Unibody

[INK]

That's interesting. There is a guy at another forum that has a demo Thunderbolt:

YEAH baby! My Demo will be here today! - Droid Forum - Verizon Droid & the Motorola Droid Forum

I'd ask him about the battery door but I'm not registered there. If someone is registered there and reads this, maybe ask him? I can't handle registering to another forum...I belong to too many as it is

Brb I need to find a vid for this.

 

[Edwill86]

I might be incorrect here but I believe there was a video that was posted where you could see some of the outlay of the unibody under the batt.\


Edit: never mind I re-watched the video you cant really see much besides the big FCC sticker. I was mistaken, the only Aluminum part you can see is the SIM card tray. Sorry

http://www.slashgear.com/verizon-ht...-unboxing-though-launch-date-absent-09131943/

 

[Air Force One]

If you guys can find these videos I would be highly appreciative

 

[SolidOrange]

metal unibody, confirmed here:
YouTube - HTC Thunderbolt unboxing & overview (pre-release) (re-up)

and here:
YEAH baby! My Demo will be here today! - Page 27 - Droid Forum - Verizon Droid & the Motorola Droid Forum

 

[SUB-dawg]

metal unibody, confirmed here:
YouTube - HTC Thunderbolt unboxing & overview (pre-release) (re-up)

and here:
YEAH baby! My Demo will be here today! - Page 27 - Droid Forum - Verizon Droid & the Motorola Droid Forum

called it!

 

[Air Force One]

called it!

I NEVER said the Thunderbolt does not have an aluminum unibody. What I am saying is that there may be NO ALUMINUM UNDER the battery. IMO, the aluminum unibody of the Thunderbolt looks to be completely on the OUTSIDE of the device. That video does not confirm what you posted on page one of this thread. Also, user Johnboy cannot confirm it either...just saying it's too heavy to be plastic does not confirm it. I have seen multiple tear-downs of HTC unibody devices and I have never seen Aluminum inside the device..i.e. under the battery. Not saying this is not the case with the Thunderbolt, just saying I need proof., Not opinions and I'm asking for where folks are getting the proof to DEFINITIVELY say there is aluminum INSIDE the devcice.

I'm asking basically for HTC documentation confirming this. To be so sure of how a device is built and designed before it has even come out, surely someone has read this somewhere in official documentation? Or has seen a tear down confirming??


And just for the record: I hope you're right and I am wrong. The more aluminum , the better.

 

[amotter]

I still don't see any aluminum...I am confused?

 

[Nitros7]

I NEVER said the Thunderbolt does not have an aluminum unibody. What I am saying is that there may be NO ALUMINUM UNDER the battery. IMO, the aluminum unibody of the Thunderbolt looks to be completely on the OUTSIDE of the device. That video does not confirm what you posted on page one of this thread. Also, user Johnboy cannot confirm it either...just saying it's too heavy to be plastic does not confirm it. I have seen multiple tear-downs of HTC unibody devices and I have never seen Aluminum inside the device..i.e. under the battery. Not saying this is not the case with the Thunderbolt, just saying I need proof., Not opinions and I'm asking for where folks are getting the proof to DEFINITIVELY say there is aluminum INSIDE the devcice.

I'm asking basically for HTC documentation confirming this. To be so sure of how a device is built and designed before it has even come out, surely someone has read this somewhere in official documentation? Or has seen a tear down confirming??


And just for the record: I hope you're right and I am wrong. The more aluminum , the better.

I don't see why we are having such a heated debate on this. To my knowledge it is a unibody construction that would mean the bezel, the battery tray and everything but the main board screen and battery door is made out of one solid chunk of aluminium. thats the definition of unibody, an unless HTC wants to skimp and call it unibody and stick a plastic skeleton in it I am positive what you see with the battery door off is the aluminium body.

 

[Air Force One]

I don't see why we are having such a heated debate on this. To my knowledge it is a unibody construction that would mean the bezel, the battery tray and everything but the main board screen and battery door is made out of one solid chunk of aluminium. thats the definition of unibody, an unless HTC wants to skimp and call it unibody and stick a plastic skeleton in it I am positive what you see with the battery door off is the aluminium body.

I didn't realize the discussion was heated at all.:-[ I'm not in the least bit upset. I'm just deciding between multiple devices and want to know as much as I can. Just saying the Thunderbolt has aluminum on the interior of the device does not make it so, although I hope it does.

Also, just because there is not(for the sake of argument) aluminum on the INSIDE of the Thunderbolt, DOES NOT mean HTC skimped in any way shape or form!

