Apple rumored to offer next-gen MacBook Airs with black finish
Apple is rumored to offer the option of a black finish on its next-generation Sandy Bridge powered MacBook Air ultraportable notebooks expected to arrive in the near future, but the source publication has posted an update shedding doubt on the rumor.
Update: Emails sent to the publication from an alleged Apple employee claim Apple experimented with black powder coated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, but Apple CEO Steve Jobs "killed the idea" because the coating soaks up body oils. "At some point we may offer a black coating, but it won't be powder coat, and it won't be anytime soon," the tipster wrote.
Citing "several anonymous tips," MacRumors reported on Monday that Apple will will offer "at least some models" of its next MacBook Air with a black finish. That would be different from the aluminum currently found on all MacBook Air models.
"The most specific of the claims suggests that a black anodized aluminum case would be available on a top-end MacBook Air model, in much the same way as Apple once offered a high-end black MacBook on top of the standard white offerings," the report said.
Author Eric Slivka said the site is "unable to confirm the rumors," but given the fact that numerous tips have been received, the information was shared "for interest and discussion."
Last week, AppleInsider revealed that Apple is expected to hold off on introducing any new Mac hardware until Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, its next-generation operating system, becomes publicly available. Lion will become available in the Mac App Store for $29.99 in July, but it is believed that any new MacBook Air models would ship with the operating system preinstalled.
AppleInsider also learned that Apple is ready to build nearly 400,000 next-generation MacBook Airs this month in preparation for the anticipated launch. The new hardware is expected to sport Intel's latest Sandy Bridge processors, as well as the new high-speed Thunderbolt port codeveloped by Apple and Intel.
The new thin-and-light MacBook Air launched in late 2010 with a new 11.6-inch model and a lower $999 introductory price. The device was an instant hit, and made the MacBook Air one of the most popular products in the Mac lineup overnight.
Update: Emails sent to the publication from an alleged Apple employee claim Apple experimented with black powder coated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, but Apple CEO Steve Jobs "killed the idea" because the coating soaks up body oils. "At some point we may offer a black coating, but it won't be powder coat, and it won't be anytime soon," the tipster wrote.
Citing "several anonymous tips," MacRumors reported on Monday that Apple will will offer "at least some models" of its next MacBook Air with a black finish. That would be different from the aluminum currently found on all MacBook Air models.
"The most specific of the claims suggests that a black anodized aluminum case would be available on a top-end MacBook Air model, in much the same way as Apple once offered a high-end black MacBook on top of the standard white offerings," the report said.
Author Eric Slivka said the site is "unable to confirm the rumors," but given the fact that numerous tips have been received, the information was shared "for interest and discussion."
Last week, AppleInsider revealed that Apple is expected to hold off on introducing any new Mac hardware until Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, its next-generation operating system, becomes publicly available. Lion will become available in the Mac App Store for $29.99 in July, but it is believed that any new MacBook Air models would ship with the operating system preinstalled.
AppleInsider also learned that Apple is ready to build nearly 400,000 next-generation MacBook Airs this month in preparation for the anticipated launch. The new hardware is expected to sport Intel's latest Sandy Bridge processors, as well as the new high-speed Thunderbolt port codeveloped by Apple and Intel.
The new thin-and-light MacBook Air launched in late 2010 with a new 11.6-inch model and a lower $999 introductory price. The device was an instant hit, and made the MacBook Air one of the most popular products in the Mac lineup overnight.
Comments
Apple is rumored to offer the option of a black finish on its next-generation Sandy Bridge powered MacBook Air ultraportable notebooks expected to arrive in the near future.
There is just no stopping Steve, eh? I never thought of a black MBA, but now I WANT one!
They should absolutely give us black MBAs and MBPs
I think the actual product would look NICE though!
For a company as detail oriented as Apple, I am still surprised that they never bothered to make black accessories to go along with their black products.
And I just want to add that if this rumor is somehow true and Apple will be releasing black models, then I hope that Apple isn't cheap like before and they give people black power supplies and black cables to go along with the all black Mac.
For a company as detail oriented as Apple, I am still surprised that they never bothered to make black accessories to go along with their black products.
Excellent points.
I hope so too.
I just do not see this happening unless they make a black model completely across the whole line of laptops. I suppose the other option is that this could be made out of the unibody carbon-fiber. Here's to hoping it's a dramatic redesign!
I'm not sure I see this happening at all either.
Apple uses black in their design language, but they don't typically do finishes, paints, or coatings (with the single exception of the coloured iPods).
Even though it would be infinitely harder to accomplish, I would believe this more if they had found a way to make the metal itself black, as opposed to coating/anodising.
But one's for sure: if they do this, they definitely need to bring back the backlight keyboards.
I want blue or orange!
I want Blue Dalmatian!
can you imagine the posts in here if they released a laptop with a matte finish case with a glossy screen??
With the exception of the white Macbook, all of Apple's laptop line are matte with glossy screens (unless you spring for the matte/antiglare screen option where it's offered...).
Apple uses black in their design language, but they don't typically do finishes, paints, or coatings (with the single exception of the coloured iPods).
It's debatable really, the satin aluminium MBPs and MBAs already have a surface finish, that's certainly not what a piece of polished aluminium would look like, it's not even what a piece of brushed aluminium would look like.
Apple don't state anywhere exactly what their finish is, but Rain do, and their iLap has a near identical finish which they describe as being
'sand-blasted and silver anodized finish'
Just yesterday I wrote that Apple should make a black Mac Mini. needless to say, a black Macbook Air would be sexy as hell. It's about time that Apple reintroduced some blackness back into their lineup. Hopefully this rumor turns out true.
Three quarters of a year of black-only iPhones was not enough of black?