New design for Macbook (Pro) this year?

MacBook Hardware Design Engineer

The most far-reaching of Apple's more recent job postings, listed at the start of this month, seeks a design engineer to help produce the "next generation" of the company's MacBook line.

The designer would primarily be responsible for nurturing the creation of the portables from their very conceptual beginnings to the final production stage, and would address virtually every aspect of the systems from board layouts to heat concerns and power use.

Apple has listed multiple jobs for MacBook design engineers since October, suggesting a renewed concentration on the design of the company's computers. However, most previous postings before now have been more specialized and focused on specific stages of development rather than the entire platform.

Senior Carbon Composite Engineer

Apple may be making a return to the use of carbon composites in its products, according to a new job listing for an experienced carbon composites engineer.

Poised to work at Apple's Cupertino, California main campus, the engineer would help develop new parts out of carbon and function as the Mac maker's primary carbon materials expert -- including the chief advisor on when and how to use composites in new products.

While Apple is not specific as to the nature of any products it might make using carbon, the posting is unusual for the company and recalls the company's past experience in notebook design. Long-term Mac veterans will remember that the original, titanium PowerBook G4 used carbon composites for its supporting framework to maintain a stiff design without significantly affecting weight.

Current MacBooks are not known to use carbon framing or outer shells.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/02/29/apple_jobs_carbon_composites_iphone_cameras_macbook_design.html

Recently I made the decision replace my ASUS V1J by either an Apple Macbook or Macbook Pro, by the end of this year.

However, I hoped they'd have designed a new case for both notebooks, but since they didn't it raised the question when are they going to develop new case designs?

The above stated job listings indicate that they will come with a new design, the question that remains is when? They have been listings these job offers since October 2007.

When do you think they will launch a newly designed line of notebooks? What is usually the average period for Apple to update the case design?

Fall/Winter 2008 would be awesome!

 

The (minor) updates in Feb may suggest they are up to something bigger at the end of the year?

But the rumour of case change has been going on for ages, which is kind of an annoying waiting game for most people.

Personally I d buy a MBP if they updated the design. Not that there is much wrong with the current one, but if I was going to spend £1600 in 2008 I d at least like it to look a lot more different than someone who bought one in 2003.

 

I wouldn't hold my breath. A macbook pro redesign has been rumored forever.

 

If they're still looking for people in these fields, even if they started gathering them in October, I'd expect mid 2009.

 

Yeah, design, testing, prototypes...it'll take a while if they're finding designers only now. I'm expecting a MBP redesign already in the works, probably with Montevina or Nehalem this year.

With the new things they're introduced in the iPhone and MacBook Air, a lot of the things could be implemented into the redesigned MBP.

 

the way the redesigns have been going lately, I'm not sure I want them to mess with the MBP... 2 USB ports forever!

 

I would say there will be somewhat of a chassis redesign coming before much longer due to the fact the Montevina chipset will bring with it several new features. Native support for HDMI and DisplayPort are two things to be added by the new Intel graphics core. I'm sure the same will be offered with the nVidia solution on the MBP. Montevina will require a board change unlike the Penryn refresh so Apple may come with some other larger changes as well.

 

i think Montevina will bring about a new design, and like I have been saying Carbon Fiber is where it is at, looks like they are headed in the direction I would be going if it were up to me.

it was very wise to wait for Montevina, if that is what they are doing, because that is the first significant platform update since the first MacBook Pro's. that would be an excellent time for a new design. especially with native support for HD encoding, etc. etc.

personally, I couldn't be happier to see the exact same model MacBook Pro I have now, basically, with an all Carbon Fiber chassis, HD LED screen (which they are already offering), 500gb 7200rpm HDD or similar SDD, and a Blu-Ray drive.

 

I would rather they just stick with the brushed aluminum type chassis they use now on the MacBook Pro. I think it's really nice and I really like the look and feel. I have a Sony SZ 780 and it has a new carbon fiber chassis and while it's alright I'm not that big of a fan. I think Apple should just stick to the same material they've been using cause I'm afraid if they changed something very much like the casing material it would probably totally turn me off cause I definitely didn't buy a MBP just to get OS X lol.

 

They might be going to use carbon composites for the Macbook while sticking with aluminum for the Macbook Pro.

One major drawback of the Macbook to many people is the cheap plastic cover that results in scratches.

A Macbook Pro with a 13.3'' screen would be perfect.

 

If they redesign the MBP, I hope to god they don't put in the MB keyboard. That thing... sucks compared to the MBP keyboard.

But I dunno about a redesign. How many years has this chassis been around? 8 years?

