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Next MBP Revision with Redesign/LiquidMetal?

Will the Next MBP be a new design with Liquid Metal?

  • Yes it will.

    Votes: 22 14.4%

  • No the current unibody will remain for some time yet.

    Votes: 67 43.8%

  • I hope so but doubt it.

    Votes: 54 35.3%

  • It will be one of those things you never hear of again.

    Votes: 10 6.5%
  • Total voters
    153
iPhysicist said:
But why is the sim tray opener, which is made of liquid-metal, as shiny as silver :p

Well - some month ago they run short on supply, i do not think they have resources for the MBPs... FIRST this will be used for the iPhone Frame. It is way smaller and more complex.
Click to expand...


@iPhysicist, I think you got it. This will first debut on the iPhone iPad,
idk if you find this relevent or not:
http://www.cultofmac.com/apple-is-granted-its-first-liquidmetal-patent-exclusive/75486

@Peterpot, I have heard that LiquidMetal is more durable and in fact lighter than aluminum
 
I think I have a better guess.

The new MBPs will feature DARK aluminum to prepare us for the next gen.

The next MBPs will have LIQUID METAL.
 
But if it's made with liquid metal, wouldn't upon touching it your hand becomes silver and it crawls up your body and up and up until you are in big poopoo.

Yeah, he bought a Packard Bell laptop made of liquid metal and look how well that went...
T-1000_002.png
 
Aluminium is hardly a durable and hard metal. It's actually weak-arsed. It's only useful because it's so light, meaning you can use more. ie, it has a high strength to weight ratio.

Post 10 seconds of research:
Based on information from the LiquidMetal internet site, LiquidMetal is over twice as strong (in tension, per cross-section) than stainless steel. It claims that the metal has superior strength to weight ratio, although to what it doesn't specify.

A LiquidMetal MBP would probably be a very thin shell, much thinner than the present aluminium cases. I see no reason why it couldn't be machined just like the present unibody macs, and then heat treated as an extra final step.
 
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquidmetal#Business_facts

Various news media reported [8] [9]:
"Liquidmetal Technologies Inc., a Caltech spinoff in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.,
filed a regulatory notice recently that it's granted Apple a perpetual, exclusive license
to use its technology in consumer electronics. Liquidmetal retains the rights for other applications."
Click to expand...

That sounds very interesting! :)
 
Last edited:
Liquid metal is an alloy - with quite impressive characteristics - what is injected into molds to create the negative form of the mold. The process itself is similar to production of cast iron. With this new alloy it is possible to create complex (tiny) structures which are expensive to create with a milling machine. One of the big advantages is that nearly no residues have to be reworked.

A LOT of aluminum has to be reworked to create a new unibody. This is as you can imagine quite expensive and not that environmentally friendly as Apple wants to be seen. And if its cheaper in the long run they will use it as fast its ready for mass production - so you dont have to demand it for the next whatever - they will use it as fast as its ready just for economical reasons.
 
iPhysicist said:
Liquid metal is an alloy - with quite impressive characteristics - what is injected into molds to create the negative form of the mold. The process itself is similar to production of cast iron. With this new alloy it is possible to create complex (tiny) structures which are expensive to create with a milling machine. One of the big advantages is that nearly no residues have to be reworked.
Click to expand...

Indeed, it is very impressive. However, just because it can be cast doesn't mean it should, and if it is used for making computers, I would expect some milling to remain. For example, the speaker holes aren't going to be cast, as it would be too hard to do. They would instead be laser cut as they are now. Or, some pieces may be pressed into shape. It seems that this LiquidMetal stuff is surprisingly easy to work with if you get it hot. I think I want some. :p

A LOT of aluminum has to be reworked to create a new unibody. This is as you can imagine quite expensive and not that environmentally friendly as Apple wants to be seen. And if its cheaper in the long run they will use it as fast its ready for mass production - so you dont have to demand it for the next whatever - they will use it as fast as its ready just for economical reasons.
Click to expand...

