Analyst sceptic about durability of early CULV notebooks

AmTech analyst Doug Freedman is concerned about the build quality of early production models based on the Intel CULV platform because PC makers have cut too many corners. The prime concern seems to be bottom cases that are cracking, he says most of the cheap ultraportable notebooks feature a plastic enclosure, despite warnings from ODMs to go with more expensive full-metal cases.

"Early production units being built in plastic, with the bottom case being plastic, are cracking," said Broadpoint AmTech analyst Doug Freedman, in a phone interview, referring to discussions he had with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and and original design manufacturers (ODMs). Typically ODMs don't market under their brand name but supply devices to OEMs, which then slap on their own brand.

Freedman wrote about the problem in a research note distributed Wednesday morning. "So, to get that really thin form factor that they're after, they're probably going to have to go with a metal case," he said.

Pricey ultra-thin laptops like the MacBook Air and Dell Adamo are made of metal. Lower-cost ultra-thin laptops are typically made of plastic.

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Analyst sceptic about durability of early CULV notebooks