Apple's MacBook is going to be a popular purchase this Christmas for consumers looking for a stylish laptop. The 'full size' experience promised by Cupertino's computer, along with its thin profile and lightweight construction make it a smart choice for OSX users looking for a portable machine that just works (as opposed to carrying the extra processing power such as the MacBook Pro).
What they'll also be getting is a laptop with a huge number of advances and 'firsts' in terms of technology that continues Apple's tradition of pushing the envelope. How hard is Cupertino pushing? The recently published patent for the MacBook illustrates the push very well. Having looked through the filing, here are some of the secrets inside the MacBook.
The low profile of the MacBook is in part down to putting every component on a diet to reduce thickness. Keyboards typically like to have some vertical spacing to allow for keyboard travel, so reducing the space under the key for physical and electrical components is vital . Apple highlights the use of the butterfly hinge in the keyboard construction to reduce the vertical footprint. It also notes the laser etching on the keys, and hints towards a future UI implementation as the patent discusses sensing the pressure on a key to trigger a different action.
For the moment Force Touch on the MacBook is restricted to the touchpad, but a future product could see Force Touch on individual keys. At the moment a long press brings up the 'additional character' menu, perhaps this could be targeted for Force Touch in a later device?
One of the biggest visible changes with the MacBook is the color. It's the first MacBook to be offered in gold (a vital color in the Chinese market), and the patent talks about how this look is achieved. Rather than being painted on, the color is added as an inked layer during the chemical process that strengthens and hardens the case, creating a far more durable look. Once that layer is added, a mix of chemical etching and sandblasting gives the final finish to the MacBook, creating a gentle texture that offers more friction and purchase when holding the computer.
The hinge is also one of the trickiest parts of the construction. It's going to be opened and closed a lot, and that will put a strain on the connection between the screen and the circuitry underneath. That means specific shapes and holders to take as much flexing strain off the cable as possible. Every manufacturer has to deal with this, but Apple's solution of splitting the components between the two main structures and reducing strain again reduces the thickness required.
If you want an example of Apple's attention to detail, look no further than the speaker grille. The MacBook's drilled holes for the speaker grilles all look identical, but that's not actually the case. Some of them are over the audio channels that pipe the sound out from the speaker, others are over other circuitry, and some are simply dummy holes for a better aesthetic look. Apple has used different colours of ink inside each hole, as well as varying the depth of the dumb holes, to create a uniform appearance across the full strip.
Next Page: Force Touch and USB-C considerations...
Apple's patent for the MacBook goes into detail on the Force Touch sensors. Four of these are used at each corner of the trackpad to determine how much pressure is being applied to the trackpad. Four might just be a bit of an overkill, as Apple discusses the ability to use one, two, or three Force Touch sensors to have the same effect. If Apple is looking to drive the cost down in the future, reducing the number of Force Touch sensors is one clear and achievable option. As it stands, having multiple seniors allows for better positional information to be achieved - especially useful when multi-touch continues to be employed in the MacBook.
The available ports on the MacBook caused a lot of discussion when it was first announced, with almost everything reduced to the solitary USB-C port. Not only does this reduce the complexity of construction, but the port's construction can be little more than a tongue jutting out of the printed circuit board, with the external case acting as the wraparound cover for protection. That means one less component on the PCB (reducing costs) and of course the ability to keep everything thin thanks to the lack of a metallic housing required on the PCB. All that's needed is a protective gasket around the PCB tongue to prevent the entry of dust and other detritus into the case of the MacBook.
The MacBook uses a new technique to increase the volume of the battery in the MacBook. The 'terraced' approach stacks thin layers of battery inside the battery casing, which allows for better use of the internal space as the battery shape can push into areas where a curve or voice would normal be seen. It's also worth noting that Apple is using double-sided adhesive tape to fix the batteries in place rather than layers of glue, which should make switching out the battery that little bit easier in the future.
The MacBook, as with almost every consumer electronic product, brings with it new techniques and new methods to the table. Apple is seen as one of companies that does push the boat out in terms of design and development, and the construction methods used in the MacBook reinforce that perception.
The MacBook is not only destined to be a big seller for Apple, but it also continues to push the idea of Apple as an innovator, which is a vital selling point in the current market.
(Now read about Apple's latest Christmas advert, and the product it doesn't mention...)
