Next MacBook to Include Glass Trackpad, Due in September?

[MacRumors]

Seth Weintraub, the author of 9to5Mac, publishes more information at ComputerWorld about what he has heard about the upcoming MacBook updates.

According to Weintraub's sources, the new MacBooks will be thinner than the current MacBook and MacBook Pro designs while slightly more rounded. The case is said to be made of one piece of aluminum and bears some similarities to the MacBook Air. The trackpad on the new notebook is to be made of glass and support multi-touch and the use of gestures, but the notebook will not incorporate a multi-touch screen.

Finally, Weintraub expects the new MacBook to be released at the end of September.

Based on the description, it appears these new MacBooks will be an evolution on existing laptop designs and not a radical departure into tablet designs. Of course, no one expected Apple to abandon the traditional notebook design, but the use of the term "MacBook Touch" may have confused some. Of course, these rumors don't preclude the possibility of some sort of tablet based device as well.

Article Link

[Aztec]

End of September....Hmm, this or the free iPod Touch. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

[notnek]

i would not mind a september update. that's about the time i'll be due for a notebook upgrade

[EwanP]

A glass trackpad? That just doesn't sound right!

[Aranince]

Glass trackpad? Interesting...

[newyorksole]

I was looking into purcahsing a MacBook in September so I can't wait to see what this thing looks like.

[smootling]

September? Why does the Apple God hate me. Here's hoping this is one rumor that is wrong.

[auxplage]

I am imagining an iPhone-size-pad in place of the traditional trackpad that changes depending on the application in use.

Sounds interesting.

[fastbite]

Sounds absolutely brilliant!

[Aztec]

How reliable is Seth Weintraub. Has he submitted any rumors in the past? If so, how correct have they turned out to be?

[Peace]

All I can say is it looks like Apple has switched on the RDF so that means a Stevenote in August.

[bytethese]

Wow, this could be interesting. I may look into a new purchase in Sept for Grad School if this is true.

[eidrunner247]

September is right around the corner. I wonder what else is in store. Any word on an updated iLife?

[dabills80]

i really hope this doesnt kill the rumers of a new macbook pro early august

[arn]

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Originally Posted by Aztec

How reliable is Seth Weintraub. Has he submitted any rumors in the past? If so, how correct have they turned out to be?

weintraub runs 9to5mac who has been reliable in the past. The fact that he published this on computerworld means he's pretty confident about it.

So I say it's pretty reliable.

[blipper]

In his CW article, Weintraub says the new models will be "slightly larger"; for me to buy a replacement for my 12 inch PB, I'd want them to be getting smaller, not larger.

[kingshrubb]

If Macbook is being released at the end of September, what does that say for Macbook Pro? Same time like the last update, or before?

[The New]

Wow, a glass trackpad would be very slick. I hope this is true.

[seaofshame]

I'm excited to see this. I guess I'll have to wait till sept. before boarding the macbook ship.

[probably]

Originally Posted by auxplage

I am imagining an iPhone-size-pad in place of the traditional trackpad that changes depending on the application in use.

Sounds interesting.

Or...iPhone *screen* where the trackpad is.

An extra small display with contextual displays and menus/purpose?

A loupe for taking a manipulable look at things?

That does vaguely fit (and so do a thousand other ideas/directions) under the conference call notion that they are going to take a margin hit for 'technology no one else can compete with.'

[audioadrenaline]

This sucks! Apple will release the new macbooks just after the free iPod touch deal for students expires September 15.

[mustang_dvs]

I'm still scratching my head as to the advantage of a glass trackpad... What would a glass surface do that the current surface can't (other than a DS-style second display)?

Originally Posted by smootling

September? Why does the Apple God hate me. Here's hoping this is one rumor that is wrong.

Since the transition to Intel, most MacBook updates have come in late-August/early-September. (Further evidenced by the B2S iPod promotion ending on Sept. 15th).

Originally Posted by eidrunner247

September is right around the corner. I wonder what else is in store. Any word on an updated iLife?

I doubt we'll see a major revision to iLife before January, given the issues with MobileMe and the focus of Snow Leopard. But I could be wrong.

[c0mmander venus]

The glass trackpad should serve as a touch screen, utilizing it as a smaller secondary display.


MacBook DS..?

[Peace]

Originally Posted by arn

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weintraub runs 9to5mac who has been reliable in the past. The fact that he published this on computerworld means he's pretty confident about it.

So I say it's pretty reliable.

He has been relatively reliable in the past but he has been known to not get the whole picture. He gets info but there's always something missing.

I can see Apple feeding this stuff to rumor sites. And when that pace picks up it means something is on the way.

[Tallest Skil]

Originally Posted by kingshrubb

If Macbook is being released at the end of September, what does that say for Macbook Pro? Same time like the last update, or before?

Since the last update is the ONLY time they've been done together, let's freaking hope not.

August 5th or tomorrow, guys. I'm going to Ireland for four months and everything's twice the price there!