 

carbon fiber won't transmit heat. the aluminum case is a heat sink. They would have to completely redesign the MBP inorder to use a carbon fiber casing.

It would be pretty amazing though since it would be super light. The problem with carbon fiber is that it isn't strong when compressed against the way it was designed. Also it doesn't bend, it breaks. You break a carbon fiber case and it'll cost you a **** load to get it replaced. They would probably charge the same as a new bike frame knowing Apple and how much they charge for replacing an aluminum case.

 

Seeing the MB AIR for the 1st time for me was seeing the future of laptops. It made me realize what a bulky, primitive design the MBP and certainly all other laptops have, although I reguard the MBP's design superior to all others. I can't see buying another MBP until it's outer design changes and the weight drops. So I will remain content with my 2.4 Ghz.

 

You won't find a 2.5" drive in 500GB until may, and it will be a 4200rpm drive. 5400 and 7200 are still far off in the distance.

You may have to deal with an external drive for a while.

Blu-ray might take some time too just based on pricing. Though, by the time Montevina is out it might be at affordable pricing for them to get put into some computers. You won't see many laptops have them until next year though.

7 years (I remember because I was an Apple tech at the time )

The MacBook Air is a different kind of computer and it uses low power components. This means if a computer wants to be that thin, it'll be slower and more expensive. That's why every laptop is as thick as it is now.

 

That was supposed to be the MacBook Air .

 

If there is a redesign coming, I think it will come with Nehalem (sp?). That should bring heat and power issues down to where they can make a smaller case similar to the MBA. Until that happens, they can't possibly go any smaller. Also, the MBA being aluminum and having the same general look as the MBP suggests they won't be departing from this style anytime real soon.

On a side note, everyone talks about a redesign, but what would they change it to?

 

I like the current MBP design I really don't see a reason to change it...shiny! But i'm pretty open minded so if they do re-design it and its nice than...yay?!?!?

 

I think just changing the panels a little could do wonders. They could still use aluminum, but change the look and shape a little. I'm not good at design or rendering, so I can't throw a great suggestion out, but think of it like a car. If you don't change the outside for 10 years, people won't feel like they got a new car when they trade it in, so the manufactures will change small things like the grille, headlights, trim panels, etc, so people can see a visual change from year to year.

Sure, it may have gone from throttle body injection to multi-port injection, or even switched to a better engine design to give more power and efficiency, but without visual changes it's not going to sell as many new models to owners of the old ones.

 

The MBP design is classic. I'm sure one day they'll redesign it but I think the current design has a few years left IMO. I look at other cutting edge notebooks from Sony, Dell, HP and others and nothing matches the simplicity and aesthetics of a MBP. I think it's as close to a timeless design as can be in this day and age.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the MBP got a wedge-like design like the Air.

 

Well, they could thin it down a little bit and add more USB ports and stuff, I mean, its a fantastic design yes, but who says it can't be improved any more?

 

Of this I am well aware, but I feel sure there will be a new design eventually that follows the MBA and for that I am in no hurry to upgrade until I see such a change which I believe eventually many manufacturers will undoubtedly follow.
I do not say it has to be as thin as the MBA. A 3.5 lb unit about 3/4" or less thickness would suffice me.

 

I've been following the news on possible redesigns carefully, as I'd like to replace my ASUS V1J either in the summer or winter of this year.

And I've got some interesting news:

Full article: http://www.appleinsider.com/article..._to_see_major_design_changes_sources_say.html

 

I think the next Macbook Pro will look almost the same but be thinner... how much im not sure. The MBP is a thing of beauty. It is so simple and it just flows. Many Companies try to throw tons of crap on like the xps and HPs, but the MBP just works. I could see it sticking around for another 10 years or so, but get thinner and new stuff added, whatever that future brings. The aluminum casing is the way to go as well.

 

I would like to see the MacBook turn aluminum, have a black anodized aluminum MBP, and have stylings from the MacBook Air incorporated into the lineup now .

 

Funny... I don't want to see the MBP get any thinner. It doesn't need to drop any weight either.

What I'd like to see changed now... More battery life, an easier to replace HDD, and better heat dissipation. Not that the heat is THAT bad (way overblown imho) but the problem is that it damages the battery. Which... I'd like to have a battery that can last more htan a few months before dropping below 80%.

oh.. e.sata port!

one more... Add in a docking station port!

 

How does the MacBook and the MacBook Air's keyboard differ? besides the color.

 

Backlighting?

Personally, I think that was a typo. One of the things that separates the "Pro" line (MBP/Powerbook) from the Consumer line (Macbook/iBook) is the backlit keyboard.

