Apple notebook refresh rumored to arrive October 14

[.Kompressor]

Apple notebook refresh rumored to arrive October 14 (updated)

Daring Fireball?s Jon Gruber posted an interest mention in his Notes and Observations piece after Apple?s Let?s Rock event on Tuesday. Buried at the end of his third paragraph is this little gem that predicts the date of the upcoming MacBook revision:

Those of you holding out for a new lineup of MacBooks will have to wait until October 14, according to sources who, as they say, are familiar with Apple?s hardware plans.

No other details were given but, for what it?s worth, October 14 is a Tuesday and we know that Apple likes to make their announcements on Tuesdays.

MacBooks and MacBook Pros are currently Apple?s longest shipping products and arguably most in need of a refresh. According to the MacRumors Buyers Guide it has been 198 days since the MacBook was updated and its average revision window is 192 days. The MacBook Pro was also updated 198 days ago and its average revision window is 194 days. Both products are listed as ?Don?t Buy - Updates Soon.?

CNet?s Tom Krazit notes that Apple missed the back-to-school buying window for notebooks and that problems delivering Intel?s new Centrino 2 mobile chips probably contributed to the delay.

So let?s review some of the current speculation around what we can expect to see in Apple?s new notebooks.

ComputerWorld?s Seth Weintraub mentioned that the new MB and MBP will be ?going glass.? Ignore for the moment that he targeted the ?end of September,? we?ll blame the delay on Intel. He posits:

* The new models are thinner than current MacBook and MacBook Pros and slightly more rounded, taking design cues from the MacBook Air.

* The trackpad is glass, multi-touch and uses gestures. The screen isn?t multi-touch.

* The body is manufactured out of one piece of aluminum. Eco-friendly, yet sturdy. Manufacturing process is completely different.

AppleInsider adds that Apple may be exploring chip alternatives for the new notebooks but that the primary CPU will continue to come from Intel.

Taiwanese web site Apple.pro (with thanks to AppleOwner) posted purported leaked photos of the new aluminum MacBook enclosure (pictured above.)

Some have said that the newest MacBook Pro (not the MacBook, mind you) will also include an optical drive capable of reading (not writing) Blu-Ray discs. ZDNet?s own Robet Harris noted that Panasonic announced the industry?s first slim-line (9.5 mm) Blu-ray DVD writer at CES on January 6 and that Panasonic supplies most of Apple?s notebook DVD burners, so draw your own conclusions there.

Update: Although it?s been 240 days since the MacBook Air was announced in January there?s no historical data to indicate when Apple might update its new-ish subnotebook. It?s been noted that the new 120GB iPod classic hard drive is the same 1.8-inch mechanism found in the MBA so it stands to reason that that will trickle down to the MBA in the next revision. Also, Toshiba began shipping a low-cost 128MB Solid State Drive (SSD) back in March 2008, so it stands to reason that a higher-cap SSD option will also land in the MBA soon.

What would you like to see in new Apple portables?

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-ga...new-macbook-pro

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=2253

[MrFuji]

Yeah, read that on macrumors, too. I'd hoped for a September release but at least we have a date now.

Btw, who's Jon Gruber? Seems like he's only known for this weblog...

[AJR1]

Can people familiar with how Apple does things add anymore credibility to it, I was looking to get a MacBook in 3 weeks, but if this is true, then i'll wait a little longer, at least in any rate past October 14th just incase.

October 14th is a Tuesday, do Apple usually launch things on a Tuesday?

[.Kompressor]

From past releases....the Majority of Apple's releases have been on a Tuesday.

[AJR1]

From past releases....the Majority of Apple's releases have been on a Tuesday.

Cheers matey :) i guess ill be waiting!

[MrFuji]

October 14th is a Tuesday, do Apple usually launch things on a Tuesday?

Well, basically what .Kompressor said, but *every* rumour would probably claim that a product will come out on a tuesday. So that doesn't add much credibility. I rather know if Jon Gruber had posted any rumours that turned out to be true earlier...

[Denis W. Veteran]

October 14th is a Tuesday, do Apple usually launch things on a Tuesday?

You forgot what happened this past Tuesday? :p

[Lasker]

I am wonder if they are going to release 10.5.5 closed to this date?

[AJR1]

Well, basically what .Kompressor said, but *every* rumour would probably claim that a product will come out on a tuesday. So that doesn't add much credibility. I rather know if Jon Gruber had posted any rumours that turned out to be true earlier...

That wouldn't be such a bad idea ... anyone care to jump up and provide an answer :)

I refuse to buy a MacBook with this rumour swirling round, and *if* Apple have told their retail partners to stock up on at least three weeks worth of stock, that proves to me that a product change is likely, the same happened with the previous iPhone, then 3G came out.

