Apple to Adopt Carbon Fiber for Lighter MacBook Air?

[MacRumors]

https://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png

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.

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[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!

 

[sterlingindigo]

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]

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]

Carbon fiber? Sweet....!

 

[ll PiStoNs ll]

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]

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

 

[gkarris]

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]

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

 

[plumbingandtech]

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

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

 

[Snide]

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]

Ace!

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

 

[gusious]

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

Maybe green refers to ecological material or something...

 

[SkippyThorson]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[r.j.s]

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]

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.