Next MacBook to Include Glass Trackpad, Due in September?

[skunkworker]

I personally think it has something to do with this patent apple got back in 2007
Link to Patent

 

[pinktank]

wonder if I should wait and buy or wait and buy the previous gen with their prices down. It's really a shame with the current discoloration and whatnot though. Iim really glad I made the switch a while ago.

 

[superknoppix]

What would be awesome is if apple built a iphone into the new macs where the trackpad is supposed to be. It would just pop in and out, when its in it would work just like a normal trackpad(the screen could still be used for something)
and it could use the 3G to get internet on your mac. And when you take it out, it would function just like a normal iphone.

 

[brendanspah764]

What would be awesome is if apple built a iphone into the new macs where the trackpad is supposed to be. It would just pop in and out, when its in it would work just like a normal trackpad(the screen could still be used for something)
and it could use the 3G to get internet on your mac. And when you take it out, it would function just like a normal iphone.

it could work, but i just don't see Apple doing it just yet. Anyways, not everyone has the iPhone. Also, I think Apple will not put a display under the trackpad, it just doesn't seem that likely to me. I think it would be awesome if it was just a normal glass trackpad.

 

[.Chris]

I coluld see them putting some sort of display on the outside. Not sure for what.

 

[SchneiderMan]

I coluld see them putting some sort of display on the outside. Not sure for what.

i say not gonna happen

 

[iSpeakApple]

trackpad Would be great with a finger print reader underneath.

I think the Glass TrackPad Would Be great. Exept i dont think it should be glass i think the trackpad should be like the exact size of the ipod touch and iphone screen and made with same material, because the iphone and ipod touch screen are slippery so its easy to navigate ur finger. Also The iphone/ipod touch screen is hard to break or Scratch (its scratch Proof). I THINK EVERYTHING WOULD BE COOL IF THEY HAD A GLASS TRACKPAD. EXEPT IF THE CLICK BUTTON WOULD BE TOUCH SCREEN. it would be better if they didnt make the click button inside of the touch screen. ALSO I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THERE WAS A FINGER PRINT READER UNDER THE TRACKPAD SO U DONT HAVE TO TYPE IN UR PASSWORD TO LOGIN. JUST PUT UR FINGER ON THE TRACKPAD FOR 3 SECONDS THEN BAM UR IN.
Also i wouldnt mind if they threw in A BLUETOOTH DVD PLAYER. So i cna play my HD movies in full hd. Also it would be great if they can have the option for a 14 inch screen and maybe 15 inch screen for the macbook also a wayyyy better graphics card for the macbook. The Blue Ray Should be In Both the Macbook And Macbook pro along with the imac and mac pro maybe mac mini to. THE AIR DOESENT NEED A GLASS TRACKPAD OR BLUE RAY THO. I hate the air to tell u the truth lol.

 

[ll PiStoNs ll]

it could work, but i just don't see Apple doing it just yet. Anyways, not everyone has the iPhone. Also, I think Apple will not put a display under the trackpad, it just doesn't seem that likely to me. I think it would be awesome if it was just a normal glass trackpad.

I could see that, but possibly as an accessory. For Example for $699 there could be like a hollow Macbook with the computer part gutted and just a screen, keyboard, and a huge battery that can charge the iphone or work independently. OR this could possibly be an attachment to turn the iphone into a tablet? there are a few possibilities. OR they could simply offer 2 versions of the macbook for the same price. One that utilises the built in dock one that doesnt. They would never make a dedicated laptop just for the iphone the market isnt big enough until my guess is 2011 (when they lift the ATT agreement)

**EDIT** I could also see a glass trackpad with no screen for the macbooks, and a glass track pad with a screen for the pros for 2 reasons.
1. Alot of graphic designers use the macbooks, engineers, etc. It will give them greater detail and hands on for designs, alot of possibilities here.
2. Apple likes to make the higher end things have stuff that will make you want to buy it (for example the backlit keyboard on the MBP, the blackbook costing 200 more for the same procesor as the white one)

 

[Clayne]

I don't think an iPhone dock will EVER happen. I don't even think it sounds appealing.

Tacky is a word that comes to mind though..

 

[Lesser Evets]

That Apple patent illustration set looks ugly and dysfunctional as sin.

Sorry, but that has to be a discarded design. A track pad of that size? For what? What can't you do with a normal pad you can do with that long thing? You don't need a giant track pad to drag stuff across the screen.

