MacBook Update to Be Released Alongside New iMacs?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/09/25/macbook-update-to-be-released-alongside-new-imacs/)

In a follow-up post to yesterday's report (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/09/24/next-generation-imacs-already-in-production/) that the iMac may see an update within the next several weeks, AppleInsider claims (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/25/apple_close_to_unveiling_all_new_macbook_line.html) that Apple may be planning to introduce upgraded MacBooks at or around the same time.The new models, which appear as if they could make their debut alongside a family of more versatile iMacs in the coming weeks, are expected to arrive as the most affordable notebook offerings in the Mac maker's history.

Together, the pair of refreshes should round out Apple's 2009 personal computer offerings and propel the company into the holiday shopping season with its most cost-effective lineup of Mac hardware to date.While much of the report reiterates previously-rumored information (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/08/25/macbook-to-see-design-refresh-in-near-future/), sources have apparently confirmed that the new MacBook will retain a white polycarbonate enclosure and that manufacturing of the new models has already begun, suggesting that the MacBook launch may come a bit sooner than previously thought.

Article Link: MacBook Update to Be Released Alongside New iMacs? (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/09/25/macbook-update-to-be-released-alongside-new-imacs/)

[BRLawyer]

And who still wants a polycarbonate MB? I think it should be aluminum all the way from now on...

[kcx1992]

Like omg. I love this. but it sucks kinda. :]

MISS MECKELY!

[iGod 2.0]

I can't wait to see if Apple completely changed the design or if they just managed to even make it thinner because the present design is also awesome.

[jonnysods]

If they are not making the MB out of aluminum, what updates are they going to give it?

I can't wait for the MBP 17" refresh - whatever it is - and I hope it gets a slick GPU!

[GeekLawyer]

This is great news! As long as Apple stays out of the netbook market, there will be a place for a sub-$1000 Macbook. And the more sub-, the better.

[LanPhantom]

I'll buy one but I hope they didn't lower the quality of parts to get the price down. Or maybe Apple is ready to flood the market with MACs and really show how crappy Dell/Windows is.

We'll have to see! Merry Christmas everyone!

LanPhantom

[safasule]

If they are not making the MB out of aluminum, what updates are they going to give it?

I'm going with rubber.

[Target362]

Perhaps a macbook will come with a matte screen as default to please those who must use their computers in direct sunlight.

After all the macbook IS the low end model in apples laptop lineup

or perhaps the macbook will turn in to the tablet (new name, macbook name will be retire)

[Caliber26]

And who still wants a polycarbonate MB? I think it should be aluminum all the way from now on...

I agree! They need to do away with that all-white poly shell! OR, if they insist on poly, bring back the BLACK!!!

[andylyon]

Thought they were moving away from the white polycarbonate?

[Peace]

And making new Macbooks out of plastic makes Apple "greener" how ?

[NT1440]

I agree! They need to do away with that all-white poly shell! OR, if they insist on poly, bring back the BLACK!!!

Werent there rumors of an "industrial redesign" of the macbook?

[Lesser Evets]

I'm going with rubber.

I wouldn;t mind if they revisit the basic design ideas of 1999 when they had a lot of rubbery type stuff on the outside of Mac notebooks. Better than polycarb, and nicer to the touch than aluminum, SS, Titanium whatever.

[Eidorian]

Nehalem and Westmere need to make a showing very soon.

[BornAgainMac]

If they did make the aluminum Macbook then it would hurt sales of the other notebooks. Apple does everything for a reason.

People will want it to be $599 but I bet it won't be less than $799 unless it uses the Atom CPU.

[djellison]

And who still wants a polycarbonate MB?.

Several people I know prefer the white to the Al.

[Ironduke]

Its plain and simple now apple wish to make the standard macbook as cheap as possible without compromising on its current quality, new gizmos n things wont be the order of the day, refining the manufacturing process's and using cheaper components will.

If they can get the macbook to 499 in the UK the macbook will sell like hot cakes

[safasule]

I wouldn;t mind if they revisit the basic design ideas of 1999 when they had a lot of rubbery type stuff on the outside of Mac notebooks. Better than polycarb, and nicer to the touch than aluminum, SS, Titanium whatever.

Indeed. Sadly, I can't see that happening as Apple is marketing itself as a green company, and rubber is a huge ix-nay in the ears of environmentalists.

[MadMacxxx]

I wouldn;t mind if they revisit the basic design ideas of 1999 when they had a lot of rubbery type stuff on the outside of Mac notebooks. Better than polycarb, and nicer to the touch than aluminum, SS, Titanium whatever.

Indeed. Sadly, I can't see that happening as Apple is marketing itself as a green company, and rubber is a huge ix-nay in the ears of environmentalists.


.... you actually want it adorned with rubber ornaments? Nicer to feel than aluminum?! :confused:

[wolfpackfan]

It all depends on the price -

$999 no
$899 maybe
$799 definitely

[safasule]

Its plain and simple now apple wish to make the standard macbook as cheap as possible without compromising on its current quality, new gizmos n things wont be the order of the day, refining the manufacturing process's and using cheaper components will.

If they can get the macbook to 499 in the UK the macbook will sell like hot cakes

I can't imagine Steve Jobs would _ever_ even consider doing that. I hear you, they sure would sell, and it would be a wise business move, but I can't see that happening as long as Steve's in charge. Mostly because he never ever compromises on his vision of superior hardware and software

[thecartoonguy]

I'm going with rubber.

LMAO. That was pretty good :D

In my mind I see a bouncing laptop- Pure portability.

[fungus]

I'll spit wooden nickels if it's less than $899.

[creon]

And who still wants a polycarbonate MB? I think it should be aluminum all the way from now on...

I agree but for some people they like the white. Options are good to have especially in the world of Apple.

I'm not a fan of the white but to each his own. Updates are good all around to me.

[MadMacxxx]

I can't imagine Steve Jobs would _ever_ even consider doing that. I hear you, they sure would sell, and it would be a wise business move, but I can't see that happening as long as Steve's in charge. Mostly because he never ever compromises on his vision of superior hardware and software

lets hope not, because that'd be the day Apple's reputation starts tanking and looses it's flare a bit...

[Doctor Q]

Whatever features Apple chooses to omit from the MacBook to keep it at the cheaper end of the product line, people here will complain about it because it won't be the compromises that they would have chosen. I'll probably be one of those complainers!

[safasule]

lets hope not, because that'd be the day Apple's reputation starts tanking and looses it's flare a bit...

History agrees with your side of the argument :)

[sravana]

Ha. Just as I've been contemplating a Dell/HP/asus netbook and jolicloud... when I really want an affordable Macbook. I don't need the latest and greatest. I just need to be able to run VMWare, and get on the internet with the Mac side.

I'll be a happy camper for $600-700 (what I paid for my white 17" iMac in the refurb store...)

