Apple Investigating Thinner Notebook Enclosures

MacRumors · May 17, 2007, 07:29 PM

A December 2006 patent application from Apple indicates they are working on thinner / stronger enclosures for their laptops.

Apple describes two conflicting design goals for producing thinner and lighter laptops: "the desirability of making the enclosure lighter and thinner, and the desirability of making the enclosure stronger and more rigid."

Instead, Apple describes an improved enclosure where the parts are "structurally bonded together" to form a singular composite structure. In the application, Apple acknowledges that while "current enclosure designs work well, in many instances it would be desirable to provide enclosures that are thinner, lighter, stronger and aesthetically more pleasing than current enclosure designs."

These goals for thinner and lighter laptop designs reinforces rumors of ultraportable and thin Apple laptops.

xUKHCx · May 17, 2007, 07:31 PM

I would love a 11" or 10" Macbook to compliment my iMac

Eidorian · May 17, 2007, 07:32 PM

I think they're thin enough. Better to invest R&D on updating new hardware at this point.

Object-X · May 17, 2007, 07:35 PM

Nothing like a bent MacBook.

Zwhaler · May 17, 2007, 07:35 PM

This is very cool, I would like to see Apple release a ultraportable.

LxTxNx · May 17, 2007, 07:37 PM

I would like to know when they're gonna be available?

Superdrive · May 17, 2007, 07:38 PM

Sounds good to me. My 12" PowerBook dented if I looked at it wrong. I want something small, strong, and light. I'm just not sure if the 13.3" MacBook fits the bill yet.

g7by08believeit · May 17, 2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macrumors

Instead, Apple describes an improved enclosure where the parts are "structurally bonded together" to form a singular composite structure.

I'm against it.

warfa · May 17, 2007, 07:38 PM

Anything that will make my future apple notebooks even better are welcomed!!

Chaszmyr · May 17, 2007, 07:39 PM

Sounds like repairs may be impossible on any device manufactured with this sort of technique.

babyjenniferLB · May 17, 2007, 07:45 PM

isnt there a limit due to the size of usb, firewire, headphone jacks and display sizes, also the keyboard. If you make the 15 inch macbook pro say half a inch thick were do all the ports go?

kalisphoenix · May 17, 2007, 07:48 PM

Quote:

A December 2006 patent application from Apple indicates they are working on thinner / stronger enclosures for their laptops.

I think I'm going to need a stiff drink. This is by far the most interesting Mac rumor this year.

verticalforce · May 17, 2007, 07:48 PM

Carbon fiber goddamit!!!!!

Eidorian · May 17, 2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by verticalforce

Magnesium goddamit!!!!!

Fixed

Abstract · 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eidorian

I think they're thin enough.

I agree. Being too thick is not the problem. I think 1" is good enough, while anything thinner, say 0.8", isn't a big deal whatsoever other than as an excuse for Apple to ask for a premium $$$ for the bragging rights of owning a thinner laptop. And besides, laptops won't get thinner until HDD and the DVD/disk drive gets thinner, or disappears entirely.

But anyway, they said that making a laptop smaller and making a laptop stronger are conflicting interests. Instead of making a thinner, say 0.8" laptop, with the aim of not making it weaker than they are today, why don't they just concentrate on making it stronger, but keeping it the same 1" thickness? That way, there's no conflict between size and strength.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalisphoenix

I think I'm going to need a stiff drink. This is by far the most interesting Mac rumor this year.

"And in other news, so is every other computer company."

Dustman · May 17, 2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaszmyr

Sounds like repairs may be impossible on any device manufactured with this sort of technique.

they'd probably do it like the current nano. the illusion of one piece of material, but actually composed of multiple "sides". maybe slide out the motherboard for upgrades like the nano?

Eidorian · May 17, 2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abstract

I agree. Being too thick is not the problem. I think 1" is good enough, while anything thinner, say 0.8", isn't a big deal whatsoever other than as an excuse for Apple to ask for a premium $$$ for the bragging rights of owning a thinner laptop. And besides, laptops won't get thinner until HDD and the DVD/disk drive gets thinner, or disappears entirely.

But anyway, they said that making a laptop smaller and making a laptop stronger are conflicting interests. Instead of making a thinner, say 0.8" laptop, with the aim of not making it weaker than they are today, why don't they just concentrate on making it stronger, but keeping it the same 1" thickness? That way, there's no conflict between size and strength.

Materials > Size

I think 1" is the perfect thickness for a laptop as it is.

GodBless · May 17, 2007, 07:55 PM

Here is a link to a place where you can find images to the patent--they are in a quite large images and are in an awkward frame (at least for me in Safari) however.

Leoff · May 17, 2007, 07:56 PM

OK, now maybe this is just me, but... how thin is too thin?

I love Apple's style. I love the fact that they have made great strides in both function AND form in their entire line of computers, particularly laptops. The MacBook and MacBook Pro are wonders for how much innovation they cram into the smallest designs.

I'm all for smaller laptops. I would love the idea of a sub-notebook or such from Apple, with a 10" screen or thereabouts.

But as for thickness, why? Seriously, while I want the footprint of a laptop to be small, I also do want it to have a LITTLE... what's the word... girth to it. Even if I know it won't break, I like the feeling of something with substance under my fingers, something that won't feel like I'm gonna bend the sucker in two when I type.

Other dimensions, sure... smaller the better. true portable-ness. But thickness, or rather thinness... that's always bugged me.

asxtb · May 17, 2007, 07:57 PM

Wirelessly posted (Vodafone/1.0/V705SH/SHJ001 Browser/VF-NetFront/3.3 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

I want one! I'd definately be one of the first in line to get an ultraportable.

