Why is Apple now using Aluminum for the Powerbooks? (as opposed to Titanium)

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  • Reply 21 of 28
    peterskimpeterskim Posts: 3member
    It doesn't actually take a whole lot for the aluminum to get dented. My 12" PowerBook fell from the couch to a carpeted floor (about 1.5 feet); it fell right on the corner and got dented in.



    Even though Titanium might flex more, it seems like it might be more resitant to denting. I think the high-impact plastic on the iBooks would definitely have been able to take the fall.
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  • Reply 22 of 28
    cliveclive Posts: 720member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by AppleMaster

    It just seemed strange because the change was very hush-hush as opposed to the giant titanium fuss.



    No, they made a big deal abut it being "aircraft grade" aluminium at the launch. It certainly wasn't hushed up.
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  • Reply 23 of 28
    addenineaddenine Posts: 6member
    My local Apple Store representitive informed me that the Titanium caused reception problems for AirPort and that the release of AirPort Extreme made the designers switch to aluminum.
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  • Reply 24 of 28
    applemasterapplemaster Posts: 144member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Clive

    No, they made a big deal abut it being "aircraft grade" aluminium at the launch. It certainly wasn't hushed up.



    That could be. Maybe I wasn't paying attention. All I remember was the huge Atomic number 22 with the giant "Ti."



    I didn't mean it was something they are trying to hide. They just didn't really advertise the aluminum. The commericals didn't say "Presenting the all new Aluminum Powerbook G4."



    But, again, I probably wasn't paying close attention.
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  • Reply 25 of 28
    amorphamorph Posts: 7,112member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by AppleMaster

    I didn't mean it was something they are trying to hide. They just didn't really advertise the aluminum. The commericals didn't say "Presenting the all new Aluminum Powerbook G4."





    Well, it's true that aluminum simply doesn't have the glamor that titanium does. Even the name isn't as dramatic.



    But from a technical point of view, it's a superior metal to skin a wireless-enabled notebook with, and it should also be a damn sight cheaper than titanium, even though Apple had gone with the inexpensive option of stamping cases from sheets of titanium.
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  • Reply 26 of 28
    jcjc Posts: 342member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by addenine

    My local Apple Store representitive informed me that the Titanium caused reception problems for AirPort and that the release of AirPort Extreme made the designers switch to aluminum.



    Yes, however all of my friends who do recording love the Ti just for this reason. though it is hard to get an airport signal through a TI protects the machine from getting feedback or distortion when recording live with an external mic.
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  • Reply 27 of 28
    klinuxklinux Posts: 453member
    It seems like only some of you have taken chemistry (I got my degree in it).



    The aluminum used in the AlBook is anodized which has several benefits: it is harder/stronger, conducts heat better, looks better (no paint since it is a reacted surface - hence no oxidation problems, peeling/chipping, no color varaition, easy to clean, etc).



    If you have used a Calphalon pan you'd know what I am talking about. Although I can't be sure I would highly doubt that the Ti used in TiBook is pure Ti and not some kind of Ti alloy.
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  • Reply 28 of 28
    piwozniakpiwozniak Posts: 815member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by klinux

    It seems like only some of you have taken chemistry (I got my degree in it).



    The aluminum used in the AlBook is anodized which has several benefits: it is harder/stronger, conducts heat better, looks better (no paint since it is a reacted surface - hence no oxidation problems, peeling/chipping, no color varaition, easy to clean, etc).



    If you have used a Calphalon pan you'd know what I am talking about. Although I can't be sure I would highly doubt that the Ti used in TiBook is pure Ti and not some kind of Ti alloy.




    New AL cases aren't made of 100% AL either :-)
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