Notebook Shells Are Plastic - Offer Metal Casings Too

February 17, 2007

Posted By:  googideas

1046 Votes

Status: Partially Implemented

Promote

Notebooks get carried everywhere. Shouldn't Dell offer an aluminum or otherwise metal casing/construction as an option?

If I am going to drop two grand on a laptop, which I just did, I sure as heck want it as rugged as possible. I don't care about weight or additional cost. I want it to last.

Plastic is brittle. A dent in the metal is better than a crack in the plastic. It's also easier to recycle.

What do you think?

DELL/ Status Update

Adamo offers an aluminum casing

1046 Votes | 36 Comments | Report Abuse

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  • Jul 28, 2010     Comment Link

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    Posted By: ralree

     The adamo is not an answer.  It has a 1.4ghz processor and 40whr battery and is not customizable.  I'm seriously considering a Mac if that is truly your answer, Dell.  Seriously.
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  • Aug 17, 2009     Comment Link

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    Posted By: pnamajck

    the  dell  adamo  lap-top  really  makes  my  knees  weak . . . but  is  far  too  expensive  for  the  average  consumer.  now,  i  understand  dell  has  to  make  money . . . so  here  is  my  proposition.

    offer  the  basic  adamo,  with  128gb  ssd  storage  and  aluminum  casing/chassis . . . for  $699.  offer  an  executive  model,  boasting  256gb  ssd  storage  with  titanium  casing/chassis . . . for  $2099.

    not  sure  if  there  is  problem  with  the  metal  shell  interfering  with  wi-fi  . . if  that  truly  is  the  case;  simply  machine  a  2mm  v-groove  bevel  on  inside (or) outside  edge  of  top  lid . . . threading  the  wi-fi  antenna  along  that  v-groove.  this  would  not  detract  from  the  aesthetics  nor  rigidity  of  the  shell.
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  • Jun 15, 2009     Comment Link

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    Posted By: q0987

    That's it? The Adamo? I'm sure the OP was thinking of along broader lines. We need MOAR notebook cases crafted out of aluminium/magnesium alloys with stronger rigidity. It's only natural progression.
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  • Aug 1, 2008     Comment Link

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    Posted By: seanhodges

    A better solution would be not to drop your 2 grand on your laptop in the first place. I assume thats 2000 coins?
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  • Sep 18, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: kwifler

    There are many strong plastics and fibers out there, of course Dell would choose the weak cheap stuff, eh? Have you heard of the efforts with producing a material from spider web? It's awesomely strong and light!!!!! Also, metal can be surprisingly strong in a thin paint coat, and layering can reenforce the integrity. Wow, I thought magnesium was a vitamin, LOL
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  • Aug 25, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: saleemohaib

    Metal will get really hot and also make the laptop heavy therefore I will vote against the idea. Using Carbon fibre night be a nice Idea though. They are using that stuff to make aircrafts these days, it will make the laptop more expansive for sure.
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  • May 17, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: thebittersea

    no wireless signal.
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  • May 17, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By:
    expatinasia

    Apple experimented with titanium, but it interfered with WIFI too much and they moved to aluminum. " Baloney. Steve Jobs commanded that the Product Design folks develop a business computer less than 1" tihck. The result was a titanium-paneled case with a carbon fiber external frame (the internal frame was magnesium). It wasn't an "experiment", it was a real product. As with most Apple PD creations, the case was very expensive and, when the PD language was renewed, Apple used aluminum. The change was made due to cost, not the WiFi experience. There are many metals available and, if you limit yourself to Aluminum - as you have - you'll miss a lot of opportunities. As other posters have noted, Dell uses metal in some of its cases...and it's magnesium.
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  • May 9, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: gerryjoson

    dell's X20 series latitudes have a cast magnesium alloy base and lid outer,the palm rest is plastic as is the inner lcd bezel.
    The xps1710 has a cast mag base as does the XPS1210 and precision series.
    FYI magnesium is roughly 30% lighter than aluminium and up to 50% stronger depending on its composition,dell's newest laptops of this variety are built much better than most brands and bear no resemblance to the plasticy inspiron 8600,precision M60 era Dell's
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  • Apr 25, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: skylarkguy

    Metal is better. I hate plastic...

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