Absolutely necessary. For smaller projects and test setups I repurpose old laptops as controllers. They just control some measurement devices and collect data.
They all get a single sticker on the outside and a cool nickname.
Without a funky sticker nobody would know they are from me. Some have older windows versions to use with older equipment.
They become humanized this way and people treat them with respect and don't throw them away.
First thing I do when I get a new laptop is to plaster the lid with stickers. If I see somebody at a coffee shop or conference or whatever with a laptop with a plain lid, I tend to instinctively think of them as kinda boring (until proven otherwise).
It’s the opposite for me. If I see someone with laptop stickers, I know they are compensating for lack of personality by displaying flair in the lamest way possible.
I suppose you also disapprove of wearing jewelry, makeup, clothing in any color other than black, or anything else that "compensates for lack of personality"? :-)
I don’t disapprove of your stickers. Do you disapprove of my sticker-free laptop? I was simply giving you a truthful counterpoint.
Those boring people may not be boring. And those stickers that you use as a signal may just be part of a persona you are trying to project. But we don’t really know because we are staring at each other’s laptops across a void and judging based on that. :-)
Of course. I've already stated that I allow for that possibility.
I tend to instinctively think of them as kinda boring (until proven otherwise).
Note "think of" not "know" and "until proven otherwise".
You seem to be taking a much stronger stance though, in saying
I know they are compensating for lack of personality by displaying flair in the lamest way possible.
So somehow you "know" all that just based on looking at a laptop lid across the void? shrug
Anyway, different strokes for different folks and all that. I'll keep rocking stickers on my laptop, and you keep rocking your plain laptop lid and I guess we can all be happy. :-)
No f.....g labels! Neither factory, nor aftermarket stickers!
I even removed the IBM logo from my Thinkpads, at the times I used them.
Where that isn't possible, outside of the lid, like DELL, duct tape, silver or black, or black Edding for other stuff, like HP.
I think it's a cool way to show off some info, like foundation you support or certain non-mainstream tech you use. It's great to use such things as conversation starter.
I had a few on my previous laptop. No regrets!
I'm 50. I put stickers on my laptop -- originally so I'd know which way to open the lid on my MacBook.
But now, it's to "peacock", too. I appreciate when others do it because I have an idea of who I'm dealing with. I've met some cool people from it and cut to the chase on other things where you work with someone new and have to subtly feel each other's technical ability out.
Perhaps a single "shiboleet"[1] sticker would suffice.
Without a funky sticker nobody would know they are from me. Some have older windows versions to use with older equipment.
They become humanized this way and people treat them with respect and don't throw them away.