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This time every year the rumor mill starts cranking out predictions of the iPod product line refresh, and this year is no exception. The iPod Nano and iPod Touch are expected to see updates. In addition to the iPod line up refresh it is expected that Apple will update it’s MacBook and MacBook Pro Product lines with new Aluminum cases with a tapered design. These are certainly exciting times, and I can’t wait to see what happens.

What do you predict? Leave a comment and let us know!

Rumors of what are said to be the new Macbook cases have been leaked via Apple Pro & Enadget.

The picture shows a totally aluminum case for the MacBook. The MacBook label is in the exact same place as the current MacBook, and the case appears to be the same shape. Previously aluminum cases have only available on the MacBook Pro, but if it’s included in the MacBook, will the screen size be the only aesthetic difference?

I’m excited to see if this will be the real redesign of the MacBook that many of us are expecting.

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]

In their usual Tuesday store update, Apple has added new MacBooks and MacBook Pros to the Apple store.

The new models have the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, larger hard drives and 2GB of memory standard on most models.

The MacBook Pro also includes the latest NVIDIA graphics processors, up to 512MB of video memory, and a multi-touch trackpad.

If you just purchased a MacBook or MacBook Pro, now might be a good time to pick up the phone and call Apple (if you missed these lower prices/updates). We just picked up a new MacBook here at Mactropolis last week, and Apple generously rebated $200 to our credit card (We added roughly $150 of updates to the MacBook that are now included in the base price… plus, the same MacBook is now $50 cheaper in the store).

Good on Apple for doing this (as they should). Would be very interested to hear if anyone else out there has had a similar experience!

The gadget blog over at Wired claims to have some last minute details on a new, thinner MacBook. Mr. Job’s is due out tomorrow morning at 9AM PST to announce this among (perhaps) some other new products?

The new MacBook/AirBook is reported to be ultra ultra-thin, and has taken on the silver/black combo that you now see in the iMac line.

With details so sparse, I’m sure there is much more to the new MacBook/AirBook besides the ultra-thin profile. If these rumors are really true, I’m looking forward to learning more tomorrow.

Click here for more details from Wired.

Rumor has it that a new, 11 to 13 inch ‘portable’ laptop (aren’t they all portable?) is due to be unveiled at MacWorld ‘08 in January.

Initial rumors had been that Apple was going to hit the market with a ’sub-notebook’ computer coming in at a tiny 8 to 11 inch size. I’m glad these rumors seem to be dissapating as that really is a little small for me and most folks I believe!

Anyways, back to the 11 to 13 inch model. Apparently it is going to be a bit pricey. Between $1,099 and $1,999. That’s a lot of moola for what you get. Although, there are supposed options of a 64MB flash drive, or even a touchscreen option so that you can tap tap tap away at your screen like on the iPhone.

Personally, for that kind of money I’d rather spend a bit more and get a MacBook Pro. Size and portability isn’t a HUGE issue to me. Performance is.

However, for those that are on the road, on planes, and just generally travel a lot, this might be a perfect option coupled with the iPhone.

Should be interesting to see how this one turns out!

[Source]

For the past few days, I have heard people complaining about their macbook keyboards freezing at times. They need to reboot the computer or put it to sleep before it can actually work again.My new macbook was bought after Thanksgiving. This week, I have started having the same issues with my keyboard. I visited this Apple discussion forum and there is a long list of people with the same problem.

The discussion thread looks more like a petition list so that Apple can have the problem fixed. Many are sending their MBs for repair to have the keyboard replaced. If the hardware is a problem, then a massive recall would follow. Others believe the problem is related to the keyboard driver in Leopard. I guess we are going to have to wait for Apple to fix this! And I hope it’s soon… before my keyboard freezes again!

I’ve noticed that new MacBooks seem to have sluggish trackpads. Why? I don’t know, but some believe it has something to do with the size of your fingers!

I got a new MacBook two weeks ago and have noticed that my trackpad behaves with a certain delay. This happens especially when I use two fingers to scroll up or down. It is a bit annoying to have that delay.

I thought I was the only one with that problem until I checked the Apple’s discussion website. Many people there who have purchased new macbooks (with Leopard) are having the same problem. One person even mentioned that he/she has a friend with ‘bigger fingers’ and that friend had no problem with the trackpad. But when using only the fingertips (a smaller ‘finger area’), it wouldn’t work properly!

I’ve tried the same technique on my macbook, that is, using a ‘bigger area’ of my fingers while scrolling up and down and it seemed to work pretty well.

Are the new MacBooks biased towards bigger fingers? If so I hope there is a new firmware to fix that soon! In the meantime, I’ll have to keep using some ‘bigger’ fingers… or put on a few pounds