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'Brick' Refers to the MacBook Manufacturing Process
- Thread starter imapfsr
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The main reason why eveything is made in China is the low wages paid to staff.
Now, if this new manufacturing process would reduce the need for staff, then you would think that Apple could bring the factory to the USA.
However, what you have to realise is that most of the internals of the Mac (Lcd, motherboard, ram, HDD ect) are made in China, most likely next door to the Foxconn factory. The benefit being that transport costs are reduced largely due to all the factories being close together in China
If the Apple factory were to move to the USA, costs would rise as they would have to ship thousands of internal parts from overseas.
Thats the main reason in my opinion why the Factory will not come to USA.
Just another throught.......
This new manufacturing process could mean that we will start to see aliminium mighty mouses, airpot express+extremes, time capsules, apple tv's, mac mini's ect..
That would be classy!
Now, if this new manufacturing process would reduce the need for staff, then you would think that Apple could bring the factory to the USA.
However, what you have to realise is that most of the internals of the Mac (Lcd, motherboard, ram, HDD ect) are made in China, most likely next door to the Foxconn factory. The benefit being that transport costs are reduced largely due to all the factories being close together in China
If the Apple factory were to move to the USA, costs would rise as they would have to ship thousands of internal parts from overseas.
Thats the main reason in my opinion why the Factory will not come to USA.
Just another throught.......
This new manufacturing process could mean that we will start to see aliminium mighty mouses, airpot express+extremes, time capsules, apple tv's, mac mini's ect..
That would be classy!
is it confirmed 14.1" for MB and 16" for MBP? how do you know?
if so i think i may just buy a MBP now...
Apple has been consistent in trying to achieve single shells with out screws etc for a long time. Just look at the ipods or other patents of the past, like http://www.electronista.com/articles/07/05/17/apple.notebook.bond.patent/
Maybe they did find the perfect way to do it.
Maybe they did find the perfect way to do it.
.
* The shell is one piece of metal so it is super light, super strong and super cheap.
* You can be a whole lot more creative with the design if you don't have to machine it. .........LOL- you DO have to machine it!!! If it's not stamped it must be machined,unless they have a magic wand.
I have to laugh at the quotes I posted above..Being in the alloy stamping/slitting/CNC billet business I can tell you it's not cheaper to carve out a shape from billet,also all the seam,bends,etc wouldn't be a problem with a WELL made progressive feed stamp die.
If they're getting CHEAP billet carved for them,they must be using slave labor to do it.Billet alloy is stronger than stamped, no doubt,but it would be complete over-kill for a laptop....usually, billet alloy is reserved for mechanical parts under a lot of stress like,rims,car hubs,swing arms on motorcycles,boat props, etc.
I'm not saying the MacBook isn't going to be carved from alloy,but they must have found a cheap way to get it done.One thing is for sure,if it is carved from billet it will look awesome!
I forgot to add.One huge plus for billet is you can EASILY change the shape of something "on the fly."With stamp dies you would have to re-build them pretty much from ground up in most cases.
* The shell is one piece of metal so it is super light, super strong and super cheap.
* You can be a whole lot more creative with the design if you don't have to machine it. .........LOL- you DO have to machine it!!! If it's not stamped it must be machined,unless they have a magic wand.
I have to laugh at the quotes I posted above..Being in the alloy stamping/slitting/CNC billet business I can tell you it's not cheaper to carve out a shape from billet,also all the seam,bends,etc wouldn't be a problem with a WELL made progressive feed stamp die.
If they're getting CHEAP billet carved for them,they must be using slave labor to do it.Billet alloy is stronger than stamped, no doubt,but it would be complete over-kill for a laptop....usually, billet alloy is reserved for mechanical parts under a lot of stress like,rims,car hubs,swing arms on motorcycles,boat props, etc.
I'm not saying the MacBook isn't going to be carved from alloy,but they must have found a cheap way to get it done.One thing is for sure,if it is carved from billet it will look awesome!
I forgot to add.One huge plus for billet is you can EASILY change the shape of something "on the fly."With stamp dies you would have to re-build them pretty much from ground up in most cases.
so sweet. cut down in costs and make a stronger, sexier MacBook! cant wait for what the future holds for Mac designs!
This is very good news! Hopefully this new process will reduce defects, produce more sturdy laptops and make the Apple REV.A curse a thing of the past!
Now the only thing that will excite me more is for Apple to release a "PRO" version of the 13 inch Macbook ala Vaio Z.
Now the only thing that will excite me more is for Apple to release a "PRO" version of the 13 inch Macbook ala Vaio Z.
The article mentions that Steve designed the NeXT factory, but he also designed the original Mac factory at Apple I believe.
I personally welcome this development, the more automated the manufacture the more consistent the quality. Machines don't get tired.
I personally welcome this development, the more automated the manufacture the more consistent the quality. Machines don't get tired.
If you buy actual socks and not athletic socks in a bag from Wal-Mart, they do actually come in sizes.
I would just like to say that Irish built macs were the best. My powermac G4 is flawless and so is my Classic, My imac G5 on the other hand, logic board died twice.
I would just like to say that Irish built macs were the best. My powermac G4 is flawless and so is my Classic, My imac G5 on the other hand, logic board died twice.
the logic boards in your irish computer were built in china
I'm very concerned, that the refresh/redesign will not affect the MBP. All recent rumors only mentions the "Macbook" and not the "Macbook Pro".
I've been waiting for this redesign for a long time, and I have all the money ready to spend. But if this refresh doesn't come until january, I think the money will be long gone...
I've been waiting for this redesign for a long time, and I have all the money ready to spend. But if this refresh doesn't come until january, I think the money will be long gone...
Actually Apple has been blowing the competition out of the water for YEARS already...the PC is DEAD. Only die-hard Bill Gates fans, hardcore gamers and people that have no idea about Macs buy PC these days.
As for "insourcing" to US, this is pretty much irrelevant. You can manufacture them anywhere as long as you have strong contractual and operational enforcement of SLAs...but yep...if you don't have it, it's always good to do it yourself.
I truly believe that the new processes will put Apple WAY above any other company, as happened with the iPhone and the smartphone industry.
Microsoft is DEAD. Dell is DEAD.
I hope it won't be that way, it's scary
BTW if they're producing the next revision of macbooks in America what about the shipment spotted a few weeks ago? Other kind of apple products?
if this is true, that type of process versus stamping would add to the price of mb/mbp's. unless they choose to keep it within the same price range of course. i doubt it will be an American plant also. no "made in the USA" on the next laptops i'm very certain.