[TomxHow]

Looking forward to it :D

[Ironduke]

I can't imagine Steve Jobs would _ever_ even consider doing that. I hear you, they sure would sell, and it would be a wise business move, but I can't see that happening as long as Steve's in charge. Mostly because he never ever compromises on his vision of superior hardware and software

but apple for most part dont use superior components, its the fact that they make skinny designs that require their vendors to make changes to their products that cost more.

The super drives are not the best.
The screens are not superior.
The hardrives are not the best.

the fact apple sell this
2.13GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB DDR2 Memory
160GB hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Standard keyboard
White polycarbonate shell

For 750 uk pounds is one of the great scams of our time.

and please dont insult my intelligence by talking about exchange rates & duty's because Dell & Co never hiked their prices like this.

[Rampant.A.I.]

I agree! They need to do away with that all-white poly shell! OR, if they insist on poly, bring back the BLACK!!!

I can't believe they did away with the black. I can't be the only one who is sick and tired of white polycarbonate peripherals, white cables, white...

Hell, when I got a case for my MBP, guess what color it was?

Black. Black is good. Apple would do well to bring back more black.



but apple for most part dont use superior components, its the fact that they make skinny designs that require their vendors to make changes to their products that cost more.

The super drives are not the best.
The screens are not superior.
The hardrives are not the best.

the fact apple sell this
2.13GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB DDR2 Memory
160GB hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Standard keyboard
White polycarbonate shell

For 750 uk pounds is one of the great scams of our time.

and please dont insult my intelligence by talking about exchange rates & duty's because Dell & Co never hiked their prices like this.


If you are looking for those tech specs in a bargain model, no one is holding you back. By all means, go ahead and switch.

It's just the tech specs, right? If the design, the OS, the way everything works together isn't worth the extra cost to you, you're just a few short clicks away from eBay.

[Ironduke]

lets hope not, because that'd be the day Apple's reputation starts tanking and looses it's flare a bit...

no it wouldnt if the top line products were good,you sound like a snob:rolleyes:

[andylyon]

Its plain and simple now apple wish to make the standard macbook as cheap as possible without compromising on its current quality, new gizmos n things wont be the order of the day, refining the manufacturing process's and using cheaper components will.

If they can get the macbook to 499 in the UK the macbook will sell like hot cakes

Really cant see this price point over here! BUT it would sell like hot cakes at that price!

AnDy

[stellaclose]

I have a suspicion they'll also release Snow Leopard 64bit iLife '10 alongside this update.

[sravana]

I can't believe they did away with the black. I can't be the only one who is sick and tired of white polycarbonate peripherals, white cables, white...

Hell, when I got a case for my MBP, guess what color it was?

Black. Black is good. Apple would do well to bring back more black.I'll be hoofin' it to decalgirl anyway, white/black/whatever.... unless they come out with colors that rival the nano.

[Chimpy]

Wow, I'm surprised they aren't going all aluminum.

[Brien]

If you ask me, they're probably going to be nearly the same as the old MacBook, but with an LED display, no firewire, non-removable battery, and a new topcase design that hopefully ends the cracking issues.

[fpnc]

I find this report somewhat surprising (mostly the bit about lower cost). In fact I can find no mobile Core 2 Duo processor that they could use that would be significantly cheaper than what they are currently using. I guess Intel could be doing a price drop now that the Core i7 Mobile processors are shipping. The only other big ticket item would be the NVIDIA 9400M, but whoa nellie if they are dropping that. I could see a case design tweak, but how would that save them money?

The real shocker would be if they came out with an Atom-based MacBook, but there is no way they could meet the performance of today's MacBook with that processor. Netbook like product? No, I don't think so.

I guess they could dumb down the current MacBook. Take out Firewire, switch to mini DisplayPort (that might actually be a win-win, potentially less costly and more consistent with the rest of the Mac product line), and then use an even cheaper display (would that even be possible?).

Given the above and a nice price drop from Intel, perhaps they could make a $899 (U.S.) price point without reducing margins. However, given that there is already not a big difference between the performance on the 13" MacBook Pro and the existing MacBook I think that would place some pressure on the MacBook Pro price structure (compare $899 to $1199).

And please, no one should suggest that this product could be based on Intel's Arrandale CPU. That processor will appear first on the MacBook Pro and probably not until early next year.

[Eidorian]

And please, no one should suggest that this product could be based on Intel's Arrandale CPU. That processor will appear first on the MacBook Pro and probably not until early next year.There are murmurs that Arrandale could be out in October for Windows 7 launch.

Even so you'd have to drop nVidia and the MCP99 doesn't look anywhere near ready unless Apple gets star treatment for the processor and PCH.

[NetScheduler]

And who still wants a polycarbonate MB? I think it should be aluminum all the way from now on...

I do... Is that alright with you or should Apple base their hardware on what you think???

[BRLawyer]

I do... Is that alright with you or should Apple base their hardware on what you think???

Well, I asked a question and you answered...anything else to say? :rolleyes:

[fpnc]

There are murmurs that Arrandale could be out in October for Windows 7 launch.

Even so you'd have to drop nVidia and the MCP99 doesn't look anywhere near ready unless Apple gets star treatment for the processor and PCH.
And how would Arrandale allow them to drop prices and why would anyone buy a 13" MacBook Pro with the existing Core 2 Duo when they could have a cheaper MacBook using Arrandale? I think these most recent rumors are getting way ahead of the possibilities. I could see a slight price drop and a mildly redesigned enclosure, but no significant changes in the CPU for any of Apple's MacBooks (both "white" and Pro) until early next year.

[dubhe]

Just give me FW800 and an SD slot and I'll take the white one. I don't need to pay a premium for Alu.

[Ironduke]

I can't believe they did away with the black. I can't be the only one who is sick and tired of white polycarbonate peripherals, white cables, white...

Hell, when I got a case for my MBP, guess what color it was?

Black. Black is good. Apple would do well to bring back more black.






If you are looking for those tech specs in a bargain model, no one is holding you back. By all means, go ahead and switch.

It's just the tech specs, right? If the design, the OS, the way everything works together isn't worth the extra cost to you, you're just a few short clicks away from eBay.

Once again Funboy:mad:

Do not patronise me I spent 1150UK on my macbook and I am very pleased with it.

mkay

[Marx55]

Apple should release a MacBook mini, 400 g and pocketable.

[Eidorian]

And how would Arrandale allow them to drop prices and why would anyone buy a 13" MacBook Pro with the existing Core 2 Duo when they could have a cheaper MacBook using Arrandale? I think these most recent rumors are getting way ahead of the possibilities. I could see a slight price drop and a mildly redesigned enclosure, but no significant changes in the CPU for any of Apple's MacBooks (both "white" and Pro) until early next year.Intel maintains price parity on its replacement and drop-in hardware. Apple isn't going to drop margins either.

