Not Titanium, Not Aluminium, it's the Magnesium PowerBook


As notebooks become even thinner and lighter, demand for magnesium alloy for use in their chassis has spiralled, Digitimes reports.

Apple, Dell, HP and Samsung are among the notebook makers who employ magnesium alloy sheets to ensure strength and rigidity in their portables. In 2002, 6-7.5 million notebooks used magnesium chassis. This year, the forecast is that 13-15 million notebooks will, as an alternative to plastics.

Dell reports that 60% of its notebook will use magnesium, partly due to falling prices of thin sheeting from Taiwanese producers.

Analysis: Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't Apple always used magnesium chassis in their PowerBooks? Didn't even the early LC line use magnesium to prevent logic board flex? No wonder they all lasted so long.