Im willing to believe this rumour, due to the fact that the MacBook line is way way overdue a refresh.

Macrumors -> http://www.macrumors.com/2008/09/10/apple-...acbook-air-hdd/

[sn00pie]

Apple told retailers to stock up 3 weeks before the back to school rush even started, so it's hard to say when the new Macbooks will come out. I needed it for school so I bought mine a few weeks ago, and there's no regret in my mind. :)

[Rudy]

all I want is a quad core macbook pro :)

[Tobey]

OMG.

I can't standing the long waiting. I intend to buy a macbook/pro, but considering the new power and ability of refreshed ones, I 'm hesitating now. Coz I really don't like plastic macbook, and pro with m86gt.

If this rumor turns out to be false. Then maybe we should expect all refreshed product line next year.

That's the last thing I want to see. What I do know is updates of almost all products are coming soon.

[.Kompressor]

I think we can generally say....

They will get some kind of update very soon.

will a case redesign be included?

or just internal changes....Montevina? Blue Ray, new video cards, ddr 3 ?

Montevina is certainly in the next MB's but I think most are looking forward to a case redesign too.

[.Kompressor]

well if we follow the buzz over at AppleInsider

they predict notebooks in October and iMac in November

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/08...08_roadmap.html

so will Apple send out another Event invite for these or will they be a silent update....I doubt the notebooks will be silent considering they will be redesigned.

[Tobey]

I think we can generally say....

They will get some kind of update very soon.

will a case redesign be included?

or just internal changes....Montevina? Blue Ray, new video cards, ddr 3 ?

Montevina is certainly in the next MB's but I think most are looking forward to a case redesign too.

According to sources, the refreshing of other product lines would be seen in Jan, Feb next year.

But for mb and mb pro, I'm confused myself.

[Argi]

I've been waiting all year for othe Macbook refreshes. Can't wait to see their new designs.

[PyX]

Wow, in exactly 1 month, I MIGHT be able to order my MacBook on Apple's site. Luckily, I'd be stupid this semester to bring a laptop at University, my classes really don't need one (except 1 out of 6 maybe), so... in the end I want it just for the sake of having it, but it *should* be more powerful than my current iMac, so it's a big + ;)

4GB of memory... hmmm I'll make good usage of that.

[BoJo]

Mine's not a year old and all I can think of are the words "shiny" and "how much" :laugh:

Damn.

[.Kompressor]

September 15, 2008, 11:29 am

Apple: Citi Says Sept. Qtr Tracking Ahead Of Street Ests; Contends Shipments Have Begun On New MacBooks

Posted by Eric Savitz

Citigroup?s Richard Gardner asserted in a research note this morning that Apple?s September quarter is tracking in line with his above-consensus revenue estimate of $8.3 billion ?thanks to surprisingly robust iPod shipments and in-line PC shipments.?.? The Street is looking for $8.1 billion. Gardner sees EPS of $1.20 a share, which is above the Street at $1.11.

Gardner adds that sharp price declines for DRAM, NAND and flat panels suggest that gross margins for the quarter should top management?s guidance despite back-to-school promotions and iPod price cuts. He also contends that iPhone shipments at running at 1.5x-2x above consensus.

He also says that ?field checks? have confirmed that shipments of new MacBooks have begun; he says the most distinctive features of the new MacBooks are ?very thin aluminum casing, an LED-backlit display and an aggressive entry-level price point.?

Apple today is down $3.41, or 2.3%, to $145.53.

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2...glenews_barrons

[absorbation]

I hope there is a price drop too. Laptops and desktops have been dropping in price over the past 9 months, and I believe it is time for Apple to follow the same trend.

[rajputwarrior]

i hate that apple is moving away from the white and black looks

[HellScream63]

Yeah, I really liked the current Alu iMacs when they first came out but taking a second look at them now I prefer the design of the white iMacs. And I heard the glass is hard to clean, plus it's not a great option for graphics work where colour accuracy is very important.

Plus, if they make the upcoming MacBooks out of Aluminum all the notebooks are gonna look the same. I can see how it's logical because of the apparent trend that Apple is moving towards with their product line, I just hope it's not entirely true.

[Phalesafe]

all I want is a quad core macbook pro :)

Next summer is when it will happen for sure with the mobile derivative of Nehalem.

[Argote]

Seems likely since Apple usually sells the old stuff in the back to school period in August/September and immediately after that refreshes it so all the college students have something to crave for....

[Damian]

All i have to say is: Bring back the 12 inch, or an 11 inch MacBook, Apple!

12" MB, 12" MBP, 12" Air... It doesn't matter. just bring it back!