Aluminum MacBook, iMac-like MacBook Pro mocks leaked?

[AppleInsider]

An unusual .Mac website believed to belong to an Apple employee has been revealed to include promotional images depicting an all aluminum 13-inch MacBook design in addition to a MacBook Pro that takes design cues from the company's existing line of all-in-one iMac computers.

The images, which were passed on to MacRumors by an eagle-eyed viewer, largely match descriptions of new MacBook and MacBook Pro designs recently detailed by AppleInsider in a report on notebook makeovers due out from the Cupertino-based company a little later this year.

Specifically, the renderings show a 13-inch multi-touch MacBook clad completely in aluminum with the exception of the keyboard, which is black to match that of the one that recently began shipping on the MacBook Air.

Meanwhile, a new MacBook Pro depicted in the images appears to share the same kind of display bezel as Apple's current iMacs, completely with black trim that frames the notebook's LCD display.

Earlier this month, AppleInsider reported that the existing MacBook and MacBook Pro would be the last of their breed, as both product families were destined for major design changes upon their next refresh.

It was reported that the 13-inch MacBooks would undergo the most significant metamorphosis, shedding their plastic enclosures for ones constructed from more eco-friendly materials such as aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel.

Meanwhile, the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro were also reported to see aesthetic revisions, which like their upcoming MacBook counterparts were described by those familiar with the products as borrowing several design cues from the August 2007 aluminum iMacs and all-new MacBook Air.

Next-gen Apple MacBook & MacBook Pro renderings published by MacRumors.

Some of these design cues were believed to include instances of matte black on portions of the casings, oversized multi-touch trackpads, and the adoption of the MacBook Air's keyboard by the MacBook -- all of which are depicted in the recently revealed renderings.

Boosting confidence in these design changes are reports out of Taiwan this week that Apple has placed a substantial order for new aluminum 13-inch MacBook casings with one of the larger Taiwanese case makers.

Another image included on the .Mac website and forwarded to MacRumors appears to be a teaser for iTunes 8 and includes the date of June 10th, around the same time Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is due to present his opening keynote at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.

Update: MacRumors has posted an update to its story which casts doubt on the legitimacy of the mock ups.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[shanmugam]

design does not look awesome; may be it is due to the photo quality ...

13" Alu MacBook should be good; hope some form new thinking in Combo drive...

We will see blu-ray also this june?

[gloss]

The scale on the 13" MacBook makes no sense unless the screen is larger than 13" or the keyboard has mysteriously shrunk.

Mockups ftw.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by shanmugam

13" Alu MacBook should be good; hope some form new thinking in Combo drive...
We will see blu-ray also this june?

No on the BD and no on the MB refresh in June, if you were implying that.

Originally Posted by gloss

The scale on the 13" MacBook makes no sense unless the screen is larger than 13" or the keyboard has mysteriously shrunk.

Those are clearly 15" and 17" mockups.

[Fishyesque]

Well I think it's shmecksy.

[rdas7]

Regardless of whether these are fake or not (I vote fake), they're not exactly imaginative. Ok, so the MacBook revision would bring an Air keyboard and aluminum enclosure? And if the MacBook Pros get only-glossy screens I know more than a few people who will complain (as an owner of both, I prefer the choice). As for hardware, we already know that the next rev will be incremental, and the big news will be Nehalem in 2009.

As for iTunes 8 on June 10th, um, it doesn't exactly take insider information to see this coming. Jobs always presents major revs to iTunes (keynote date, check) and major revs come about once a year (iLife 08 and iTunes *7*, ahem). Now with Leopard out with Core Animation and all kinds of under-the-hood goodness, isn't it time iTunes finally becomes the database it's always meant to be (instead of the bogus xml index file!)

The bigger news would be if they flipped the '8' on it's side and revved it to iTunes ∞.

[jawporta]

I F&^%ING hate glossy screens. I'm a designer and using a computer with a glossy screen is the most distracting thing in the world. I was all set to buy the new iMac but once I saw that crappy screen I opted out. I'm using my wife's MacBook Pro Matte screen instead. If they move to an all glossy screen line up I'll be forced to look elsewhere. I don't want to use a PC, but if my only option with Apple is Glossy or Mac Pro then due to financial restraints I'll be at a loss.

[ros3ntan]

if they have to change the MBP keyboard into the macbook air keyboard.. i would have to say MBP has become cheap looking. As much as i like the macbook keyboard, it is not one of the best. The reason is when you type there is a lot of clicking sound. With the MBP, there are less cllicking. Im a perfectionist, so i would prefer my MBP to be very quiet.

if the finish product is close to the mock design, i better get the current MBP....

