http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 5:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 5:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Funny, I'm surprised your wife didn't say there's nothing humble about a 13 inch'er.]]>Aug 25th 2009 6:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 8:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 9:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/are you done thinking you're funny?]]>Aug 25th 2009 6:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 10:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Two years in and I'm still loving my MacBook.
Totally unsuck.]]>Aug 26th 2009 12:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/7-inch-magellan-roadmate-1700-slips-out-to-retailers/ just go?]]>Aug 25th 2009 6:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 7:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 9:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/
My stepdad also has one (about 1.5 years old) and the area where he rests his wrists when typing cracked. AppleCare fixed it thankfully and that process was brilliant. Dropped it off at the AppleStore on my way to an evening college class and then picked it up a few hours later on my way home.]]>Aug 25th 2009 6:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 7:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/
Windows laptops are made by dell, hp, acer etc, so you have them to thank for good build quality, not windows.]]>Aug 25th 2009 7:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 10:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 11:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 26th 2009 12:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/
]]>Aug 25th 2009 6:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 7:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/I would have prefered to see Apple use any other PVC with a wee bit more thermoharder like every other laptop producer. PVC´s can be polished as well to make them look shiny they only lack the translucency polycarbonates do.]]>Aug 26th 2009 3:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/
Why not use Polycarbonate? The main reason Apple uses PC rather than any other thermoplasic is because they're such a large computer manufacturer (as in, they produce a LOT of computers; not that they have a very diverse portfolio. Subtle, but important distinction), they can command a much lower price per ton than their competitors. PC has some excellent properties, and the part of the MacBook that cracks the most (Top Case - where the keyboard is) is not made from PC.

Second, why isn't Aluminium a good material to build a laptop chassis from? Aluminium is an excellent material to build a lightweight, stiff and thermally-conductive chassis from. The only downside is that it's very energy-intensive to extract from raw Bauxite; however it's very recyclable if the process it well thought out.

Finally, your argument for PVC is flawed, since PVC is not at all environmentally conscious. You don't have to live in San Fran to recognise this, and as much as I dislike listening to Greenpeace's bellyaching about PVC in consumer electronics, they do have a very good point. Polycarbonate is much more environmentally sound that Polyvinyl-chloride.

I'm not trying to say that Climate Change is 100% true and definitely happening (since I still haven't made up my mind yet); more that it's just good sense to move towards a cyclic production process, and manage our resources. Rather than a linear 'Take-Make-Waste' which uses unsound materials and processes.]]>Aug 26th 2009 4:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Your logic is totally flawed, you claim Apple uses polycarbonate instead of PVC´s (like any other laptop producer) caus Apple can demand lower prices. That would be fairly odd as other bigger producers like HP or Dell produce way more and need way more raw materials. If your logic would be correct they would use the same material, yet they don´t. The reason why they don´t is caus it simply isnt a suitable material as I stated before. It´s more flexible and tends to crack way faster then the ussual PVC´s. Note that all other laptops if produced from plastic are made from PVC which dont suffer the same problems.
Now if you read carefully you would notice i wrote aluminium made fro 1 piece. As you figured out its rather expensive to produce shells in 1 piece thats why i wrote down producing shells in 1 piece isn´t the best option though still better then using polycarbonate.
Then the idea that PVC´s arent inviromental friendly is again wrong. PVC can be easily recycled if the company uses a proper recycling solution like Dell or Sony. Apple has been dissed a long time by Greenpeace not only for using bad materials but as well for the lack of a recycling program.
Which is why your last statement regarding take-whatever is simply false. PVC´s (actually every plastic) can be easily recycled with proper care.]]>Aug 26th 2009 6:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/
Actually Polycarbonate is the better material to use. That is why lenses are made using the material due to it's ability to take abuse and not crack or scratch as easy as other plastic lenses. Also adding more harder to the polycarbonate would cause the polycarbonate to be unstable and crack excessivley the substance requires a certain degree of flex. Itsnot the polycarbonates job to be rigid it is the magnesium chasises job.

As for aluminum being a poor material I strongly disagree. It provides a light weight structure that rivals that of steel when you compare the strength to weight ratio. Plus it's enviromwntal properties far exceeds that of current laptop manufacturers.

]]>Aug 26th 2009 4:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/
But i do like the prospect of a "low" pricepoint]]>Aug 25th 2009 6:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/]]>Aug 25th 2009 7:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/
Me too!]]>Aug 26th 2009 4:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 9:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 7:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 7:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 9:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/polycarbonate-macbook-to-live-on-be-redesigned/Aug 25th 2009 6:29PM