What is Liquid Metal?

[NickZac]

I really hope they upgrade to liquid metal. Aluminum is way too weak.

What are you doing to your computer?

Aluminum is one of the ideal choices as it is quite strong. The only better weight-saving option may be carbon fiber, but the cost of making/finishing a carbon fiber computer frame would have certain limitations (and would need a metal skeleton) and would be very expensive.

Magnesium is used as a case material, but it seems that aluminum is better for heat dissipation. I really don't see a huge overall difference in the two.

The 'ideal' case material may be titanium but it has one major limitation, and that would be cost. Unless a laptop 'case' is designed in which the internals can be upgraded periodically, I don't think anyone would want to pay that amount of money for a 3-5 year product. A titanium and carbon-fiber case would be amazing, but it would need to be something you could use for decades due to a high cost and difficult workability.

 

[mark28]

I think he was a character in Metal Gear Solid.

I was thinking of the T-1000 of Terminator 2, who was made from Liquid Metal

 

[Miss Terri]

NickZac,

I take really good care of my computers, but still, I find the aluminum to have some "weaknesses":

1) It can be dented (I've never dented any of my plastic Macs)

2) If the anodizing (a thin "treatment" that is on the outside of the aluminum) wears off, is scratched off, or is compromised by sweat, then you don't have any way to repair it. It can cause discolored areas or pits (say along the sharp edges).

Personally, I liked my plastic Macs better for these reasons, but I was "forced" to go aluminum now that they took the firewire, battery monitor, and infrared port off of the plastic Macs.

I never used a case or palmguard on any of my plastic Macs - just took reasonably good care of them and trasnsported them in a sleeve. I had no need for a skin, hard shell or anything like that. However, I have already purchased a palm guard for my MBP, and will probably get a skin as well.

That's not to say there were no hairline scratches in my plastic Macs, but somehow a thin scratch in white plastic that just goes down to more white plastic never bothered me -- and caused no degradation of the material. A scratch in the anodizing of an aluminum computer would bother me and would compromise the anodizing.

Pits in the sharp edges by the palm rest would also bother me.

None of this is to say the aluminum 'books are *weak* but just why I think they could be improved.

Miss Terri

 

[dusk007]

Your are basically saying the Aluminium must always look perfect to look good and plastic doesn't and that is why Aluminium is weaker or even too weak.

If wouldn't want to sell my MBP ever again and just keep it till it dies. I can treat it really bad for a long time till it looks like some old notebooks of friends or my own which was made of plastic.
In my opinion something is damaged once it impairs functionality. Like a broken trackpad or a discolored spot on the screen or broken something. In any other case it is just cosmetics and look around most people with old notebooks don't give anything about what it looks like and I guess an unibody would last quite long until it is truly broken.

The only thing that is really wrong with the current unibody is the ergonomics. I really hope in a redesign they bend the top edge of the screen a little. This way you loose the sharp edge and it will still look good when closed.

BTT this amorphous metal sounds interesting. I guess it all depends on how expensive it is and all the necessary materials if it ever will show up in a MBP. I am pretty sure though that Apple's investment won't pay up as soon as the next refresh. Usually the day of an announcement into new tech and it showing up in new product is much longer than a few months. They first make sure they can license it. Next they need to develop some stuff (that might have happend) but the implementation of new production techniques and so on would probably take a while and wouldn't start before licensing.
People who hope it will show up now in a MBP case already are dreaming IMHO.

 

[nospeed411]

If you go to there website they explain it in pretty simple language.
http://www.liquidmetal.com/technology/default.asp

 

[Hallivand]

The 'ideal' case material may be titanium but it has one major limitation, and that would be cost. Unless a laptop 'case' is designed in which the internals can be upgraded periodically, I don't think anyone would want to pay that amount of money for a 3-5 year product. A titanium and carbon-fiber case would be amazing, but it would need to be something you could use for decades due to a high cost and difficult workability.

Does the first Powerbook G4 ring any bells

While the TiBook looked and felt amazing, the magnesium/titanium composite just didn't bode well. Flaking paint, poor glue and easily dented, the entire unit was much more susceptible to damage than the AluBooks introduced soon after.

