Does Apple have a new MacBook coming?

Author: Brett Thomas
Published: 14th May 2007
Comments (24) Stumble
Does Apple have a new MacBook coming?

"Think Weight Loss" - rumours are flying that the new MacBook Pro could be a lot thinner.

It was only in Quarter 4 of 2006 that Apple remade its consumer MacBook product, upping the specs considerably. The switch-over wasn't unexpected - the company was phasing out its old Core Solo notebooks and replacing them with the rather shiny Core 2 Duo notebooks like I'm typing on right now. Of course, only six months later, it appears even this one is obsolete - rumours are a-flyin' that the sleek white and black 13" MacBooks may soon be getting an upgrade.

The MacBook Pro line will also be getting a rather expected refresh, migrating it to Intel's new Santa Rosa platform (which should actually have some significant improvements for it). The switch to an 800MHz FSB will be a much needed change, as will the 4GB memory limit (current Pro models can only support 3GB). What will really make the device shine, though, is the new LED backlighting display technology. The switch from cathodes will produce a much lower-power, lighter notebook and may make the 15" MacBook Pro something to travel with again.

According to the guys over at ThinkSecret, stock on hand for the 13" MacBook models is running dry, and Apple is not shipping any more. Of course, with the release of Santa Rosa, an update was expected - but the rumours mention that may not be what it's about. In fact, they don't say much at all on it aside from "something is happening," and it's not Santa Rosa or the LED displays.

Also in the rumour mill is Apple's plans for a light sub-notebook, which is expected in late 2007. Very little is known about the device except that it will be a 13" LED backlit screen, have no optical drive, and make use of NAND flash memory for improved boot and load times. Unfortunately, there is no information on what types of chipset and graphics the sub-notebook will use, though rumours have been pointing to using another discreet ATI solution. If so, this could be the travel notebook to beat once it's released.

Do you have a thought on the impending product updates? Any guess as to what Jobs and co. are doing with the 13" MacBook? Tell us about your thoughts in our forums.
Quote RTT 14th May 2007, 11:46
Quote:
The switch from cathodes will produce a much lower-power, lighter notebook and may make the 15" MacBook Pro something to travel with again.

Will it really make that much of a difference in weight? :|

If you mean that it'll allow the battery to be smaller (and thus lighter) then tbh i'd rather the battery was kept the same and the 'spare' power be available for improved battery life
Quote DougEdey 14th May 2007, 11:57
The biggest weight difference will be due to no invertor being required, thus heat output will also be reduced and risk of electrical interference.
Quote Hiren 14th May 2007, 12:00
I'm hoping for a 12" Macbook / Pro.
Quote perplekks45 14th May 2007, 12:06
They'll still be overpriced then, right? :)
Quote antiHero 14th May 2007, 12:16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiren
I'm hoping for a 12" Macbook / Pro.

Me too. Its the only reason for me NOT to switch to apple couse in the powerbook times i never had the money and i just dont want a 15" MBP for mobility reasons.
Lets hope for the best!
Quote rupbert 14th May 2007, 12:37
Quote:
Originally Posted by aon`aTv.gsus666
They'll still be overpriced then, right? :)

Even more so, LED backlighting ain't cheap.
Quote sinizterguy 14th May 2007, 12:38
Are the macbooks getting a Santa Rosa based refresh ?
Quote RTT 14th May 2007, 14:03
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
The biggest weight difference will be due to no invertor being required, thus heat output will also be reduced and risk of electrical interference.

Inverters aren't exactly big or heavy :)
Quote DougEdey 14th May 2007, 14:09
the ones on most TFT screens I've seen are relatively large, and they have high components/.
Quote Atomic 14th May 2007, 16:57
Quote:
Originally Posted by aon`aTv.gsus666
They'll still be overpriced then, right? :)
Compared to 'stack them high, sell them cheap' Dell - Yes.

Compared to a high status brand like Sony's Viao and they are pretty well priced.
Quote J-Pepper 14th May 2007, 19:47
GO APPLE!

and hurry up with it too... I need an upgrade soon!
Quote J-Pepper 14th May 2007, 19:54
Quote:
Originally Posted by rupbert
Even more so, LED backlighting ain't cheap.
Maybe not.. Apple has in recent history has never increased prices.. only decreased.

They always charge the same (over-priced in your case) amount for each model no matter what 'upgrade' was added at each iteration.

I see no reason why they would change that either.

