Intel cuts Ultrabook costs by $75 with plastic casing

When Ultrabooks first got introduced they were a $1000+ laptop solution that few could afford. But the prices have steadily come down as the ultra-thin devices have become more common and more manufacturers entered the market. Even so, Ultrabooks remain a more expensive option when compared to a typical laptop.

Intel is determined to get the price of Ultrabooks down while protecting its cut of the profits. The company’s latest breakthrough involves the casing used on Ultrabooks, and it could see as much as $75 cut from the cost of manufacturing each device.

Making a laptop very thin also means changing the materials used in its casing in order to retain strength. Until now that has meant shipping Ultrabooks with some form of metal case instead of cheaper, and more readily available plastic casings. Engineers at Intel’s research center have used techniques from the aerospace industry to develop a new plastic casing and component layout that is strong enough. In so doing, future Ultrabooks promise to be significantly cheaper as well as lighter.

By shifting components around inside the case, Intel found it’s possible to make common plastic casings stronger than they would otherwise be. It requires manufacturers rethink their internal designs, but the work involved in doing that is worth it in return for cheaper materials and therefore more flexible pricing.

A move to plastic may take away some of the desirability of the Ultrabook for consumers, but ultimately a lower price will attract more people to the super-thin laptops. It’s also unlikely manufacturers will stop shipping metal case Ultrabooks, they will probably just become a feature of high-end machines.

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