Are the early PowerBook G4 models really made of Titanium?
Yes. The cases used by early PowerBook G4 models — designated by “Ti” after the name — are made of 99.5% pure grade CP1 (commercially-pure) Titanium with a ridgid carbon fiber frame. In promotional materials, Apple said that “titanium’s superior tensile strength and low density give it the greatest strength-to-weight ratio of any of today’s structural materials. . . [which] enabled us to build the thinnest and lightest full-featured portable supercomputer on the planet — without having to make the kinds of tradeoffs that would compromise its performance.” However, cases used by PowerBook G4 models starting on January 7, 2003 — designated by “Al” after the name — use less expensive aluminium rather than titanium.
