Hurt them? The stock is already down almost 60% from its high. You think its going back to $10?
That would mean I could buy that much more!!!
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Feasibility of New Solid Aluminum Manufacturing Process?
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That would mean I could buy that much more!!!
no waste in a process like that. all the aluminum shavings would be recycled and used to create another block or "brick."
just bought a 2.4 mbp a couple of months ago...i dont mind buying another if it looks even more sleek....
You must be super rich.
And that takes all the fun out of trying to time your mac purchases perfectly.
I "switched" to a Mac Mini in 2006. I am going to buy a MB or MBP very soon, but that computer's gonna have to get me 3-5 years of use. Isn't that why we watch these boards with such attentiveness?
Wireless keyboard, anyone?
Anyone here have the wireless keyboard? It is mostly flat with a round tube at the end to hold the batteries. And it is made of some metal (aluminum?)
I always wondered how they would make it. Maybe Apple tested some things with this keyboard?
Anyone here have the wireless keyboard? It is mostly flat with a round tube at the end to hold the batteries. And it is made of some metal (aluminum?)
I always wondered how they would make it. Maybe Apple tested some things with this keyboard?
even if the new macbook makes all of our dreams come true, there are still people like me out there.
People who saw the macbook air fiasco and said... hmm, I will not buy first-off-the-line products from apple because their initial quality is lacking.
Fully aware of the upcoming models, I bought the tried and true macbook a week ago. Why? Because I know what's wrong with it already. And that's statistically not a whole lot.
It will be pretty cool if they have a new aluminum one though, heh. However, I'd still wait a year to see if they are reliable... thankfully there are plenty of people out there who are willing to be beta testers for me.
People who saw the macbook air fiasco and said... hmm, I will not buy first-off-the-line products from apple because their initial quality is lacking.
Fully aware of the upcoming models, I bought the tried and true macbook a week ago. Why? Because I know what's wrong with it already. And that's statistically not a whole lot.
It will be pretty cool if they have a new aluminum one though, heh. However, I'd still wait a year to see if they are reliable... thankfully there are plenty of people out there who are willing to be beta testers for me.
Highend paintball guns, DYE Matrix and Proto markers are all milled from solid block of aluminum.
Yeh SUPER RICH. Is that what the super rich buy, $2000 laptops? lol
You mean the not poor, with spending money.
I understand they are making their own factory by hollowing out a really, really giant single block of aluminum.
They probably carve the big pieces out of the brick and connect them later. The lid and the bottom part. At least, that's what I got.
Hey, my brain just kicked in and had a thought (no jokes please, but I know that is asking for a lot on this site. ...)
Hollow piece of aluminum, one piece, no screws.... remember the slide in tablet/dock patent
that resulted in these mockup?
oh boy oh boy oh boy
think about it. 1 piece of aluminum, nothing to insert but glass/lcd and few connectors. Macworld 2009? all our wishes come true?
I could really see apple discontinuing the imac, beefing up the laptop line or come out with a beefy tablet. No more having to worry about syncing data. Your portable (notebook/tablet) provides the power, then you just slide it out and take everything with you. gives you the notebook/desktop all in one. solves everyone's wishes of:
1. tablet with full keyboard/mouse option for when not on the go.
2. eliminate the opticle, but have it as a USB for those who still want/need it.
3. a real dock like people have been asking for
I see rumors starting to come together
...)Hollow piece of aluminum, one piece, no screws.... remember the slide in tablet/dock patent
that resulted in these mockup?
oh boy oh boy oh boy think about it. 1 piece of aluminum, nothing to insert but glass/lcd and few connectors. Macworld 2009? all our wishes come true?
I could really see apple discontinuing the imac, beefing up the laptop line or come out with a beefy tablet. No more having to worry about syncing data. Your portable (notebook/tablet) provides the power, then you just slide it out and take everything with you. gives you the notebook/desktop all in one. solves everyone's wishes of:
1. tablet with full keyboard/mouse option for when not on the go.
2. eliminate the opticle, but have it as a USB for those who still want/need it.
3. a real dock like people have been asking for
I see rumors starting to come together
The problem is..
The problem with this is that lasers and water jets are used for cutting things and are not very useful for fine detail work.
