Never understood why people put stickers on their laptops, to me it seems like a cargo cult. Oh, you’re using this trendy library? Are you a brogrammer or a programmer? Why is libraries and technologies trendy anyway, so much time has been wasted building something using the wrong tool for the job. It also ruins the design of the laptop, just like a phone case does. Maybe I’m just old.
For me it's positive memories. Every time I pull my laptop out I'm greeted with a mash of events I've been proud to have been involved in and technologies I've done good things with - it's good motivation to continue to do good things. Same goes for every place I've glued the case back together (and frankly a lot of the scars on my body). It all reminds me of a story so why not collect the good ones.
I don't like them either but having one is definitely better than displaying the manufacturer logo. Far less obnoxious than advertising a product you had to pay for. I also never buy clothes with printed brand names and remove every single logo I can off my car.
Also at airports. I liked having no sticker then I was at an airport and at screening they gathered up four identical MacBooks and (non ironically) asked ok whose is this? Nobody knew and they had to start turning them all on.
If the designers of the phone want to provide a reasonably priced cover that will hold my credit cards and protect the screen then perhaps they can make one that complements the device; and perhaps I'll buy it. Until then I'll have to make do with what the third party suppliers can deliver, there is no way I'm going to carry my mobile without having it in a case.
I switched to carrying my phones naked about 6 years ago and prefer it. It seems odd to prioritize buying a thin, light phone and then put it in an Otter Box. I buy them used right after the next one is released (when the first glut of used phones is available) and keep them for a few cycles. Worst damage I’ve done is to damage a volume down button on the XS Max I’m using right now.
> It seems odd to prioritize buying a thin, light phone and then put it in an Otter Box
Not everyone prioritizes buying thin phones, but it appears aesthetics is a big deal for you. I'm your opposite: all I want to see when I'm using my phone is its screen. Having a case made out of soft material that can absorb energy when it is dropped (not "if") has saved it on multiple occasions at the cost of adding ~1mm to the thickness.
The same argument can be made for tattoos. Why ruin the design of perfectly good skin? And not so long ago, it was the common opinion.
Stickers are a way of expression. Sometimes, I don't like the idea being expressed, sometimes I do. Clean is fine too.
Phone covers are usually for protection. And a reason I hate phones with a glass back (thankfully a dying trend). It is fragile, slippery, heavy and not structural, it only looks good in a store because people put on a case afterwards. Pre Galaxy S6, Samsung had the perfect back cover, made of light plastic, openable and replaceable, and in the case of the S5, waterproof. You may find it ugly, but under a protective case, you don't see it. In fact, they even sold cases that replaced the back cover.
I've certainly used it as a conversation starter, just like wearing a band tee. I think there's something interesting to say as well about putting cheap stickers on a a super expensive laptop as a “see if I care” vibe like slapping a bumper sticker on a Lamborghini.
It's a way to express your opinion. Quite a lot of stuff on devlids.com is political. Like a bumper sticker or a t shirt. Althoug it probably is a "everybody posts, nobody reads" situation.
The company I work for handed out stickers when I joined and I put my company logo sticker on the work laptop so that I don't confuse it with my personal one.
What's worse is the stickers will fade after a while and then just look bad. I used to put stickers on my laptops, but I stopped doing it a few years ago. I especially don't want to put a random company logo/brand on my laptop (as opposed to a library or programming language, which I'd be a little happier with, at least)
I never use stickers from commercial projects or just because something is trendy.
I have stickers from community projects that I actively contribute to or projects that are really meaningful to me and I support morally and financially.