Apple to Adopt Carbon Fiber for Lighter MacBook Air?

MacRumors · 09:18 PM

AppleInsider claims that Apple has been looking into replacing aluminum parts with carbon fiber parts in an effort to make the MacBook Air even lighter than it presently is.

Quote:

Apple enthusiastically claimed ownership to the world's thinnest notebook earlier this year with the introduction of the MacBook Air, but is rumored to be unsatisfied with the system's weight, which it now hopes to drop below 3 pounds.

Carbon fiber is described as an extremely lightweight material that is exceptionally strong.

Apple is expected to keep the upper aluminum chasis of the MacBook Air, but may replace the bottom cover with one constructed from carbon fiber. This could trim the notebooks weight from slightly over 3 pounds to 2.78 pounds.

The rumor site believes the shift could happen as early as next year.

Article Link: Apple to Adopt Carbon Fiber for Lighter MacBook Air?

themoonisdown09 · Nov 11, 2008, 03:34 PM

I hope it doesn't look two-tone at all. If you can't tell a difference, then this could be a good thing.

duncanapple · Nov 11, 2008, 03:35 PM

That would be pretty sweet looks-wise, especially if they went all out and did the whole case in carbon fiber. Raw carbon fiber is a pretty neat look - that I personally haven't seen before. The lightness/rigidness would be a plus as well.

- Chris

dawnrazor · Nov 11, 2008, 03:35 PM

Hmmmm, Carbon Fibre - Now that sounds like a cheap alternative to aluminium!

Ade-iMac-177 · Nov 11, 2008, 03:35 PM

Good god apple no!!
Will won't dissipate heat as well and i thought they were determined to make it recyclable - i don't think carbon fibre is very recyclable!

sterlingindigo · Nov 11, 2008, 03:35 PM

Very cool! I wonder what the cost difference would be. Of course if they cut it to a 10" screen, it may weigh even less...?

ravenvii · Nov 11, 2008, 03:36 PM

Wow, it'll make the Air lighter than some netbooks.

I also hope it won't be two-tone. And also hope they'll update the Air to match the other new notebooks, it looks out of place now (like the 17").

gusious · Nov 11, 2008, 03:36 PM

Carbon fiber? Sweet....!

ll PiStoNs ll · Nov 11, 2008, 03:38 PM

Its strong but the plastic coating on it cracks fairly easily, and is expensive to replace.
plus theres other factors like heat, how it looks, being able to shape each macbook the same exact way etc.
but its edinately possible

r.j.s · Nov 11, 2008, 03:38 PM

Would the loss in heat dissipation be worth the amount of weight lost? I think aluminum is light enough - for now.

gkarris · Nov 11, 2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawnrazor

Hmmmm, Carbon Fibre - Now that sounds like a cheap alternative to aluminium!

In American...

Carbon Fiber, a cheap alternative to Aluminum....

Did you think Apple copied from the NetBook? I think those are cheaper materials for lighter weight/lower costs...

Maybe this will help lower the price of the Air?

Tifosi Red · Nov 11, 2008, 03:38 PM

Hmmm, how 'green' is Carbon Fibre? I'm all for weight savings though.

plumbingandtech · Nov 11, 2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tifosi Red

Hmmm, how 'green' is Carbon Fibre? I'm all for weight savings though.

Yah. I would love to know as well.....

Snide · Nov 11, 2008, 03:39 PM

It will no doubt have vastly superior Wi-Fi reception...

(my lowly 400 Mhz Pismo's reception still kicks the snot out of the latest MBP, Air, ect)

Edit: just realized the cover (where the antenna resides) will remain aluminum.

Please disregard. ;-)

Eduardo1971 · Nov 11, 2008, 03:41 PM

Ace!

Carbon Fibre in the Macbook Air would complement the Carbon Fibre roof on my M3!

gusious · Nov 11, 2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tifosi Red

Hmmm, how 'green' is Carbon Fibre? I'm all for weight savings though.

Maybe green refers to ecological material or something...

SkippyThorson · Nov 11, 2008, 03:43 PM

I was just eating cheesypoofs reading this, and I bit my lip.

Rock on! I love the idea! If there's one material that can offer up a more industrial look than Silver metal on Black, it's Silver metal on Black Carbon Fiber.

dubhe · Nov 11, 2008, 03:46 PM

Well, they will need to keep finding innovations to justify the high price. I say bring it on, I was going to buy one next summer anyway!

Quillz · Nov 11, 2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ade-iMac-177

Good god apple no!!
Will won't dissipate heat as well and i thought they were determined to make it recyclable - i don't think carbon fibre is very recyclable!

Actually, most Sony Vaio models are now made out of plastic with a carbon fiber coating, and they dissipate heat as well as anything else. You are correct, though, that neither plastic nor carbon fiber are as easily recyclable as aluminum.

But then again, Apple's push for "going green" will never come before their business strategies, as seen by taking a step backward with the plastic iPhone 3G back.

Small White Car · Nov 11, 2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawnrazor

Hmmmm, Carbon Fibre - Now that sounds like a cheap alternative to aluminium!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkarris

Carbon Fiber, a cheap alternative to Aluminum....

The article makes it clear that the aluminum uni-body isn't going anywhere. They spent a long time developing that, expect to see it for many year to come. This would just be the cover that goes over the bottom battery and RAM slots.

ExcelonGT · Nov 11, 2008, 03:52 PM

as a petrol head, I'm all in favor of a Carbon Fiber body.

Now, i just need to figure out what color racing stripes I want on my MBA.

dubhe · Nov 11, 2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Small White Car

This would just be the cover that goes over the bottom battery and RAM slots.

