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i know this may sound ludicrus , but i think Apple may be planning to merge both macbook and macbook pro lines.

I mean with all these rumors, they never seem to differentiate between MB and MBP. As in sense of they never say "MB will have this and MBP will have that....".

One strong rumour is that the new MB is going to be made from aluminium. It kinda makes sense to make both laptops from same materials as wouldnt this save on costs.

Also metal casing is better in terms of recycling. Havent Apple said that they need to do more in terms of recycling?

They could be planning to just rename whole laptop range as macbook. These would just basically be MBP but there would be a range of say 5-6 or something. maybe the lower specced ones would come with integrated graphics, no backlit keyboard etc

Anyone think this could happen or think I need to be admitted to hospital?:)

With their saying that the new MacBook will have tapered, Air-inspired edges and be made from aluminum, I actually wouldn't be surprised if MacBook and MacBook Air merged into the same line...but, then again, I guess they probably wouldn't (since the Air is probably more like the Pro than the regular MacBook), but maybe that's just because I hope the regular MacBook never becomes as nearly un-upgradeable as the Air.

At the very least, I can see the next MacBook being a bit more like the Air ... or the MacBook Pro, for that matter, without some of the "Pro" features.

So, I guess I don't really know what I'm saying... :eek:
 
for all the students out there, would it really be a big deal to not have a laptop at college for a month or so if it was released in September. Im also a college freshman and plan on waiting till whenever the new macbook is released. College campuses are full of computer labs and other places to type documents, research, etc. Thoughts?
 
for all the students out there, would it really be a big deal to not have a laptop at college for a month or so if it was released in September. Im also a college freshman and plan on waiting till whenever the new macbook is released. College campuses are full of computer labs and other places to type documents, research, etc. Thoughts?

It really depends on your school and major. Being an engineering undergrad laptops are required for some classes - if they expect you to be following along in class on your computer then you're going to need it right away.

But I know other majors that could get by without using a laptop ever - so it depends on your situation.
 
It really does depend on your major. I am a communications major and I do video editing and commute from home. I live about a half hour away. Therefore i do need a computer. but I also am trying to think of a way to slide by a month to get the new macbook pro. I have had so many problems with the current macbook pro's video card. So i got rid of it and am waiting on the new ones. I sure hope it isnt any longer than a month after school starts though. I cant afford to go much longer.
 
It really does depend on your major. I am a communications major and I do video editing and commute from home. I live about a half hour away. Therefore i do need a computer. but I also am trying to think of a way to slide by a month to get the new macbook pro. I have had so many problems with the current macbook pro's video card. So i got rid of it and am waiting on the new ones. I sure hope it isnt any longer than a month after school starts though. I cant afford to go much longer.

Anyone know if it's really mandatory for a Business Major (finance)??
I have an iphone and if not I can always bring my crappy Toshiba.
I always turn to this site for the rumors and I waited 9 months for the new iphone, lol.
 
About The Release Date...

From a business standpoint it makes perfect sense to release the updated MacBook after the Back to School promotion.

They're selling as many of the current MacBooks as they can by bundling them with a FREE iPod. This helps them move product of the shelves to get them ready for the updated product launch. And the end of September sets things up perfectly for Apple.

They will release the new MacBooks with a creative ad campaign and watch them fly off the shelves. And you'd better believe Apple will really make a big push for the holiday shopping season. Don't be surprised if Apple makes some minor improvements (e.g. larger harddrive, better graphics card?, etc.) to the new MacBook along the way, and possibly runs a new promotional offer with it in time for Christmas.

Apple has been known to not just stay ahead of the curve, but to BE the curve that everyone else tries to keep up with.

If you've been thinking about getting a MacBook soon, my advice to you is, WAIT. If you don't, you WILL regret it. The new MacBook will make the current one look like a child's toy.
 
I think it would be awesome if instead of a built-in trackpad, they had a recessed divot and dock connector for an ipod touch that doubled as your trackpad and included it with the computer :p hahaha not very functional if you want to listen to your ipod AND compute, but the idea is pretty cool
 
Anyone know if it's really mandatory for a Business Major (finance)??
I have an iphone and if not I can always bring my crappy Toshiba.
I always turn to this site for the rumors and I waited 9 months for the new iphone, lol.

Does it run excel? That should be the only thing you may need.

I'm going to be a Mathematics/CS major so I have to have a computer for college so I will be getting mine before school starts otherwise I'll be screwed.
 
