New 13-inch MacBook to be Bumped to 2.4GHz, NVIDIA 320M

[blackpond]

What's all this talk about manufacturing costs? Really?

Don't you all know, Apple products are:

Made With Magic
in California​

 

[johnqh]

It shows the casing is higher, not thicker. The inside is not a solid block of plastic or aluminum, it's hollow so that the internals can fit.

Seriously, you have a problem with your logic...

The insider parts are the same. Same inside volume, thicker outside volume. Definitely thicker casing.

The current Macbook and 13" MBP are essentially the same machine except the case. Don't make it sound like MB has more stuff inside.

 

[PuckDaddy]

isn't the difference between 5400rpm and 7200rpm like $10 ?

 

[adamw]

How did this Vietnamese web site get an actual production unit?

They must have a good inside source to get this, and also get the iPhone 4G prototype.

 

[KnightWRX]

The insider parts are the same. Same inside volume, thicker outside volume. Definitely thicker casing.

Can you quote on a specification page where the internal volume of the case is defined so that you can back up your statement here ?

Until then, it's not "definitely thicker", it's "you assume it's thicker".

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

Apple is soon to release a new version of their Macbook notebook computer. Much of the recent press about the new Macbook has centred on the 'revolutionary' manufacturing processes it will engage to manufacture the enclosure referred to as 'the brick'. The articles published tended to focus on the latest in laser machining and waterjet cutting technology being used to produce the enclosures which had many readers envisioning laser beams and jets of water turning a raw slab of aluminium into the final product in a matter of seconds with no other processing required.

Having read about this futuristic laser machining process being used to produce the Macbooks, thousands of people searched the internet to find out more about laser machining and most found their way to ManufactureLink's directory of manufacturing processes where laser machining, and waterjet cutting process are discussed in detail.

But in reality the laser machining and waterjet cutting processes being publicised were just media hype and the real manufacturing processes being used, while still state-of-the-art, are somewhat less like something out of Startrek and more like something found in any modern machine shop.

http://www.manufacturelink.com.au/news/view/apple-macbook-manufacturing-process.aspx

 

[johnqh]

Can you quote on a specification page where the internal volume of the case is defined so that you can back up your statement here ?

Until there, it's not "definitely thicker", it's "you assume it's thicker".

Sometimes you need some common sense, dude.

 

[dodgerbluetx]

The video is evidence the process is different, not more expensive.

Melting and molding plastic requires machinery also, maintenance for said machinery and plenty of power to keep those high temps.

Once again, you are just guessing and providing no factual evidence that in the end the manufacturing process of the polycarbonite MacBook costs less to make than the 13" aluminum MacBook Pro.

You guys arguing for the sake of arguing?

Do you really not believe that CNC milling a unibody from a solid block of aluminum is not more expensive than molding a piece out of plastic? Material costs aside, the process is much more time consuming as it requires many more steps than the injection mold process. Time equals money, but sorry I do not have any proof for that statement.

 

[goobot]

apple is a bigger company. the bigger they are the harder the fall. meaning there is more chance of there being leaks

 

[guitarboi]

They couldn't stop the damn hammering for 5 min while they filmed this video?

well you know apple like to bust down doors so they have to reinforce em

LOL!

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

You guys arguing for the sake of arguing?

Do you really not believe that CNC milling a unibody from a solid block of aluminum is not more expensive than molding a piece out of plastic? Material costs aside, the process is much more time consuming as it requires many more steps than the injection mold process. Time equals money, but sorry I do not have any proof for that statement.

I provided a link to give you some insight. Nobody is saying its cheaper. Right now whats being said is that the overall cost is negligible based on many factors. ROI is one of them.

 

[Santabean2000]

isn't the difference between 5400rpm and 7200rpm like $10 ?

X how many tens/hundreds of thousands of MB sales, and yes $10 becomes very relevant.

Nobody who would buy a MB gives two hoots about how fast the thingy spins, if they even know that it does; geeks and specwhores buy MBPs!

 

[ikir]

From the clock on the side of the MacBook box above it appears the white MacBook will still have a 7-hour battery. The difference in $200 comes from the battery, RAM, Firewire 800 port and SD Card slot.

And alluminium unibody, backlit keyboard, max 8GB ram and as you said 4GB default instead of 2.

Imho the base MBP 13" is the best price/features, light, powerfull, super battery.

