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The Macbook "Brick"

9to5mac.com

11–20 of 44 posts

Re: The Macbook "Brick"

#11
post #8

I thought this article was going to be about my cofounder's MBP. It, too, has been nicknamed the Macbook Brick, but for a much different reason.

Why has it been, then?

Because it's been in and out of the Apple store ever since he bought it, and generally is about as functional as a brick.

Re: The Macbook "Brick"

#12
post #10

A 12" x 12" x 1.5" block of aluminum costs more than $200. Not a very efficient method of making a computer case. I think maybe the article might be missing a few details!

216 cubic inches, 0.098 lb/cu in, 21 pounds. Aluminum is running about $1/pound. That sounds like $20 to me. I think they can find room to bury that in the price tag. You could spend around $200 to buy a single 12"x12" plate from a metal retailer on line, but I think Apple would buy in volume. Actual volume of a macbook is 123 cubic inches, so it is even less. I suppose I could be wildly wrong about the price of what…

That looks like the current scrap price. Its at about $.80 at this very moment, down from a high of $1.10 earlier this year.

Pure alloys (not mixed and cast by melting scrap), even common ones like 6061 still seem to be $5-$10/pound even in large quantities. If you know of a way to get 61 or 52 for less than that we would greatly appreciate the tip.

Re: The Macbook "Brick"

#13
I was hoping the code name brick would refer to something you throw through windows to break them.

The first 21st century telepathically assisted alien technology computer factory is pretty good too though.

Re: The Macbook "Brick"

#14
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

216 cubic inches, 0.098 lb/cu in, 21 pounds. Aluminum is running about $1/pound. That sounds like $20 to me. I think they can find room to bury that in the price tag. You could spend around $200 to buy a single 12"x12" plate from a metal retailer on line, but I think Apple would buy in volume. Actual volume of a macbook is 123 cubic inches, so it is even less. I suppose I could be wildly wrong about the price of what…

That looks like the current scrap price. Its at about $.80 at this very moment, down from a high of $1.10 earlier this year. Pure alloys (not mixed and cast by melting scrap), even common ones like 6061 still seem to be $5-$10/pound even in large quantities. If you know of a way to get 61 or 52 for less than that we would greatly appreciate the tip.

The only way I can think of that this might possibly make economic sense is if they've figured out how to get the waste in the form of large cut-out chunks of metal, rather than chips that oxidize substantially, and can recycle it on site (presumably fairly straightforward, since all the scrap is known to be of the desired alloy composition already).

Re: The Macbook "Brick"

#15

haha keep chasing the "high end" apple. you'd think losing 50% share price would shake some sense into you. let me summarize: 2008: COMPUTERS ARE DISPOSABLE you need to start thinking about $399 laptops, not $3999 laptops what do i or anyone else really care if the laptop case is designed to last a decade? i am going to be using this thing 24 months, not 24 years apple's competitors would be stupid to chase this poin…

You are wrong. I generally buy a new laptop every 3 years. I tend to buy a bit up the curve and get 1.5 years where the beast is fast, one year where the beast is "adequate" and half a year where the beast is "slow". To me, it is not about performance in laptops. It is about keyboard stability, robustness and weight. I have a blindingly fast desktop-computer and my laptop is for when I am not at home or when I want to hack code in the recliner. I don't need prime performance for that.

Re: The Macbook "Brick"

#16
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why has it been, then?

Because it's been in and out of the Apple store ever since he bought it, and generally is about as functional as a brick.

I can painfully relate. One of my computers was called the Crapple (dual inherited from cripple and crap).

I've owned four Apple computers (ibook G3, ibook G4, imac G5, macbook), and despite skipping first revisions and treating my computers very well, every single one of them has had several minor defects and all my notebooks have broken completely within a 3 year time frame.

In my personal experience, Apple is a hardware bimbo - pretty but useless. I only come back for OS X, which is the nicest desktop 'nix. I wish apple were still apple computers, not apple media.

I'm waiting for the next mb/mbp's, but if anyone has tips for alternatives, I'd love to hear them.

Re: The Macbook "Brick"

#17
post #2

That article is a little garbled. What it seems to be saying is that Apple is going to CNC machine MacBook cases from a solid block instead of stamping (or maybe even hydroforming) them. This seems like an incomplete part of the story, since it would be near-impossible to CNC machine aluminum to the very thin dimensions they currently have with their stamped cases. It would also be very difficult to machine a block w…

That's interesting about the relative recycling value of chips vs. blocks. Is it possible to keep the chips covered in coolant to prevent oxidation if it is known that the aluminum is going to be remelted?

Re: The Macbook "Brick"

#18
post #15

haha keep chasing the "high end" apple. you'd think losing 50% share price would shake some sense into you. let me summarize: 2008: COMPUTERS ARE DISPOSABLE you need to start thinking about $399 laptops, not $3999 laptops what do i or anyone else really care if the laptop case is designed to last a decade? i am going to be using this thing 24 months, not 24 years apple's competitors would be stupid to chase this poin…

You are wrong. I generally buy a new laptop every 3 years. I tend to buy a bit up the curve and get 1.5 years where the beast is fast, one year where the beast is "adequate" and half a year where the beast is "slow". To me, it is not about performance in laptops. It is about keyboard stability, robustness and weight. I have a blindingly fast desktop-computer and my laptop is for when I am not at home or when I want t…

i can safely say that you, seeking not performance but "keybaord stability" in a laptop, are a market of one. its so sad to see the fanbois try to justify their iSlavery, almost like a battered wife telling the judge she reaaaallyyyy stiiiill loooooves hiiiim.

Re: The Macbook "Brick"

#20
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are wrong. I generally buy a new laptop every 3 years. I tend to buy a bit up the curve and get 1.5 years where the beast is fast, one year where the beast is "adequate" and half a year where the beast is "slow". To me, it is not about performance in laptops. It is about keyboard stability, robustness and weight. I have a blindingly fast desktop-computer and my laptop is for when I am not at home or when I want t…

i can safely say that you, seeking not performance but "keybaord stability" in a laptop, are a market of one. its so sad to see the fanbois try to justify their iSlavery, almost like a battered wife telling the judge she reaaaallyyyy stiiiill loooooves hiiiim.

I also look for a good keyboard in a laptop before I look at most other factors. This has kept me with Thinkpads until recently, and now I'm on a Fujitsu T2010.
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