Not to mention the fact there are only 3 Arrandale options and 3 Clarkfield options right now. (You're not going to find a slower clocked Arrandale LV or ULV. They cost more!) You're not going to see 5-6 speed bumped models with nitpicking amounts of RAM or drive space.

Core 2 is the only option for a price drop and rightfully so if you're looking for a budget notebook. Once Arrandale is out it'll be tough to justify a ~$225 Core 2 Duo processor when a base Arrandale is the same price.

Apple is splitting hairs on half a clock speed multiplier as it is. Anyone looking at the hardware isn't going to bite.

[thejadedmonkey]

15" screen for $700 and blu-ray for $800 sounds reasonable.

[RazHyena]

And who still wants a polycarbonate MB? I think it should be aluminum all the way from now on...

Aluminum is so horribly ugly. Very sturdy enclosure but hard on the eyes. :(

I don't really care too much, though. I'm mostly interested on whats under the hood.

[puffnstuff]

if they can figure out how to stop the MB from cracking then fine keep the plastic. If not move on to aluminum.

I always thought the MBA design would be perfect as a cheap MB. They need to make a cheap MBA happen and slap "Macbook" on it give it a price of $899.:D

[kironin]

And who still wants a polycarbonate MB? I think it should be aluminum all the way from now on...

Hey, I like my polycarbonate MB. I don't care for aluminum or other metal. This is much more transparent to wi-fi and gets better range from my experience.

[Buzz Bumble]

I agree! They need to do away with that all-white poly shell! OR, if they insist on poly, bring back the BLACK!!!

Yep. The white models are horrible (as are the white keyboards) because they get very dirty very quickly. Black would make much more sense, especially now that the iMac is no longer white plastic either.

[dominx]

"Never ever buy a plastic computer again!"

These are the words repeated after you use the unibody Macbook pro...
I'm just saying.

[superlatic]

I'll buy one but I hope they didn't lower the quality of parts to get the price down. Or maybe Apple is ready to flood the market with MACs and really show how crappy Dell/Windows is.

We'll have to see! Merry Christmas everyone!

LanPhantom

So so true!!!!

Proud owner of 24" imac at the mo and previous ibook G4 is just over 4 yrs old and still going

I needed a windows computer for my job as the software I need (NVIVO) is windows only, and I didnt like the fact the MBP 13 was glossy only, and in all honesty thought the current MBP line up were expensive for what they were, so plumped for a dell studio 1555 with a few bells ans whistles (bluetooth, backlit keyboard, blu ray, 9 cell battery, 8 gigs ram, 4 yr warranty)

Came to £1138

Arrived on wednesday, build quality was questionable, I had to do a full reinstall of vista on the first day because of a software problem (vista did not like the mcafee that was shipped with it and even after uninstalling, stuff like sidebar etc still wouldnt load), and the software they shipped for the blu ray also would not work properly and would not play some of my later Blu Rays, like The Dark Knight.

Patience went very quickly, refund arranged despite the best efforts of their call centres who can barely speak English, as soon as the £££ goes back in will look at a MBP.

[racer1441]

Could the new macbook be more along the lines of the ibook?

Imagine the ibook, updated to today's tech. Multi-touch pad, sd card reader, ect, but at the same time a smaller footprint, say by 15%.

I'd be on that pretty quick.

[Eric S.]

When I hear "Macbook" now, I have a hard time remembering that it only means the white one ...

[superlatic]

People need to remember though, its a budget computer. Hell apple are tight enough re specs for your £££ with their higher end models.

Cant see beyond the existing Macbook specs (maybe a slight bump) at a cheaper price

Intel 2.26ghz Core 2 Duo
2GB DDR2 Ram (outside chance of 3GB)
NVidia 9400M
200-250GB HDD
Outside chance of a SD Card slot

For £649 UK price

[Donz0r]

If they want to gain marketshare the way to do it is to drop the price. Apple makes insane profits, and lets face it - their hardware is overpriced by a couple hundred, especially laptops. I'm glad paying for the machine, but most people are not.

The number one reason people don't buy macs is because they're ''too expensive'' with a MPB for 1099 with student discount, i'm excited to see what they'll price the regular macbook at. Probably 899 or 749 for the base model which would be huge.

And people thinking the'll sacrifice on quality... what quality?!
Have you used a white macbook? The display is a piece of ****, the speakers suck and are super quiet, the plastic develops cracks all the time, etc.

Apple has the design going for them, but the parts they use are the same as everyone else and crappier on some apsects (display/speakers) I"m not talking about the new MBPs which are amazing.

There's nothing magical about the macbook (not pro) hardware, it's just a regular laptop that looks pretty and runs OS X. They could price it cheaper and hopefully they will.

[brendanspah764]

It must since because August and October seem to be the Mac Months coming up.. Well August is gone, but October could easily be the month!

[ThomasJL]

Do any of you here think the new MacBook will have Mini DisplayPort?

(Just in case you want to know why I'm asking, it's because that will be the deciding factor for me since I want to run a 2560x1600 resolution on a 30" Apple Cinema Display. The current MacBook only has Mini-DVI which limits me to 1920x1200.)

[fpnc]

Do any of you here think the new MacBook will have Mini DisplayPort?

(Just in case you want to know why I'm asking, it's because that will be the deciding factor for me since I want to run a 2560x1600 resolution on a 30" Apple Cinema Display. The current MacBook only has Mini-DVI which limits me to 1920x1200.)
I think it is certain that any redesigned MacBook will get mini DisplayPort. However, the current mini DisplayPort can't drive the 30" Apple Cinema display without using that wacky and seemingly always problematic mini DisplayPort to dual-link DVI adapter (which costs $100 U.S.). My suggestion would be don't do it unless Apple redesigns the 30" display to interface directly over mini DisplayPort.

[automan98]

Lowest prices often rules with the consumer. Will be good to see Apple an even better value proposition.

[flakes8]

I want the Limited Edition Cherry Wood Encased MacBook ;)

[wankey]

I'm thinking what they'll do is a plastic unibody enclosure. I'm not a materials engineer so I wouldn't know how they can make it 100% constrained every time (plastic deforms much easier than metal). Maybe a completely different plastic material? (Carbon fiber comes to mind but I'm guessing a big no when it comes to bean counters)

But I guess what we can expect is the buttonless trackpad (probably glass as well, but with a white enamel finish) Possibly a matte finish instead of glossy. Much lighter than previous generations due to some sort of unibody design. Enclosed battery. 1 inch or less than 1 inch design (I'm sure they won't make it too thin otherwise they'll be competing against the metallic 13inch)

And a big improvement on the industrial design to make it feel less bucky?

[oscillatewildly]

It'll be 12 inch :D

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

I agree but for some people they like the white. Options are good to have especially in the world of Apple.