I think that they meant to say was the Macbook Pro adopting the Macbook Air's keyboard.

 

Well, I think really just the colour and backlighting. Otherwise, they should be the same (or at least at first glance are the same. I haven't had too much time with the MBA to see if there's any significant touch/feel differences).

 

The MBA keyboard is supposedly better than the MBs keyboard in more than just backlighting and color. It is supposed to have a better feel and be of better quality than that of the MB. I read it somewhere and heard Jobs talk about it a bit at the macworld presentation.

 

I don't see the need for any drastic changes. I would like an extra USB port, a card reader, e-sata and to swap the dvi port with hdmi. I like how Asus combines e-sata and usb into one port. Also, I agree that It would be nice if you didn't have to take the whole upper case assembly off to access the HDD. And a black color option would also be nice. However, I don't see myself upgrading any time soon. I'm sure my current MBP will do just fine through my undergraduate degree. I see a lot of people still using 12" powerbooks and being perfectly happy with them.

 

Sadly, if Apple went that route, I would never buy another Apple laptop again.

 

Here is a great article about the redesign in apple's laptop...I found it interesting! http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/04/07/apple_notebook_lines_to_see_major_design_changes_sources_say.html

 

Isn't the general policy of Apple to make "consumer products" out of white plastic, and "professional products" out of aluminum?

An aluminum MacBook would look a bit too much like a MBP or a MBA; I'm not sure if Apple would want to have certain customers with a penchant towards the 'aluminum pro-look' drift towards the more affordable MB instead of the MBP or the MBA.

My guess is that the white plastic is here to stay for some time, on the 'consumer line' of products----however, I'm aware, of course, that the iMac, which is also considered a 'consumer product', went aluminum back in August. So, we'll wait and see. And I'd be glad if they introduced any of those updates before October, when I'll have to get a new MacBook.

 

Plastic, yes. White, I doubt it. The iPod line now has every colour but white.

 

The biggest drawback, for me, of the Macbook is its weight (which could be lightened my making it aluminum) and the lack of LED screen.
I don't think carbon fibre is any lighter than aluminum so I don't see the big deal of carbon fibre....except for the 'wow' factor.

 

Carbon fiber is a lot lighter than aluminum. Go to a high-end bike store and look at the dozens of aluminum frames on bikes ranging from 20-35 pounds. Then you pick up a 15 pound bike and ask what it's made of. The answer is carbon fiber. The 20-35 pounders generally range in price from $300-900 and the carbon fiber bike starts at $2500. For something as small as a notebook, the cost penalty to use carbon fiber instead of aluminum might not be as drastic.

 

amen.

mbp with 13.3" with LED backlit=apple getting $ out of my wallet

 

Bah... I think of the MBP as the equivalent of the Acura NSX: great aluminium design that lasted around 15 years... =P

So sad they discontinued it...

 

the NSX was one of the most stunning designs ever.

 

That's what I hoped the MBA would have been . But compromises...

 

I think my opinion is probably unpopular, but I think the MBP is ugly. The all aluminum case just isn't doing it for me. The white MB isn't all that hot either. Now the Blackbook that's where it's at. The only thing I didn't like about my Blackbook was it showed fingerprints everywhere. I think a Black aluminum Macbook would be great. Either way I'll be looking forward to any refreshes.

 

It is a dated style...

 

Yeah, the MBP looks great as is, isn't perfect, but still above the competition after they've had years to catch up, in my opinion. Still, the design, as good as it is, is getting old.

 

I think it would be a real challenge to come up with a new design and direction that will rival the success of the current one.

 

Depends...if they do a radical redesign, maybe. But if they just made it even better (thinner, lighter, maybe different keyboard, more USB ports), it'd be an even bigger hit.

 

I agree I went crazy thinking about how they can change the design. I was thinking of so many things I just went crazy so I stopped. But apple has much better industrial designers then me. I am hoping that they release 16:9 aspect screens and much much much better graphics cards that is what I am hoping for, a new design would be a big plus. I am pretty sure that if Apple where to redesign the MBP they would do a very very good job at it. But I have found a new company ZEPTO who makes laptops that fit my eye appeal.

 

i dont like the way the MBP is easily warped we need that carbon internal reinforcements!

if you're holding your breath on purchasing a MBP then.. new design means new problems, so at least know that this is highly probable.. looking at apple's past history.

 

From an insider I heard we can expect the new Macbook Pro in Q3 of this year...

Edit: will come with blueray

 

I would say the re-design would be rather internal than cosmetic. Apple design will be minimalist so theres nothing much to change outside really. When the re-design comes, i expect new functions and upgraded features.