I don't see Apple as over priced.. of course if you're comparing it to a £400 mass produced notebook then of course Apple can't compete but that was never Apple's intention was it.
Quote scq 14th May 2007, 20:59
Quote:
Originally Posted by J-Pepper
Maybe not.. Apple has in recent history has never increased prices.. only decreased.

They always charge the same (over-priced in your case) amount for each model no matter what 'upgrade' was added at each iteration.

I see no reason why they would change that either.

I don't see Apple as over priced.. of course if you're comparing it to a £400 mass produced notebook then of course Apple can't compete but that was never Apple's intention was it.

I like to think that ALL laptops are mass produced, and you indeed pay a slight premium for Apple. I will admit that you are getting a pretty decent warranty with it (if it breaks within your Applecare, which for me, always uncannily doesn't until a few days after it ends).

Still, it doesn't reason why Acer and Dell could make ultra-cheap laptops, while these other brands cannot. I think it's just their intention not to deal with the low-price market. Don't ever think for a second you're getting a higher-quality machine. It's the same Made in Taiwan assembly line computer - you're just paying for image, brand, and industrial design, because as far as I know, Apple has had its massive slew of problems - swelling batteries, exploding laptops, yellowing and chipping finishes...
Quote greatslack 14th May 2007, 21:03
Quote:
Originally Posted by J-Pepper
Maybe not.. Apple has in recent history has never increased prices.. only decreased.
Apple did increase the price on the Mac Mini recently, with the switch to Intel I believe.

As for the rumors of a laptop without an optical drive: it's going to be a while until that happens. The rumor sounds sort of like an UMPC, which given the limited success it's had, I don't think Apple would step out on that limb. The device would be in line with the more "gadget"-centric image that Apple has made for itself, but this thing would not be meant to be a primary computer for anyone. Also, given the high price point for the iPhone and the deal of a laptop called the MacBook, I don't think there is much room for a market in between these two.
Quote DXR_13KE 14th May 2007, 23:07
i have only one thing to ask:
GIVE IT A 2 BUTTON MOUSE!!!!!!!
Quote TheVoice 14th May 2007, 23:27
The article says there was a switch over from Core Solo to Core 2 Duo, but there were never any Core Solo MacBooks? Just Core Duos, surely (and then C2Ds)?
Quote Firehed 15th May 2007, 01:08
Quote:
Originally Posted by RTT
Will it really make that much of a difference in weight? :|

If you mean that it'll allow the battery to be smaller (and thus lighter) then tbh i'd rather the battery was kept the same and the 'spare' power be available for improved battery life
I think it should have been 'brighter', not 'lighter'.

A little unsure when Bit's news started covering Apple rumors, but I'd still be very happy to see such a part released. My MBP could do with being a bit more portable, as it's currently leg-rapingly hot and the battery life could be a bit better as well too.
Quote alastor 15th May 2007, 20:38
Well the Macbook has had an upgrade today, but not much of one. 80GB standard HDD, 1GB standard memory and 2.0GHz standard processor, with the new option of a 2.16GHz. Oh and a slightly faster DVD drive. Hardly earth shattering stuff but will be interesting to see what they do to the MBP for the next refresh, which shouldn't be too far off.
Quote pillow 15th May 2007, 22:24
will there be a Macbook with a powerful dx10 card by the fall? and when the hell will there be more games that are compatible with the mac os? games is what is keeping me from switching. you can always get a two button mouse.
Quote DreamTheEndless 15th May 2007, 22:50
Quote:
Originally Posted by DXR_13KE
i have only one thing to ask:
GIVE IT A 2 BUTTON MOUSE!!!!!!!

Has one.

2 fingers + click = right click; any other click = left click.
It may take a tiny bit to get used to, but it's easy once you've been using it for a couple of days - and so worth the tradeoff as macbooks and macbook pros come with 2 finger scrolling - by far the best scrolling solution on any laptop.

Have you used one lately?

(Oh, and the mighty mouse has a right button too.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by pillow
...when the hell will there be more games that are compatible with the mac os? games is what is keeping me from switching...

Just put boot camp on your macbook pro (or mac pro) and boot windows whenever you need a fix. Runs fast. (In other words - all games run on a mac.)
Quote Atomic 16th May 2007, 08:37
Quote:
Originally Posted by pillow
will there be a Macbook with a powerful dx10 card by the fall?
Nope. Macbook Pro is the only one with the dedicated graphics chipset.
Quote pillow 18th May 2007, 00:46
thats what i meant.
Quote Atomic 18th May 2007, 09:58
I wouldn't count on it as OSX uses OpenGL.
Quote pillow 19th May 2007, 00:54
dam
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