[sausage&Onion]

There is no way they would go glossy on Macbook PRos. You could still have the black surround with a matte screen. I think the redesign looks great but I don't think its legit.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by jawporta

I F&^%ING hate glossy screens. I'm a designer and using a computer with a glossy screen is the most distracting thing in the world. I was all set to buy the new iMac but once I saw that crappy screen I opted out. I'm using my wife's MacBook Pro Matte screen instead. If they move to an all glossy screen line up I'll be forced to look elsewhere. I don't want to use a PC, but if my only option with Apple is Glossy or Mac Pro then due to financial restraints I'll be at a loss.

Huh?! Where did this tirate come from? I see nothing in the article about glossy screens. Since the MBPS have had the option for either since their inception, and there are plenty of graphic designers that will not use a glossy screen it seems to be a safe bet that Apple will continue offering matte in the future.

[Ireland]

They stole one of the mock-ups (from Adokimus) and slapped a bleedin' "Tiger" desktop on it. A lousy fake at best - very surprised AI took the bait.

[FuturePastNow]

Those are clearly just mock-ups somebody slapped together, not photos of an actual product. Still, I think the real thing is going to look something like that.

[ros3ntan]

Originally Posted by Ireland

They stole one of the mock-ups (from Adokimus) and slapped a bleedin' "Tiger" desktop on it. A lousy fake at best - very surprised AI took the bait.

looks very cheap....

[DanUK]

My 12" PowerBook is getting jealous seeing me lust after the Alu MacBook.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by DanUK

My 12" PowerBook is getting jealous seeing me lust after the Alu MacBook.

You're PB should be jealous of any Intel Core machine.

[quinney]

Originally Posted by ros3ntan

With the MBP, there are less cllicking. Im a perfectionist...

yes

[malckwan]

Wonder if they will offer a Black anodized MacBook with the same finish as the black iPod Classic?

[mr O]

… frankly, I hope they take the Air approach by leaving the slot loading drive out.

Unlike the picture of the mock ups, the black edge is gonna make your applications look very zen on the screen!

[Kwoon]

This is clearly a fake!

Check this out: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...=467134&page=8 # 178

I took that image and made it the same size as the Macbook Pro image from this rumor. As you can see in my attachments they are pretty much the same with one exception. The screen. But, I the I took a look at the aspect on the screen on the rumored macbook pro and realized it wasn’t 16:10 witch it always is on laptops.

And then I look closer on the MacBook. If this is true, apple will release a 15" macbook. The keyboard is to small. Look again at my attachments. As you can see the keyboard on a macbook is the same size as the screen but on the rumored macbook the screen is much bigger.

[shiato storm]

cheap, tacky imitations... one even looks like a Dell

[digitalclips]

Originally Posted by Fishyesque

Well I think it's shmecksy.

So do most of the posts at MacRumors blog who have a slew of reasons why thy thinks so. But don't you love how quickly there are those ready to get so angry about stuff that may well be a joke. Lightens the day no end seeing them bunch their knickers

[McHuman]

the new designs will have a flushed radius on the edges like the nano and mac book air :

[beingnickb]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Huh?! Where did this tirate come from? I see nothing in the article about glossy screens. Since the MBPS have had the option for either since their inception, and there are plenty of graphic designers that will not use a glossy screen it seems to be a safe bet that Apple will continue offering matte in the future.

Not to get too nitpicky, but the original MacBook Pro did not have the option of a glossy display. They came in matte only. It was after the MacBook debuted with a glossy display that Apple started offering it as an option with the MacBook Pro.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Huh?! Where did this tirate come from? I see nothing in the article about glossy screens. Since the MBPS have had the option for either since their inception, and there are plenty of graphic designers that will not use a glossy screen it seems to be a safe bet that Apple will continue offering matte in the future.

Well we have no option on the iMac anymore except glare-filled glossy. Unless you work in a pitch black environment -it's a problem. I remember for the original iMac G3s - Scotch 3M sold attachable antiglare screens for this very reason. You are constantly shifting to avoid glare.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by shiato storm

cheap, tacky imitations... one even looks like a Dell

Well the current iMac looks like a Dell especially from the rear.

[fuyutsuki]

Ireland's nailed it. Proven fake.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by Kwoon

This is clearly a fake!

