Asus opened up the doors to the woodshop to make three gorgeous laptops for the Computex Taipei 2007 show. Although company reps say they don’t have any specific plans to actually sell these PCs, they’re part of a skilled design exercise that shows an delicate interplay between craftsmanship and tech.
Take a look at the gallery full of true laptop porn, where you’ll notice there are three showcase designs of wooden laptops with magnesium frames that aren’t necessarily portable, and then you’ll also see some wood and bamboo faceplates that Asus also brought out later, to much appreciation. In fact, the designs won an award, named some of the best products at Computex 2007.
Computex 2007: Design 1, Design 2 [Aving, via Chinese Engadget]
On top of not selling so well, even when Apple does manage to unload an Apple TV, apparently they’re not doing so at the slam-bang profit margins they’re accustomed to. Masters of component/cost analysis iSuppli broke down the parts of the Apple TV to estimate that Apple’s pumping at least $237 into each one—and that’s based on a lowball estimate.
While making 62 bucks a pop isn’t exactly subsidizing them, the 20% margin before marketing costs grossly underperforms the Apple standard of 50% gross margins on products “outside its computer lineup,” like iPods.
However, they jump to over 30 percent on the new 160GB model, given the marginal difference in storage costs. It’s also entirely probable that Apple’s worked out stellar deals on the parts—they have a cozy relationship with Intel and Steve-o’s been bargain hunting components since he was a teenager.
In any case, with the iPhone around the corner (which will most likely bank 50 percent) their biggest concern will probably be finding people to count the mad loot rolling in.
What Apple TV Costs to Make [BW]
Here’s what looks like a press shot of the Thinkpad Reserve. It looks different from the earlier shots we saw. I could tell you where I got this photo, but I’d have to beat you to death with a magnesium alloy rollcage.
El ordenador Aspire L320 de Acer ha sido elegido mejor sobremesa taiwanés del año en la feria Computex que se celebra estos días en Taipei.
Este equipo de sobremesa tiene un volumen de tres litros y funciona con un Intel Core 2 Duo sobre plataforma Viiv del mismo fabricante.
Al parecer, los jueces han valorado su tamaño y su funcionamiento silencioso. Utiliza un disipador de cobre y heat pipe, y fue diseñado para que el aire pudiera circular por el sistema sin sobrecargar los ventiladores “supersilenciosos”.
Los ganadores de las otras categorías son MSI por su combo Platinum P35, en la categoría de placas madres; el procesador de ultra baja tensión C7-M de Via, elegido mejor plataforma UMPC/UMD; y el Lamboughini VX2 de Asustek, portátil favorito de los jueces. No en vano “se parece, se siente y se conduce como un coche de carreras”.
A reliable source just gave us some more details on the leather-bound Thinkpad Reserve.
• The Limited Edition run will go for $5000
• Is being made to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Thinkpad
• More will be revealed on June 15th.
Right now, all you can do is click around the website, thinkpadreserve.com, which is heavy with images of leather, but nothing else. The password protected flash program has been taken apart by readers, and they’ve only found a mail-to form to the Razorfish ad agency.
Lenovo Thinkpad Reserve Edition
After the “Entry to this site is by invitation only. Please enter the passcode from your invitation below.” you have the next form.
