ASUS Building Bamboo Notebook

[Jimmy 2004]

After the success of the recently launched Eee PC, ASUS looks set to become the first major computer company to release a wooden notebook as it attempts to go greener . Known as the ASUS Eco Book, this laptop is built using bamboo, which is a durable and fast-growing grass – therefore it’s unlikely to harm the environment by harvesting it. The Eco Book is likely to be aimed at executives and high-end users in a similar way to the leather models released by ASUS, with the company’s director of marketing communication, Cher Chronis, saying:
Originally we came out with a leather model style-book, it was very popular. After that, it was kind of natural for us to experiment with other types of materials, so we decided to go green.
At the moment the notebook is still only a prototype whilst engineers ensure that bamboo is a suitable material to used under these circumstances, but hopefully it could become a reality within the next year or so if all goes to plan.

http://www.techpowerup.com/img/07-12-14/bamboo1_thm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/img/07-12-14/bamboo1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/img/07-12-14/bamboo2_thm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/img/07-12-14/bamboo2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/img/07-12-14/bamboo3_thm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/img/07-12-14/bamboo3.jpg)

Source: Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1041987920071213?sp=true)

[PVTCaboose1337]

That actually looks pretty cool.

[pt]

seems cool unless you have a panda at home :p
he would eat it...

[jocksteeluk]

decent but id say it needs staining darker.

[btarunr]

Using wood to fabricate electronics..in which way is this eco-friendly?

If other vendors follow suit, it'll actually harm the environment. Think about it: fertile forest land will be converted to agriculture land for harvesting bamboo. But well, if China alone is willing to do this, screw them they're consuming their natural resources at a high rate, they'll go broke sooner.

[qwerty_lesh]

exploding batteries and wooden equipment. GENIUS! :D

[Frick]

Using wood to fabricate electronics..in which way is this eco-friendly?

If other vendors follow suit, it'll actually harm the environment. Think about it: fertile forest land will be converted to agriculture land for harvesting bamboo. But well, if China alone is willing to do this, screw them they're consuming their natural resources at a high rate, they'll go broke sooner.

Bamboo grow extremely fast, so I don't think it would be a problem.

Anyhow, the first pictures showed up in may or something and at least back then they had different colours.. I think it looks really nice.

[Keiki]

Using wood to fabricate electronics..in which way is this eco-friendly?

If other vendors follow suit, it'll actually harm the environment. Think about it: fertile forest land will be converted to agriculture land for harvesting bamboo. But well, if China alone is willing to do this, screw them they're consuming their natural resources at a high rate, they'll go broke sooner.

Well, if they used synthetic materials such as plastics it would harm the environment even more in the manufacturing process (chemicals and waste would be poured in rivers etc).

I would imagine there would be a warning in the manual that says "BEWARE OF TERMITES".

[Kreij]

In my opionion, the wood look is appealing.

That being said, unless they release documentation that definitively show that the processes used to harvest, transport, treat and form the bamboo has less of an environmental impact that producing it in plastic, the "going green" phrase is just spin.

[Laurijan]

That thing probably cracks when dropped on the floor.

[trog100]

its just for silly "executives".. it makes em all feel better whilst flying from meeting to meeting in their private jets..

i am sure some "prats" will buy it thow.. especially if its way over priced..

trog

[FreedomEclipse]

That thing probably cracks when dropped on the floor.

yeah this laptop definitley wont be as durable as those that are made out of plastics/other synthetics.

Id say beware of extreme humidity, dont drop it, dont leave it near a bowl or cup of water in hot weather, beware of fire. beware of panda's, beware of termites &.......hedge trimmers

[WhiteLotus]

i like the look of it alot, but maybe wood buttons?

[btarunr]

Well, if they used synthetic materials such as plastics it would harm the environment even more in the manufacturing process (chemicals and waste would be poured in rivers etc).

I would imagine there would be a warning in the manual that says "BEWARE OF TERMITES".

:laugh::roll::laugh:

There's also a little something known as imbibition, the natural process of wood swelling by absorbing moisture from the air, if wood swells good enough, it'll mash things inside. imagine having to see chipped-chips.

[suraswami]

Send those for anti-termite treatment every year (or look for those vans/trucks in ur appartment parking lot).

Plywood never expand (I think). They have been treated. So I guess similar thing would be done for these too.

[btarunr]

Plywood does. Imbibition is a process at a cellular level, where the cellulose content of the wood binds with water using banana bonds.

[Dangle]

Yea! Asus you rock! The Leather laptops you had were pretty cool, but this is just awesome!

(haven't they arlready made a bamboo/wooden style laptop before)?

[Seany1212]

therefore it’s unlikely to harm the environment by harvesting it.
Source: Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1041987920071213?sp=true)

Yea but overclock it and watch it burn :D:roll:

[hacker111]

um ok what is the point of having the bamboo??

[lemonadesoda]

This is FAKE green marketing propaganda.

1./ The bamboo is only really a veneer. It isn't used to build the case, only used as a decorative skin. Just like the leather versions... THEY ARE NOT MADE OF LEATHER. Neither are these, they are NOT MADE of bamboo, just have a decorative surface.

2./ I think it has ZERO benefit to the environment. Maybe NEGATIVE. To make a bamboo sheet involves a lot of energy and hi-tech GLUES. It then has to be cut, machined, sanded, varnished. All high energy steps with a lot of waste, esp, the nasty glue stuff.

3./ Unlike a plastic/carbon/ injection mold which works pretty much 100%, there will be a lot of "seconds" or "discarded" pieces of veneer that dont make the mark for a piece of equipment costing over $2000.

***NONETHELESS, It looks great, and I'd like to have one. But they should do the keyboard as well. By adopting Apples or Sony's new "falt keys", it would also be easy to do.***

It's just the ECO marketing spin I cant stomach.

[AsRock]

Yea but overclock it and watch it burn :D:roll:

LOL.. and that flying bambo flying at ya ass.

BUT really nice idea is it stronger than plastic of today ?...

[jocksteeluk]

That thing probably cracks when dropped on the floor.

Bamboo is a very durable and light weight material, Bamboo is used as scaffolding on high rise buildings as measure of how strong and durable it can be.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/BambooConstructionHongKong.jpg/800px-BambooConstructionHongKong.jpg