Apple is about streamlining technology and making it accessible, and more portable. A larger trackpad = weight and space, on a machine that is already too immobile as is. If they make that trackpad their new, large advance it will be sad.

 

[bektravels]

If they make that trackpad their new, large advance it will be sad.

I'm with you on this... what's the obsession with long, large trackpads? Do people forget that they rest their hands on each side of the trackpad when typing/generally using a notebook?

If the trackpad takes up all the space from edge to edge, where do you rest your hands!!! Ergonomics 101 ppl...

 

[iMacmatician]

So soon?

Apple just updated the trackpad this January with multi-touch gestures. And now they are changing it again with glass? Why so soon? This tells me one of two things.

1. Apple is releasing a dedicated MacBook ("MacBook touch") with the glass trackpad. It would have additional features over a regular multi-touch trackpad, like a built-in display and increased size. Existing notebooks will continue to use a regular multi-touch trackpad.
2. Apple actually wanted to transition their notebooks to glass trackpads this year, but they wanted the MacBook Air to have something special. So because they could not finish the glass trackpad in time, they released the MacBook Air with a regular trackpad with multi-touch support. This may imply that the MacBook Air will also be updated soon.

I'm with you on this... what's the obsession with long, large trackpads? Do people forget that they rest their hands on each side of the trackpad when typing/generally using a notebook?

If the trackpad takes up all the space from edge to edge, where do you rest your hands!!! Ergonomics 101 ppl...

The trackpad will sense your palm and ignore it.

 

[localoid]

...The trackpad will sense your palm and ignore it.

Granted, he process of "sensing" a palm was part of a rather involved process described in an Apple patent for a wide touchpad filed 'way back in 2004. Personally, I think it would be far simpler to require the user to wear gloves with finger cutouts.

 

[Metuas]

Blech. All of this sounds horrible (not to mention hard to believe). All I want from a new Macbook would be perhaps a larger trackpad with multi-touch, like the Air. A design similar to the 12" PowerBook might look nice as well. Aluminum is one of the best directions Apple has taken. The cheap feel of plastic kind of deters me from the macbook, but my G4 is having troubles and a macbook is all I can afford at this point. I would dearly love an aluminum macbook, but glass trackpad sounds ridiculous.

 

[Kiyomizu]

September... I just wonder if Apple is going to sell a wider variety of MacBook and MacBook Pro's. From a bare bones MacBook to a gamer MacBook Pro, a wider choice for those that just need one for school, business, avid media enthuasiast, and a desktop replacement.

I don't mind a MacBook or a MacBook Pro coming with a glass track pad but I do wish that it will have full HD capabilities with an optional BD-ROM player. Nothing I would love most to move from XP to OSX if Apple grants my wish and solves my dilemna of either buying a Sony Vaio FW series or an Apple MacBook Pro 15" with at least minimal High Def capabilities.

 

[iMacmatician]

No buttons?

The article was updated with "What about the button? Will future MacBooks have a physical mouse button?"

The author speculates that multi-touch (on the iPhone and on the trackpad) would lead to the loss of the button. So basically the trackpad would end up very similar to the iPhone display in how it works, with "no 'verbs'" etc.

The author points to full multi-touch on the Macs despite there still being a trackpad. Further speculation is towards no mouse at all for Macs.

This means that Apple was going full force on the mult-touch for Leopard at least a year ago, enough time to transform the gestures-based device into a controller for the operating system to the point where it may soon be mature enough for mainstream use.

The author also does not agree with a display beneath the trackpad, and believes that the upcoming notebooks will be using a 16:9 display.

I have four words for you Apple: KEEP THE TACTILE FEEDBACK!

Maybe the whole trackpad could depress. Tap to click, in my experience, has simply been too unreliable to be used primarily. The iPhone isn't too bad because I don't have my finger on the display all the time.

 

[robert222]

White Macbook

Do the current white Macbooks (2008) still have discoloration problems? I am not a heavy user - this will be my first So would it be better to buy a current Macbook (at a discount) when the new (Aluminium?) Macbooks are launched or would it be better to save up a bit more money and get the latest Macbook when it is launched?
Thanks

 

[wadejc85]

Do the current white Macbooks (2008) still have discoloration problems? I am not a heavy user - this will be my first So would it be better to buy a current Macbook (at a discount) when the new (Aluminium?) Macbooks are launched or would it be better to save up a bit more money and get the latest Macbook when it is launched?
Thanks

Your first Apple? Awesome! Updated computers are usually better, generally speaking. If you can wait, wait. It adds to the anticipation and you get to keep your money longer.

