Katie Marsal and Kasper JadeApple Computer plans to unleash a 17-inch version of its MacBook Pro professional notebook by the time its World Wide Developers Conference rolls around in June, AppleInsider has discovered.
Despite optimism from some of Apple's current 12-inch PowerBook customers, a 12-inch MacBook Pro model has yet to surface on Apple's product roadmap, reliable sources have told AppleInsider.
These sources say the 17-inch MacBook Pro has been penciled-in for a release at or around Apple's annual World Wide Developers Conference, which has historically taken place around June.
Still, there remains the possibility that the high-end Apple notebook could be pushed out the door a bit earlier this Spring. Recent reports indicate that the developmental progress of 17-inch MacBook Pro is on par with that of Apple's Intel-based iBooks, which are widely rumored for a release by April.
One factor that may prohibit an earlier release of the 17-inch MacBook Pro is the lack of an 8x SuperDrive thin enough to fit in the notebook's enclosure, which is reportedly just as slim as the 15-inch model.
Due to its sleek industrial design, the MacBook Pro requires 9.5mm thick SuperDrives rather than the 12mm drives used in Apple's previous line of PowerBook G4 notebooks. Each of the company's 15-inch MacBook Pro models includes only a 4x SuperDrive because an 8x 9.5mm version of the drive is not yet available in production quantities.
According to AppleInsider's proprietary checks, a slot-loading version of the 8x SuperDrive suitable for the MacBook Pro is slated for customer shipments beginning in May. It's unclear if Apple will add an 8x SuperDrive option to the 15-inch MacBook Pro at this time or reserve the feature for a later revision of the notebook.
Nevertheless, expectations for Apple's Intel Macs — and more specifically its Intel notebooks — are running high in the Far East. Citing Taiwan PC manufacturers as a source, the Chinese-language Economic Daily News this week said Apple stands to ship as many as 10 million Intel Macs this year. The publication refined these predictions on Friday, citing sources who estimated that 6 million of those Macs will be notebook computers.
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96 Comments
Interesting, sounds like evidence that the 13" MacBook (non-Pro) will round out the low end, and the MacBook Pro will cover the high-end at 15" and 17" sizes.
Discussed already to death, the 13" MacBook better have Dual Core!!
Interesting, sounds like evidence that the 13" MacBook (non-Pro) will round out the low end, and the MacBook Pro will cover the high-end at 15" and 17" sizes.
Discussed already to death, the 13" MacBook better have Dual Core!!
In my opinion (as much as I'd like to be wrong about it) - I think the CoreDuo and CoreSolo is what's going to set the MacBookPro apart from the MacBook.
Lets hope I'm wrong
It's quaint how the name "macbook" doesn't sound as obtuse as it did upon introduction.
But I happen to believe that this 12" powerbook is one of the best laptops ever offered.
If this size format will no longer be offered with pro features, let's hope that the replacement product is sufficient enough to satisfy the many of us who are mad about little tanks.
This sounds like good news, but in other news (3 days old):
A video-on-demand movie service from WALT DISNEY CO. introduced the first delivery service for high-definition films to U.S. homes. With top Hollywood and Silicon Valley partners, MovieBeam said it plans to offer first-run films from six of the seven film studios in standard digital-video format and high-definition films from Disney and Warner Bros. studios. The video-on-demand service is aimed at heavy movie renters and initially will be offered in 29 U.S. cities, at prices competitive with renting the same movie at video retailer BLOCKBUSTER INC. Some movies will be made available at the same time as they come out on DVD, MovieBeam said. "They appear to be ready to deliver true high-definition movies. That's a breakthrough," said Gerry Kaufhold analyst In-Stat/MDR. MovieBeam appeared to have run out of steam when Disney took a $24 million write-down on the company last summer. It was revived last month with a $48.5 million cash infusion from Disney, CISCO SYSTEMS INC., INTEL CORP. and three venture capital firms. MovieBeam bypasses network bottle-necks through a technology called "datacasting," which broadcasts up to 10 new movies a week to subscribers using an exclusive transmission deal to send data signals over the Public Broadcasting System network.?Reuters 12:37 PM ET 02/14/2006
There might not even be a MacBook, just different kinds OF MacBook.
MacBook Pro, MacBook Express, MacBook Extreme, MacBook Nano, MacBook Mini, MacBook Quad, MacBook Plus, MacBook SE/30, MacBook U2 Edition... it's hard to say where it could end. Now we can never be sure there's not a new category of laptop just around the corner.