Possibly, but we don't know what the business deal is that allows Apple to use it, or how expensive the metal is. If the metal itself is too expensive to make for whatever reason, then Apple will only use it for small devices, like iPhone 5s...
 
pedrofan said:
Yesterday Apple changed their corporative colors in their web, from the traditional silver that represented the alluminium of all their product line to a darker gray.

So... do you think this new color represents an all new liquidmetal age introducing it in next weeks with the new ipad?

Here you can see some pics of aluminum and liquid metal. You can see that colors and feelings matchs with what I'm saying:


Aluminium:

13zbtk8.png


287f442.jpg


2nqfalt.jpg


Liquid metal:

2v96bz9.jpg


29ldx03.jpg


w8rp5j.jpg


xll16r.jpg
Click to expand...


Oh, that's ever so purty.
 
Strength will be a real issue when 15 and 17" MBPs go to the real thin Air design. Apple might have to use a stronger material to prevent flexing and stressing of the circuit boards and all.

They may use this material/color in all of their professional products to differentiate them from consumer-level designs.

And that more sinister stealth fighter color will widen Apple's appeal.

I could be a hugely good and important move on Apple's part.
 
carlgo said:
strength will be a real issue when 15 and 17" mbps go to the real thin air design. Apple might have to use a stronger material to prevent flexing and stressing of the circuit boards and all.

They may use this material/color in all of their professional products to differentiate them from consumer-level designs.

And that more sinister stealth fighter color will widen apple's appeal.

I could be a hugely good and important move on apple's part.
Click to expand...

+1

LOL, look at 9 to 5 Mac main page. They have put my thread!!!

http://www.9to5mac.com/
 
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Well, I voted that I hope so but don't think it will.

I think it's too soon after they got the technology (not that I know anything, that's just my very uneducated guess ;) ).

But, I would love to see it. And I like the mockup some one did of what it might look like. Looks good in that color.
 
unbelievable... are they that desperate for news to not check the source before they post it? The MBPs are coated :rolleyes: You could replace the silvery look by any other color without changing the material for the unibody itself.

9to5 now have proven their reliability. I stick with macrumors :apple:
 
Undoubtedly that color would look really good. Really I think this thread is less benefits of liquid metal and more caring about the darker colors. I couldn't care less what metal they make it out of as long as it doesn't get any larger or heavier.
 
Mangos86 said:
Undoubtedly that color would look really good. Really I think this thread is less benefits of liquid metal and more caring about the darker colors. I couldn't care less what metal they make it out of as long as it doesn't get any larger or heavier.
Click to expand...

Well if it made it less prone to scratches/dents, I know a lot of people on here would like that (you see so many people whining about the smallest little indent). And you also see people complaining about how easy it is to dent the metal (saying they prefer plastic to that. Personally, I prefer the material that if you are careful you can avoid issues like that over the material that seems to get issues even when you're careful which has been my experience with the plastic).
 
doubt it, maybe for internals but not for a full new chasis of liquid medal. even if, id say mba would be first to try it, or ipad shell
 
The thing is, Apple has exclusive rights to liquid metal in electronic devices. I don't see why they wouldn't use that to their advantage. Even if they charge a 100 dollar premium, they'll do it just for the sake of marketing their computers as the first ones made from liquid metal.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/11/apple-liquidmetal-license_n_678591.html

Not to mention, it's stiffer, lighter, and less scratch prone than the current unibody aluminum cases. Win win scenario.
 
syan48306 said:
The thing is, Apple has exclusive rights to liquid metal in electronic devices. I don't see why they wouldn't use that to their advantage. Even if they charge a 100 dollar premium, they'll do it just for the sake of marketing their computers as the first ones made from liquid metal.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/11/apple-liquidmetal-license_n_678591.html

Not to mention, it's stiffer, lighter, and less scratch prone than the current unibody aluminum cases. Win win scenario.
Click to expand...

Will a feather falling in it dent it though like it does with the current aluminum unibody
 
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