I'm not a fan of the white but to each his own. Updates are good all around to me.

Yea I want colors. Why can't I have an Orange MBP? They make iPods like that....why can't they make computers that way?

[Rocketman]

And who still wants a polycarbonate MB? I think it should be aluminum all the way from now on...

For a computer that is handled roughly the polycarbonate is better than aluminum. It has better wifi reception. I am not sure gloss white is the best color for rough handling. How about matte slate grey to be closer in color to the MacBook Pro's. Related to another thread I just posted to, it would be exceptionally cool if an upcoming MacBook line had card readers in the side that could read SD, MS and CF in one compact rectangle. Similar to a Targus TGR-CRD-25. Kill the XD.

I have said this before, but Apple should release a SDK for camera file format standards.

Rocketman

[932ky]

In my opinion the updated MacBook should have color options. Not just white and black, they should add red, blue, and orange(or more) This would bring some fun back to Apple. Just white and black (really just white) is super boring and dull. I would love a color change and maybe a bit thinner design, with an LED screen! :D

[CyberBob859]

For a computer that is handled roughly the polycarbonate is better than aluminum. It has better wifi reception. I am not sure gloss white is the best color for rough handling. How about matte slate grey to be closer in color to the MacBook Pro's. Related to another thread I just posted to, it would be exceptionally cool if an upcoming MacBook line had card readers in the side that could read SD, MS and CF in one compact rectangle. Similar to a Targus TGR-CRD-25. Kill the XD.

I have said this before, but Apple should release a SDK for camera file format standards.

Rocketman

I'm thinking that it will still be plastic (because of cost), but I wouldn't be surprised if they replaced the polycarbonate to a co-polyester. (Something like Eastman's Tritan (http://www.eastman.com/Brands/Eastman_Tritan/Pages/Attributes.aspx)) They can also claim "Bisphenol-A free" to score more Green points.

I think it'll be thinner and slightly narrower too.

They'll keep the iconic white, but colors could make a comeback.

Price drops to $899.

[twoodcc]

looking forward to what, $899? maybe $799? i'm betting on $899 starting price though

[KoNeko]

It'll be 12 inch :D

I would buy that immediately, lol. I'm still truckin' with my 12" 1.5 GHz PowerBook G4.

[silentnite]

I'd really like to see a black Mac book again. It wouldn't hurt if it came with 4 GB of DDR3 Memory. Also the option of a matte screen would be nice. I'm not asking for much, just keep it under a grand. I mean after all it is a Mac book. :D

[Imola Ghost]

I was planning on getting an 24" iMac very soon, but I'll wait if they're doing something new.

[Buzz Bumble]

When I hear "Macbook" now, I have a hard time remembering that it only means the white one ...

Here's one to confuse you ... yesterday I went into one of the high street chain stores to look at their sale prices (only 5% off) and on the small Apple stand they had one each of the new white MacBook and 13" MacBook Pros, but right beside them was an older model white MacBook and older 13" aluminium MacBook (not "Pro") still being sold, and not that much cheaper. :rolleyes:

[kernkraft]

Somebody mentioned continuous price reduction. What I know is that three years ago I purchased a MacBook for around £800 with 2 GHz C2D. It had an 80Gb HDD. Since then, I purchased several, most of them I either sold or returned. My last MacBook (Pro) is the same screen size (13.3"), also a Core 2 Duo with 2.26 GHz and a pathetic 160 Gb HDD. I paid not much less than £1000 for it. This time, I wasn't prepared to go for the most powerful 13.3" one. I already burnt myself with the first unibody prototype. Shame on Apple for it, by the way! No Firewire and mega-glossy screen, my a@@@!

In 2006, you could have purchased the mid-range Apple portable for less than what it would cost you today. Unibody construction is not that expensive. The cheap computer elements that you can find in several cheaper PCs can neither justify the price tag. Meanwhile, performance has hardly improved. I mean, a jump from 1.83 to 2.1 GHz as an entry level in three years is unparalleled! We've had budget laptops from 2004 with SD card reader, for Christ's sake! For Apple, it took a while. What's next for them? Proper screens in 2015? Optional Blu Ray in some models by 2013? Optional colours or finish when personal computers become obsolete? There is no denying that OS X is stable and visually pleasing. But it's not as capable for certain tasks as Windows is. I hate Finder, I hate iTunes, I want to do different things than these predetermined tasks for housewives!

I can completely identify with people who complain about the price and performance. But meanwhile, as a medium-term Apple-sufferer, let me tell you this - WAIT FOR YOUR TURN! WE ALL PAID HIGH PRICES FOR OUR MACS. I DON"T WANT ANYBODY PICKING UP BETTER COMPUTERS FOR A LOT LESS THAN WHAT I HAVE! Do you think we pay purely for performance? No, it's vanity, being snobbish and stupid enough to spend that kind of money on a tool. It might be an overpriced product, but what gives me some comfort is that apart from posers in public places, cafes and around universities, I (Also, I am locked in some softwares that don't run on anything else, so it has to be Apple hardware for me, unfortunately. Otherwise, I would become a switcher - from Mac to PC.)

[NightFox]

When I hear "Macbook" now, I have a hard time remembering that it only means the white one ...

Ditto - I'm ready to upgrade my MacBook to a 13" MBP, but I decided to hold out when this rumour surfaced a couple of weeks back, now I've realised there's no rumoured update of the MBP, just the MacBook :rolleyes:

Still, might wait for the dust to settle before spending anything incase they do do anything with the MBP, or even if the new MacBook has anything to offer

[pestbest]

I'll buy one but I hope they didn't lower the quality of parts to get the price down. Or maybe Apple is ready to flood the market with MACs and really show how crappy Dell/Windows is.

We'll have to see! Merry Christmas everyone!

LanPhantom

How the hell is this related to Windows?

Anyway, I'm excited about this new update to Macbook. I bought my current one in 2007 and I will probably get a new one for myself in the next few years when even a normal budget computer can be used to play games requiring expensive graphic cards at the moment.

And maybe, they aren't changing to white polycarbonate shell. It may just be a rumor.

[Veinticinco]

Yawn :rolleyes: I don't get this at all...

They've only just revamped and rejigged the MBP family, with the white MB serving as a very capable entry model.

What WOULD be of major interest however, is Apple started thinking about the one (formerly design flagship) product in their lineup that is SCREAMING for an update both internal spec-wise and maybe design-wise too...

...The MacBook Air.

[aegisdesign]

Indeed. Sadly, I can't see that happening as Apple is marketing itself as a green company, and rubber is a huge ix-nay in the ears of environmentalists.

Huh? I know the poster was joking but rubber is a sustainable product. It grows on trees!

[aegisdesign]

I'm thinking what they'll do is a plastic unibody enclosure. I'm not a materials engineer so I wouldn't know how they can make it 100% constrained every time (plastic deforms much easier than metal).

