Who the hell said ANYTHING about going to a "stamping?" They are planning on casting the cases, an easy process similar to the way plastic can be cast... haven't you read ANYTHING about what the advantages of this material are? They can low temperature cast them with little to no shrinkage or after casting machining required.
Or are you referring to the stamped receivers with roll pins that Winchester tried to foist off on the public back in the sixties to replace the machined Pre-64 Model 94s?
In fact, the cost of the material Apple will be using with this technique is HIGHER than the aluminum they are currently using, but the method will save money in the long run, cutting costs by limiting the machining. They are going to have a thinner, lighter, solid cast casing that is resistant to scratching and distortion.
There is a distinct advantage over using the Liquidmetal for the case over the current aluminum for the laptop casing or the stainless steel of the iPhone case.
By using a stronger, lighter material, they can make equally strong, same sized cases with more room inside for larger, higher capacity batteries, providing longer useful operation time before recharging, extending the current ten hours to perhaps 12-14 hours or more for laptops, and the 8 hour iPhone to 10 or 12. That was the one of the primary reasons Apple went with the uniblock construction of the laptops originally: the unitary design strength provided more room for battery placement and allowed Apple to offer industry leading .
Why not try READING the advantages of the material and why Apple has locked in the technology and argue the facts instead of raising an non-existent straw man techniques, or reasons for changing manufacturing methods, that have not even been mentioned, and invoking "The Jobs Reality Distortion Field" as though the cases on the current laptops are not very strong and leading the field.
Last Fr and “inside source” reportedly passed on info about pending Sept. announcement of new Macbook Air by Apple. The reporting source claimed more memory, more hard drive cap. and reduction in screen size to 11.6 inches (from 13). Is it true? We’ll find out next month.
But if true, I suspect demand will be intense, especially if constructed of these materials in article you posted.