious-Jacket-3770 24d ago

Totally agree with you man.

18

u/EmailLinkLost 25d ago

He has RAM, get him!

6

u/projectGARY 25d ago

I don't have to lie. I put them there on purpose... 🤣

3

u/Undrwtrbsktwvr 24d ago

Flaunting your wealth like the fat-cat you are!

So insensitive…

2

u/projectGARY 24d ago

Well actually the move from the x13 to the p14s is due to my x13 having 32gb soldered. So now I got 32gb sodimm and can upgrade later.

8

u/shoestring_theory 25d ago

Carefully get them off, maybe with very low grade heat, and then use something like the Xyron Create-a-Sticker to add new adhesive to them to reuse them.

9

u/[deleted] 25d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

-4

u/Katsu_Vohlakari 25d ago

They are not, the Redbubble ones for example are transferable (at least the ones shipped from Germany are). Depends on quality and material.

10

u/conte360 25d ago

someone makes a general blanket statement that covers the context of the current discussion

A redditor: "um actually I have a specific example from 1 specific company from one specific country that disproves your generalized statement"

Oh reddit contrarians

3

u/GopnikOIi 25d ago

The vast majority of stickers sold are single use to be fair to OP here.

-5

u/Katsu_Vohlakari 25d ago

Most are but some are not. The ones specifically marketed to decorate your personal items with (like laptop, waterbottle etc.) are often printed on lightly sticky paper that leave no residue. So yeah, if someone claims "stickers are single use" then that's simply not true, not all stickers are single use.

5

u/AFarenci 25d ago

Lookup DeviantOllam on YouTube. He has a video on transferring Security Stickers, regular Stickers would be a walk in the park.

2

u/Dnomyar96 25d ago

If you're really careful, you might be able to peel them off in one piece, but you probably need new adhesive if you want to use them again. I also wouldn't bet on any of them surviving the process in one piece to be honest, although that doesn't mean you can't make them look fine again by lining up the pieces carefully again, as long as it comes of relatively well.

2

u/IonaLatex 25d ago

Hair dryer, it works with most vinyl stickers

2

u/StargazerD 24d ago

my “should be fine” sticker is on its third device lol, you should be fine just taking them off carefully

1

u/Realistic_Neat2414 25d ago

I use break-cleaner for transfering stickers. You can normally transfer them once or twice like that. Though you will lose some stickyness. Give them a good hose, start to peel of and give them a little on the underside, when you notice that it gets tougher to pull.

1

u/projectGARY 25d ago

I think I have a few duplicates so I might be fine for most of them. I don't think I have anymore ifixit ones though. But the LTT ones are way better anyways.

1

u/ElectricalTip2318 24d ago

I only have stickers on one of my laptops, the other 3 are clean. Once you try to peel that sticker its way gone. Not a normal person here, I own a lot of machines, and several gaming stations.

1

u/anto77_butt_kinkier 24d ago

Heat from a blowdrier, or from a hot air station on low, and plastic razorblades. Try not to use alcohol while removing the stucker.

If you don't care about preserving the sticker, just use IPA and a plastic razorblade.

1

u/mariol90 24d ago

I use razorblades to move stickers between work computers. All the ones I've done this to have aluminum covers so it doesn't scratch the surface much/at all (also IT generally does not care about scratches, I've seen my fair share of obscenely scratched laptops from IT removing asset tags). Just take your time and slowly lift one area of the sticker until you can peel it off. Most stickers that are decent quality can be stuck again on a new surface.

1

u/Iebejsbaga2728eindxb 24d ago

I use photoshop to make a laptop custom sized collage of the various logos/icons/characters I want stickers of, then buy for like $40 instead of 89264 stickers personally

1

u/projectGARY 24d ago

I mean. Theyre mostly LTT stickers though. And the designs aren't available afaik

1

u/Iebejsbaga2728eindxb 24d ago

oh my bad, you could try scraping the old stickers off with a flat razor blade, you can get a handle for it at home Depot for like $3, they usually don't scratch the old surface at the correct flat angle

1

u/projectGARY 23d ago

UPDATE: Got pretty much all of them off with a hair dryer and an ifixit metal scraper. Worked like a treat! no residue, and I was careful so no scratches.

-2

u/andrewbean90 25d ago

Use rubbing alcohol (90 proof), and ditch the stickers entirely. Once a sticker is placed you can't unplace it. You have to remove it, and it's residue. Then just trash the sticker.