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Apple Exploring Carbon-Fiber Enclosures for Future Devices
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I wouldn't mind seeing a change in the Macbook line from the white plastic to a dark cf or lm, or whatever like the current menu bar on Apple's website. Right now the MB is lagging behind both the MBA and MBP. I don't really know what it does
I say ax the super drive, put in more storage and have a 14.5 inch and 16.7 inch models to fill the gap between MBPs with a Core i3 processor and integrated graphics starting at $799. Keep it thin and light w/ USB 3.0 and lots of battery like the MBA. That would be perfect for those of use who just use the internet, music, and right lots of papers.
Carbon fiber is passe'. Liquid Metal is the future. Remember Terminator 2? The T-1000 was made of liquid metal.
At the rapid rate Apple is pumping a vast number of old outdated devices into the landfill, being green is just one more of their sleight of hand tricks.
By fostering a "Must have the latest & greatest" compulsion on the public, it hardly matters.
Apple's hypocrisy is very pervasive.
Passe'? I've never seen a laptop with a carbon fiber enclosure, so not sure how it can already be passe.
If they can make it work, I say bring it on.
Imagine....
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It almost always is lighter than aluminum. A lot? Doubt it but it should be lighter. In all honesty I would barely entertain this idea since CF would be a step back in design.
I'm sure Aluminum and Liquid Metal (or any metal at that) can be painted/baked into any color... but with recent postings all showing liquid metal being a "dark" color, I simply was going with that as the example.
Those posts are misguided. Liquid metal is no darker than aluminum in its default state. The SIM ejection tool is quite a light shade of grey, I have one for my 3GS.
I figured that when I went onto the original company's website saw the raw metal on their homepage.
I couldn't disagree more. Apple is a master of marketing, its what makes them so successful. They could sell a computer made out of glass if they wanted to and I'm sure the consumers would just gobble it up.
And besides, apples target market is, lets be honest, the richer more educated portion of the world. Point being, if you can afford to lay down $1,000+ for a computer, I'll gamble that you've at least heard of Carbon Fiber.
Sure I've heard of it, but if I saw it I'd have no idea if it was plastic or something else lol
From what I've seen of it on cars, carbon fiber is quite susceptible to scratching, and scratches can look very prominent. Not sure it would make such a great enclosure material. True, it would be better for WiFi transmission, but it would also keep more heat in. Possibly a replacement for plastic, but IMO not a replacement for unibody aluminum.
Err aluminum is susceptible to scratching.. have you not notice. I'm sure if Apple decides to use carbon fiber it will be well though out product. I'm looking forward this.
Correct.
Many would be surprised at the excellence of CFRP. It has ideal properties for use in laptops. Very light, strong, great looking and extremely durable. It can be finished in a natural matte or shiny. Paint is also an option which is every bit as durable due to the way it bonds with CFRP. When it comes right down to it, their are several choices for Apple.
Obviously you've never seen a scratch from a metal snap made on a carbon fiber auto hood. The unibody aluminum used to make MBPs is much more resistant to deep scratching. Hopefully Apple will not use carbon fiber unless it does work out problems like this, but it has been known to make mistakes with material choices in the past (see Mac Cube cracking and MacBook bezel cracking).
While carbon fiber would make an ideal material for a larger iPod model or the iPhone, the exorbitant production cost of carbon fiber structures (especially the need to use an autoclave to "cure" carbon fiber) would make Steve Jobs blanch and he would drop the idea in no time flat.
The use of Liquidmetal would probably make more sense, since the production costs are way lower.
The use of Liquidmetal would probably make more sense, since the production costs are way lower.
Obviously, a laptop or phone isn't exposed to a metal snap that holds down a carbon fiber hood and just flaps in 90 mph winds. They would make deep scratches in the aluminum too. Aluminum is quite "soft" as far as metals go.
Awesome examples...just goes to show how far CF has come from our expectations (based on all the CF-lite knockoff products).