Aluminum MacBook and MacBook Pros Spotted?

[MacRumors]

AppleInsider provides some reassurances that MacBook and MacBook Pro updates must be imminent with the new models having reportedly been spotted by sources.

The new 13" MacBooks, 15" MacBook Pros and 17" MacBook Pros are said to share similar Aluminum-based look "as if they were members of the same product family". The current MacBooks and MacBook Pro are very distinct from one another with the MacBook housed in a white or black plastic enclosure.

Again, the new designs were described as a cross between the 13-inch MacBook Air introduced this January and the aluminum iMacs that made their debut during the summer of 2007. In its April report, AppleInsider noted this would include a trimming -- or tapering -- around the edges and instances of black material to contrast the largely aluminum motif of the new notebooks.

In an effort to further reduce the notebook footprint, the new MacBook Pro is said to be eliminating the Firewire 400 port and the 28-pin DVI-I (Dual Link) port. Instead, the cases will contain the smaller (but still backward compatible) Firewire 800 port and "what appears to be" a mini-DVI port.


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[Moof1904]

Woo hoo! I see the logic in only having FW800, but just I hope this isn't another teenie step in a phase-out of FireWire.

[Mykbibby]

Bring it on!

Perhaps we'll see Firewire 800, and maybe a faster Firewire introduction as well?

[tMac85]

yes yes yes yes yes awesome!!!!! cant wait!

[Twylo]

I don't think the new MacBook Pro could use Mini-DVI, since it doesn't support Dual Link. Maybe it's only on the new MacBook? Can't wait to see 'em.

[yvonnejim]

How does eliminating the USB 400 port reduce the footprint?

[Clayne]

Yes, I always sign on right when the news pops up, haha. so I have like top 5 post.

Anyways, this is cool!! Looks like no Black Aluminum Macbook, though.

[Tallest Skil]

Give me full size, non-proprietary ports or you can forget it.

Or just something smaller like DisplayPort or HDMI.

But keep the FireWire.

Clayne, the easiest thing to do is just never sign out...

[hogfaninga]

Disappointing if there isn't more to it. If aluminum casing makes the masses celebrate then anything will.

[tMac85]

wait! who spotted them? Where is this source? I WANT MORE!!! I WANT A PICTURE!

[Courtaj]

Originally Posted by yvonnejim

How does eliminating the USB 400 port reduce the footprint?

I didn't even know the current models had feet!

Does reducing the footprint mean they'll just have one foot instead of two?

I wish they'd just make the damn things smaller.

[mrwizardno2]

I really hope they don't uglify the whole friggin line with that ugly black "contrast" around the screen.

[corinhorn]

Damn it! Keep the frickin FireWire 400. I don't want to have to buy different cables!

[Jelite]

New Macbook + lower price= count me in.

[Aranince]

Woot silver/black just like my iPod. Bring it on Apple!

[blurredline]

I just bought a new Macbook to replace my last one about 2 months ago. Meh, I'll just give it to my girlfriend and get the new one, or the new Macbook Pro...we'll see I guess...I'm getting so excited though! My fanboy tourettes are acting up.

[k2k koos]

great stuff, I am going to upgrade to a new Macbook Pro in January, I should get a christmas bonus, and I think I will spend it on a new laptop to upgrade from my Alu Powerbook G4 1.25Ghz, it served me well, and still does, but it's time for a more powerful machine now :-) Oh mr Jobs, Quadcore processors please :-)

[Aranince]

Originally Posted by Courtaj

I didn't even know the current models had feet!

Does reducing the footprint mean they'll just have one foot instead of two?

I wish they'd just make the damn things smaller.

They mean the physical size of the notebook.

[riversky]

Originally Posted by Jelite

New Macbook + lower price= count me in.

If it is aluminum it will not be cheaper! Especially if it has the LED screen of the MacBook Air as well.

[Ade-iMac-177]

WHAT?!?!

they can't remove dual-link DVI or else the macbook pros won't work with the 30 inch Cinema Displays.

and if they remove the firewire 400 then they better provide a firewire 800 to 400 adapter or else I and a lot of other people will really be pissed off. And they will have to add another 800 port - many people need 2.

Plus isn't a firewire 800 port the same height as a 400? plus an ethernet port is taller than both so how can they reduce the footprint?

[mrwizardno2]

Originally Posted by Aranince

The mean the physical size of the notebook.

Turn on your sarcasm detector

[Courtaj]

Originally Posted by Aranince

They mean the physical size of the notebook.

Right. Thanks for setting me straight there. For a moment I thought they were speaking figuratively or something. Either that, or trying to sell me shoes.

[kjs862]

Nice, I wonder if people are going to buy the macbook instead of the pro now since its going to have an alu case.

Edit- maybe they will be both be alu but the pro will have some extra cosmetic thingy, like a black glass trim or something.

[Daveway]

Seems like this makes the line more one dimensional, which is the opposite of more choices at different price points.

[MojoWill]

i cant see them taking away the full DVI from MBP but it doesnt matter on MB

forget this though im hoping for Apple NetBook