New photo may reveal more of Apple's next-gen MacBook Pro

[AppleInsider]

A photo originating on a Chinese website and making the rounds on the Web this afternoon resembles descriptions of Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro, which is expected share design similarities with the company's MacBook Air and aluminum iMacs.

The photo depicts what could be the left-hand side of a 15- or 17-inch MacBook Pro with a new speaker grill design and keyboard cutout that matches the one already employed by the company's 13-inch MacBook Air.

This would appear to conform with expectations that both Apple's new MacBook and MacBook Pro would borrow design cues from the most recent iMacs and MacBook Air, as was outlined in an AppleInsider report in April.

The port layout of the notebook shown in the photo also matches changes outlined in AppleInsider report from a couple of weeks ago, which noted both the FireWire 400 port and 28-pin DVI-I (Dual Link) port both appeared to be missing on the next-generation MacBook Pro, with the latter being replaced with what appeared to be a mini-DVI port.

The bottom of the casing is clearly missing from the latest photo, though a photo (below) of both the top and bottom of the next-generation 15-inch MacBook shell, authenticated by people familiar with the new systems, surfaced back in July.

AppleInsider also recently received an anonymous report that Apple was actively manufacturing new MacBook Pros that included between "2000 and 3000 micro-perfed holes for the speakers." Production is said to have been underway for quite some time, though last minute glitches have reportedly caused some minor setbacks, the source said. The grill description matches the latest photo.

Possible partial shot of a next-generation MacBook Pro | Credit elesson.com.cn

The notebook in the image above shares the same keyboard cutout as the MacBook Air.

The photo above is reported to be an authentic capture of the top and bottom shell of Apple's next-gen MacBook Pro.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[CREB]

That's going to be a tough chassis.

[jdavy]

I know they article said Mini DVI but could that possibly be a HDMI port? Oh I know I am still wishing for Blu-Ray.

[Kasper]

Originally Posted by jdavy

I know they article said Mini DVI but could that possibly be a HDMI port? Oh I know I am still wishing for Blu-Ray.

It could, but speculating on that could have very bad repercussions =P

[merdhead]

Looks good if its real - thin with no tapering. Now if they just made a model that was not so wide it would be perfect.

[merdhead]

Originally Posted by jdavy

I know they article said Mini DVI but could that possibly be a HDMI port? Oh I know I am still wishing for Blu-Ray.

Why would you have a HDMI port when you can support HDCP over DVI (and use a converter cable) and the computer industry is moving toward DisplayPort?

[Superbass]

Originally Posted by merdhead

Looks good if its real - thin with no tapering. Now if they just made a model that was not so wide it would be perfect.

Not necessarily thinner than the existing MBPros - the photo on the top is of the casing, and you can see through to the bottom, which suggests that there will be a piece on the bottom which may add more depth. We won't know until we see the whole thing.

I'm really disappointed that they seem to be going to the Macbook/Air keyboard. Although it looks a lot better than the existing Macbook pro keyboard, I find it pretty cheap feeling and less tactile in comparison.

[nagromme]

Those don't look like micro-perf holes (which would be nearly invisible as with the Air's power light or mic)--they look more like the current holes in fact. (Something in between?)

Probably just a mis-worded rumor about the holes. Photo does look real.

[Virgil-TB2]

The top photo does not match the bottom photo.

The top photo shows a square-ish design and you can see the top (of the non-screen portion) and one side. The bottom photos show a rounded design where you can see the bottom (of the non-screen portion), and one side.

If you put them together you would get a one inch thick laptop. Seems unlikely to me.

Unless one of them is fake, the top one is the Pro and the bottom one is the non-Pro.

[wobegon]

I think what makes this new photo genuine is not just the shape of the holes for the keyboard keys, but the indention of the entire keyboard into the chassis. That, the ports on the side, and the large holes for the feet underneath (which resemble the size of the Air's rounded black feet) pretty much solidify the spy shots as real.

MacBook Air


New MacBook Pro


MacBook Air


New MacBook Pro

Originally Posted by merdhead

Looks good if its real - thin with no tapering. Now if they just made a model that was not so wide it would be perfect.

No, it's stated in the article that the "bottom of the casing is clearly missing from the latest photo." The new case design is pictured in its entirety with tapered edges if you scroll down to the bottom of the article.

[FuturePastNow]

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

If you put them together you would get a one inch thick laptop. Seems unlikely to me.

Apple cannot make the Macbook Pro much thinner than an inch, not if they intend to keep using high-end mobile processors and discrete GPUs. It's just not possible to cool those things in a thinner enclosure.

Instead, they're going to use tricks like tapered edges to make it look thinner, and if we assume both of those photos are real, they certainly could go together.

[pik.]

do you think we are going to see 15" Macbooks?

[Zandros]

Originally Posted by FuturePastNow

Apple cannot make the Macbook Pro much thinner than an inch, not if they intend to keep using high-end mobile processors and discrete GPUs. It's just not possible to cool those things in a thinner enclosure.

Instead, they're going to use tricks like tapered edges to make it look thinner, and if we assume both of those photos are real, they certainly could go together.