 

[cvaldes]

Macbook is 1.08 inches thick. 13" Macbook Pro is 0.95 inches. It shows that the casing is thicker with the plastic Macbook.

Someone with material engineering background can probably dig out more info on the weight/volume.

I'm not a material sciences guy, but I ran a quick search:

aluminum 2700g/m^3
polycarbonate 1300g/m^3

Source: http://edboyden.org/constants.html

So as raw materials, aluminum is twice as heavy as polycarbonate. I wouldn't be surprised if the case components weights for the MacBook and MacBook Pro are very similar. The polycarbonate parts are thicker to provide a similar amount of structural support as the thinner aluminum, which would increase bulk and negate polycarbonate's density advantage.

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

X how many tens/hundreds of thousands of MB sales, and yes $10 becomes very relevant.

Nobody who would buy a MB gives two hoots about how fast the thingy spins, if they even know that it does; geeks and specwhores buy MBPs!

I'm sure Seagate or whoever provides the drives to Apple could work out a deal.

I love the 13" Macbook Pro. I wish Apple would just do away with the polycarb units.

 

[Santabean2000]

How did this Vietnamese web site get an actual production unit?

They must have a good inside source to get this, and also get the iPhone 4G prototype.

Or maybe some solid dirt of Steve at the soapy

 

[johnqh]

I'm not a material sciences guy, but I ran a quick search:

aluminum 2700g/m^3
polycarbonate 1300g/m^3

Source: http://edboyden.org/constants.html

Thank you.

 

[LEOMODE]

I'm dying to know for MacBook Air

Now that this Vietnamese site revealed iPhone 4G and MacBook,

I'm dying to know if they know anything about the new MacBook Air spec.

Only if i knew Vietnamese...I can't even register on their forums lol

Where is the MacBook Air Spec???

 

[dodgerbluetx]

So are you telling me Apple invented the machine to stamp or cut the unibody cases? The Waterjet was invented in the 50-60's. I don't believe Mr. Jobs had even smoked his first joint by that time.

No I am not, you having reading comprehension issues? I asked for your proof that they did not have to develop any machinery.

And you also have no clue what you are talking about, the unibody is mostly milled using CNC machinery, not waterjets. Watch the video, pay attention.

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

No I am not, you having reading comprehension issues? I asked for your proof that they did not have to develop any machinery.

And you also have no clue what you are talking about, the unibody is mostly milled using CNC machinery, not waterjets. Watch the video, pay attention.

I did provide proof. Look at my other post. Pay attention.

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/9906065/

 

[Santabean2000]

I'm sure Seagate or whoever provides the drives to Apple could work out a deal.

I love the 13" Macbook Pro. I wish Apple would just do away with the polycarb units.

In the MBs, it's usually Hitachi... cheapest of cheap, and they'd have a deal on these 5400s too. But hey, they work just fine for the most part eh.

 

[trondah]

At least this guy has clean and cut nails.

 

[Master Chief]

How did this Vietnamese web site get an actual production unit?

They must have a good inside source to get this, and also get the iPhone 4G prototype.

Apple got details about a stolen iPhone 4G prototype... and this is their way of paying back

 

[mac.mogul]

The MBP will hold 8gb RAM vs the MB's max of 4gb.
Illuminated keyboard
fw800
bigger hard drives
card reader
aluminum case
longer battery life

For the price difference you wouldn't think there would be any reason to consider the MB, but the MB isn't marketed to power users. People who buy the MacBook are people like me who can't really afford a $200 price difference (as small a difference as it might be), but still want a highly capable laptop and a quality computing experience.

I'm so broke I'm still using an ibook G4 for crying out loud. I'm MORE than elated to see the MB getting the same processor and gfx combo in the MBP because that more than seals the deal for when I upgrade this summer.

 

[dodgerbluetx]

I think it's safe to assume Apple, a consumer electronics company, did not have to invent any heavy machinery and used some of the already available units on the market in the factories spread out over Asia.

And of course you can't claim facts without proof. They're not facts if they're not backed up by evidence.

You know what they say about assumptions right?

Quote from Apple.com:

"Speaker Grille

The speaker perforations on each side of the MacBook Pro keyboard were too small to die-cut, but too big to cut with existing laser technology, so the production team commissioned a first-of-its-kind mechanical drill."