Apple Preparing 15.4" Widescreen MacBook for Spring 2007

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According to reports from Taiwanese news site DigiTimes.com Apple is working with manufacturers to ready production for a 15.4&quot; widescreen MacBook. Apple currently makes a high-end $1,999 MacBook Pro in a 15.4&quot; size but this new laptop would cost much less at around $1,000.

Nearly all name brand laptops bought today are manufactured by a Taiwanese company. The current 13.3&quot; MacBook is manufactured in Taiwan by Asustek and DigiTimes reports that the 15.4-inch model will be produced by Quanta Computer that makes the current MacBook Pro notebooks. Production would begin in April or May of 2007.

Apple MacBook 13.3-inch (view large image)

Because of the fact LCD screens for 15.4-inch notebooks are cheaper than 13.3-inch, it is likely the MacBook 15.4-inch will be about the same price or possibly even cheaper than the current 13.3-inch MacBook that sell for $1,099 - $1,499.

It is interesting to note that Intel plans on rolling out their next processor line in April/May of 2007, dubbed Santa Rosa. It could be that Apple would offer the new Santa Rosa chipset in these new notebooks given the timing, or they might simply make a budget play and put current Core 2 Duo processors inside as they will be cheaper by that time. Either way, it's a sign Apple is being more aggressive in the notebook market and will continue to make gains.

Source: DigiTimes.com

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Interesting move. I wonder a couple things.. will the new display be 1280, or 1400? second - what will they do to further distance the advantages of MBP from closing gap in choice this creates.

 

If the rumour is true, I too will be interested how it will be marketed, as I imagine part of the lure of the existing Macbook is its small, compact 13" frame

OK, 15.4" isn't massive, but it is still bigger than 13" by enough for a noticeable difference

 

I hope they offer an ati x1400 or equal GPU in these macbooks. The 950 has been a disapointment - creating too big a gap from the Macbook Pros which have the ati x1600's inside.

 

I would imagine it would retain integrated GPU. Probably also be heavier and slightly thicker, still no ExpressCard, etc. Probably take a MacBook and put a larger screen on it.

 

If their goal is low price I would think you're right.

DigiTimes is a very reliable source and not prone to being wrong -- this is based on talk amongst those manufacturing the notebook so it's 90% sure to be true. Problem is there are few details so it's only so interesting to know this.

 

Darn it and I just bought a macbook pro o well.

 

I don't like integrated card either.

However, I would rather use a 13" screen Macbook. It's extremely light and that's the selling point in my eyes.

 

Wonder how overpriced it will be? $3000?

 

Macbooks are suprisingly heavy for their size. Many 14" notebooks are around 2.3KG, which is the same as the 13" macbook's weight, including several with discrete graphics, which add to the cooling requirements (and hence heatsink weight). It's quite weird, as the macbook is also very thin, so it must have some extremely dense components inside. Perhaps they have a lead heatsink and will update the line in a few months by putting a normal heatsink in and advertising it as "Look! New lighter Macbook!"

 

Maybe it's the gravitational pull to Mac products that Pulls the earth up.. making it seem heavier to meer mortals. Sorry - Chuck Norris Moment.

On another note, did you know Chuck Norris can never have a heart attack.. because his heart would never be dumb enough to attack him!

 

With the rumours of a 12" MBP, I'm thinking that the 15" MB will have discrete graphics. Something like X1300 level so that it's cheap enough to be used in the 15" MBP and cool enough to be used in the 12" MBP simplifying the supply chain while giving everyone what they want. Given the time frame, the 15" MB will no doubt be Santa Rosa based and probably use the 1440x900 screens used in the 15" MBP currently. The 15" MBP will then be refreshed to Santa Rosa, X1600 class DX10 GPU, and a 1680x1050 LED based screen as previously rumoured. With resolution independence coming with Leopard, the higher resolution refresh will be timely and won't be bad on the eyes. It seems likely then that the 13.3" MB will be refreshed last since they've had no news about them, but they'll probably get Santa Rosa at the end of Q2 and stick with the GMA X3000 and maybe get a bit of a price cut too ($100 probably which I believe will bring them back to iBook price levels).