Apple uses polycarbonate, not just 'plastic'. Polycarbonate can take a lot of abuse, bouncing back into shape where aluminium would permanently dent or bend. Try bending a CD - that's polycarbonate. Try shooting a bullet at bullet proof 'glass' - that's polycarbonate. It'll bend a lot before permanent damage. The problem with Apple is they seem to have progressively used less of it in the shell since they first used it in the iBook which had thick polycarbonate around a magnesium skeleton mid layer.

To stiffen up the structure of the laptop in comparison to an aluminium shell, you just use more polycarbonate, which explains why the MacBook is thicker than the MacBookPro.

Maybe a completely different plastic material? (Carbon fiber comes to mind but I'm guessing a big no when it comes to bean counters)


Carbon Fibre would be an environmental disaster and requires manual layup of the fibres. It would increase cost dramatically in manufacture time and coping with the carbon fibre dust and resin.

Personally, I'd like to see Stainless Steel see some use in laptop cases. It's stiffer than aluminium, doesn't dent as easy and can be thinner than aluminium. Nokia have started using it on their phones and it's made for some very pretty design. It's much nicer in the hand than plastic or annodized aluminium.

Or they could go back to Titanium and Magnesium. The PowerBook Ti was their high point IMHO.

[chris7777]

if they ranged the price at $799- $999 and manage to shrink it any way they can, throw in some rainbow colors, they could possibly get more market share, lower than $800 would be better, but frankly I figure it will be in the same neighborhood as the pros.

it also leaves room for the tablet in the same price range, where the tablet would be considered the "air" of the consumer line, with the possibility of being the entry level mobile mac at $699, running full snow leopard.

I know it is dreaming, but if they would do it they could probably get a pretty big expansion, into the market, which seems to be their current busness model.


I am game for all of them, I know I want as mobile as possible but with the ability to tackle most full fledged task, Iknow the current 13" pro is close to my ideal, (wacom tablet dream machine aside.) I am not so sure on a 10 or 9ish inch tablet, but full osx could be persuasive especially if battery life is at least 8 hours, preferably 10, but again I know its dream territory.

but I could still go for a black or some choice poly carbonate colors if the redesign is cool, and they try other colors since the white is totally played out for a while.

[racer1441]

Somebody mentioned continuous price reduction. What I know is that three years ago I purchased a MacBook for around £800 with 2 GHz C2D. It had an 80Gb HDD. Since then, I purchased several, most of them I either sold or returned. My last MacBook (Pro) is the same screen size (13.3"), also a Core 2 Duo with 2.26 GHz and a pathetic 160 Gb HDD. I paid not much less than £1000 for it. This time, I wasn't prepared to go for the most powerful 13.3" one. I already burnt myself with the first unibody prototype. Shame on Apple for it, by the way! No Firewire and mega-glossy screen, my a@@@!

In 2006, you could have purchased the mid-range Apple portable for less than what it would cost you today. Unibody construction is not that expensive. The cheap computer elements that you can find in several cheaper PCs can neither justify the price tag. Meanwhile, performance has hardly improved. I mean, a jump from 1.83 to 2.1 GHz as an entry level in three years is unparalleled! We've had budget laptops from 2004 with SD card reader, for Christ's sake! For Apple, it took a while. What's next for them? Proper screens in 2015? Optional Blu Ray in some models by 2013? Optional colours or finish when personal computers become obsolete? There is no denying that OS X is stable and visually pleasing. But it's not as capable for certain tasks as Windows is. I hate Finder, I hate iTunes, I want to do different things than these predetermined tasks for housewives!

I can completely identify with people who complain about the price and performance. But meanwhile, as a medium-term Apple-sufferer, let me tell you this - WAIT FOR YOUR TURN! WE ALL PAID HIGH PRICES FOR OUR MACS. I DON"T WANT ANYBODY PICKING UP BETTER COMPUTERS FOR A LOT LESS THAN WHAT I HAVE! Do you think we pay purely for performance? No, it's vanity, being snobbish and stupid enough to spend that kind of money on a tool. It might be an overpriced product, but what gives me some comfort is that apart from posers in public places, cafes and around universities, I (Also, I am locked in some softwares that don't run on anything else, so it has to be Apple hardware for me, unfortunately. Otherwise, I would become a switcher - from Mac to PC.)

Yikes, stroke out much?

[celtikmind]

And who still wants a polycarbonate MB? I think it should be aluminum all the way from now on...

Oh, I would. The naked aluminum look is quickly getting old, it's so nineties. Apple could at least offer 'nanocromatic' MacBook's.

Either way, Apple's getting repepepepepepepetetive (think Dr Cox ;) ). Where's their fresh edge? :p

[PinkyMacGodess]

How about a matte scren for the 13" MBP? PLEASE!!!

[PinkyMacGodess]

Oh, I would. The naked aluminum look is quickly getting old, it's so nineties. Apple could at least offer 'nanocromatic' MacBook's.

Either way, Apple's getting repepepepepepepetetive (think Dr Cox ;) ). Where's their fresh edge? :p

Yes, look what they did with the new shuffle...

BUT Apple could really kill itself going back to the multi coloured macs. I remember a store offering extras for some of the harder selling colours. Some just did not sell. At all... That ties up money in inventory and limits storage space for new models. Unless they did couloured macs as a BTO option, it would be hard to pull off at the local Apple store without them having to add on to their stock rooms and stock colours that just don't sell well...

Personally I like the blue colour but that might be a hard sell for some. In my new house the builder commented on the brushed stainless appliances by saying 'It'll be the 'new green' in a few years'. Yeah, ******* but they will be proven right...

As an allegory: I found this outrageous set of luggage. So outrageous that I would doubt that anyone would ever own anything quite so hideous. It was unique. Until the first time I flew. There were three of them going round the luggage bin at the first airport that I flew into... *shrug*

[n459umb4786ers]

I think they might make the 13.3'' MacBook Pro $999

[PinkyMacGodess]

What Apple needs is a limited edition stainless steel MacBook Pro.

Now that would be cool.

So versatile that you could cut sushi on it and then check the happenings on FaceBook. But I think it would be way cool... Who doesn't like the cool touch of steel...

[celtikmind]

Yes, look what they did with the new shuffle...

BUT Apple could really kill itself going back to the multi coloured macs. I remember a store offering extras for some of the harder selling colours. Some just did not sell. At all... That ties up money in inventory and limits storage space for new models. Unless they did couloured macs as a BTO option, it would be hard to pull off at the local Apple store without them having to add on to their stock rooms and stock colours that just don't sell well...

Personally I like the blue colour but that might be a hard sell for some. In my new house the builder commented on the brushed stainless appliances by saying 'It'll be the 'new green' in a few years'. Yeah, ******* but they will be proven right...