Well apple does have a fourteen day return policy (for unmodified computers). SOOOO.... does that mean we could buy a laptop during the college promotion, get the free iPod, return our mac within the 14 day period (which would bring us right to the end of September) for a store credit, and use the credit to purchase one of the new models?


Nice try - you would get the new MB but you wouldn't get the rebate for the iPod. LOL

You have to provide UPCs/product data and receipt data so they can verify that you have actually purchased the product and not returned it. They are not going to return it if you already cut off the UPCs.
 
you basically dock your iphone or itouch into the macbook and use that as a trackpad :)

that sounds stupid, what if you dont own a ipod, you have a huge ugly gap where the trackpad should be,wait. what would you use as a trackpad if you dont have one
 
It amazes me how we all still pay for lack of some basic features and a stunning design (that doesn't effect how the computer is useful or actually operates) when we buy Apple.

What the hell use is there in a glass trackpad? Seriously, a thinner MacBook.

Before Apple continues to be artsy and unique they need to look at the serious lack of utility their products have. My MacBook I paid a good 1500$ for with upgrades (4 gigs of ram, a larger/faster hd and a case to product its... easily damaged shell) and these are the ports it has on it.

Two USB ports, One FW400 port, a ethernet port, your usual audio stuff, a dvi port and of course the magna safe power port (genius in design). It also lacks dedicated graphics, and a super drive.

For 1500$ I get a combo drive and 128mb of vram? Lets even minus the upgrades I put into it and consider its base cost of 1199$ CAN (the base model of the current generation of MacBook) and all I get with that is 2 USB ports?

No HDMI port? No super drive? No third USB port? No ports on the right hand side of the computer? No dedicated graphic? No PCI slots? The thing over heats (to 70C +) when watching a few youtube videos...

And the next revision of their MB is going to make it thinner? Add a glass trackpad? With multi touch?

I really think there is a line between making a product that compromises usefulness for looks and a product that is a middle ground between the two.
I think Apple will seriously farther cross the line if their answer to creating a better notebook to compete with PC's (exploding with utilities that also look pretty decent) is a frigging glass track pad.

you could fix most of your complaint if you just just the pro instead, geez.
third usb,super drive,deditcated graphics, better shell ++ more

dude, the macbook is for consumers, not for the powerusers who actually knows what those things are. IF YOU WANT THOSE EXTRA FEATURES GO PRO, the macbook isn't your only choice. and it's unlikely the macbook will ever have any of those features, or atleast in my opinion

and what i hate about normal trackpads, is that, your never completely sure on how to clean them with out distroying it,(i was stupid enought to use rubing achohol once) and after a period of time they get this oily buildup that's almost impossible to wipe off,and i can under stand if it was backlit like the keyboard
 
What I want

I want a laptop where the iPhone pops out of the case, just like the Batpod did in The Dark Knight.

- or -

I want a laptop with no keyboard or trackpad, just a bunch of iPhone touch screens nicely fit together and working as one (I'd prefer a single seamless piece, but understand that's not practical). That touchscreen would take up all the surface area of the non-screen part of the case.

Either one will do.
 
I want a laptop where the iPhone pops out of the case, just like the Batpod did in The Dark Knight.

- or -

I want a laptop with no keyboard or trackpad, just a bunch of iPhone touch screens nicely fit together and working as one (I'd prefer a single seamless piece, but understand that's not practical). That touchscreen would take up all the surface area of the non-screen part of the case.

Either one will do.

so a tablet...
 
for all the students out there, would it really be a big deal to not have a laptop at college for a month or so if it was released in September. Im also a college freshman and plan on waiting till whenever the new macbook is released. College campuses are full of computer labs and other places to type documents, research, etc. Thoughts?

The issue for me is hoping to overlap the refresh and the ipod touch promotion. Having to choose between a nice ipod now and a potentially nice laptop in the future isn't fun!
 
The issue for me is hoping to overlap the refresh and the ipod touch promotion. Having to choose between a nice ipod now and a potentially nice laptop in the future isn't fun!

There no saying that the new laptop will be well received. What if the new laptop sucks? Then you have to rush to buy up an old laptop before the supply runs out, and you don't get an ipod. If you like the current laptops, get one plus the free ipod touch.

