Acer, Asus Using Fiberglass to Keep Ultrabook Cost Low

[joe nate]

Concerning ultrabooks: "We're introducing the concept of a low cost item, that uses a product we produce, but we will plan on charging exceptionally high for our component." - intel

My response? No. You didn't introduce anything. All you did was say "Hey, here's a fairy tale reason that you want to buy our products; as for the real world, figure it out yourself."

Your article says it perfectly: "The biggest obstacle they face thus far is the price of Intel's processors, but so far the company hasn't offered any kind of subsidy."

 

[eddieroolz]

I figured fiberglass would be more expensive, but it doesn't seem like it. Either way I'm worried about the durability and the aging of fiberglass chassis.

 

[trandoanhung1991]

[citation][nom]amdwilliam1985[/nom]Or if they make the fiber glasses crystal clear so we can see through the casing and into the components, I know I want one.[/citation]

Yes!!! Put some LEDs in!!! That'll be so cool!!! Also an awesome way to display temps.

And also let you see how dirty it is inside.

 

[ojas]

you know i wont mind paying $1009 instead of $999 if that means i get an aluminium (or any other strong lightweight metal) chassis...

 

[Vladislaus]

[citation][nom]halcyon[/nom]I wonder in your (iMac's?) case (pun intended) if the aluminum is helping the situation or hurting it, I'd think the aluminum might help dissipate heat.[/citation]
It's not an iMac, it's a macbook pro, it has a dual core i7, and there's tons of people with the same problem. And I figure the problem is with the aluminum case. Laptops from other brands use a cooper heatsink and they keep the heat in check. The laptop heats up so badly that when doing heavy work I can't touch the keyboard because it literally burns the hands.

 

[halcyon]

[citation][nom]Vladislaus[/nom]It's not an iMac, it's a macbook pro, it has a dual core i7, and there's tons of people with the same problem. And I figure the problem is with the aluminum case. Laptops from other brands use a cooper heatsink and they keep the heat in check. The laptop heats up so badly that when doing heavy work I can't touch the keyboard because it literally burns the hands.[/citation]

I have 2 MacBook Pros...one is the 2.3Ghz i7 quad core, the other is the 2.53Ghz C2D. I don't have the problem you describe with either.

 

[alidan]

[citation][nom]steelbox[/nom]None machining i think, it's all cut and bend for fast production by presses. Carbon fiber is overkill for an laptop, unless you plan to go to war with it and use it as protection.[/citation]

well, in the city i could be useful to have carbon fiber, you get a gun pulled on you, you can run away with this on the back of your head as portection

 

[AppleBlowsDonkeyBalls]

[citation][nom]halcyon[/nom]Wait. If Apple is overcharging for the MacBook Air as they're so often said to be and these ultrabooks are basically just copies (they do kind of look that way)...why can't the other manufacturers just not overcharge and undercut Apple?[/citation]

The MacBook Air is the first ultra-book to be released, so the other OEMs are fighting against it now. Apple isn't really overpricing them by a lot given the cost of manufacturing.

 

[Vladislaus]

[citation][nom]AppleBlowsDonkeyBalls[/nom]The MacBook Air is the first ultra-book to be released, so the other OEMs are fighting against it now. Apple isn't really overpricing them by a lot given the cost of manufacturing.[/citation]
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/01/mitsubishi-pedi/

 

[Vladislaus]

[citation][nom]halcyon[/nom]I have 2 MacBook Pros...one is the 2.3Ghz i7 quad core, the other is the 2.53Ghz C2D. I don't have the problem you describe with either.[/citation]
The macbook pro I have comes with the previous generation 2.8ghz dual core i7. I've already taken the laptop to be serviced at apple for this problem. When doing heavy work temperatures can rise in excess of 90º but since it doesn't reach the maximum temperature the cpu can tolerate which is 105º, apple says the computer is operating normally. The problem is that when the cpu is that hot the keyboard eats up badly and the underside is even worse.
I have a friend of mine that as a laptop with the exact same cpu, the i7-640m. Even though the cpu runs pretty hot, almost 80º, the laptop exterior remains much cooler.

 

[halcyon]

I'm going to stress both my laptops today and see if they get uncomfortably warm...I have heard that the MBPs get warm, just haven't experienced it for myself. I do most my heavy lifting on my MacPro, which thankfully stays quiet and cool.

 

[Guest]

@alidan

that would be kevlar, carbon provides precious little protection at the kind of thicknesses we talking about

 

[halcyon]

[citation][nom]more12[/nom]Why is this news? AMD has had more powerful versions of these out for months for cheaper.[/citation]
Links please.