I was thinking for the color options to be available on AppleStore and the retail machines could still be 'native' aluminum. Much of the computer stuff have to be ordered from somewhere already so it wouldn't matter much, and they've done for the iPod nano so why not the MacBook. They only have one base model of that now as well.

However, I could accept 'Jet Exhaust Black'. Sort of black shaded/polished aluminum as an intermediary.

Because not everyone looks good in a silvery-grey shirt... ;)

[Bubba Satori]

Nehalem and Westmere need to make a showing very soon.

Yes. This needs to be a really good update, not a minor refresh.

[Bubba Satori]

I'm going with rubber.


I'm leaning towards bamboo. :D

[Bubba Satori]

15" screen for $700 and blu-ray for $800 sounds reasonable.

You're describing my best selling Vaio and Sony is making money on it. They have the second highest margins in the store next to you know who. :D:apple:

[Bubba Satori]

Yea I want colors. Why can't I have an Orange MBP? They make iPods like that....why can't they make computers that way?

Speaking of colors, have you seen the new Pentax K-x ? :eek:

http://www.camera-pentax.jp/k-x/#/simulator/070101

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Speaking of colors, have you seen the new Pentax K-x ? :eek:

http://www.camera-pentax.jp/k-x/#/simulator/070101

YES! I am so tempted to buy one simply because of the colors.

[Captain Planet]

In my opinion the updated MacBook should have color options. Not just white and black, they should add red, blue, and orange(or more) This would bring some fun back to Apple. Just white and black (really just white) is super boring and dull. I would love a color change and maybe a bit thinner design, with an LED screen! :D

I totally agree with this. Choices of colors would be a great idea... I believe people would actually go for that. Combine this with a price drop and this could do very well. Of course, they would have to bring upgrades worth the purchase to go along with the fun side of colors.

[Eric S.]

Choices of colors would be a great idea... I believe people would actually go for that.

Yuck. That would make Apple look even more like an expensive toy company.

[dernhelm]

Whatever the tablet will be is going to be merged with whatever the macbook is, and there will be one sub $1000 computer that Apple makes (discounting iPhone/iPod type devices).

Everyone will thereby be disappointed.


Do any of you here think the new MacBook will have Mini DisplayPort?

(Just in case you want to know why I'm asking, it's because that will be the deciding factor for me since I want to run a 2560x1600 resolution on a 30" Apple Cinema Display. The current MacBook only has Mini-DVI which limits me to 1920x1200.)

As a matter of fact, I do. But don't make a huge purchase based on my opinion...
;)

[immortalix]

Right now, Windows ads attack Mac's high price, and Mac's ads attack Windows' vulnerability to viruses. To date, I haven't gotten a single virus on my Windows pc thanks to free or cheap software called internet security. Windows ads, from the way I see it, has it right; Mac prices are too high, so much so that I'd rather risk getting a virus or two (which is rare even without internet security if you don't visit explicit sites) and save several hundred bucks. And there's no stopping the new and improved Windows 7. The best counter to Windows is to bring down the prices.

[NT1440]

Right now, Windows ads attack Mac's high price, and Mac's ads attack Windows' vulnerability to viruses. To date, I haven't gotten a single virus on my Windows pc thanks to free or cheap software called internet security. Windows ads, from the way I see it, has it right; Mac prices are too high, so much so that I'd rather risk getting a virus or two (which is rare even without internet security if you don't visit explicit sites) and save several hundred bucks. And there's no stopping the new and improved Windows 7. The best counter to Windows is to bring down the prices.

Apple doesn't have to counter anything from windows. Switchers are there purely because they are sick of windows, most aren't going back. I switched even after using the 7 RC, it just FELT too much like me for windows to enjoy using.

[Red-red]

Right now, Windows ads attack Mac's high price, and Mac's ads attack Windows' vulnerability to viruses. To date, I haven't gotten a single virus on my Windows pc thanks to free or cheap software called internet security. Windows ads, from the way I see it, has it right; Mac prices are too high, so much so that I'd rather risk getting a virus or two (which is rare even without internet security if you don't visit explicit sites) and save several hundred bucks. And there's no stopping the new and improved Windows 7. The best counter to Windows is to bring down the prices.

... then why are you on a Mac forum, go enjoy your trouble free PC?

Apple have certainly mudded up the line up by switching the Uni-body MacBook's to Pro's so it wouldn't surprise me if they release a new MacBook with a new price point.

[thelairster]

If you ask me, they're probably going to be nearly the same as the old MacBook, but with an LED display, no firewire, non-removable battery, and a new topcase design that hopefully ends the cracking issues.

^^The only person here thinking logically. I'd like a multitouch trackpad but i doubt it will happen.

[NT1440]

^^The only person here thinking logically. I'd like a multitouch trackpad but i doubt it will happen.

mulittouch will be there. Apple is pushing it too hard for it not to be. Its part of the future of computing, as far as apple is concerned.

[immortalix]

... then why are you on a Mac forum, go enjoy your trouble free PC?

Apple have certainly mudded up the line up by switching the Uni-body MacBook's to Pro's so it wouldn't surprise me if they release a new MacBook with a new price point.

I think Apple is very innovative and I like Apple products in general. I just can't afford Apple products, especially not when there are much cheaper alternatives that fulfill my everyday computing needs satisfactorily.

[Target362]

Good point.

I like both apple and Microsoft. Both have their good and bad sides.

[ticklemonster]

I had a dream about the new MacBook last night. It was much cheaper, had a LED screen, the case was matte white rather than glossy, had no optical drive, and was way thinner. It looked really nice, and I really wanted one. Sadly, I woke up.

[Target362]

I had a dream about the new MacBook last night. It was much cheaper, had a LED screen, the case was matte white rather than glossy, had no optical drive, and was way thinner. It looked really nice, and I really wanted one. Sadly, I woke up.

You know what they say about dreams. All dreams take place in an alternate reality.

[EGOvoruhk]

had a LED screen

As in OLED? The price would go up 200%

[rubenerd]

Yuck. That would make Apple look even more like an expensive toy company.

Yes, because those multicoloured computers in the late 90s were such a flop and did nothing to help Apple ;)

I for one think it would be a brilliant move on Apple's part to introduce coloured cases to the low end MacBooks. Not my cup of tea, but as the iPod Nanos have demonstrated there's a segment of the market that do like their machines in colours other than black, white or silver. If anything it'd also really help distinguish the MacBook Pro brand with their aluminium construction as the more "professional" machines.

[MinorBidoh]

Apple will stay with the white poly (it's iconic) no chance of there being colours I think. Multitouch trackpad is a deffinate but I see little other changes apart from a bump in the HDD to maybe 250GB. And my bet is on a £649 UK price.

Oh and DDR3 ramm.:)
And a BTO option of bamboo...