All these rumors keep pointing to the samething. Just a matter of when...

Mydel · May 17, 2007, 07:57 PM

Thikness is not a problem but more "rigid" frame for a screen would be welcome. My previous PB G4 screen was always goung U shape after lid was closed. And even when was open screen bazel was way to soft

Since '76 · May 17, 2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaszmyr

Sounds like repairs may be impossible on any device manufactured with this sort of technique.

agreed, disposable laptops at CVS can't be far away

AidenShaw · May 17, 2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macrumors

"...aesthetically more pleasing than current enclosure designs."

That's a no brainer - just get rid of the tacky white plastic!

balamw · May 17, 2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GodBless

Here is a link to a place where you can find images to the patent--they are in a quite large images and are in an awkward frame (at least for me in Safari) however.

Download a straight PDF at http://www.pat2pdf.org I'd link to the file, but then you wouldn't see the ads that support the site.

Just type 20070109737 in the box.

B

Abstract · May 17, 2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leoff

OK, now maybe this is just me, but... how thin is too thin?

Introducing the iPod Pico: Have we gone too far?

May 17, 2007, 07:29 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Apple Investigating Thinner Notebook Enclosures A December 2006 patent application from Apple indicates they are working on thinner / stronger enclosures for their laptops. Apple describes two conflicting design goals for producing thinner and lighter laptops: "the desirability of making the enclosure lighter and thinner, and the desirability of making the enclosure stronger and more rigid." Instead, Apple describes an improved enclosure where the parts are "structurally bonded together" to form a singular composite structure. In the application, Apple acknowledges that while "current enclosure designs work well, in many instances it would be desirable to provide enclosures that are thinner, lighter, stronger and aesthetically more pleasing than current enclosure designs." These goals for thinner and lighter laptop designs reinforces rumors of ultraportable and thin Apple laptops.

May 17, 2007, 07:32 PM	#3
Eidorian macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana	I think they're thin enough. Better to invest R&D on updating new hardware at this point. __________________ MRoogle it! hikari T7500 2.2 GHz / 4 GB / 320 GB / GMA X3100 / 10.5.8 chobimaru Core i5 750 2.66 GHz / 4 GB / 640 GB / 4830 / Windows 7

May 17, 2007, 07:35 PM	#4
Object-X macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2004	Bent Nothing like a bent MacBook.

May 17, 2007, 07:55 PM	#18
GodBless macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2005	Here is a link to a place where you can find images to the patent--they are in a quite large images and are in an awkward frame (at least for me in Safari) however. __________________ When spoken, truth rules out opinion.

May 17, 2007, 07:56 PM	#19
Leoff macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2004	OK, now maybe this is just me, but... how thin is too thin? I love Apple's style. I love the fact that they have made great strides in both function AND form in their entire line of computers, particularly laptops. The MacBook and MacBook Pro are wonders for how much innovation they cram into the smallest designs. I'm all for smaller laptops. I would love the idea of a sub-notebook or such from Apple, with a 10" screen or thereabouts. But as for thickness, why? Seriously, while I want the footprint of a laptop to be small, I also do want it to have a LITTLE... what's the word... girth to it. Even if I know it won't break, I like the feeling of something with substance under my fingers, something that won't feel like I'm gonna bend the sucker in two when I type. Other dimensions, sure... smaller the better. true portable-ness. But thickness, or rather thinness... that's always bugged me. __________________ Mini, mini, one-and-a-quarter, Wanted a Macbook, couldn't afford her.

May 17, 2007, 07:31 PM	#2
xUKHCx Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Kop	I would love a 11" or 10" Macbook to compliment my iMac

May 17, 2007, 07:35 PM	#5
Zwhaler macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jun 2006	This is very cool, I would like to see Apple release a ultraportable.

May 17, 2007, 07:37 PM	#6
LxTxNx macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2007	I would like to know when they're gonna be available?

May 17, 2007, 07:38 PM	#7
Superdrive macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Sounds good to me. My 12" PowerBook dented if I looked at it wrong. I want something small, strong, and light. I'm just not sure if the 13.3" MacBook fits the bill yet.

May 17, 2007, 07:38 PM	#9
warfa macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SD	Anything that will make my future apple notebooks even better are welcomed!!

May 17, 2007, 07:39 PM	#10
Chaszmyr macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Boulder, CO	Sounds like repairs may be impossible on any device manufactured with this sort of technique.

May 17, 2007, 07:45 PM	#11
babyjenniferLB macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scotlands	isnt there a limit due to the size of usb, firewire, headphone jacks and display sizes, also the keyboard. If you make the 15 inch macbook pro say half a inch thick were do all the ports go?

May 17, 2007, 07:48 PM	#13
verticalforce macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2007	Carbon fiber goddamit!!!!!

May 17, 2007, 07:57 PM	#20
asxtb macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2005	Wirelessly posted (Vodafone/1.0/V705SH/SHJ001 Browser/VF-NetFront/3.3 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1) I want one! I'd definately be one of the first in line to get an ultraportable. All these rumors keep pointing to the samething. Just a matter of when...

May 17, 2007, 07:57 PM	#21
Mydel macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sometimes here mostly there	Thikness is not a problem but more "rigid" frame for a screen would be welcome. My previous PB G4 screen was always goung U shape after lid was closed. And even when was open screen bazel was way to soft

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