The Metal Notebook Thread!

The Metal Notebook Thread!

I for one have seen and felt computers that are coated in metal and now that I have I don’t think I will be able to buy another computer that isn’t constructed out of some kind of metal, mainly Aluminum. So to assist all who are looking for a premium computer made out of metal, I think we should make a list of all models that you could consider.

Rules to be considered for the list: its exterior and frame needs to at least 90% metal of some kind (can be a combo, but needs to be metal).


Apple:
Macbook 13 (Late 2008) (Aluminum)
Macbook Pro 15, 17 (Late 2008) (Aluminum)
Macbook Pro 13, 15, 17 (Mid 2009) (Aluminum)
Macbook Pro (intel, G4)
Apple Macbook Air (2008) (Aluminum)
Apple Macbook Air (2009) (Aluminum)

Dell/Alienware:
Adamo (2008/2009) (Aluminum)
Adamo XPS (2009) (Aluminum)
M17x (2009) (Aluminum)
Latitudes (E4300)
Precisions

HP:
Envy 13, 15 (late 2009) (Aluminum and Magnesium)
dm3 (late 2009) (Aluminum and Magnesium) //can someone confirm this as nearly all metal?
EliteBook 2530, 6930
mini 5101
dv2 (Magnesium)

Panasonic:
Toughbooks CF-28, CF29, CF-30, CF-18, CF-19


Let's fill the list!

 

M17x from alienware.

If you count magnesium then your list will grow alot more as well.

 

To my knowledge, the new Envy's are actually magnesium and not aluminum.

 

Magnesium counts as well, as long as the computer is covered or nearly completely covered in it.

from the "HP releases new notebooks thread"

so it sounds like it's both.

 

How about some of the Elitebooks?

 

90% metal? can we have some clear cut standards please.
also, alloy=\=premium

 

it can have SOME visable plastic, but very limited. or should I just say 100% metal?

alloy isn't always premium, but metal in general is.

As for the Elitebooks, are all the sizes metal?

 

Lol... I think you mean Adamo instead of Amado.

 

hmmm okay here goes on a few more

Panasonic Toughbooks:

CF-28, CF29, CF-30, CF-18, CF-19, they do put a little plastic over some of the metal bits ( Palmrests and antenna covers on screen sides )

 

Hmmm... isn't the Panasonic Toughbook mostly metal? This one here I mean http://www.small-laptops.com/images/l/panasonic-toughbook-w5.jpg

Edit: Rofl, you beat me to it crazycanuk!

 

Not ALL the toughbooks are over 90% but ALL of the fully rugged are as well as about 90% of the semi rugged units, business rugged are NOT ( Y series )

 

I think I'd count the toughbook, it's mainly metal to my knowledge.

yes I ment Adamo.

 

Well the new m15x is made of magnesium but has plastic under carriage, sleey can you order another and do an autopsy and then box it back up?

What about the Sony notebooks?

 

The current Elitebooks to my knowlege are metal, certainly the 2530 and 6930 as we have them at work. The keyboard is black plastic as is the bottom, the rest is brushed metal.

 

Tthe Dell Latitudes/Precisions are similar to the HP Elitebooks.

 

The EliteBook is not 90% metal...

But here's my take on it...

Just because it's metal doesn't mean it's durable. Especially aluminum. For example, my EliteBook has 2 small dents on the the corner of the lid. Plastic (and other non metal materials) just have a forgiving kind of softness that metal doesn't have.

Now that's not to say that metal isn't strong. It's because of the magnesium alloy inner chassis that the plastic base feels rock solid on my EliteBook.

 

bah, them laptops arent metal. I know of one that is 100% metal chassis
Most old military laptops are completely steel. My brother has a Dolch, I think made by Getech (ODM?) and its like an iron block. I am sure it can be driven over by a truck and still work fine.

Macbooks shouldnt even be classified as metal, that stuff is like aluminum foil. tisk - tisk

K-TRON

 

I don't know, are they metal? lol (I actually don't know).

 

LMAO. I wonder how much actual aluminum is used in the MB alloy.

 

I really wanted a 13" MPB for while but saw how easily they dented which really turned me away from them

 

I do have to admit that metal notebooks, while disappating heat very effectively, have ridiculously futuristic looks and definitely have that 'wow' factor.

But I'm quite happy with my HDX16. ^_^

Mr. Mysterious

 

Aren't all Macbook Pros aluminum, including the pre-unibody ones?

 

Indeed they are. Everything from the PowerBook G4 forwards were made of some sort of metal (aside from the budget iBook and MacBook lines).

 

After owning a mbp 13 I don't think I would ever go back to plastic again.

