Aluminum Macbooks next Qtr.

Anybody get a chance to see the rumors posted today on:

9to5mac.com

macrumors.com

concerning the possibility of aluminum macbooks being released next qtr? What do you guys think?

 

You must have missed this thread.

 

You should have added "Rumor of" . Don't get everyone too excited yet, its all just rumours.

Anyways, my prediction is that the MacBook will either get a hardware update (no redesign) in October with Leopard, but Apple could also wait until Q1 2008, to update the MacBook immediately with Penryn; by then the MacBook may turn aluminum so the entire Mac lineup turns aluminum.

But, my personal feel is that if the MacBook turns aluminum, it'll be re-directed to the prosumer market, so that may end the ultraportable MBP rumour, as the "new aluminum MacBook" will be the ultraportable MBP.

 

yeeeeaaaah.

 

I want something harder then aluminum. The less flex the better IMO.

 

I agree. 12/13" alum notebook should be a MBP, probably at $1799 for the base model.

 

I think I'd switch for a 17 inch MBP in black aluminum. Any chance of this happening soon?

I just don't like the gray look on notebooks or TV screens.

 

black MBP? doubt it. atleast not in the near future anyway.

 

Well, the MBP is due for a redesign...I'd expect a redesign in possibly January or at WWDC in June 2008. Whether it uses black aluminum, I have no prediction.

 

I think they might upgrade the macbooks to aluminum before Christmas. Take a look at the iPod Classic, the iPod Classic is essentially a larger hard drive iPod Video. The iPod Video only came in black and white, now the iPod Classic comes in silver and black (I think). If their [apple] base iPod isn't keeping the white color I doubt that their [apple] base laptop will. Another example, would be the iMac, their base desktop. So I think that the macbooks will be moved to aluminum, but if anyone needs a macbook around christmas or needs/wants a really good deal that should be fine but otherwise I would wait til like february or march to buy them with penryn, because Penryn is going to be a drastic improvement on Santa Rosa.

 

I'm hoping for an armored "StrongBook" for campus and outdoor use After looking at MB pros with dings and scratches, I would not feel that an Alu macbook is all that.

 

I don't mind scratches, but the dents definitely would bother me. The fact that Apple laptops can only be fully opened about 135° also irks me.

 

"... wait til like february or march to buy them with penryn, because Penryn is going to be a drastic improvement on Santa Rosa."

Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong but I think 'Santa Rosa' is the Centrino platform whilst Penryn is the processor?

At the moment on the MBP we have the Merom C2D (T7xxx) processor with the Santa Rosa platform. I believe when Penryn (T8xxx/T9xxx) is released it will initially target the Santa Rosa platform also before moving to the Montevina platform in mid-2008 which is when we will see some major improvements in terms of notebook size/power usage/heat issues.

I must admit though there are too many old and new Intel codenames for processors and chip platforms to keep tabs on!!!

I was just about to buy either a black MB or entry level MBP, but I think I'll wait a bit longer as a 13.3" aluminium MB/MBP would be perfect for me - my iBook G4 800MHz is still running OK on 10.4.10although with the news that Leopard won't run on it means I will have no option but to upgrade if I want the latest OS.

 

Yes, you are correct about the Intel situation. Penryn is the processor, and it is on a 45nm production process (cheaper, cooler). Santa Rosa is the platform and Penryn will be coming to Santa Rosa before Mentevina.

And what do you mean news that Leopard won't run on your iBook?

 

"And what do you mean news that Leopard won't run on your iBook?"

The latest beta build of Leopard now indicates that the minimum spec that it can be installed on is an 867MHz G4, all previous builds had a min spec of 800MHz - a bit strange as I thought each release of OS X actually improved the general speed! I guess it's just one little step closer to dropping PowerPC support completely. The info was listed yesterday on various news sites eg AppleInsider.com

I don't mind really as I was planning to upgrade once Leopard is released; although it works as well as it did 4 years ago my 800MHz iBook is pretty slow these days and I'd like the option to run Windows when I need to. I imagine some 800Mhz iBook/Powerbook owners may be a bit annoyed about this though.

 

Sorry that's what I meant. I meant the current processors that use the Santa Rosa processors. I think Penryn will be a drastic improvement on the current processors.

 

leopard soon mang.

 

thanks for the replies. cant wait to see if/when this rumor comes true.

 

I hope it does for you