MacBook to See Design Refresh in Near Future?

[jmadlena]

Do you guys ever post your own news... or do you always just report what Appleinsider says? Seems like the majority of your articles start out with "Appleinsider reports..."

It's a rumor site, there are only so many rumors at a time, and you should have noticed that Mac Rumors is posting less and less of tips they have received, and it aggregating the rumors from across the web with better reporting. That's why I come here at least, because the articles are laid out and presented in a professional way, compared to something like 9 to 5 Mac.

Their reporting of what others are saying doesn't seem to hurt the community here at all, seeing as Mac Rumors has the biggest forum of the Apple rumor sites. They're doing something right.

OT: I can't see a major design overhaul if they stay with the white plastic. Nothing radical at least. Though they said that the purpose of the unibody fabrication process would reduce costs over time, if I recall correctly, so maybe they've gotten to the point where they could switch to a unibody design and lower the price $100. An $899 entry point sounds quite a bit cheaper than $999.

 

[Jmanmadness23]

This could be sweet

So, since Apple has established the "MacBook Pro" as the new aluminum unibody notebooks, its time for a revamp of the MacBook. I think they should remain plastic, keep the general shape and hardware, but give it a better screen if they haven't already done so, and release it in COLORS. Just like the "Nanochromatic" launch, i think color options for the macbook would def boost sales. This would help compete with dells newer studio notebooks + many others that come in sweet colors. If not many colors, atleast the black.

 

[thecartoonguy]

Hope the polycarb stays. better wifi and more durable. Idk why people have such a boner for thinner stuff. Its thin enough. The thinner you make it, the more problems you have. i.e.-weak uni hinges-limited HDD options-heat problems...

If I had to guess, people think thinner means lighter, and not the problems that come with it.

 

[pmcb]

im still gonna convince my fam to get some old powerbook g4s on the cheap, thats all you really need for basic computing. i think a newly designed macbook would sell well, but not nearly as well as the new mbp did this june.

 

[instaxgirl]

I hope they bring the black MB back.

I know. When they first released that I was all "but, but . . . WHITE" then I actually saw one and jeezo, it was sliiiiiiick.

I think it is a good deal to get the MacBook back. Not sure I would want one that is being built out of lower end components?

Yeah, that sort of jarred with me too. Just make it thinner, lighter and more durable please. (and people who ask why the obsession with thinner, it's a laptop)

I just wish you wouldn't keep posting your opinions as fact. It would help save you from a lot of the hassle you get on here.

I like the way he posts, always have. Especially when someone comes in and says something crazy and he just wanders into the forum and pisses all over it. I generally agree with what he's saying

 

[AppleTecFan]

what happens then to the lower end MBP? wouldn't that compete with the 13" model?

also, who would buy a mini for $699 when you get a MB for $799?

Maybe someone wants a mac but not a notebook

 

[swarmster]

So, since Apple has established the "MacBook Pro" as the new aluminum unibody notebooks, its time for a revamp of the MacBook. I think they should remain plastic, keep the general shape and hardware, but give it a better screen if they haven't already done so, and release it in COLORS. Just like the "Nanochromatic" launch, i think color options for the macbook would def boost sales. This would help compete with dells newer studio notebooks + many others that come in sweet colors. If not many colors, atleast the black.

I was just about to post the same thing; bring back the colours! (Bonus if iBook Key Lime makes a comeback!)

Although I don't understand why everyone seems to want/expect them to keep the plastic? Isn't the MacBook now the only Apple product with a plastic case? Aren't they still pushing glass/aluminum/anything-but-plastic as more environmentally friendly? Build the MacBook out of the same aluminum as the iPod nano.

 

[gmcalpin]

Oh. I thought Apple was going to use 'MacBook' for their tablet. *sigh*

I've never understood why people assume(d) that — books open and close. Tablets do not.

 

[likeupskirts]

Wonderful. They also need to update Mac mini design, that thing has been around before Jesus.

 

[METOO999]

It would be nice to see a design that isn't prone to cracking.

Yeah, I had a little sliver piece on the bottom right corner next to the trackpad come off and I don't abuse my lovely late 2006 Blackbook. Well past warranty, so blah...

 

[Eidorian]

It's nice to see the MacBook getting some attention. It's Core 2 + 9400 M G. Why spend more?

