It’s Friday at the 2010 CES. There are more than 2,500 vendors and thousands of people milling around checking out the latest in this year’s gadgetry. I stopped at the Sony booth where their Z Series VAIO notebooks are forged from high-grade aluminum. I asked them why they chose aluminum as the metal. Their managing director told me three reasons: lightweight, durable, and strong. Looks like the trend forecasters had it right – the look, feel and durability of aluminum is making this year’s “hot products”, cooler. Listen to the interview.
Windows Media Video
mms://a1647.v16732d.c16732.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1647/16732/0/sas-qp.onstreammedia.com/origin/alcoa/CES/CESBlog-Sony-sm.wmv
looks more like a stamping than a forging. Might be nice to know which plant supplied the metal.
Posted by: M | 01/11/2010 at 08:19 AM
I have some questions on the "lightweight". I tried to calculate the front case of a 13" NB, using Aluminum & Plastic. The density for Aluminum is 2.7, 1.2 for plastic. Assuming a 13" NB's dimension for Aluminum is 0.1cmx33cmx24cm, and 0.2cmx33cmx24cm; pluging in all the parameters, I got 213g for aluminum case, and 152g for the plastic case. The plastic case with twice the height's actually lighter!? Did I do my math wrong? thanks!
Posted by: Wei Chen | 03/15/2010 at 04:08 AM
I meant Assuming a 13" NB's dimension for Aluminum is 0.1cmx33cmx24cm, and 0.2cmx33cmx24cm "for the Plastic case".
Posted by: Wei Chen | 03/15/2010 at 04:15 AM