In my opinion, I would love to see a MacBook with metal casing and a glass trackpad. I guess time will tell..

 

[silverMBP]

Hi guys, I am back from a local apple premium reseller shop. I wanted to buy a new MBP, but like everyone out there, am very disturbed by the fact that there will be an updated model or so the rumour goes.

The apple specialist insisted that the change in the MBP will only be limited to the rounder feel of the machine just like the MacAir and a faster processor, baseline of 2.6Ghz. When challenged, he said his boss (of the shop) revealed this to him and that all rumour of a glass trackpad is still but a rumour.

By the way, I am a Singaporen, currently located in Malaysia for employment. I was quoted the MBP 2.5Ghz 15" for RM8699 or USD2,600, but comes with
a) 3Gb ram instead of 2Gb
b) Free original wireless Mighty mouse
c) Free original Apple cover for MBP (freedom to choose colour)
d) Free External HDD from Freecom 160Gb
e) Sleeve for MBP

I will be visitng LA and SFK sometime in mid-Sept 08. Do you think I should buy now with the above promotion or wait to buy in USA, hopefully the new update is out by then.

Dilenma ****.

 

[robert222]

Your first Apple? Awesome! Updated computers are usually better, generally speaking. If you can wait, wait. It adds to the anticipation and you get to keep your money longer.

In my opinion, I would love to see a MacBook with metal casing and a glass trackpad. I guess time will tell..

Thanks for the reply. I'll wait (and save) for the new Macbook. I know it will be amazing
The worst part of waiting is putting up with my Windows pc (XP) - i get new error messages everyday and it's only a couple of years old!

I am REALLY looking forward to September...

 

[wadejc85]

Thanks for the reply. I'll wait (and save) for the new Macbook. I know it will be amazing
The worst part of waiting is putting up with my Windows pc (XP) - i get new error messages everyday and it's only a couple of years old!

I am REALLY looking forward to September...

Fortunately, I have an iMac as a desktop, but I know what you mean about waiting with XP. I need a new laptop, and I'm waiting until they release the updated ones. Argh!

I think every single person looking for a new notebook is dying of anticipation to see what the updates are going to be.

Hi guys, I am back from a local apple premium reseller shop. I wanted to buy a new MBP, but like everyone out there, am very disturbed by the fact that there will be an updated model or so the rumour goes.

The apple specialist insisted that the change in the MBP will only be limited to the rounder feel of the machine just like the MacAir and a faster processor, baseline of 2.6Ghz. When challenged, he said his boss (of the shop) revealed this to him and that all rumour of a glass trackpad is still but a rumour.

By the way, I am a Singaporen, currently located in Malaysia for employment. I was quoted the MBP 2.5Ghz 15" for RM8699 or USD2,600, but comes with
a) 3Gb ram instead of 2Gb
b) Free original wireless Mighty mouse
c) Free original Apple cover for MBP (freedom to choose colour)
d) Free External HDD from Freecom 160Gb
e) Sleeve for MBP

I will be visitng LA and SFK sometime in mid-Sept 08. Do you think I should buy now with the above promotion or wait to buy in USA, hopefully the new update is out by then.

Dilenma ****.

Sounds like a decent deal, considering the notebook itself would cost around USD2,600 with 3GB ram and you're getting around USD200 for free. However, I wouldn't believe the employees at the shop any more than I would believe the rumors on MR. Apple doesn't tell them anything more than anyone else.

If you want the free goodies, buy it there. If you want an updated notebook without the goodies, wait and buy when you visit the USA. Have fun with the decision!

 

[iMacmatician]

The apple specialist insisted that the change in the MBP will only be limited to the rounder feel of the machine just like the MacAir and a faster processor, baseline of 2.6Ghz. When challenged, he said his boss (of the shop) revealed this to him and that all rumour of a glass trackpad is still but a rumour.

Apple specialists don't know about upcoming Apple products.

And there's no 2.6 GHz Montevina processor out there. It's 2.53/2.80 GHz. (Unless Apple's doing something else…)