[wolfpackfan]

Switchers are there purely because they are sick of windows, most aren't going back. I switched even after using the 7 RC, it just FELT too much like me for windows to enjoy using.

I am one of those switchers. I bought a Mac mini in January after a life time of PC's and I am glad I did. The thing is, it's not just the virus', for end users IMO OS X is just a better, easier to use, more intuitive OS. I found when running Windows, even if I wasn't worrying about virus' (and I had many instances), I found Windows slow (even XP). OS X boots up fast and is fast to operate. Programs seem to start faster. With Windows, it seemed like every time it booted, Windows wanted to do some kind of update or the virus software had to update. This doesn't happen with OS X. In the past I was one of those that complained about the high cost of Mac hardware vs. PC hardware, but you can't just compare hardware to hardware, you have to take into account you are buying a platform that runs OS X. I'll never go back to the PC platform.

[superlatic]

Apple will stay with the white poly (it's iconic) no chance of there being colours I think. Multitouch trackpad is a deffinate but I see little other changes apart from a bump in the HDD to maybe 250GB. And my bet is on a £649 UK price.

Oh and DDR3 ramm.:)
And a BTO option of bamboo...

I would guess same or similar enclosure

2.26ghz processor (1066mhz FSB)
4GB DDR2
250GB HDD
NVidia 9400M IGP
Superdrive
13.3" Screen
No multitouch

Agree with UK price, would expect around £649

[Target362]

Apple will stay with the white poly (it's iconic) no chance of there being colours I think. Multitouch trackpad is a deffinate but I see little other changes apart from a bump in the HDD to maybe 250GB. And my bet is on a £649 UK price.

Oh and DDR3 ramm.:)
And a BTO option of bamboo...

Its not iconic. Get that out of your little head. Take a look at the other apple products, are any of those white? Besides the time capsule and the mouse, nothing is white anymore. Its all sliver and black now

and remember, it will be launched in the US first, not the UK.

[drsmithy]

Could the new macbook be more along the lines of the ibook?

Imagine the ibook, updated to today's tech. Multi-touch pad, sd card reader, ect, but at the same time a smaller footprint, say by 15%.

I'd be on that pretty quick.
Huh ? In what way is the "old" MacBook not "along the lines of the iBook" ?

[MLS]

I'm hoping that if this happens, the MacBook won't be white again. The entire lineup of Mac products is aluminum/black, and I think that the MacBook shouldn't be an exception.

[Buzz Bumble]

Right now, Windows ads attack Mac's high price, and Mac's ads attack Windows' vulnerability to viruses. To date, I haven't gotten a single virus on my Windows pc thanks to free or cheap software called internet security. Windows ads, from the way I see it, has it right; Mac prices are too high, so much so that I'd rather risk getting a virus or two (which is rare even without internet security if you don't visit explicit sites)

The only way not to get Windows nasties is to never plug the computer into the Internet and never insert / connect external storage. So-called "security" software is always a step behind the morons writing the nasties. You may think you haven't got any, but it's almost guaranteed that you have, it's simply that your particular "security" software hasn't picked it up.

This hopeless Windows XP computer I'm using right now has Avast always running, but still gets nasties installed (and without visting "explicit sites) that neither Avast nor any of the other "anti-nasty" software even recognises let alone gets rid of. The only way to get rid of it is to manually delete enteries from the Regitry.



and save several hundred bucks. And there's no stopping the new and improved Windows 7. The best counter to Windows is to bring down the prices.

That's like saying the best way counter to Hyundai is for Rolls Royce / Ferrari to lower prices ... ain't gonna happen and their aimed at totally different audiences. Apple is the better quality, more exclusive brand, and as always you have to expect to pay more for it.

Besides which, the "Macs are more expensive" thing is largely a myth anyway, proven by a few people over the last few years doing exact spec comparisons (or at least as close as you can get) - the Mac proved to be at worst slightly more expensive and in some cases cheaper than the equivalent PC.

Yes, you can get cheap no-name brand Windows PCs, but they aren't equal spec to the Mac - they're just cheap 'n' nasty machines where you are getting what you pay for. That's one of the main reasons Windows PCs look cheaper.

The other reason PCs often look cheaper is due to PC bundle deals (Office, printer, etc.) that the stores can have simply because they do sell more Windows PCs.

[Captain Planet]

Besides which, the "Macs are more expensive" thing is largely a myth anyway, proven by a few people over the last few years doing exact spec comparisons (or at least as close as you can get) - the Mac proved to be at worst slightly more expensive and in some cases cheaper than the equivalent PC.

Yes, you can get cheap no-name brand Windows PCs, but they aren't equal spec to the Mac - they're just cheap 'n' nasty machines where you are getting what you pay for. That's one of the main reasons Windows PCs look cheaper.

Calm down, fanboy.

[Undo Redo]

I think Apple is very innovative and I like Apple products in general. I just can't afford Apple products, especially not when there are much cheaper alternatives that fulfill my everyday computing needs satisfactorily.
After 20 years with Macs I bought a netbook with WinXP and hadn't realized how little difference there is. When my desktop Mac is due for replacement, the new one might not be a Mac, sad to say. Apple just hasn't kept up on affordability.

[iAlex]

After 20 years with Macs I bought a netbook with WinXP and hadn't realized how little difference there is. When my desktop Mac is due for replacement, the new one might not be a Mac, sad to say. Apple just hasn't kept up on affordability.

I've had just the opposite experience. I recently purchased a Netbook ( a good one too) because of its affordability, and I have to say every time I hear the XP start up chime I get a shiver. The hardware if fine, the Atom does a fine job, but XP is simply archaic, going on -what is it 8+ years now... it's far less intuitive then OSX, everything takes 3 more steps (clicks) to get going. Set up was a nightmare, hours downloading and setting up Anti-vr ware, ant-spyware, firewalls, close socket apps, etc. etc. The GUI just plane sucks, apps close when you want them to remain running, and the icons looks like something made by Fisher Price. Overall, the form factor is just too small to be productive with. All the text is tiny, unreadable unless you like working with your head-in-your-Netbook. Great to carry, small, light, nice screen, great battery life. But what good is carrying something you can't be productive with? Bottom line... Sometimes cheap is expensive.

[camiloken]

I'm hoping 2 models:

1st. White poly macbook (ultra thin)
2.0Ghz core2duo
2GB of DDR3 ram
160GB hard drive
nvidia 9400
SD card reader
Super Drive
6 hour internal battery
$ 799 USD

2nd Black poly macbook (ultra thin)
2.4 Ghz core2duo
2GB of DDR3
250GB hard drive
nvidia 9400
SD card reader
Super Drive
6 hour internal battery
$ 999 USD


They would come with display link, 2 USB ports, 1 ethernet port and no Firewire 400.

