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check out these insane specs for the Sony TT:

If I had to buy a PC it'd be a Sony, people complaining about Apple focusing on cosmetics, thats a major part of all of Apple's products, thats also why some people buy them (or one of the reasons)
 
Carbon fiber macbook? :D

Man that is Fugly! Or is that an Apple Wallet? ;)

Properly implemented this would be a huge improvement in the weight to strength ratio.

As for the snipe at cosmetics. Where does cosmetics start and good engineering end?

Simple! Where it out strips Functionality! :eek::rolleyes:;)

For those of us who carry a notebook computer EVERYWHERE, shaving 4oz off a computer is nothing to sneeze at. I'm wearing out my second Sony VAIO ultraportable (10" screen) and looking for a replacement which MUST be under 3 pounds (any more and I stop carrying it) yet have maxed-out (for the weight) capabilities. The only thing currently giving me pause in buying an Air (cash aside) is that tiny VAIOs still kick butt on size/weight.

Cutting weight by nearly 10% is very desirable.

Oh Man you need to go lifts some weights if 4oz is too much for you. I carry my macbook everyday! OMG help! Please someone gimme a hand this thing is too heavy! :p:rolleyes:;)
 
For those of us who carry a notebook computer EVERYWHERE, shaving 4oz off a computer is nothing to sneeze at. I'm wearing out my second Sony VAIO ultraportable (10" screen) and looking for a replacement which MUST be under 3 pounds (any more and I stop carrying it) yet have maxed-out (for the weight) capabilities. The only thing currently giving me pause in buying an Air (cash aside) is that tiny VAIOs still kick butt on size/weight.

Cutting weight by nearly 10% is very desirable.
Really?? 3 pounds?? I carry a 17" Macbook Pro with me everywhere I go in a backpack, and I've never complained. I'm a small guy, too. It puzzles me how people can complain about a few pounds that do so much.
 
A380 does not use much Carbon...at all

I thought it was the Boing 787 or Airbus 380...couldn't remember which one. It makes the plane ligher, saving on gas and also they can adjust the humidity (so people can breather better) because it's not made out of metal.

Compare to pre-existing airplane A380 does use a bit of carbon BUT
it does not use it for the body skin.

B787 body is literally cooked out of the autoclave as a whole so that is not the one you are talking about. Probably what you were thinking of is what Airbus is thinking of doing with A350 where they are thinking of creating the 'carbon panels' so they don't have to cook the whole thing like B787.

But I never heard of Carbon being coated with aluminium. Just being painted with paint...
 
For those of us who carry a notebook computer EVERYWHERE, shaving 4oz off a computer is nothing to sneeze at. I'm wearing out my second Sony VAIO ultraportable (10" screen) and looking for a replacement which MUST be under 3 pounds (any more and I stop carrying it) yet have maxed-out (for the weight) capabilities. The only thing currently giving me pause in buying an Air (cash aside) is that tiny VAIOs still kick butt on size/weight.

Cutting weight by nearly 10% is very desirable.

LOL. And the rest of us spend time in the weight room.

Seriously.
 
Does carbon fibre allow EM wave to go through?

I remember LG secret using carbon fibre but how EM wave friendly is this material?

If it is, it seems quite natural that Apple will use this technology on the next iPhone. Probably they won't have different colours only black. But I think Apple can keep the price pt and still manage it I think. It's not like carbon fibre was never used before and Apple is making this for first time so there should be plenty of suppliers I think....
 
I don't understand, I feel like Apple is stepping off their own turf and entering a new wold of invention.

I never would have imagined Apple would patent a material. It's just not their thing. Through history, computer companies have used the materials at their disposal. It's unheard of that such a company makes a material of their own.

What scares me is that this idea, this simple addition of aesthetics atop strength, will not be available to the public for however many years. This begs the question, will Apple begin licensing this material if there is a public demand for it? Will they manufacture it themselves and sell it? Is this a new revenue stream?


Apple has been creating its own doors. Literally cutting a hole in a bare wall, and installing a fully-functional door with hinges. With their recent acquisitions of chip guru's, they will be making even more technology that is available to nobody else but themselves.

All I have to say is this is an exciting time in Apple's history, and the history of computers as well.
 
Not a new idea

Well, I though carbon fiber was still quite expensive!

I've built a few white water racing kayaks. We used carbon fiber in one. The stuff looks like a rough burlap. But only black. It comes in different waves and weights but it's only "expensive" compared to cheaper fiber. I thik the price was about $15 to $30 per yard for the carbon fiber cloth. One yard would easly make a whole computer.

It's not really hard to build with carbon in a home workshop. Basically you just add epoxy to wet out the fiber and press it into a mold. The mold need to be well waxed and polished so the part will release.

