Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (
More info?)
Not all laptops have a metal base frame - to find out pick up the laptop by
the corner - if it bends like you'd imagine plastic would, then I think a
metal frame is unlikely. With a metal frame, there is little flex.
It's not necessarily true that plastics wear worse than metal - steel or
aluminium can be soft and get dented and bent very easily - e.g. on the
Apple Ti Powerbooks, unless it is alloyed and especially hardened.
The top of the laptop is very important for it not to bend. The LCD screen
is, as you say, very sensitive to bending. Also look out for sturdy
hinges - make sure it has two separate hinges.
Duncan.
"Vince" <vince@lobo.com> wrote in message
news:8lqf11hv9knfe97ob2c8q41je6i9vf0qf4@4ax.com...
> Yes I think you are right. He must be referring to the top plate
> around the keypad. (I know the bottom case is all plastic for sure).
>
> I also saw alot of brands, like HP, Compaq and Toshiba that seems to
> have a plastics top. I even tapped them to prove that they were
> plastic as the silver looks metallic.
>
> Is there a difference in strength as such if it was metal/ aluminium?
>
> Also in the Clevo Tablet T210C, the frame around the LCD panel is
> metal too... strength/ unbreakable? The Dell fellow tells me the
> Inspiron 700m is "high-density" plastic.
>
> I think this is important to me as the top + LCD panels can get
> damaged. Also plastics wears worst as a surface.
>
> Thanks for comments.
>
> On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 12:47:44 -0000, "Garf"
> <asui48@NOSPAMdsl.pipex.com> wrote:
>
>>My Omnibook Xe3 has an aluminium chassis, so do Thinkpads, EVOs and many
>>many more laptops, this does not mean an Aluminium casing, just rigid
>>metal
>>chassis to hang the plastics off. I don't know about Dells but would be
>>amazed if they had no metal stiffening or chassis, I think you may have
>>confusion here between chassis and case
>>
>>Garf
>>
>>"Vince" <vince@lobo.com> wrote in message
>>news:2vbe11dgfakslfrk239nchbe10jfflffac@4ax.com...
>>> I was told that the Clevo M120 that I am considering is tougher and
>>> stronger than laptops that have a plastic frame. Claimed to be an
>>> aluminium frame in M120.
>>>
>>> What about Inspiron 700 or Latitudes X300. The Dell guy says there
>>> are plastics and there is no such thing as Metal Frame or Chassis!!
>>>
>>> Who's right??
>>
>