Magnesium or Titanium?

[Mork29]

I got more:
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/products/story/0,24330,3386651,00.html
Talks about dropping his test model from 3 feet and it survived. The apple site gives few details about it's casing. It just says that it used titanium for it's case.... same as in super-sonic planes or something.



And in reply to Titanium scratching, apple fixed that:
One problem plagued previous editions of the Titanium PowerBook: Spare change and pens in laptop bags and metal watch bands that came into contact with the computers tended to mar the machines' finish. The problem is so well-known, threads have been started on Apple's message boards, and a paint "fix" has been created called TiPaint.
or read for yourself: http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/products/jump/0,24331,3386653,00.html

 

[arcitech2]

Look at Apple, and Panasonic (Toughbook series). Apple-Titianium, Panasonic-Magnesium. These are the two that come to mind. Unfortunately they are different OS machines, so the comparison is not so good. The Toughbooks are expensive, but they have a total shock/durability value that Apple may not meet. I'll try to post some specs for you.

The real determining factor is cost, and that can only be offset by volume sales. All laptops would be one or the other if there weren't acceptable substitutes i.e. plastic and aluminum.

 

[arcitech2]

Found a Panasonic Propaganda link about Toughbook T1, believe what you want, I've used an older 71 series for 4 years, and it never died, but it did look like it had been dragged a few miles down a dirt road!

http://www.panasonic.com/computer/notebook/pdf/intsol042303.pdf

 

[arcitech2]

Originally posted by: GonzoDaGr8

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
What? magnesium? Have you ever seen that burn?

what if you accidentally light your computer on fire with, like, an arc welder or something? (*FWOOOOOOOSH* you: my eyes! my eyes! I can't see my eyes!)


hehehe, never trust magnesium. It burns too easily (not very, but more so than titanium.)

Sorry Lord, But Magnesium as a solid chunk will not catch on fire. It needs to be more in the form of sanding dust or milled chips. I do this for a living(aircraft machinist) and have seen what it takes to get Mag to light.

Gonzo is right, the only worry with magnesium is if it is part of another fire. Once it starts burning, it is almost impossible to put out. Burning magnesium from an aircraft, on a carrier, is easier to push over the side than to put out. You can watch it continue to burn while it sinks!

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: zephyrprime
Is the titanium powerbook case actually made of titanium?

Yes. but it's painted. Good paint though. After 6 months I still don't have any scratches.

The aluminum PowerBooks are not painted.

 

[Entropy007]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
What? magnesium? Have you ever seen that burn?

what if you accidentally light your computer on fire with, like, an arc welder or something? (*FWOOOOOOOSH* you: my eyes! my eyes! I can't see my eyes!)


hehehe, never trust magnesium. It burns too easily (not very, but more so than titanium.)

go with Ti, although saying your laptop was magnesium would lend a certain 'badassness' to your image, along the lines of "hey, that guys is so badass he walks around with a pouch of C4."

As a person who has tried to deliberately light a large chunk of magnesium on fire, I can assure you it's not likely to happen by accident

Titanium will spontaneously combust in dry chlorine gas so you might want to consider that as well Halogen Corrosion of Titanium

 

[wfbberzerker]

Originally posted by: Entropy007

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
What? magnesium? Have you ever seen that burn?

what if you accidentally light your computer on fire with, like, an arc welder or something? (*FWOOOOOOOSH* you: my eyes! my eyes! I can't see my eyes!)


hehehe, never trust magnesium. It burns too easily (not very, but more so than titanium.)

go with Ti, although saying your laptop was magnesium would lend a certain 'badassness' to your image, along the lines of "hey, that guys is so badass he walks around with a pouch of C4."

As a person who has tried to deliberately light a large chunk of magnesium on fire, I can assure you it's not likely to happen by accident

Titanium will spontaneously combust in dry chlorine gas so you might want to consider that as well Halogen Corrosion of Titanium

thanks... i'll keep that in mind...

 

[dkozloski]

Dealing with a magnesium fire is a relatively simple matter. Shovel some dirt on it or use an extinguisher charged with "Purple-K" agent.
I have had large soild pieces on fire several times and have had no disasters. Don't squirt water on it. Structural magnesium comes in many alloys with properties ranging from brittle to ductile. The cast alloys are brittle and extruded structural shapes are less so.

 

[GaryShandling]

Some blended titanium/steel watches,pans e.t.c tend to scratch very easily leaving grained streaks on the surface.

 

[lameaway]

At least if your magnesium laptop catches on fire, you still might be able to enjoy the show. Unlike Apple's crappy IBook, which only combusts in highly poisonous chlorine gas. I mean, what the hell were they thinking?

 

[GaryShandling]

Originally posted by: lameaway
At least if your magnesium laptop catches on fire, you still might be able to enjoy the show. Unlike Apple's crappy IBook, which only combusts in highly poisonous chlorine gas. I mean, what the hell were they thinking?

Government consipiracy to subliminably execute all apple users therefore widening higher tax charged opponent manfucaturers? or just stupid...?

 

[RanDum72]

Definitely Titanium if cost is no object. Magnesium is usually a 'poor man's ' titanium and is used in place of Titanium when lower costs is needed.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: bgeh
yeah, seen magnesium tape burn before in the lab. anyone know of where to get those tapes?

Well, you can get blocks of magnesium at Walmart in the camping section - they sell it as a fire starter. In block form, it isn't flammable - it can't get enough oxygen quickly enough to burn, because it has inadequate surface area. It says to scrape it off into shavings - then it'll burn. Just don't do too much - if it's sort of powdery or fluffy, there could be some pretty nasty problems, like a quick flare up, or a small explosion.

 

[Alphazero]

Magnesium is very pretty when it burns

 

[beatle]

Originally posted by: Entropy007Titanium will spontaneously combust in dry chlorine gas so you might want to consider that as well Halogen Corrosion of Titanium

I think if you have enough dry chlorine gas in your environment, you should be concerned with some other things than the safety of your laptop - mainly your life.