Long gone could be the glossy white, clean-looking finish to our MacBooks — in coming could be a new look - sleek and trendier, very modern, and eco-friendly, the new look is rumored to be made with anodized aluminum and stainless steel, much like the MacBook sibling, the MacBook Pro. This change in design would definitely add symmetry to the Apple product line.
But that’s not all — rumored is also a change in making all MacBooks thinner, which I am assuming will also make them lighter!
It is rumored that this new design will make it out into the market soon, as Apple’s average design cycle is every 18-24 months (for the MacBook and the MacBook Pro.) The last major redesign was in 2006.
Now of course this is all undisclosed information from a Taiwanese worker, on a Taiwanese Apple forum — at a undisclosed Taiwanese case company, who has received the order for an Aluminum casing for the MacBook. Kind of sounds like, “I heard this from my cousin’s friend’s sister who knows the guy that is friends with the girl who works there…” 
I definitely can see Apple heading this way with their MacBooks and I look forward to the new design Apple will put out into the market, but to be honest I would miss the glossy white finish (as it matches the decor in my house!)
[via AppleTell]
Jacob // 18/04/2008 at 11:07 am
i very much doubt myself that this will come into action soon, if any time this year id bet it to be near the end of Q4 because they have only just had a refresh on the macbooks themselves, they would have implmented a new design with the hardware because otherwise they would be opening themselves up to massive complaints
madmacmat // 19/04/2008 at 9:40 am
humm, I kinda disagree with Jacob… rumors has it that the change will take place late summer… which would fit the MacWorld as a place to “air” the Macbook in a multiple sense of the word ;-)…
And, may I be so bold to also disagree with the author: the change from plastic to aluminum only has advantages! Although Your room might no longer completely fit it I cannot imagine that aluminum totally destroys the looks…
On the other hand to arguments FOR the change:
- aluminum is more durable- I am just musing about how You’d have to redecorate/ paint your room after your white macbook is no longer the perfect white it used to be…
- think about all the million people owning 12″ powerbooks being totally reluctant to upgrade to plastic (for very good reasons!)… You’d bag them all together with the people drooling on the MacbookAir but not wanting to hand in so much cash for looks…
So, as always rumourworld will stay interesting in the minds where apple matters!
Girl-J // 19/04/2008 at 2:34 pm
Thanks for replying to my article!
I do think Apple will change the design on the MacBook, as all of their products have evolved over time (some in a shorter time period than I thought would ever happen.) Take for example, the ipod mini, after a short time it was replaced with the ipod nano, which was also quickly replaced by newer versions.
Apple needs to constantly be re-creating — both to attract new users to buy their products and so that the current Mac user who wants to spend their money on the latest and greatest, can. After all, Apple’s not the only innovative company on the planet! They’re just trying to stay ahead of the game! On a side note — it seems that companies who create electronics are replacing their products quickly these days. Fifteen years ago, it didn’t seem to be such a short lifespan for these expensive gadgets…
As for the decor issues — of course I wouldn’t have to repaint or hardly redecorate due to the change in design (I would probably redecorate anyway.)
I completely agree with steel/aluminum being better choices for both durability and environmentally. And of course, the color wouldn’t turn me away from buying a MacBook!
But who really knows what will happen, all I do know is, what will be - will be.