Now to Apple's patent. "Everyone" who works with this stuff already knows about it. What you do if you want a smoother appearance where the fiber will not show is to spray a fine coating into the mold and let it cure before you put in the fiber and epoxy. You can even mix die into the coating and cast in a color. Polishing and waxing the mold will give a good gloss surface to the part being molded.


If you want to learn a bit more about Apple's new idea there is an article ion Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelcoat
 
I don't get it; didn't Apple switch from carbon fiber to aluminum? (e.g., MacBook, MacBook Pro, etc.)
 
I am interested in 3 things:

Weight
Heat dissipation
Aesthetics

I like my notebooks light. They must feel and look cool. This is where Apple gets it right (on the whole). I'm not so sure using carbon fiber composite materials will be worth the opportunity cost. I would rather the notebook were a little heavier if it dissipated heat well and looked great.

:apple:
 
I have grey carbon fiber legs for one of my tripods and the this have worn great. But carbon fiber was always a more expensive alternative to steel so I don't know what the price is this days.
 
I am interested in 3 things:

Weight
Heat dissipation
Aesthetics

I'm interested in two of those :) - Just talking about the consequences of materials right?

Couldn't really care less about the heat dissipation, as long as it is 'enough' for whatever component to run properly and without a shortened lifespan (something apple isn't so good at imo).
Durability would be first on my list, and it's another checkbox that current apple laptops don't tick for me.

Aluminium, plastic, carbon fibre, whatever - don't mind, it's the final product I'm interested in.
 
Sony has already done this...

I've been wondering why Apple never adopted Carbon fiber, at least for part of the shell or an internal stabilization piece that they could cover with thin aluminum or other material...

I know some of Sony's high-end ultraportables have used carbon fiber to minimize weight, and say what you will about having to use Windows, Sony's high-end ultraportables are some of the best looking PC laptops I've ever seen. I'm not a Sony spokesperson, I just come from the PC side so I like to geek out over specs no Macbook will have. ;(

check out these insane specs for the Sony TT:

11.1", 1366x768 LED-backlit display
1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo
4GB DDR3
Intel X4500HD iGPU

storage options :
  • Single 128GB SSD + 320GB HDD
  • Dual 64GB SSD in RAID0 + 320GB HDD
  • Dual 128GB SSD
ExpressCard/34
FireWire
HDMI out
GigE
802.11N
3G broadband

2.78lbs
10.99"(W) x 0.93"(H) x 7.87"(D)

My work notebook is a Sony Z series. It has a carbon fiber top and bottom. With aluminum on the keyboard area. Its very light and looks pretty sweet. Too soon to tell if it will be long lasting though. This Apple patent speaks of having a layer over the carbon fibers to hide the CF "look" Seems that Sony has already done this, as in my notebook. It does not have visible carbon fibers. I personally like the CF "look". CF may help with wireless reception compared to Aluminum as my work Sony certainly has fantastic wireless range.
 
One insulates, one conducts - doing any maths is a bit silly :)
A lump of copper, a fan and a hole is what is required for any hot IC in any modern laptop - using the case as a heat sink is pretty pointless, even for heat sensitive mechanical parts like the hard disk.
 
some forms of carbon fiber are extremely good heat conductors.

any insight on the heat dissipation compared to aluminum?

I forget where I read this but one company has been working on a method to build carbon fiber reinforced gun barrels and that some fibers are better thermal conductors than others. Thus they produced a composite barrel out of two types of fibers. It was found that the right mix effectively cooled the barrel and extended it's life.

I kinds wish I had clipped that article because there was some interesting points to digest. Rest assured that carbon fiber can be a good heat conductor.


Dave
 
I'm not a huge fan of having some thing all carbon fiber so how about just the keys? That would make a nice look to the all aluminum notebooks and keyboards I believe. Especially if backlight.
 
Does anybody remember that Apple used carbon fiber in the TiBook? Cause they did...:D

Yeah I do...as I recall it was chippy and flaky, so they dropped the carbon fiber thing like it was hot.

I really hope whatever they decide to use is available in white...the current white iPhone looks awesome. :D
 
Yeah I do...as I recall it was chippy and flaky, so they dropped the carbon fiber thing like it was hot.

I really hope whatever they decide to use is available in white...the current white iPhone looks awesome. :D

I personally haven't ever got to play with a TiBook, so I did not know that the carbon fiber was like that. Good to know, haha
 
I kinds wish I had clipped that article because there was some interesting points to digest. Rest assured that carbon fiber can be a good heat conductor.


Dave

Definitely, it is frequently used for hoods, engine cowls and engine covers.

Edit: A properly down carbon fiber lay with the correct finish would not be flaky.
 
wowowowow. As a car nut there's nothing I'd love more than a CF casing for my iPhone. It would look really good and shouldn't scratch at all.
 
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