Though this Liquid Metal does look awefully good

Now if only they could use that and re incarnate the original Powerbook G4..... (best Apple laptop design to date IMO)

 

[fortunecookie]

Whatever it is all I'm interested in is that it gets to the MBPs ASAP!

 

[AdamRock]

Liquid Metal is harder than strengthened steel, which is much harder than anything your key is likely to be made out of.

Your key would not damage a sheet of liquid metal, unless you pushed hard enough to dent it.

Let's say my keys were made from diamonds, then would i have scratching issues? ;-)

 

[Erasmus]

Let's say my keys were made from diamonds, then would i have scratching issues? ;-)

You have keys made of diamonds? I don't believe you. We'll have to meet in a dark back alley somewhere, and you can show me.

If Apple coats the LiquidMetal in nanodiamonds, than no, not even your diamond keys will scratch it.

 

[neondrgns]

What are you doing to your computer?

Aluminum is one of the ideal choices as it is quite strong. The only better weight-saving option may be carbon fiber, but the cost of making/finishing a carbon fiber computer frame would have certain limitations (and would need a metal skeleton) and would be very expensive.

Magnesium is used as a case material, but it seems that aluminum is better for heat dissipation. I really don't see a huge overall difference in the two.

The 'ideal' case material may be titanium but it has one major limitation, and that would be cost. Unless a laptop 'case' is designed in which the internals can be upgraded periodically, I don't think anyone would want to pay that amount of money for a 3-5 year product. A titanium and carbon-fiber case would be amazing, but it would need to be something you could use for decades due to a high cost and difficult workability.

not too expensive, The Voodoo Envy line used to be made of carbon fibre, and was about the price of a macbook pro

 

[Erasmus]

not too expensive, The Voodoo Envy line used to be made of carbon fibre, and was about the price of a macbook pro

There are many grades of carbon fibre, like there are many types of aluminium alloy. Just because someone says it's "carbon fibre" doesn't mean it's strong. If it appears to be a weave, it could only be a thin sheet, you can't tell. Whereas, as Apple apparently uses "aircraft grade aluminium" (probably 2024) you can look up the strength and hardness of it, and therefore it's more or less guaranteed.

Furthermore, "strength" (ie tensile strength) is a very poor measurement of overall performance. For example, tempered glass is stronger and harder than annealed glass, but tap it with a hammer, and it explodes, whereas annealed glass will just chip under the same blow.

Or, in a more relevant case, carbon fibre snaps and delaminates when it fails. Aluminium bends and dents. Clearly aluminium failure is far less catastrophic.

 

[macdud]

Does the first Powerbook G4 ring any bells

While the TiBook looked and felt amazing, the magnesium/titanium composite just didn't bode well. Flaking paint, poor glue and easily dented, the entire unit was much more susceptible to damage than the AluBooks introduced soon after.

Though this Liquid Metal does look awefully good

Now if only they could use that and re incarnate the original Powerbook G4..... (best Apple laptop design to date IMO)

I agree the Tibook was such a beautiful piece of design, even though it did have its flaws... i ended up selling mine as it got obsolete and was breaking apart, but to this day i really really miss having it on my desk, nothing built since really compares to it estethic wise, and the ultra slim matte screen was the bomb! oh well, i highly doubt they'll be bringing back that design, but one can only hope !

 

[Hallivand]

I agree the Tibook was such a beautiful piece of design, even though it did have its flaws... i ended up selling mine as it got obsolete and was breaking apart, but to this day i really really miss having it on my desk, nothing built since really compares to it estethic wise, and the ultra slim matte screen was the bomb! oh well, i highly doubt they'll be bringing back that design, but one can only hope !

I know right! That thin, oh so thin bezel that seemingly floated in the air...it was aesthetigasmic. Plus who could say they had a laptop made of Titanium

I've regretted selling mine so much, that it was in pristine condition. No flaking, dents or scratches that I could remember. I did get AU$400 for it but...(this was only a few months ago). But liquid metaling that bezel would sure be something.