[Undo Redo]

I've had just the opposite experience. I recently purchased a Netbook ( a good one too) because of its affordability, and I have to say every time I hear the XP start up chime I get a shiver. The hardware if fine, the Atom does a fine job, but XP is simply archaic, going on -what is it 8+ years now... it's far less intuitive then OSX, everything takes 3 more steps (clicks) to get going. Set up was a nightmare, hours downloading and setting up Anti-vr ware, ant-spyware, firewalls, close socket apps, etc. etc. The GUI just plane sucks, apps close when you want them to remain running, and the icons looks like something made by Fisher Price. Overall, the form factor is just too small to be productive with. All the text is tiny, unreadable unless you like working with your head-in-your-Netbook. Great to carry, small, light, nice screen, great battery life. But what good is carrying something you can't be productive with? Bottom line... Sometimes cheap is expensive.
You're right of course. There are several advantages to Macs, particularly in the OS. For the record, I wasn't claiming a netbook is a do all, workhorse machine.

I guess I've been blinded by Apple's stubbornness. Their refusal to use desktop parts in desktop machines. Their refusal to offer a decent affordable desktop computer (with desktop components) to which you can attach any monitor. Their idiocy of offering only glossy reflective displays on iMacs, the new LED monitor, and most MacBooks. And their snails pace at reducing prices.

Many argue what's good for Apple — making money by the boatload — is fabulous, awesome, etc. And I've seen a lot of snobbish comments around the Mac web to that effect, like a country club attitude; "if you can't afford the price of entry..." I would argue Apple should make Macs affordable to the masses. It's ridiculous that a Mac costs twice as much as a roughly equivalent PC. So after years of being a Mac loyalist, my attitude is changing.

[diamond.g]

I've had just the opposite experience. I recently purchased a Netbook ( a good one too) because of its affordability, and I have to say every time I hear the XP start up chime I get a shiver. The hardware if fine, the Atom does a fine job, but XP is simply archaic, going on -what is it 8+ years now... it's far less intuitive then OSX, everything takes 3 more steps (clicks) to get going. Set up was a nightmare, hours downloading and setting up Anti-vr ware, ant-spyware, firewalls, close socket apps, etc. etc. The GUI just plane sucks, apps close when you want them to remain running, and the icons looks like something made by Fisher Price. Overall, the form factor is just too small to be productive with. All the text is tiny, unreadable unless you like working with your head-in-your-Netbook. Great to carry, small, light, nice screen, great battery life. But what good is carrying something you can't be productive with? Bottom line... Sometimes cheap is expensive.

Have you tried Hackintoshing it?

[LeviG]

Have you tried Hackintoshing it?
or linux or even windows 7 (rc or on release)

[superlatic]

I'm hoping 2 models:

1st. White poly macbook (ultra thin)
2.0Ghz core2duo
2GB of DDR3 ram
160GB hard drive
nvidia 9400
SD card reader
Super Drive
6 hour internal battery
$ 799 USD

2nd Black poly macbook (ultra thin)
2.4 Ghz core2duo
2GB of DDR3
250GB hard drive
nvidia 9400
SD card reader
Super Drive
6 hour internal battery
$ 999 USD


They would come with display link, 2 USB ports, 1 ethernet port and no Firewire 400.

I think the standard RAM for any computer at $799 or approx £500 UK price is 4GB, but most of the computers around this price with 4GB Ram use DDR2 anyway.

Replace the RAM with 4GB of DDR2 on both models and I dont think their a million miles away

[sravana]

Have you tried Hackintoshing it?That's *my* plan - and I'm def not a geek. Check out www.mydellmini.com for loads of info.

Though I'd love to dual-boot OSX SL/W7, I'm not sure if the PC software I use will work with W7 - so I'll probably stick with XP. Oh, and I still have an XP laptop, but it's so filled with crap and slow that I can barely use it.

[blackapple3]

I'm hoping 2 models:

1st. White poly macbook (ultra thin)
2.0Ghz core2duo
2GB of DDR3 ram
160GB hard drive
nvidia 9400
SD card reader
Super Drive
6 hour internal battery
$ 799 USD

2nd Black poly macbook (ultra thin)
2.4 Ghz core2duo
2GB of DDR3
250GB hard drive
nvidia 9400
SD card reader
Super Drive
6 hour internal battery
$ 999 USD


They would come with display link, 2 USB ports, 1 ethernet port and no Firewire 400.

I'm not sure about a SD card reader on the low-end model. There isn't one on the current MacBook, as well as the old aluminum ones.

[NT1440]

Replace the RAM with 4GB of DDR2 on both models and I dont think their a million miles away

Apple is not going to use DDR2 anymore. It makes much more sense for them to streamline their component supplies.

[YMark]

I'll be hoofin' it to decalgirl anyway, white/black/whatever.... unless they come out with colors that rival the nano.

Maybe it will be called the Macbook Lollipop.

[Ammo]

I'm hoping for a bump in the specs. I can't get into specifics because I don't know about the cost model.

Honestly, I'm hoping the entry level MBP is eliminated while the "deluxe" 13" MBP is re-priced to $1200 then the specs of the entry level MBP are used in the new MB but with 4 GB RAM...but I won't hold my breath.

LED screen
SD reader
Superdrive (I don't understand why so many people want to get rid of the optical drives...I still use mine)
Multitouch pad

It sounds to me like the MB is gonna be really close to the MBP spec-wise and the MBP won't be worth the extra $$$$.

That'd make my decision much easier, I've been putting off getting a Mac for too long and now that my HP is giving me issues I'm seriously considering one with my Christmas money.

[Village]

It appears that at least two more models of the polycarbonate Macbooks showed up in the Refurb Store this morning.

[leekohler]

And who still wants a polycarbonate MB? I think it should be aluminum all the way from now on...

Umm... a lot of us for whom aluminum is not practical.

[PeterQVenkman]

.... you actually want it adorned with rubber ornaments? Nicer to feel than aluminum?! :confused:

They should get a Dell with bamboo paneling.

http://earth2tech.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/dell1.jpg

The outside is biodegradable, I'll give them that.

[Buzz Bumble]

Apple is not going to use DDR2 anymore.

Those guys missed an opportunity - they should have called it R2D2. ;)

[ahm]

I'm hoping the updated white Macbook gets DDR3, led backlit screen and lighter enclosure. That's it. I love the white Macbook, the style has worked since the iBooks. It's a great, simple design. I hope they'll address the cracking top case issue. Keep it at $999, and if they build cheaper ones with DDR2 RAM, an Intel Atom processor and Intel GMA chip to bring it down to $600-$700, I wouldn't buy it... but I know hundreds of thousands of people will.

I had an Aluminum Macbook, I sold it because I lost my job and needed to pay the rent. Now I have a 1st gen Macbook that I repaired. I actually prefer this to the Aluminum... I just wish it was faster and had better graphics.