Couldn't they trim a few millimetres off the display assembly?

/Adrian

[darrenscerri]

The two cases, the one from Apple.pro and from the Chinese forum do not match. The one from Apple.pro has tapered edges. Does the spy photo has tapered edges? No!

[mugwump]

The spy photo has no bottom -- that's where a taper would be. The top is only thick enough for the largest port.

[eAi]

What about the whole 'The Brick is a way of making computers out of a single block of aluminium' thing? Surely the bottom of the case would be there if that was the case...

[Lorre]

Originally Posted by Zandros

Couldn't they trim a few millimetres off the display assembly?

/Adrian

With LED and, God forbid, OLED displays, they very well could!

Every millimeter shaved off the top goes to the bottom, et voila, same one inch enclosure, but more room in the bottom for quad core/bigger battery/bluray drive

[Kasper]

Originally Posted by eAi

What about the whole 'The Brick is a way of making computers out of a single block of aluminium' thing? Surely the bottom of the case would be there if that was the case...

Yeah, a lot of sites are jumping to the conclusion that -- assuming the latest photo is even real -- it provides some evidence of some new manufacturing methods. We see absolutely no evidence of that. In fact, if the image is real, it looks like they're using the same methods used to manufacturer the current systems like the MacBook Air. The systems would simply be pieced together differently.

[killamike]

i dont care about the leaks..... I"M JUST PRAYING ITS COMING OUT ON THE 14TH!!!

[wobegon]

Originally Posted by eAi

What about the whole 'The Brick is a way of making computers out of a single block of aluminium' thing? Surely the bottom of the case would be there if that was the case...

That's still true! You're misunderstanding what you're seeing. I'm typing this on my 15" PowerBook G4 and just like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the outer case is all one piece. But the keyboard, trackpad, speakers, and all the innards are part of a single, separate piece that fits into the outer case.

Notice the dark gray seam in this photo?:

[wheelhot]

Darn, and I just got my MBP THIS year!, hmm, yea there is a gray seam plastic, I kind like it, cause I knew that my hand (near the wrist area) wont get cutted or at least feel something .

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by darrenscerri

The two cases, the one from Apple.pro and from the Chinese forum do not match. The one from Apple.pro has tapered edges. Does the spy photo has tapered edges? No!

Don't forget that there is the MacBook and MacBook Pro, they might be photos of different cases because they are both about due for a design freshening. The general design theme of the current cases date back about six years now.

Originally Posted by Zandros

Couldn't they trim a few millimetres off the display assembly?

They could, but I wonder how stiff that would be.

Originally Posted by Lorre

With LED and, God forbid, OLED displays, they very well could!

I think those display technologies are still expensive in sizes usable for computers. Have you heard of the ~$1800 11" OLED TV?

Originally Posted by merdhead

Why would you have a HDMI port when you can support HDCP over DVI (and use a converter cable) and the computer industry is moving toward DisplayPort?

Possible reasons: HDMI is a production standard and uses a reasonably small connector, and is a lot more readily available than a mini-DVI connector. I don't remember seeing DisplayPort on monitors or video cards yet.

[Shookster]

What's up with the Apple logo on the front?

Edit: Ah... they haven't put the plastic cover on yet. Never mind....

[jrui]

I hope this helps

The image was inserted in Solidworks and I've created a Plane aligned with the foto perceptive.
This is a approximated measure in millimeters


By imm22 at 2008-10-08


Any one won't more measures?

[wobegon]

Looking at the ports, from right to left, I see:
Audio out, Audio in, Mini DVI, USB, another USB (yes, two USB ports side by side, like on the MacBooks), Ethernet, MagSafe port



If Apple is moving all the ports to the left side, what does that mean for the right side? Will there simply be nothing on the right side?

Doubt it. I think they're moving the slot-loading SuperDrive to the right side, just like the MacBooks. That...or we're looking at aluminum MacBooks (which doesn't seem realistic to me because the Pros are much more overdue for a facelift, not to mention the MacBook's MagSafe port is much smaller than the MacBook Pro's).

[YTV]

Originally Posted by pik.

do you think we are going to see 15" Macbooks?

Not unless they are going in a complete opposite direction as to what the consumer wants.

[Virgil-TB2]

Originally Posted by FuturePastNow

Apple cannot make the Macbook Pro much thinner than an inch, not if they intend to keep using high-end mobile processors and discrete GPUs. It's just not possible to cool those things in a thinner enclosure.

Instead, they're going to use tricks like tapered edges to make it look thinner, and if we assume both of those photos are real, they certainly could go together.

Well I only said an inch because I was reaching for "ridiculously thick" and that's the first measurement that came to mind. My point was only that the top in the first pic and the bottom in the second couldn't really be from the same machine unless it was ridiculously thick and ugly.

[FuturePastNow]

Originally Posted by Zandros

Couldn't they trim a few millimetres off the display assembly?

/Adrian

Sure, they could. Especially with the more advanced displays that are going to be available in the future, like OLED. That's why I said "much thinner than an inch." But those are extremely impractical at this time.

