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Feasibility of New Solid Aluminum Manufacturing Process?

Timichango said:
Somehow I doubt that they've codenamed a strategy using a colloquialism that isn't even in the common parlance.

I'm of the belief that the brick is a noun (as in 'brick) not a pseudo-verb, (as in 'bricking'), and refers to a physical product, not some utterly abstract reference to a sales strategy. Apple's a product company, not a naming-abstract-and-unmarketable-strategies-random-things company.

Apple's only ever been marginally concerned with people with limited spending power - it's a premium product, and it's well priced for what it is. If they could shave even $100 off of their products across the line during the next refresh, people would still go berserk. Face it - Apple's not having problems selling stuff, and any price breaks are a bonus, not a deal-maker (or breaker).
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They would sell a LOT more machines if they shaved more than $100 off their computers , a lot more indeed !!,...there are those that don't see the 'point' in shelling out XX$$ extra for a computer that is essentially the same as a windows box of equal technology footing ,.......... I know that OSX is a factor , but come on .
 
15 noveltybread said:
I can't help but keep going back to thought of all the wasted material this process would produce. Hollowing out a block of aluminum? There has got to be 1 to 1 1/2 more cases worth in aluminum being dug out of that chunk that would need melted back down and cast into another block.

I don't know this rumor never made much sense to me.
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Jobs wanted the original Macintosh factory to be so modern that you could put sand into one side, and get Macs out the other side, i.e. soup to nuts production.

Perhaps he finally got his dream on the cases, i.e. raw aluminum into one end, and finished cases out the other.

I'd think that such a modern factory might re-use the removed aluminum. :)
 
MattInOz said:
Apple would do it with Magnets.
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If anyone can, Apple can.....

I wonder why they didn't build a couple of optic fibres into the magpower connector, then pump usb3 or firewire data over that. You could then run almost any service the user wanted over that, second screen, keyboard anything.
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Interesting... Yeah, my work PC has 3 monitors. 2 running through DVI on a y-connector, and the third is a USB-VGA converter. My work only gave me the disk I needed, so I am not sure if it has a mac driver or not. What I can't understand is USB ports are so small, why can we have more of them. My old Dell laptop had 2 on each side. By the time I plug in my targus cooling pad (and yes contrary to popular beleif I find it does keep my macbook cooler), and then my time machine drive, I am out of ports. the fan on my pad is starting to let go (making a clicking noise), I am afraid that if this pad lets go, I will have to go with a new one. The problem is on the new ones, they do not have the 4 port USB hub - like this one does.

well, atleast I finally got used to the one-button track pad and ditched my USB mouse (and I do like the 2-finger click better, just took me a day or so to get used to the idea).
 
SinfonianShrek said:
I came in here to say just that. If you were looking at buying something that isn't going to be functionally antiquated in less than a quarter of a decade then there's no point in it. Despite the costs many computers have become disposable items in the eyes of the manufacturer and consumer.

Billet laptop? Fark that. Give me multi-part, plastic shells and a lower price tag.
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This could be mistaken for some process that stamps out aluminum sheets and melts it together to form a seamless shell... but why would that be something desirable? It would be nice to get into these machines and replace parts.

Maybe this is something for the tablet which will be similar to an oversized iPod Touch. Or maybe Apple wants people to keep out of the hardware and lock us into greater hardware redundancy. Thus increase sales.

It's an Xist trick, I tell ya. Smoke Frop, and find a new ShorDurPerSav.
 
huh?

shervieux said:
The problem is on the new ones, they do not have the 4 port USB hub - like this one does.
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Sure they do...

http://www.targus.com/us/accessories_cooling.asp

All of the "chill hubs" have USB hubs. The "chill mats" are without.

You must have visited the store on a day that they were out of ones with hubs, and jumped to a conclusion.

See also http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=laptop+cooler - lots of models with hubs.
 
pavelbure said:
they are called inserts, not bits.:)

you also have to take into account the time it will take to get the finish correct if they try to mill these. i highly doubt they will want swirl marks or even worse chatter in these parts. being how thin the cases are already chatter will play a part in it.
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I'm talking about "milling bits" as seen in every industrial catalog. The inserts are, admittedly, the smaller pieces that do the actual cutting... in steel.

