Future MacBook could be lighter than Air
Apple is reportedly considering using carbon fiber in a redesigned MacBook Air. The switch would take the model’s weigh below three pounds for the first time.
There doesn’t appear to be any talk of replacing the top casing of the notebook, which Apple recently designed as a single block of aluminum, its so-called Brick design. Instead the idea is to replace the bottom cover with carbon fiber. The science behind this material, made from extremely thin strips mainly composed of carbon atoms, means it is extremely strong for its weight. It’s used in high-speed racing cars (where cost is a low priority) and also features in some rival high-cost laptops including the Sony VAIO TT.
Apple Insider says the move would increase production costs and apparently only achieve a small reduction in weight, from 1.363kg to 1.263kg. Repair firm iFixit says the claimed weight loss seems plausible: the existing lower case weighs 152 grams, so a switch to carbon fiber could slice 100g off that figure. The firm’s chief executive says Apple would likely be happy to spend more on the carbon fiber to make sure that the computer still feels reassuringly solid despite the drop in weight.
Tom Krazit of CNET makes a good point in saying the MacBook Air is the crown jewel of the range: those who do buy it probably aren’t that value-conscious, and the model is as much a demonstration of the company’s engineering as it is an attempt to maximize revenue.
According to AppleInsider’s source, the pre-production copy of the redesigned notebook had the underside in black, the natural color of carbon fiber. Given that the MacBook Air is the most style-oriented model in the range, it seems likely Apple will want to have the entire casing in one color for the real thing.
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