Check this out: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...=467134&page=8 # 178

I took that image and made it the same size as the Macbook Pro image from this rumor. As you can see in my attachments they are pretty much the same with one exception. The screen. But, I the I took a look at the aspect on the screen on the rumored macbook pro and realized it wasn’t 16:10 witch it always is on laptops.

They aren't always. The original Apple widescreen notebook had a 1.5:1 ratio. I think some of the G4 powerbooks had some less usual ratios.

[initiator]

Man, I hope they don't use the Air's keyboard. I hate that chicklet keyboard. Who thinks this is a good idea? Have you tried doing serious typing on it? Hate it.

[random bob, a.r.c.]

Jesus you guys have a poor grasp of the english language; "mockups" are NOT, and CANNOT be the "real deal" sort of by definition. It's a Mockup. highlight that word and look it up on your snazzy in-line OS X dictionary people! Of COURSE these are FAKE, all mockups ARE!

Now whether or not they're mockups apple would base their product lineup on is a different question. I tend to believe that they are mere products of someone's imagination rather than Apple-branded mockups.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by initiator

Man, I hope they don't use the Air's keyboard. I hate that chicklet keyboard. Who thinks this is a good idea? Have you tried doing serious typing on it? Hate it.

I prefer the chicklet keyboard. It's much better than my PB keyboard of yore.

Originally Posted by random bob, a.r.c.

Jesus you guys have a poor grasp of the english language; "mockups" are NOT, and CANNOT be the "real deal" sort of by definition. It's a Mockup. highlight that word and look it up on your snazzy in-line OS X dictionary people! Of COURSE these are FAKE, all mockups ARE!

Now whether or not they're mockups apple would base their product lineup on is a different question. I tend to believe that they are mere products of someone's imagination rather than Apple-branded mockups.

A poor grasp of language can also mean reading comprehension. I am fairly certain that everyone else who read the word "mockup" on this thread read it as "mockup by Apple as the next likely design for their MB/MBP line". Otherwise there would be no story here. The article also mentions a .Mac account, which is easily had, and an @apple.com address, which is not easily had, which gives very minor credibility to this story.

It casual settings we tend to omit words to help with the flow of conversations because writing in a Vulcanized, legalize type format is dull and difficult, even though it is more thorough.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by random bob, a.r.c.

I tend to believe that they are mere products of someone's imagination rather than Apple-branded mockups.

They usually are just some fan's fantasy. The times that you know they probably aren't is if Apple legal demands the picture be withdrawn.

[johnnyapple]

As somebody pointed out, the aspect ratio of the screen is off and the size of the keyboard implies that the mock-up is not a 13" screen - they're fake.

[dontlookleft]

regardless of validity, the MBP looks ugly.

[Lafe]

Originally Posted by initiator

Man, I hope they don't use the Air's keyboard. I hate that chicklet keyboard. Who thinks this is a good idea? Have you tried doing serious typing on it? Hate it.

I vastly prefer the MBA keyboard to any MB or MBP keyboard. I type on it all the time,
at blinding speeds. I have no problems with it. (Yes, I've used the others also.)

To each their own, I guess.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by Lafe

I vastly prefer the MBA keyboard to any MB or MBP keyboard. I type on it all the time,
at blinding speeds. I have no problems with it. (Yes, I've used the others also.)

To each their own, I guess.

I agree, it's leaps and bounds better in every respect.

[FuturePastNow]

Originally Posted by random bob, a.r.c.

Jesus you guys have a poor grasp of the english language; "mockups" are NOT, and CANNOT be the "real deal" sort of by definition. It's a Mockup. highlight that word and look it up on your snazzy in-line OS X dictionary people! Of COURSE these are FAKE, all mockups ARE!

Of course, but the description also claims they're from an Apple employee. Which is pure B.S.

[adamboy71]

look at the outside radius of the pro's monitor. Now look at the shaded portion of the radius of the body of the laptop. The monitor radius is shown to be larger than the bottom part of the shell.

[gloss]

Originally Posted by initiator

I hate that chicklet keyboard. Who thinks this is a good idea? Have you tried doing serious typing on it? Hate it.

Love it.

Originally Posted by FuturePastNow

Of course, but the description also claims they're from an Apple employee. Which is pure B.S.

They were, though, found on a .Mac site that contained legitimate login/password information for an @apple.com iTunes account.

[gloss]

[deleted]

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by initiator

Man, I hope they don't use the Air's keyboard. I hate that chicklet keyboard. Who thinks this is a good idea? Have you tried doing serious typing on it? Hate it.

I love chiclets. The keyboard is great too.