And I'm not talking about skins when I look at what they're discussing, I'm talking about the rigid frame needed to provide strength to the machine as a whole, this is going to be much thicker than a simple stamped-metal skin as almost everybody else is thinking.

A quick look at today's cars can tell you that a stamped-metal frame just doesn't have the strength or rigidity to hold up under impact. Today's cars are designed to sacrifice themselves to protect their passengers; a computer case needs to be able to hold up to impact since g-forces aren't as big an issue to electronics. All you have to do is lean on a modern car and you've got a dent. A computer case needs to be able to withstand that and keep running.

This is why so many people here think "stamp and press" will work, and it just can't. It doesn't have the needed strength unless you use steel, and then you have more weight than you want. Instead of thinking 'unibody,' think "frame and body" such as used in most trucks today. Maybe then you'll understand where Apple is going with this 'brick' technology.
 
holger2 said:
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?
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I have one, and I'd say you're quite right. It appears to be cast in the general shape, then drilled and milled for the keys, battery and bluetooth transmitter, as well as having the entire back milled out to fit the keyboard's circuit board. All in all, a very flowing, elegant and functional device.
 
Dear God, please let the 14th October be it.

Otherwise I'll be very ashamed since I have posted in my facebook, myspace, and msn that I'll be buying a mac next week. PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN!!
 
Timichango said:
Somehow I doubt that they've codenamed a strategy using a colloquialism that isn't even in the common parlance.

I'm of the belief that the brick is a noun (as in 'brick) not a pseudo-verb, (as in 'bricking'), and refers to a physical product, not some utterly abstract reference to a sales strategy. Apple's a product company, not a naming-abstract-and-unmarketable-strategies-random-things company.
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You've adopted a strategy of confusing the common forum troll with English. Genius!

Personally, I doubt that an R&D memo would likely pay much respect to grammar or tense. I often receive mails and memos from "educated" people who don't bother to use a spell-check or even correct abbreviations.

Apple's only ever been marginally concerned with people with limited spending power - it's a premium product, and it's well priced for what it is. If they could shave even $100 off of their products across the line during the next refresh, people would still go berserk. Face it - Apple's not having problems selling stuff, and any price breaks are a bonus, not a deal-maker (or breaker).
Click to expand...

We can only speculate based on the information available. And the last word from the horse's mouth was transitionary period and lower returns. They've already capitalised on the spenders, and any good business adviser would say "use that momentum". How do you gain momentum? Reduce friction. High prices equal friction, and it's no secret that to get a lot you have to give a little.

Of course this isn't my theory, I have better things to do than try to second guess something that really doesn't bother me, but I think it's sound. And working in a business full of codewords, brick is about as analogous to agressive action as any other codeword, whatever your english lessons tell you.

i.e. "I'm going to brick your margins, sucka"
 
ChrisA said:
No one would machine a case out of a solid block. What you'd do is use a hydrauli press to form a block of metal into the basic shape. Aluminum flows like putty given enough presure. Then you follow up with the lasers and water for some of the detaails.

Ever seen how they make a soda can? They put a littel ound pellet in a can shaped hole and hit it with a ram the metal flows up and around the ram, just like it was water. It takes just a fraction of a second. If you can turn a pellet into a can you can turn a slab into a case
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So how does this process differs from current mb making?
 
After October 14 most of you guys will go to Apple store and ask for a brick! The brick is a new name for Macbook- macbook brick! Just like macbook air.
 
to all the skeptics. The whole idea of a breakthrough is that somebody thought of something nobody else has already thought of, opening up new previously unfeasible possibilities!
 
Nobita said:
Dear God, please let the 14th October be it.

Otherwise I'll be very ashamed since I have posted in my facebook, myspace, and msn that I'll be buying a mac next week. PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN!!
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Oh god, please not Facebook shame!

This forum gets dumber by the minute.
 
Do anyone else has a feeling that the so-called "Brick" will be called Brick because its a little Brick, as in a Netbook?
 
in the long run apple and others will benefit from this production process. its a huge step forward and better to do it sooner than later.
 
The truth

Samarium said:
Do anyone else has a feeling that the so-called "Brick" will be called Brick because its a little Brick, as in a Netbook?
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Steve himself replied to an email (he always does) with this sneak preview.

I'm sure he'll understand me sharing it.


2lego1.jpg
 
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