They would have to CNC the design to get the tolerances that they need for the 'shell' of a notebook. I'm surprised that no one has thought of it before. Yes, it would be rather expensive when you consider that the current Macbook Pro's are basically stamped and formed.
The benefit of a machined case is that the entire thing is a heat sink and a perfect grounding point for EMF hardiness. It's also way more stable and durable. The disadvantage is time and probably weight. A machined case would take a while to manufacture. Probably more than just stamping and forming. The weight issue would be a hard trade off. Having a large computer and CNC'ing the case would probably make it stronger because it will be a single piece or a system of larger integrated pieces but it could likely end up heavier unless they trade off the material or the thickness. Having a hollow shell like the current MBP saves weight. Think egg shell.
It would likely be the first time that a notebook was made with a machined shell. The Panasonic toughbooks are built with a case that looks machined or more likely die cast. They are tough enough that you could kill someone with one of them if you had to. I mean that the handle and the case are built extremely strong and the case is all magnesium on most of them. Magnesium is hard to machine I've been told. It's also very flammable but is not likely to combust at normal scorching MacBook Pro temperatures, at least I hope not... 
The problem with this is that lasers and water jets are used for cutting things and are not very useful for fine detail work.
They would have to CNC the design to get the tolerances that they need for the 'shell' of a notebook. I'm surprised that no one has thought of it before. Yes, it would be rather expensive when you consider that the current Macbook Pro's are basically stamped and formed.
The benefit of a machined case is that the entire thing is a heat sink and a perfect grounding point for EMF hardiness. It's also way more stable and durable. The disadvantage is time and probably weight. A machined case would take a while to manufacture. Probably more than just stamping and forming. The weight issue would be a hard trade off. Having a large computer and CNC'ing the case would probably make it stronger because it will be a single piece or a system of larger integrated pieces but it could likely end up heavier unless they trade off the material or the thickness. Having a hollow shell like the current MBP saves weight. Think egg shell.
It would likely be the first time that a notebook was made with a machined shell. The Panasonic toughbooks are built with a case that looks machined or more likely die cast. They are tough enough that you could kill someone with one of them if you had to. I mean that the handle and the case are built extremely strong and the case is all magnesium on most of them. Magnesium is hard to machine I've been told. It's also very flammable but is not likely to combust at normal scorching MacBook Pro temperatures, at least I hope not...
doesn't apple usually send out the invitations 2 weeks prior to the event
Exactly one week.
I've got the wireless keyboard for my iMac. I like it pretty well, it's survived several drops
Cool idea...
Hey, I like that. Like a real docking station. I've had clients have a lot of trouble dealing with their notebook/desktop data synchronization. It really can get to be a pain in the a**.
Docking stations often aren't that much easier due to the possibility of bent pins and gunk getting stuck in the slots/ports.
Having something like this could be a solid solution... Maybe the notebook and the dock could communicate through bluetooth or maybe USB...
Hey, I like that. Like a real docking station. I've had clients have a lot of trouble dealing with their notebook/desktop data synchronization. It really can get to be a pain in the a**.
Docking stations often aren't that much easier due to the possibility of bent pins and gunk getting stuck in the slots/ports.
Having something like this could be a solid solution... Maybe the notebook and the dock could communicate through bluetooth or maybe USB...
I think the no screws means for holding the case together, not for holding the electronics in. Also, you are thinking about current laptops too much. Look at your car's windsheild. All that is holding it is hefty black silicon glue. why not apply the same principle here with the LCD?
Actually, water jet cutting is extremely noisy, 100 db+. It is also not really a precision process (relatively speaking, it is precise enough for most purposes) because the jet spreads over distance and also tends to wobble and pulsate a bit. Also, a cutting agent is needed, so an abrasive is added to the jet. This means that the waste metal is mixed with the abrasive in the bottom of the tank, making recovery more complex than just sweeping up the shavings.
Yours
Vern
I'm not a mechanical or material engineer, but, I would think the removed material could somehow be resused??
swingerofbirch
macrumors 68040
Apple has had trouble keeping the iPod nano which is less than the size of a deck of cards secret--could they keep a new factory secret? I hope so!