Comments on: Is Apple’s “Brick” a Breakthrough Manufacturing Process?

By: PC Repairs Leeds - PC Repairs Pudsey

PC Repairs Leeds - PC Repairs Pudsey — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:55:34 +0000

will be interesting to find out

By: jw

jw — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:29:31 +0000

Existing stamping tech would be cheaper, lighter than this. I don’t think they’ve got this quite right. Perhaps they’ve confused this with automated laser sintering, which is entirely believable.

By: hardmanb

hardmanb — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:44:07 +0000

Again, Apple gives us exciting speculation and anticipation as to another design benchmark (and now manufacturing & greening) in computers. It would be good for consumers, Apple, the planet and American business, if true.

The very fact that such a revolutionary concept and surprise is seriously considered, is a tribute to the reputation for creativity, design and marketing of Apple.

Would it be believable at all, if the speculation was about Dell?

By: bud

bud — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:37:12 +0000

The classic macs (fat mac, mac plus) were built and warehoused in a state side factory by robotics. One might also note that these were closed down early in Mac history. Why?

Some interpret this rumor as customization on a mass scale, that is, thousands of different shapes of MacBooks, depending on how it is built to order. This should make those creating airport cases and sleeves very happy. Apple Stores will soon become the one million pieces of luggage store.

Lasers and water to work metal are nothing new, and there are still economies of scale inherent in standard shapes and sizes. Not to mention Apples control of the hardware platform to make them easy to support.

This could make a customers upgrading of their own Macs easier or more difficult.
Anyone remember the last G5 iMac design, where each part was modular and accessible? This would make it easier for a customer to upgrade rather than buying a new mac. Which is better for Apple? This modular interior idea was scuttled as soon as intel moved in, and contract manufacturers had their own ideas about how to put together machines. Would Apple return to this model, to become more Green? Would more people buy a processor upgrade ‘brick’ for 500, rather than dropping 1500 -2000 for a new laptop? And would this still be profitable to Apple?

I say the only germ of truth in this rumor is the naive gullibility and conjecture of those first spreading it around.