Go for it, big guy! The industry say the capacity isn't there, but YOU, FromTheSideLines, genius, who knows everything better than everyone else on tech threads, knows YOU can easily do it. Here's what the industry press is saying COUNTER to your "expert knowledge" you use to refute our points:
Lack of metal chassis capacity pushing ultrabook vendors to adopt fiberglass
by Aaron Lee, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES [Thursday 4 August 2011]
Intel and notebook brand vendors have recently been aggressively searching for new chassis materials as capacity for magnesium-aluminum chassis, which is the most popular choice for ultrabook designs, is mostly fully loaded. Fiberglass chassis has recently appeared as the new top choice among vendors, according to sources from chassis players.
Since ultrabooks are required to only have a thickness of less than 0.8-inch, the chassis will need to be tough in order to sustain pressure and protect internal components and the panel. But as the production of unibody-based magnesium-aluminum chassis requires CNC lathes, capacity is significantly limited.
As the cost of purchasing a CNC lathe is rather expensive, it has created a high threshold for competitors to join. Currently, Taiwan-based Catcher Technology and Foxconn Technology both have more than 10,000 CNC lathes for metal chassis production.
Since the two players are already the suppliers of Apple, ultrabook players will need to compete for the remaining capacity from the two firms, leaving players unable to fully ship enough devices. With RHCM-based fiberglass becoming a new choice, there are already three brand vendors deciding to adopt fiberglass for their ultrabooks.
Taiwan-based fiberglass chassis maker Mitac Precision pointed out that a fiberglass chassis is produced through RHCM process and combined with plastic to allow a toughness and price competitive against magnesium-aluminum chassis. Since each segment of a fiberglass chassis is US$5-10 cheaper than a magnesium-aluminum one, the cost of a fiberglass-based notebook will be US$20 cheaper than magnesium-aluminum models with the end market price to be US$50-100 cheaper, the company noted.
Mitac Precision's fiberglass production yield rate is currently more than 90% with monthly shipments of 4.5 million units. If Intel's progress in ultrabooks goes smoothly, Mitac Precision is expected to benefit from the business opportunity.
As the cost of purchasing a CNC lathe is rather expensive, it has created a high threshold for competitors to join.
It's cost - not lack of available CNC machines - that is the problem. You really think there aren't CNC machines to be had? Hey - plenty to buy, but it's a cost. Is the cost worth it? Well, Samsung just introduced 4 more laptops with fully machined aluminum cases, so they think it is.
It's not what you claimed - lack of available CNC machines. It's expense that's stopping it - not wanting to buy the machines.
You're wrong again, and you proved my point. Thanks so much for that!