Ultra-thin 12'' MacBook Pro?

[MacRumors]

Macscoop/MacOSXRumors claims that Apple is finishing development on a 12" MacBook Pro described as "ultra-thin":

The new laptop should be even thinner and weigh less than the current models in the MacBook Pro line-up. In spite of this very tiny and lightweight form-factor, the miniaturized MacBook Pro should keep its built-in optical drive and sport a dual-core processor, providing unequalled size/performance ratio in the PC industry, sources told MacScoop.

This "ultra-portable" MacBook Pro is estimated to be priced in the $1700-$1800 range and sport a 12" widescreen display.

The introduction of 12" MacBook Pro would fill a gap left by the 12" PowerBook model, which was dropped during the transition to Intel in early 2006. Apple retooled their laptop models which previously offered 12" / 14" iBooks and 12" / 15" / 17" PowerBooks to a lineup with 13" MacBooks and 15" / 17" MacBook Pros.

One analyst made similar claims in mid-2006. At that time, analyst Benjamin Reitzes stated that Apple was working on an "ultra-portable PC" to be delivered by Macworld San Francisco 2007. Reitzes included comments about incorporating the use of NAND Flash memory to speed up boot times. This concept of Flash-based latops was revisited in September 2006 by Appleinsider -- with expectations that NAND flash would make their way into the next revision of MacBooks due in 2007. While these rumors line up with each other, MacScoop makes no mention of Flash memory in this upcoming "ultra-thin" laptop.

MacScoop/MacOSXRumors cites "reliable" sources for this report and has had a recent history of some accurate reports with predictions of 23" (24") iMacs as well as Leopard info pre-WWDC.

[doraemonkey]

Ah this would be great. My 12 inch G4 powerbook isn't holding out that well. Even though I don't do that much intensive work, I task switch a lot and I spend a lots of time looking at the rainbow ball. I do carry it with me everywhere, and a portable has to be just that... portable. I do plug it into a 20 inch monitor at work though.

Here's hoping that they give us a new ultra portable!

[BlueRevolution]

I thought the point of getting rid of the 12" PowerBooks was to get rid of the iBook/PowerBook buying dilemma. Still, I would love to see Apple add an ultrathin. I would be surprised if they could keep the optical drive, though.

[oceanzen]

PERFECT

I was currently going to go for the 13" MB mainly because I like the form, as they have similar power but now I'll seriously consider the 12" - Hope they have better graphics than the MB

[doraemonkey]

I'd almost go on to say that a cd-dvd drive isn't necessary, I don't use mine much at all. I could just leave a cd-dvd drive at work or at home. DVD movies I could just burn, and most file transfers are done now adays with a USB key.

But, if the optical drive is thin enough and doesn't take much room why not...

[arn]

some people were probably hoping for smaller.... but a 12" widescreen would probably feel significantly smaller than a 12" 4:3

(fixed the 15"/14" mistake)

arn

[doraemonkey]

Hey, another thought...

Why 12 inch? The keyboard should be a minimum width to be comfortable. And on the current 12" there is enough room in the frame to use a true 13". So they could in theory use the 13 inch of the Macbook, but reduce the bulk of the machine to sell it as a Pro.

I would go for it... especially if there was a good video card included.

[Analog Kid]

12" widescreen? Oy! I hope it's pixel dense... My biggest complaint about the old 12" is that 1024x768 just isn't enough to work with.

[RoadKill]

I hope this is true. I have a 20" iMac and a 13" macbook for traveling but sometimes it's just a little bit too big, especially on UK pendolino trains!

Also hope that the glossy screen is a option so I can buy a matte one and it has a fantastic battery life (8hrs :-) ) ok ok I know I'm living in la-la land with the battery but I would buy a laptop with 1/2 the performance of my macbook if the battery life was doubled (as long as i could also watch the odd dvd)

My previous notebook was a 800MHz G4 iBook and that was more than enough cpu for my on the road needs.

[aswitcher]

Looks like a pretty wild Macworld coming up

[matthewHUB]

ok so i think we can guess that the reason it's no smaller than 12" is that they want to keep the full size keyboard. And i agree with Arn that 12" 16:9 feels a lot smaller than the 4:3.

Been looking to replace my g4 12" powerbook... this may make me keep it till wwdc 2007.

So would this be a pro machine?? or skimp on features for ultraportability?

price seems reasonable. ugh it's 4am and i need to get to bed. Darn Macrumors!

[erockerboy]

Man, I will be stoked if this one turns out to be true. I love my 12" G4 PBook but it's definitely getting a bit long in the tooth. Would be great to have a new Intel speed demon in a similar form factor.

Bring it!!!

[hsvguy]

Bring it on - that's really all that needs to be said

[emotion]

Balls, I was holding out for something ike this and pulled the trigger on a macbook.

I suspect a small mbp would sport the L7400 which is only 1.5GHz (though still 4MB cache).

[matthewHUB]

Would this still be part of the macbook pro line?

New name?

Macbook mini. I called it first.

[balamw]

The next five weeks are going to seem REAALLLY looong.

B

[Philberttheduck]

It'll probably be a 12.1" WS or at worse 11.1" WS. I hope it has on-par speeds of the MBPs, and not sacrifice any GHZ loss.

[joelypolly]

Now if this baby supports 30" ACD then I will buy it in a heart beat.... as soon as I get the heart going from the shock of apple actually releasing this.

[LostPacket]

I thought the optical drive was the limiting factor for thickness. Has a manufacturer come out with an ultra thin drive recently? What are the ultra-thin PC laptops using, if any?

Edit: I just lost my newbie status. *pats back*

[dnedved]

Sweet! If the screen will swing all the way back around so it can be used like a tablet I'll definitely be ordering one. Why the heck are they putting an optical drive in what would otherwise be an ultra-portable? Just put a few USB ports on it and people who want an optical drive can plug one in every year or two when they need legacy media! I don't want to pay the price for the drive, and I certainly don't want the extra weight and space for something I won't use that often.

[emotion]

Originally Posted by matthewHUB

Would this still be part of the macbook pro line?

New name?

Macbook mini. I called it first.

Macbook Nano. I called that first.

[mhar4]

Originally Posted by doraemonkey

Ah this would be great. My 12 inch G4 powerbook isn't holding out that well. Even though I don't do that much intensive work, I task switch a lot and I spend a lots of time looking at the rainbow ball. I do carry it with me everywhere, and a portable has to be just that... portable. I do plug it into a 20 inch monitor at work though.

I finally just upgraded the memory of my 12" PowerBook to 1.25GB and have had nary a sight of the beachball since. It's really a new lease of life and gives me pause before an upgrade. Not that one of these 12" MBPs don't sound very attractive, though!

[bluebomberman]

It's almost unfair that all this new stuff's poised to come out right after the holiday season...I keep on thinking I'm going to buy something, but the little voice in my head says:

Wait for Macworld

[MAcNIAC]

arghhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!

i just bought a 15" MBP because there is no 12"PB replacement - i will spew if this is true.

[PodHead]

I really wish I could afford to wait for this to become truth or not. This is exactly what I need. A pro model with portability, that would be awesome. Especially if it played nice with my 20" widescreen monitor. Dedicated video would be nice too. Guess I'll just keep the Macbook in decent shape, then....EBAY!!