To first year Uni students: Wait as long as you can, but make sure you take advantage of the back-2-school promo! You don't want to buy a Gen A product anyway, no matter how cool that glass trackpad turns out to be. Hypotheticaly, Gen A products are full of bugs and interconnectivity problems that will cause you big headaches. Your school IT dept will say they don't support the components in your new laptop yet. You'll have bugs that no one will know how to fix, cause you're the only one with the 'cool new laptop.'

You don't wanna spend your first year indoors troubleshooting your mac do you? You've got stuff to meet, people to do!
 
Aw to hell with it. revisions come out every 6 months. There will be at least 6 before I buy my next laptop. No sense torturing myself by waiting any longer. I'm gonna go buy a blackbook tomorrow.
 
Aw to hell with it. revisions come out every 6 months. There will be at least 6 before I buy my next laptop. No sense torturing myself by waiting any longer. I'm gonna go buy a blackbook tomorrow.

You should. It was a great computer then, and it still is now.
 
The issue for me is hoping to overlap the refresh and the ipod touch promotion. Having to choose between a nice ipod now and a potentially nice laptop in the future isn't fun!

that was my plan all along too until i heard this rumor. i just wish i knew the specs on the new one, then i'd be able to make a good decision. But if you think about the price the old macbooks will drop when the new ones come out, most likely it'll cover the price of the ipod if thats what you really wanted. i planned on selling mine personally since i already have a 30gb video.
 
Aw to hell with it. revisions come out every 6 months. There will be at least 6 before I buy my next laptop. No sense torturing myself by waiting any longer. I'm gonna go buy a blackbook tomorrow.

i'm with you man.
I'm going to the Apple Store and buying a MBP tomorrow. The current machine is awesome! I'm tired of waiting. I waited 6 months. I want the free ipod touch, which I'd miss out of it I wait until sept. The next gen MBP will be about the same performance wise, so I won't miss out on much. And besides what are we really looking at: bigger glass track pad (who cares, i mostly use an external mouse), chicklet keyboard (hate it! Love the current keyboard), small performance boost. Plus the current design is a legendary design that I can forever have (I'm the kind of person who collects and keeps everything! ). How many times have we seen the MBP in tv ads and posters? Its design will forever be remembered.

I don't want the distraction during college. Its just not worth wasting my time on these forums anymore. I should've just bought it months ago. But you can't look back. Tomorrow I will MORE than enjoy my new MBP and will be ok regardless of what happens with the new one. Besides there's always a chance you take with a gen A product. The current design is pretty well worked out. I understand those who will wait. Maybe its the smart thing, but for the time I'll wast time waiting for it, its just a machine. God and people are so much more worth it!

God Bless to you all! Best of wishes with whatever you decide!
 
i'm with you man.
I'm going to the Apple Store and buying a MBP tomorrow. The current machine is awesome! I'm tired of waiting. I waited 6 months. I want the free ipod touch, which I'd miss out of it I wait until sept. The next gen MBP will be about the same performance wise, so I won't miss out on much. And besides what are we really looking at: bigger glass track pad (who cares, i mostly use an external mouse), chicklet keyboard (hate it! Love the current keyboard), small performance boost. Plus the current design is a legendary design that I can forever have (I'm the kind of person who collects and keeps everything! ). How many times have we seen the MBP in tv ads and posters? Its design will forever be remembered.

I don't want the distraction during college. Its just not worth wasting my time on these forums anymore. I should've just bought it months ago. But you can't look back. Tomorrow I will MORE than enjoy my new MBP and will be ok regardless of what happens with the new one. Besides there's always a chance you take with a gen A product. The current design is pretty well worked out. I understand those who will wait. Maybe its the smart thing, but for the time I'll wast time waiting for it, its just a machine. God and people are so much more worth it!

God Bless to you all! Best of wishes with whatever you decide!

sweet, post when or if you get it? :D
 
Glass... didn't apple patented a glowing touchpad (although for iPods) a while ago? It would be interesting if there's a trail of glowing light following your fingers. :)

I posted the same thing yesterday! Only I didn't know they patented something like that. That's cool though.

***

Also, as far as going to school without a laptop, it realllllyyyyyy depends. I'm going to a liberal arts college and taking environmental/nature classes. I probably won't need a laptop AT ALL throughout my whole time in school.

So I'll wait, as hard as it is..
 
Aw to hell with it. revisions come out every 6 months. There will be at least 6 before I buy my next laptop. No sense torturing myself by waiting any longer. I'm gonna go buy a blackbook tomorrow.

I think that's the right attitude. Now, I just have to decide between white and black. Is black less likely to crack?
 
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