Demand For Aluminum Chassis Could Cause 2012 Shortage
Unfortunately, demand for ultra-lightweight aluminum chassis could spike in 2012 and drive up prices as a result. Digitimes reports that the majority of ultrabook manufacturers have opted for aluminum, including Acer's Aspire S3, Lenovo's IdeaPad U300s, Toshiba's Portege Z830 and Asus' upcoming UX-series.
Manufacturers have already taken steps to raise their production levels and Intel has worked with chassis companies to find alternative metals or body styles. Ultrabook pricing is already a serious concern, with most companies selling systems above $1000, despite Intel's stated desire that such systems come in below that price point. Thus far, Acer is the only company to come in well below the $1K mark, the S3 is expected to debut in the US at $899.