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    The Metal Notebook Thread!

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by yuio, Oct 14, 2009.

  1. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    You sound like a marketing major? While flex is one issue, "flimsy," is something entirely different.

    I offer this sunflower as a reminder of the difference!!
     
    Krane, Oct 16, 2009
    #51
  2. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

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    After being burned with owning a Dell XPS M1330 which was mostly magnesium and aluminum, the casing is secondary to me, if the inside is using sub-par components with known issues (i.e. 8400m gs).

    I'm much happier with my Samsung Q320 which has a solid build with no flex, even if it doesn't have an aluminum palm rest.
     
    mystery905, Oct 16, 2009
    #52
  3. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    An excellent point. The material of the case is meaningless if your internals are sub par. Still, a metal case usually signal a higher level of structural rigidity.
     
    Krane, Oct 16, 2009
    #53
  4. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    may have to disagree slightly, the most rigid laptops I have ever worked with have an internal metal structure and framework, the outer casing is in most cases purely asthetics, some of the older thinkpad a series had flimsy plastic palm rests and alot of flex in the keyboards but the metal inner framework made the overall machine tough as a tank ... even if you were like me and broke off lots of bits of plastic over 5 years. and some manufacturers such as Panasonic in some of their units went with BOTH a metal casing and a metal inner framework in a few models ... cant always judge toughness by looks, you have to beat the machine up and take it apart a few times
     
    crazycanuk, Oct 16, 2009
    #54
  5. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    But try throwing the Acer against a wall at 35mph and see if it holds up as well as the ThinkPad. As someone else mentioned, it's not just about the flex of the palmrest. That varies depending on how the internal components are arranged. ;)
     
    pixelot, Oct 16, 2009
    #55
  6. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    Personal observations from repeated drops and vibration

    $400 acer cracks off a chunk of plastic and still runs, superglue is your friend

    Thinkpad keeps bouncing but sometimes the DC connector needs resoldering

    MBP, seems sturdy but all shock goes straight to boards and fractures them as there is no secondary structure ( YES I have killed more than 15 units in a vibration environment )
     
    crazycanuk, Oct 16, 2009
    #56
  7. MrX8503

    MrX8503 Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm gonna have to disagree, that is not an excellent point. The metal chassis acts as a heatsink for the entire system, which IMO is a good thing. Regardless if you think your laptop feels too cold or too hot to use. The temps the metal gives off to your body is tolerable and the benefits far outweighs the disadvantages.
     
    MrX8503, Oct 17, 2009
    #57
  8. TwiztidKidd

    TwiztidKidd Notebook Evangelist

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    I was just wondering how a metal notebook enclosure handles electrostatic discharges, specially when the AC adapter is not plugged. Is the static going to affect the components inside at some point?
     
    TwiztidKidd, Oct 17, 2009
    #58
  9. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    I really cant say for all machines it is the same, as the only machines I have ever shocked severly were my toughbooks .... and lets face itthey arent the most common machines out there, but if the boards are grounded good there should be no issues at all
     
    crazycanuk, Oct 17, 2009
    #59
  10. lilyang

    lilyang Notebook Evangelist

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    So is this thread going to die off? lol anyway any news on the dm3 being all metal?
     
    lilyang, Oct 19, 2009
    #60
  11. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    seems to be dying off, Im not sure about the DM3 as im not planning on picking one up any time soon, I just did my refresh for the next 6 months but if I see one come in for repair I will let you know
     
    crazycanuk, Oct 19, 2009
    #61
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