MacBook (non-pro) Refresh

We already have a thread on the Pros, and most think that it will be updated before the MacBook. The MacBook was last updated on November 1st, whereas the last MacBook Pro was on June 5 2.6GHz option excluded.

Well, the November 1st update was significant.

Well, if I am going to get a Macbook, I am going to wait until Apple goes green with it...not for any hippy reasons, I just like the look better! :-P

How do you know what the "green" Macbook will look like?

It will be in Aluminium (99%), the design is questionable, Apple could just take it easy by using the current design or they can do something like the Air design.

What I fear if Apple were to use the Air design is they will get the stupid and idiotic idea like the integrated battery and 1 USB port.

The Macbook in plastic is a really rugged machine. It's extremely simple to add RAM and switch out the HDD (this is an excellent feature and I can't stress it enough). The current form factor is better in many respects than the Air (which I do like but don't think I'll own).

Mine is plenty quick (1st gen 2.0 CoreDuo) but I'm sure with the advancements in the cpu's and chipsets the new ones would smoke mine fairly handily.

They are really good values right now. You can always wait for the next great thing though...

I am in the market for a Macbook to replace a Rev A MBP... I am hoping they don't go Alu! The plastic is so much more durable and rugged!

I am just hoping for a decent gpu, and a backlit keyboard... now I have said it, I bet we'll get the total opposite :P

well for me the must have in future MB is multitouch touchpad, it makes zooming and rotating pics sooo much easier.

And why you dont want alu? Alu makes the MB price looks good (as in people wont start saying its expansive compared to other laptop that has better hardware at the same price). A dedicated GPU option in the line is a must. Backlit keyboard is okay.

I didn't realize the macbook consumer had santa rosa. I guess it went over my head. I'd like to buy a macbook, but am waiting on:

aluminum shell
LED display

So you're telling me the plastic shell aint that bad, rugged infact? I heard and suspect since the case is shiny, it will be scratched really easily.

Hmm maybe, I dont realise it on my sis black macbook yet though. Maybe at the bottom. Hmm.

Oh yeah, is it cause of the LED Display the MBA display screen is thinner?

I hate the Alu on my MBP, so fragile, and way, way too hot.

How about a mixture? An aluminum upper shell and a plastic base so not to burn your lap?

I think they gonna hold off on the refresh of both until they can add multi-touch like on the air. Now that i think about it. but who really knows. i am know i am holding out for the "greener" macbook. It would be great if came out before 2nd quarter start.

You'd probably be right. Order now.- still has 120 days to go until the product cycle ends
(http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#MacBook)

I think the multi-touch is more to software and not hardware. Its possible to have m-touch gestures in current MB or MBP with a software update (thats if apple would want to).

Hmm, yeah. You are correct bout Alu being hotter then Plastic, maybe a mixture is good . But Alu dissipate internal heat better.

Then I am afraid that your waiting will be long. Sorry to break the bad news, but the current Macbook design has not even been two years out there (about one year and eight months actually). The previous iBook design lasted ... (guess what) ... five years. This of course tells not much about what and when is coming, but it makes you (me certainly) think.


I don't know, but people say that it is more resistant to bumps. It will probably scratch more easily than the aluminum case but, from what I gather after reading user reports, it will not deform or break as easily as the aluminum one.

Perhaps Apple will unveil both at the same time, new CPU, cases and all?

While I can't speak to the virtues of the white one as I haven't dropped one yet, I can safely say that the black doesn't scratch easily at all.

Hmm aint a properly design aluminium will be stronger then plastic?

That really depends on a number of factors. I'd venture that the design of the Air is stronger than the Macbook Pros currently shipping due to its curves which help lend extra rigidity.

I've had machines of both types and the plastic ones seem stronger overall. The finish on the black one also resists scratches extremely well. I've also got an old "icebook" iBook (700 MHz G3 12" circa 2002). That's a fairly chunky machine by todays' standards, but it's a tank.

I'm not bagging on the Aluminum in the Macbook Pros, just contrasting my experiences with the two types.

but I think, honestly because of the grean environment thing that Apple had it goin on, the MB is going to be aluminium in the next update. Mostlikely they will try to be fully green by this year so on next year MacWorld, Jobs can announce something like 08 has mark a leapstone for us cause all our products is now environmental friendly blah blah blah.

You made me cringe, when you mentioned dropping an Air, much less on purpose. Cruel, so cruel. Can't wait for mine to arrive, come on Feb. 6th...

i cant wait anymore ! i wanna buy and i am gonna buy a mac book but if an update comes by nextmonth ( i am really unlucky !

