Apple Sourcing Carbon Fiber Parts for Unknown Products [Report]

Apple and Foxconn representatives are said to have engaged in talks with a Japanese company specializing in carbon fiber materials to source some parts for an unknown product.

A source told Japanese blog Macotakara that Apple and Foxconn initially approached the unnamed carbon fiber maker for a sampling of materials. However, the source reportedly indicated to the blog that “the number of parts is too large to be called ‘sample.’”

The first product that comes to mind when it comes to replacing traditional casing materials with carbon fiber is, of course, the MacBook family of notebooks.

While admittedly thin and sturdy (not to mention good looking), the aluminum-enclosed computers are still quite hefty to carry around. Which is why many people are replacing them with iPads, for numerous types of activities.

So instead of letting the iPad cannibalize the sales of its own laptops, Apple perhaps is considering to make them more portable.