Ok, I don't have a MBA (yet) but this little cover can't be that heavy, and replacing it with carbon fibre is not going to save a whole 0.5 lb.

gtg660w · Nov 11, 2008, 03:53 PM

they should use kevlar; make the macbook air bulletproof and lighter

r.j.s · Nov 11, 2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtg660w

they should use kevlar; make the macbook air bulletproof and lighter

It would take too much to be bulletproof, but fire resistant ...

Small White Car · Nov 11, 2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubhe

Ok, I don't have a MBA (yet) but this little cover can't be that heavy, and replacing it with carbon fibre is not going to save a whole 0.5 lb.

It's (apparently) the second heaviest part on the machine, comprising of 19% of the total Macbook Air's weight.

Nov 11, 2008, 03:35 PM	#5
Ade-iMac-177 macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007	Good god apple no!! Will won't dissipate heat as well and i thought they were determined to make it recyclable - i don't think carbon fibre is very recyclable! __________________ 2.53GHz MacBook Pro Unibody :-: 17" White 2.0GHz C2D iMac :-: 160GB iPod Classic :-: 1GB 2G Blue iPod Shuffle :-: 8GB iPhone 3G

Nov 11, 2008, 03:35 PM	#6
sterlingindigo macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: East Lansing	Very cool! I wonder what the cost difference would be. Of course if they cut it to a 10" screen, it may weigh even less...? __________________ Drink healthy water http://www.factorydirecthealth.com

Nov 11, 2008, 03:36 PM	#7
ravenvii macrumors 68040 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Melenkurion Skyweir	Wow, it'll make the Air lighter than some netbooks. I also hope it won't be two-tone. And also hope they'll update the Air to match the other new notebooks, it looks out of place now (like the 17"). __________________ You spoony bard!

Nov 11, 2008, 03:36 PM	#8
gusious macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Greece	Carbon fiber? Sweet....! __________________ Unix: Mystical,dangerous and unforgiving... Unix is user friendly. It's just very selective about who it's friends are...

Nov 11, 2008, 03:38 PM	#10
r.j.s macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Margaritaville	Would the loss in heat dissipation be worth the amount of weight lost? I think aluminum is light enough - for now. __________________ OS X Tutorial Videos\|Suggest new tutorials InFocus Forums - For Photographers, By Photographers

Nov 11, 2008, 03:34 PM	#2
themoonisdown09 macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Georgia, USA	I hope it doesn't look two-tone at all. If you can't tell a difference, then this could be a good thing.

Nov 11, 2008, 03:35 PM	#3
duncanapple macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2008	That would be pretty sweet looks-wise, especially if they went all out and did the whole case in carbon fiber. Raw carbon fiber is a pretty neat look - that I personally haven't seen before. The lightness/rigidness would be a plus as well. - Chris

Nov 11, 2008, 03:35 PM	#4
dawnrazor macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Auckland New Zealand	Hmmmm, Carbon Fibre - Now that sounds like a cheap alternative to aluminium!

Nov 11, 2008, 03:38 PM	#9
ll PiStoNs ll macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2007	Its strong but the plastic coating on it cracks fairly easily, and is expensive to replace. plus theres other factors like heat, how it looks, being able to shape each macbook the same exact way etc. but its edinately possible

Nov 11, 2008, 03:38 PM	#12
Tifosi Red macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Saddleworth, UK	Hmmm, how 'green' is Carbon Fibre? I'm all for weight savings though. __________________ 17" MBP 2.5Ghz Penryrn 4GB RAM w. 23" ACD 1.6GHz 80GB MBA 500GB Time Capsule 40GB Apple TV 8GB iPhone (GPRS) 8GB iPod Nano (3G)

Nov 11, 2008, 03:39 PM	#14
Snide macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2005	It will no doubt have vastly superior Wi-Fi reception... (my lowly 400 Mhz Pismo's reception still kicks the snot out of the latest MBP, Air, ect) Edit: just realized the cover (where the antenna resides) will remain aluminum. Please disregard. ;-)

Nov 11, 2008, 03:41 PM	#15
Eduardo1971 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lost Angeles, Ca. usa	Ace! Carbon Fibre in the Macbook Air would complement the Carbon Fibre roof on my M3! __________________ 13" white 2Ghz Macbook, 250GB Hard drive, 2GB RAM Fight On!

Nov 11, 2008, 03:43 PM	#17
SkippyThorson macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007	I was just eating cheesypoofs reading this, and I bit my lip. Rock on! I love the idea! If there's one material that can offer up a more industrial look than Silver metal on Black, it's Silver metal on Black Carbon Fiber. __________________ http://skippythorson.blogspot.com/ v1 iPhone ~ v5.5 iPod ~ v3 Nano ~ v1 Shuffle ~ 1.25ghz iMac G4 ~ 1.33ghz iBook G4 ~ Airport Extreme

Nov 11, 2008, 03:46 PM	#18
dubhe macrumors 65816 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Great Britain	Well, they will need to keep finding innovations to justify the high price. I say bring it on, I was going to buy one next summer anyway! __________________ MacBook Pro 15"/2.53/4/320(7200)/9400M - Mac mini 2.0/4/250/9400M HTPC - iPhone 3GS/32 - Time Capsule - Wife - Baby

Nov 11, 2008, 03:52 PM	#21
ExcelonGT macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2008	as a petrol head, I'm all in favor of a Carbon Fiber body. Now, i just need to figure out what color racing stripes I want on my MBA.

Nov 11, 2008, 03:53 PM	#23
gtg660w macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2008	they should use kevlar; make the macbook air bulletproof and lighter

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