 

[NickZac]

NickZac,

I take really good care of my computers, but still, I find the aluminum to have some "weaknesses":

1) It can be dented (I've never dented any of my plastic Macs)

2) If the anodizing (a thin "treatment" that is on the outside of the aluminum) wears off, is scratched off, or is compromised by sweat, then you don't have any way to repair it. It can cause discolored areas or pits (say along the sharp edges).

Personally, I liked my plastic Macs better for these reasons, but I was "forced" to go aluminum now that they took the firewire, battery monitor, and infrared port off of the plastic Macs.

I never used a case or palmguard on any of my plastic Macs - just took reasonably good care of them and trasnsported them in a sleeve. I had no need for a skin, hard shell or anything like that. However, I have already purchased a palm guard for my MBP, and will probably get a skin as well.

That's not to say there were no hairline scratches in my plastic Macs, but somehow a thin scratch in white plastic that just goes down to more white plastic never bothered me -- and caused no degradation of the material. A scratch in the anodizing of an aluminum computer would bother me and would compromise the anodizing.

Pits in the sharp edges by the palm rest would also bother me.

None of this is to say the aluminum 'books are *weak* but just why I think they could be improved.

Miss Terri

Miss Terri,
Aluminum does have drawbacks and it does indeed dent. The anodized coating can both chip and wear as well. Some cleaners will remove oil from the coating, but it is indeed thin. The denting does seem to be hard to avoided if certain aspects occur; carbon fiber, which is very flexible, could theoretically correct this. The chips often indicate a weakness and they can be sharp. Apple seems to replace them. Could they make the MBP better? Of course...with that said I often wonder if they can make it better with affordability...carbon fiber has a lot of potential. Another possibility is G10 composite, which is tough as nails...it's quite expensive and when being sanded/ground, it has a high toxicity to humans.

Does the first Powerbook G4 ring any bells

While the TiBook looked and felt amazing, the magnesium/titanium composite just didn't bode well. Flaking paint, poor glue and easily dented, the entire unit was much more susceptible to damage than the AluBooks introduced soon after.

Though this Liquid Metal does look awefully good

Now if only they could use that and re incarnate the original Powerbook G4..... (best Apple laptop design to date IMO)

I always wanted a TiBook but the price was insane. The hinges and denting were indeed an issue and the coating, which IIRC was paint, should have been a certain type of anodizing.

I assume the G4 was the first mainstream Ti computer, which can partially explain the issues just due to it being something new. IIRC titanium is difficult to work with and I know little about the alloy used and I have a limited knowledge of working with Ti.

not too expensive, The Voodoo Envy line used to be made of carbon fibre, and was about the price of a macbook pro

That is interesting...I just read up on it... I hope Apple considers it as CF is such an awesome material and to be honest, the unique finish would probably be popular with most users. Another cool thing is that all carbon fiber laptops will be slightly different design weave. Some or more obvious than others but it is still kinda neat to have a 1 of a kind

I love the finish and I cannot tell you what I have seen happen to CF car hoods without breaking.

There are many grades of carbon fibre, like there are many types of aluminium alloy. Just because someone says it's "carbon fibre" doesn't mean it's strong. If it appears to be a weave, it could only be a thin sheet, you can't tell. Whereas, as Apple apparently uses "aircraft grade aluminium" (probably 2024) you can look up the strength and hardness of it, and therefore it's more or less guaranteed.

Furthermore, "strength" (ie tensile strength) is a very poor measurement of overall performance. For example, tempered glass is stronger and harder than annealed glass, but tap it with a hammer, and it explodes, whereas annealed glass will just chip under the same blow.

Or, in a more relevant case, carbon fibre snaps and delaminates when it fails. Aluminium bends and dents. Clearly aluminium failure is far less catastrophic.

When I say CF, I am oversimplifying it to a specific type and I apologize. Like hoods, I would assume Apple would use it in combination with other materials. Carbon fiber woven/sealed (like for hoods) would be a great outer material over top of an aluminum skeleton. The CF would resist denting and the aluminum would help prevent CF from its outright cracking. I would not want a full CF frame like the HP, but I feel that CF in combo with a metallic structure would be a killer comp. Price probably prevents this