Up to this point, as far as I am aware, the aluminum unibody design of HTC devices has NEVER included anything but the outside frame of the device. I have a Nexus One in which this is the case...and HTC sure did not skimp on this device construction, I can tell you that. Just because HTC may use plastic, magnesium or several other materials on the interior of a device does not in any way take away from the aluminum unibody exterior.

Again, I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about this device. I'm willing to challenge assumptions though to try and get facts, not speculation. Like I've said several times: I WANT there to be as much aluminum as possible. I PREFER overbuilt, well constructed devices. If not, I might have an Atrix, but the all plastic construction turns me off...big time. It's also a big reason why I have a Xoom...because of it's aluminum exterior. Although, it does have a strip of plastic on the top that I am not fond of.. but this does not turn me off enough to have not purchased. Just like if the Thunderbolt does not have interior aluminum it will not turn me off the device. I just want to know if it does...FOR SURE That said I do wish/hope the battery cover is aluminum. Or maybe if I get the HTC extended battery, HTC will make an aluminum cover for it. That would be brutal and I would be willing to pay more for it. Though I don't know how this would affect reception.

 

[FrankXS]

i really like the stylus (don't flame me ) that it comes with.

Whoa. I like styluses too. How do you know it comes with one? Where can I see a pic? I didn't see anything that looked like a stylus holder hole in any pics. I hope you're right.

-Frank

 

[INK]

Whoa. I like styluses too. How do you know it comes with one? Where can I see a pic? I didn't see anything that looked like a stylus holder hole in any pics. I hope you're right.

-Frank

Sorry Frank we were talking about the HTC Flyer.

 

[swamp]

metal unibody, confirmed here:
YouTube - HTC Thunderbolt unboxing & overview (pre-release) (re-up)

and here:
YEAH baby! My Demo will be here today! - Page 27 - Droid Forum - Verizon Droid & the Motorola Droid Forum

Referencing the first video in particular. Just because some jackhole say it has feature X does not in any way shape or form mean he:

-Understands feature X
-Checked the device carefully for feature X
-The device truly has feature X

It appear pretty clearly to me with the battery cover removed that the TB is absolutely not a true unibody construction.

 

[Air Force One]

It appear pretty clearly to me with the battery cover removed that the TB is absolutely not a true unibody construction.

Actually that couldn't be further from the truth.

None of the interior of the device must have aluminum for it to be a unibody design. The only requirement is that the exterior have "some" aluminum but that aluminum must be CONTINUOUS so as to form a frame for the device. The Thunderbolt CLEARLY meets the standard for aluminum unibody design. It has aluminum all around the edge of the device that wraps around the lower back, which completes the unibody.

That is what is so special about the aluminum unibody. It gives the device strength by virtue of being a metal frame which holds the rest of the device together.

Again, just for clarity: the Thunderbolt is MOST CERTAINLY of aluminum unibody construction! The only question is does that unibody extend into the interior of the device. I don't believe it does...BUT that would only mean that the Thunderbolt is exactly lkike EVERY OTHER HTC unibody device. VERY well made.

Please do not interpret any of my posts to be questioning the ultimate quality of the HTC Thunderbolt aluminum unibody, which it most certainly has. HTC makes the BEST built Android devices. Period. The aluminum unibody design goes a long way to achieving that distinction and the Thunderbolt will be no different.

 

[Droid800]

Referencing the first video in particular. Just because some jackhole say it has feature X does not in any way shape or form mean he:

-Understands feature X
-Checked the device carefully for feature X
-The device truly has feature X

It appear pretty clearly to me with the battery cover removed that the TB is absolutely not a true unibody construction.

You could say that about the iPhone 4 as well, but that's a unibody device.

 

[Edwill86]

I guess we will have to wait for AC to get theirs and do their Strip down of it to see where this illusive unibody is located.

 

[Nitros7]

I didn't realize the discussion was heated at all.:-[ I'm not in the least bit upset. I'm just deciding between multiple devices and want to know as much as I can. Just saying the Thunderbolt has aluminum on the interior of the device does not make it so, although I hope it does.

Also, just because there is not(for the sake of argument) aluminum on the INSIDE of the Thunderbolt, DOES NOT mean HTC skimped in any way shape or form!

Up to this point, as far as I am aware, the aluminum unibody design of HTC devices has NEVER included anything but the outside frame of the device. I have a Nexus One in which this is the case...and HTC sure did not skimp on this device construction, I can tell you that. Just because HTC may use plastic, magnesium or several other materials on the interior of a device does not in any way take away from the aluminum unibody exterior.