 

I loved my MSI M645
http://www.notebookcheck.com/Testbericht_MSI_Megabook_645.247.0.html
Rock solid. I gave it to my girlfriend and she still works with it every day.

 

Plastics are forgiving until they are cold or old.

One tiny little stress crack near a hinge, and it's pretty soon gone as little chips start falling out, and big cracks start opening up.

Sure, the lid still opens and closes fine, but it's a cosmetic disaster.

One exception is Cycolac which is what old phones were made out of. Problem is that there doesn't seem to be any use of this material on notebooks. Or even phones anymore.

 

This is why I won't buy another notebook with out some kind of metal... but to be frank I'm a PC and linux Guy and os x makes litte sense to me.

 

I am not certain on this but I think the bottom of the dm3 is plastic. The dv2 has a magnesium bottom. Also, its not 100% aluminum but the HP 2140 netbook uses mostly aluminum for structural panels. The only one thats not is the palmrest and the wireless antenna cover. I have never seen one up close before but the HP 5101 (2140 replacement) is all metal I believe.

 

^^ I think I'll leave the dm3 for now until it is released so that we can get a clear picture. unless someone has proof one way or another.

 

It's kind of funny how metal is a premium now for computers because all the computer cases I had back in the day for desktops were made out of metal and now you actually have to pay premium for it -_-; lol

Honestly, while metal is nice, it's not thermo-friendly compared to plastic or other materials in the sense that it conducts temperature very well(for lack of a better term). Therefore, if you have a notebook in your bag and go outside at say, -20C for a prolonged period of time, your notebook would feel very very cold to the touch and be hard to use without letting it reach room temperature. Same situation could go for a hot environment.

 

I definitely appreciate the magnesium alloy chassis on my Vostro, even if the palmrests and such things are plastic. This is one solid notebook.

 

Can you make a wish-list, and add all Clevo notebooks to it? D:

 

How does Carbon Fiber fair in this case?

 

They have their place, although I don't see any advantages in placing them in a laptop. Maybe something bigger, but a laptop is so small, that any multipliers carbon fiber brings are going to be dampened.

 

Which brings to mind the point that metal doesn't necessarily make for a "better" laptop--since there are pros and cons to all material: Plastics are lighter and cheaper to manufacture and can be formed in any shape. While metals used in laptops are more durable and completely recyclable. I think the primary reversal back to metal comes from the desire to go green--which Apple pioneered in this market.

Another excellent point.

 

How about ThinkPads? They are metallic (inside) and I think the T400s is magnesium alloy?

 

This isn't so much a durable laptop thread as it is just a laptop with an all metal body thread.

I can see the draw. The finish is appealing. And EXPENSIVE.

 

How about the Adamo XPS?

 

that counts!

as for Thinkpads I'd say definatly not. they may be metal inside, but the outside around the palmrest area is flimsy. (I have a T500).

 

The Sony Vaio Z, TT and I think even G3 use carbon bits on it to lower weight, while still keeping it durable. So, just curious on how that compares to plastic and metal.

 

I think people have a negative misconception about plastic. There are a wide variety of plastics with many different applications. The carbon fiber they use in notebooks is a reinforced composition of plastic. For the same strength, on average a carbon fiber frame will weigh less than an aluminum one. Of course like all materials, there are many different grades in carbon fiber and aluminum and I'm not really sure what type of alloys and composites are used in laptop covers.

 

The get their structure from their business application. As do the Dell Latitude.

That depends on the manufacturer. However, most metals must be of a certain level to maintain structural rigidity. At this point, we're pretty good at making aluminum. And like I've already mentioned, it's the recyclablity that make metal unique, and aluminum tops them all.

 

Yeah, the ThinkPad carbon fiber chassis is wicked tough.

 

Well aluminum is the third ,ost common element on earth IIRC, therefore it is easier to get and handle, and uit is light and resistzant, there lies its popularity.

 

Is the Averatec N3400 90% aluminum? What about the Sony Vaios (already mentioned). Also some of the Asus U/UX/UL series seem to be aluminum.. but I dunno.

 

so you'd rather have a laptop that is just cased in a silly metal finish
than a laptop that is actually built out of metal?

 

Does the full magnesium alloy Dell E4300 count?

 

Don't forget this one..

 

Sadam's Macbook?

 

not to start a fight or anything but, when I had my Macbook and Thinkpad side by side and I pressed down in various areas of the computers to look for flex. the macbook was SOLID. My thinkpad bends mainly in the palmrest area. and on the left it bends more than your average 400$ acer from 2 years ago. I didn't realize it at first until I went back to my acer and realized how flimsy it felt.