Apple Plans To Use Carbon Fiber In MacBook Air?

When Apple came out with MacBook Air, they claimed that it was the thinnest and lightest notebook. The new MacBook Air has a unibody enclosure made from a single aluminum block, which is similar to those of the new MacBook and MacBook Pro. However, the company is planning to reduce MacBook Air's weight to less than three pounds. AppleInsider reported that Apple may adopt carbon fiber to produce MacBook Air's enclosure. Carbon fiber is extremely lightweight. Microscopic crystals are aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber to form strong composites. Aerospace, sports, and racing car sectors use carbon fiber to build the outer body and other components of products. Only the bottom cover and the top cover (with the Apple logo) of MacBook Air might be built with carbon fiber. A pre-production unit made with carbon fiber, in native black, was said to resemble Air's current bottom cover. The dissection experts at iFixit have given out the weights of different components. The unibody chassis weighs 260 grams, while the combined weight of the top and bottom cover is 363 grams (211 grams + 152 grams), and the heaviest component is the battery, weighing 287 grams. You can check out the weight of various components in the image. Kyle Wiens, iFixit chief executive, said, "The current machines feel extremely solid. Apple wouldn't want to sacrifice that at all, hence the willingness to spend more on carbon fiber." Since the newly introduced MacBooks are solid and sturdy, it's unlikely that Apple might move to carbon fiber in the near future. HP's VooDoo PC also plans to roll out lighter and thinner notebooks. Technology innovates at a rapid pace. Adoption of carbon fiber might be Apple's plan in the long run.