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

Well I only said an inch because I was reaching for "ridiculously thick" and that's the first measurement that came to mind. My point was only that the top in the first pic and the bottom in the second couldn't really be from the same machine unless it was ridiculously thick and ugly.

The current Macbook Pro is, according to Apple, exactly 1.0 inch thick. That's with the lid closed, of course. Ridiculous?

[merdhead]

Originally Posted by Superbass

Not necessarily thinner than the existing MBPros - the photo on the top is of the casing, and you can see through to the bottom, which suggests that there will be a piece on the bottom which may add more depth. We won't know until we see the whole thing.

I'm really disappointed that they seem to be going to the Macbook/Air keyboard. Although it looks a lot better than the existing Macbook pro keyboard, I find it pretty cheap feeling and less tactile in comparison.

The MacBook style keyboard (which I use) is really quite good, just a bit different. I much prefer it to the Pro style keyboard and I've used both for years.

[merdhead]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Possible reasons: HDMI is a production standard and uses a reasonably small connector, and is a lot more readily available than a mini-DVI connector. I don't remember seeing DisplayPort on monitors or video cards yet.

DisplayPort has a lot of support amongst computer manufacturers. It provides a flexible, high speed, and expandable standard which supports external and internal monitors to very high resolutions. HDMI doesn't. Just because it's used in millions of TVs doesn't mean anything to the computer industry.

[Ireland]

Looks as real as those fuzzy nano photos, and I thought they were fake until I they weren't.

[Haggar]

Originally Posted by eAi

What about the whole 'The Brick is a way of making computers out of a single block of aluminium' thing? Surely the bottom of the case would be there if that was the case...

Without an opening, how would they attach the screen or put the internal components inside the laptop? Would the logic board slide in on a tray? Would the display module just bolt on without having to take the laptop apart?

[solipsism]

I have many issues with this image.

1) Why would Apple move to mini-DVI when DisplayPort is the next standard?

2) SInce when does Apple put the video out up front instead of toward the back?

3) That port isnt' tall enough to be mini-DVI.

4) The port farthest back looks, to me, like it's DL-DVI size, not the size of a MagSafe adapter.

[Freekowtski]

Ufo! Ufo!

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by merdhead

DisplayPort has a lot of support amongst computer manufacturers. It provides a flexible, high speed, and expandable standard which supports external and internal monitors to very high resolutions. HDMI doesn't. Just because it's used in millions of TVs doesn't mean anything to the computer industry.

I don't assume support until there are products. It's easy to find monitors and projectors with HDMI. HDMI is less bandwidth limited. The latest version of HDMI is 10.2 Gbps, DisplayPort is 8.64 Gbps. There is nothing preventing HDMI's use for higher resolutions.

If I recall right, the main thing that the computer industry likes is that it's not encumbered with licensing fees, though $10k for membership and use is peanuts to the big monitor and graphic card companies, they might spend more on water in an hour of normal operation.

[Foo2]

Laser cut and water polished?

[applebook]

EEEEWWWW, you use Windoze

This is terrible news, IMO, if true because the PowerBook G4/MacBook Pro keyboards are the nicest that I've ever used on a laptop. The Air's keyboard looks nice but just doesn't feel as good to type on.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

IHDMI is less bandwidth limited. The latest version of HDMI is 10.2 Gbps, DisplayPort is 8.64 Gbps.

DisplayPort can do 10.8Gb/s now. I couldn't care less if it's HDMi or DP, i just don't want the overly large DL-DVI used anymore.

[monstrosity]

found this on macrumors... the iWant...onenow...

[gar]

Originally Posted by wobegon

Looking at the ports, from right to left, I see:
Audio out, Audio in, Mini DVI, USB, another USB (yes, two USB ports side by side, like on the MacBooks), Ethernet, MagSafe port

you forgot a Firewire 800 port. The latest port visible is probably the Ethernet port or another Firewire 800 port. (it looks slightly wider than the Firewire 800 port on the left (enough space for a Video out port a MagSafe power port and your Mini-DVI port is to small for a Mini-DVI port. It's even to small for the micro-DVI port like the MB air has, which is about the same size as an USB port. Maybe It's a Kensington cable lock slot.

If Apple is moving all the ports to the left side, what does that mean for the right side? Will there simply be nothing on the right side?

Doubt it. I think they're moving the slot-loading SuperDrive to the right side, just like the MacBooks.

Indeed a super drive on the right makes a thin front a la MB air possible.
But since this is a Pro machine there should be an USB port on the right side too like the current MacBook Pro.

That...or we're looking at aluminum MacBooks (which doesn't seem realistic to me because the Pros are much more overdue for a facelift,

That's a non issue. The fact this is a MBP lays in the fact that the space between the keyboard and the side is to large. It's the about the same space as the current MBP 15".

not to mention the MacBook's MagSafe port is much smaller than the MacBook Pro's).

Nonsense... the MagSafe Power Adapter are interchangeable between MB (60W, which keeps your MBP up and running but hardly charges it) and the MBP MagSafe Power Adapter. (85W)