Review: ColorWare
By Yoshi DeHerrera - Posted Dec 01, 2003
ColorWare specializes in custom-painted computers. Until recently, it only painted PCs, but now there's good news for Macintosh owners. ColorWare now offers its painting services for game consoles, iBooks, PowerBooks, and iPods. (G5 desktop paint jobs coming soon.)
On today's show, I'll closely examine ColorWare's work, and tell you if its services are worth my recommendation.
Things that count
What makes a great paint job?
Rainbow of game consoles
When ColorWare told me it's doing gaming consoles, I had to see some samples. We got in a GameCube, a PlayStation 2, and an Xbox, all with matching painted controllers. To see the painted consoles, click on the links below.
As with the previous painted items, these paint jobs are absolutely top-shelf. I like how the PS2 and the GameCube look. They have a good balance of colors. The paint job on the Xbox makes it look bigger. I'd like to see the Xbox have some contrasting colors to give it more balance and make it look smaller.
As of now, ColorWare offers painting only on official controllers. It has plans to add this service for some of the after-market controllers, such as the wireless Logitech units and the Nintendo wavebirds. To see the painted controllers, click on the links below.
Pricing is the same for all three console systems. Pricing for the controllers is for the official controllers only.
Would I buy one? Based on the quality alone, definitely. The pricing is appropriate for the quality of the work.
Colored iPods, iBooks, and PowerBooks
ColorWare's website says the company's purpose is "to create and transform our products beyond what the original manufacturers intended." It likes to do things a little differently, and it shows.
ColorWare gets high marks for its attention to detail.
I did find a few problem areas on the iBook. I found a few small dust nibs, small enough that I could not even get them to show in a picture. They're not noticeable when looking right at it from a foot away. The PowerBook had no problems. The iPod was equally beautifully done.
Long-term iPod update (Feb. 5, 2004)
I've been using the ColorWare-painted iPod for a few months. At first I was really careful with it, but soon I was tossing it into my backpack, letting it bounce around with all my other junk. I thought the iPod would get really scratched up, but boy was I wrong. The paint has been super-durable. The metal back plate is more scratched than the painted surface. The painted half looks almost as good as new. I think the clear coat that goes over the screen is more durable then the surface of the screen.
Warranties
If you purchase your iBook or PowerBook from ColorWare they give you a full two-year warranty.
If you send in your iBook or PowerBook the company gives you a full 30-day warranty, and 1-year for labor. If anything does go wrong after 30 days you pay for parts only.
The iPod is not opened so its warranty is not affected.
Color of money
Fee for iPod painting: $49.99.
Fee for iBooks and PowerBook: $399.
You get a choice of 27 colors. If those colors just are not what you had in mind, add an additional $99 and they will match any color you like, just send them a sample.
In my view it's well worth the price. What a lot of people don't understand is you get what you pay for with these guys. Painting is a very labor-intensive thing to do properly.
Bottom line
I am picky about quality of work and I'm willing to pay for it. ColorWare gets the Yoshi seal of approval.
More ColorWare photos
On today's show, I'll closely examine ColorWare's work, and tell you if its services are worth my recommendation.
Things that count
What makes a great paint job?
- Details, details, details. This is where most potentially great paint jobs fail.
- Obviously, the paint must look good, free of noticeable flaws from dust, runs, dings, scratches, or sloppiness.
- The finish should be smooth. This is how the shine comes out and enhances the tactile feel.
- It should show pride in the work.
Rainbow of game consoles
When ColorWare told me it's doing gaming consoles, I had to see some samples. We got in a GameCube, a PlayStation 2, and an Xbox, all with matching painted controllers. To see the painted consoles, click on the links below.
As with the previous painted items, these paint jobs are absolutely top-shelf. I like how the PS2 and the GameCube look. They have a good balance of colors. The paint job on the Xbox makes it look bigger. I'd like to see the Xbox have some contrasting colors to give it more balance and make it look smaller.
As of now, ColorWare offers painting only on official controllers. It has plans to add this service for some of the after-market controllers, such as the wireless Logitech units and the Nintendo wavebirds. To see the painted controllers, click on the links below.
See ColorWare GameCube controller See ColorWare Playstation 2 controller See ColorWare Xbox controller
Pricing is the same for all three console systems. Pricing for the controllers is for the official controllers only.
- Coloring of the console, $99. A 90-day warranty is included in the price.
- First controller, $20.
- Second controller, $15.
- Third controller, $10.
- Fourth controller, $5.
- PS2 vertical stand, $20.
- Additional one-year warranty backed by ColorWare, $99.
Would I buy one? Based on the quality alone, definitely. The pricing is appropriate for the quality of the work.
Colored iPods, iBooks, and PowerBooks
ColorWare's website says the company's purpose is "to create and transform our products beyond what the original manufacturers intended." It likes to do things a little differently, and it shows.
ColorWare gets high marks for its attention to detail.
- On the iBook, the inside area located under the battery is painted, a detail that is far too often overlooked. It's a nice detail you don't see all the time.
- Take a look at the PowerBook's side ports, and you'll notice that none of the screws have been painted over. And the air holes remain unblocked. Take a look at a picture on the right.
- The iPod is painted without taking it apart. This means the warranty is not affected. Considering how clean the job is, I thought the iPod was taken apart and painted. I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong. The paint quality is the kind most people would be happy to have on their car.
I did find a few problem areas on the iBook. I found a few small dust nibs, small enough that I could not even get them to show in a picture. They're not noticeable when looking right at it from a foot away. The PowerBook had no problems. The iPod was equally beautifully done.
Long-term iPod update (Feb. 5, 2004)
I've been using the ColorWare-painted iPod for a few months. At first I was really careful with it, but soon I was tossing it into my backpack, letting it bounce around with all my other junk. I thought the iPod would get really scratched up, but boy was I wrong. The paint has been super-durable. The metal back plate is more scratched than the painted surface. The painted half looks almost as good as new. I think the clear coat that goes over the screen is more durable then the surface of the screen.
Warranties
If you purchase your iBook or PowerBook from ColorWare they give you a full two-year warranty.
If you send in your iBook or PowerBook the company gives you a full 30-day warranty, and 1-year for labor. If anything does go wrong after 30 days you pay for parts only.
The iPod is not opened so its warranty is not affected.
Color of money
Fee for iPod painting: $49.99.
Fee for iBooks and PowerBook: $399.
You get a choice of 27 colors. If those colors just are not what you had in mind, add an additional $99 and they will match any color you like, just send them a sample.
In my view it's well worth the price. What a lot of people don't understand is you get what you pay for with these guys. Painting is a very labor-intensive thing to do properly.
Bottom line
I am picky about quality of work and I'm willing to pay for it. ColorWare gets the Yoshi seal of approval.
More ColorWare photos
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