Again, I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about this device. I'm willing to challenge assumptions though to try and get facts, not speculation. Like I've said several times: I WANT there to be as much aluminum as possible. I PREFER overbuilt, well constructed devices. If not, I might have an Atrix, but the all plastic construction turns me off...big time. It's also a big reason why I have a Xoom...because of it's aluminum exterior. Although, it does have a strip of plastic on the top that I am not fond of.. but this does not turn me off enough to have not purchased. Just like if the Thunderbolt does not have interior aluminum it will not turn me off the device. I just want to know if it does...FOR SURE That said I do wish/hope the battery cover is aluminum. Or maybe if I get the HTC extended battery, HTC will make an aluminum cover for it. That would be brutal and I would be willing to pay more for it. Though I don't know how this would affect reception.

I know... I wasn't arguing that HTC was skimping in any means. What I was trying to convey was the idea. UNI means one so a UNIbody would be one body, or the body would be made out of a solid chunk of what ever its made out of... In this case aluminum... So if thats the case in order for HTC to stay true to an aluminium unibody construction the main bulk of the phone should be one solid aluminum brick.

With that said I hope it is and aluminium brick what you where say about the other HTC phones has me questioning HTC definition... still not stopping me from getting one of these bad boys!!

 

[Rich Rasp]

I think the thunderbolt will be built alot better than most other HTC devices but NEVER better then the inspire. Aside for the tough-ness of the access of the battery door and the upgrade to the battery ability, the inspire/desire hd is the best built HTC phone to date. You really hafta hold one in your hand to know what I'm saying.

 

[Air Force One]

With that said I hope it is and aluminium brick

You and me both brother

I think the thunderbolt will be built alot better than most other HTC devices but NEVER better then the inspire. Aside for the tough-ness of the access of the battery door and the upgrade to the battery ability, the inspire/desire hd is the best built HTC phone to date. You really hafta hold one in your hand to know what I'm saying.

I agree the Inspire feels great in the hand and is a beautiful looking device. The inability to add a large extended battery is a KILLER tho, IMO. It's like having a car that gets 3 miles a gallon and only has a 4 gallon gas tank. You'll either spend most of your time plugged in or turning off device functions to save battery. The second knock the Inspire has, IMO, is that convoluted root method. I personally refuse to buy a device that takes almost an hour to root. The rumor so far(at XDA) is that the Thunderbolt will be a true one click root.

Anyway, I might be able to agree with you(once I see the build of the Thunderbolt myself) that the Inspire has better build....but IMO it comes at too much of a cost(battery life, ease of root).

One other issue: from what I've seen of the Thunderbolt screen on youtube, to my eye(not saying it's a fact, just from what I've seen) the screen on the Thunderbolt seems to have more vibrancy and "pop". IF this turns out to be true, I bet HTC dialed down the Inspire screen to save battery. Again not saying this is a fact, the screens may well end up being identical.

 

[swamp]

Actually that couldn't be further from the truth.

Well I did say "it appear" (meant to type appears...). So you can't really say it is false that it does not appear to me to be a unibody!

None of the interior of the device must have aluminum for it to be a unibody design. The only requirement is that the exterior have "some" aluminum but that aluminum must be CONTINUOUS so as to form a frame for the device. The Thunderbolt CLEARLY meets the standard for aluminum unibody design. It has aluminum all around the edge of the device that wraps around the lower back, which completes the unibody.

That is what is so special about the aluminum unibody. It gives the device strength by virtue of being a metal frame which holds the rest of the device together.

I still disagree. Without a tear down I just do not think you can be so 100% positive. What I agree with you on I have bolded above. The essense of a unibody is that there is a structural frame. So that being said I also disagree with you that it must have some exterior aluminum to be a unibody. That is absolutely false. Technically it does not even have to be one continuous piece. Sure that's nice and makes for a better product, but it is also something you are just making up for your own little personal definition.

You may know this but some won't: The term unibody comes from the automotive world. It contrasts the modern construction of most cars bodies in that the body and frame are integrated as one cosmetic and structural component. It is never a single continuous piece - it is welded, riveted, bolted, etc. Old school cars had frames and bodies totally separate and thus they were not unibodies.

The alumimum we can see in images and videos for the TB looks like it might be nothing more than a cosmetic cover. From a tear down you could discern whether or not this aluminum is is fact structural as opposed to cosmetic. This is what I hoped to see more of with the battery cover off.

Look, I am not saying IT IS NOT UNIBODY. I just marvel at your certainty without a tear down. I think it is also fairly clear it is not quite a unibody in the sense of the HTC Legend. That sucker is a unibody for sure. See pic below.

 

[swamp]

You could say that about the iPhone 4 as well, but that's a unibody device.

I don't understand how that was a reply to my post.