It'll just be Arrandale + MCP99 when I get my new Macbook.

 

[zedsdead]

Wonderful. They also need to update Mac mini design, that thing has been around before Jesus.

Considering it was almost 2 years between updates last time around, many people on here thought a redesign was coming with that update but it didn't happen.

Maybe next time, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[FightTheFuture]

the iconic ibookG3/G4/macbook

this is a tricky situation since the white MacBook's casing is as iconic as an iPod's scroll wheel.

i hope they do something that can carry on that element, but still retain its more 'fun & simplistic' appeal. in my opinion, the Mac Mini's casing looks more modern then the white MacBook.

 

[Akzel]

Cheaper parts? :-(

 

[sauer228]

Apple event for Macbook refresh and Tablet intro in October/November! Can't wait!

 

[Eidorian]

Cheaper parts? :-(

I don't see where people are getting this idea. Apple's hardware is already using the cheapest parts short of going to Celeron or Pentium Dual Core and back to Intel's IGP. Atom is a just a terrible idea. Apple isn't going to drop the Core whatever moniker for anything less. The only options left are lowering the BOM, which requires some R&D, or lower hardware profit margins.

 

[polaris20]

Hope the polycarb stays. better wifi and more durable. Idk why people have such a boner for thinner stuff. Its thin enough. The thinner you make it, the more problems you have. i.e.-weak uni hinges-limited HDD options-heat problems...

I agree. As much as I love the 13" and 15" uMBP's, if they get any thinner without the chips getting cooler, it's going to fry itself.

How about a unibody polycarbonate MacBook, in the nano colors as someone else mentioned? That'd be kinda cool.

 

[ElijahPost]

I don't think there will be an iTablet in the near future. (just as there will never be an iPhone nano as many people predicted.)

The white MacBook (which is the one I'm typing on) could be made thinner and lighter, given the unibody polycarbonate enclosure as mentioned above, given the new trackpad, smoothed out, and no longer be sooo prone to cracks. If they were to do anything more, the price would go up instead of down.

Maybe they could make the keys black and backlit like the other laptops, and make the rest of the computer available in White, Grey, and Black. (I don't think colors will ever be available on a MacBook when all the other computers don't have that option. Apple has a thing for uniformity.)

 

[Eidorian]

I agree. As much as I love the 13" and 15" uMBP's, if they get any thinner without the chips getting cooler, it's going to fry itself.

How about a unibody polycarbonate MacBook, in the nano colors as someone else mentioned? That'd be kinda cool.

They're pushing the limits of plastic already for thinness. The only way to go is metal.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10276904-64.html

 

[frittino]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8900/4.6.1.250 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/115)

so the MS TV ads are working and apple needs a cheap laptop?

still i can get a Dell with a 15" backlit LCD for $700. cheaper if i get it with an old CPU

Yes but it's a DELL. I'm working with DELL's laptop since 2000. I hate them. Slow hard drives, poor screen, plastic case,etc

 

[Deefuzz]

I agree. In fact, why haven't we seen the aluminum Macs available in different colors like the iPod Nano?

I would love that personally. I would order an orange one the day they made it available.

 

[neiltc13]

This is the only good looking laptop left in Apple's lineup. The other ones are hideous and a huge step backwards from their predecessors. My money is on another ugly black keyboard against a completely different coloured shell. Yuck.

 

[Mal]

If the higher end models went from plastic to Aluminum, its only obvious that their lower end counterparts are going to go from plastic to wood.

Introducing the all new MacBook Bamboo. Doesn't that sound just awesome when you pronounce it?

Love it, though I wonder if that would reduce or increase the cracking problems?

I would love that personally. I would order an orange one the day they made it available.

Eww, no. I can't see Apple going back to colors, but if they do, I can't see them even considering another "Tangerine".

jW

 

[WildCowboy]

Do you guys ever post your own news... or do you always just report what Appleinsider says? Seems like the majority of your articles start out with "Appleinsider reports..."

By my count, we've cited AppleInsider four times so far this month out of over 120 articles published. That certainly doesn't seem to be a majority to me, but I haven't had a math class in a while, so I could be wrong about that.

 

[Hemingray]

It would be nice to see a design that isn't prone to cracking.

Ditto that! My RevA MacBook looks so ugly now that most of its inner edge lip is missing around the palm rest. Terrible design!