The macbook plastic isn't rugged, the hardware maybe but the casing sure isn't....don't get me wrong I love it but I wish it were made of alu

YMMV but I'd put money on the Macbook's plastic enclosure holding up better than the aluminum over time.

Now would be a great time to buy a MacBook. The only plausible speedbump to the MacBook in the next six months is a switch to Penryn processors. The MacBook will surely get Montevina well after the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air i.e. not in the next six months. There is no other technology coming in the next six months that could drive a MacBook speedbump.

hmm, I dont understand why the points bout aluminium and plastic is contradicting each other.

Which ones?

There is an entire line of Penryn processors for Santa Rosa.

There is no definate answer in which material is stronger, some people say plastic is more rugged while some say alu. So which is it, im getting confused.

I spoke from experience having owned both and said the plastic held up better IMO. Having taken apart an aluminum Powerbook, the aluminum is pretty thin. I'm not saying it's flimsy, and it's definately tougher than the old "titanium" Powerbooks", but to me the plastic in the new Macbooks is some tough stuff and my black one shows no marks at all after being pushed off a table.

Aluminum *does* have the potential to be stronger, I just feel that in this case the Macbook Pro's aluminum case is more for appearance than strength.

Ditto. Looks the sharpest as well.

I have seen some dented Macbook pros. Not pretty.


That being said I think you should focus more on what the Macbooks and Macbook pros can DO. I think most people who go Pro don't really need one and never use it's full capabilities. Macbooks are powerful and more portable. Course if you aren't the one paying for the price difference, get the most powerful Macbook pro you can.

The MacBook will certainly not get Penryn before the MacBook Pro and probably not before the MacBook Air. Since the MacBook Air already has a Merom/Penryn hybrid and is not even shipping yet, I think we have a while to wait before we see an update to the MacBook.

I believe aluminum holds up better. My MacBook has cracked twice already in one year. When I get my next MacBook, it will be metal. I will spend extra for a Pro if I have to. Search "crackbook" on Flickr and see what I mean.

When Steve Jobs introduced the MBA at MacWorld, he was making pro-environment arguments for using aluminum...

If you look at some other Apple products that used to use plastic (but are now aluminum), such as the iPod Classic and the iMac, this leads me to think that (for sake of the environment) that Apple would make the next MB in aluminum, just to sort of complete the transition to this material.

And they might make the shell in grey and black just like the current iPod Nano (or the previous generation of Nano's)? Which actually makes me wonder, what are the chances do you think that Apple would launch the MB in aluminum and different colors just like the iPods?

While I would like to see a GPU and back lit keyboard, if these were introduced, it would basically make the MB into the MBP (which I doubt will happen, unless the MBP received a revolutionary upgrade, both internally and externally).

I think the case for aluminium is well made, pun intended. I am sure that eco-friendly concerns are very relevant to future Apple designs, especially as we enter an era of disposable electronics.

Aluminium MacBooks prototypes have definitely been seen at Cupertino. I am not the only person to report this, so I think an update must surely be in the works. my guestimate is September and not before MacBook Pros get a refresh.

A lot of people want the power of a MacBook Pro with the form factor of a MacBook Air plus DVD drive, Ethernet, Firewire, and USB ports: in other words they want a 13" MacBook Pro in aluminium.

I'd certainly prefer a MacBook with the power of a MacBook Pro. I am not alone and i think we are fast approaching an all-aluminium range of Apple laptops. If so, then I'd like to see an Apple range something like this:
MacBook 13" LED DVD, 6 ports (Ethernet, Firewire, Video, 3 x USB), 512Gb SSD: 4 lbs
MacBook Air 13" LED, 4 ports (Ethernet, Video, 2 x USB), 512Gb SSD: 3 lbs
MacBook Pro 15" LED, DVD, 6 ports (Ethernet, Firewire, Video, 3 x USB), 1064 Gb SSD: 5 lbs
MacBook Pro 17" LED, DVD, 6 ports (Ethernet, Firewire, Video, 3 x USB), 1064 Gb SSD: 6 lbs

All with removeable batteries, please.
All with SSD as the unversal standard for all laptop hard drives.
All using the samefamily of Core 2 Duo mobile laptops with Montevina ranging from 2.2 Ghz to 2.8 GHz speeds.
All with 802.11n /WiMax/ Bluetooth

Right now, SSD is expansive to put in all laptops.

Your ideas are great and the LED and Aluminium case is a guarantee to become in future MB's