Rumors about redesigned MacBook and MacBook Pro have been floating around the Internet for past six months. It is almost certain that Apple will launch the new MacBook lineup next month, and that has exponentially increased the rumors. According to the latest information obtained by AppleInsider, both the MacBook and MacBook Pro will share similarities not just in aluminum enclosures, but in their overall aesthetic as well. The new design will be based on the MacBook Air and iMac. The MacBooks will be tapered like the MacBook Air and will have black glass around the screen like the iMac.
A French website has leaked an image shown above that they say is the new MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro in the image has MacBook Air inspired tapering and keyboard, iMac inspired aluminum and black glass styling, and a glass/touchscreen trackpad that has been rumored for past two months. Now there is no way we can tell whether that image is real or fake, but all the rumors are pointing to a similarly designed new MacBook.
Hardware-wise both the MacBook models will be updated with new Core 2 Duo Intel processors, but based on the recent information, it’s the smaller MacBook that will see most changes. It is believed that Apple is looking to increase performance of the smaller MacBook by use NVIDIA’s chipset in place of Intel chipset, which were used in previous generations. According to Ars Technica, the new MacBooks will use NVIDIA MCP7A-U chipset that features the fastest integrated mobile GPU on the market. The chipset supports 1333MHz front side bus, DDR2, DDR3, PCI Express, SATA, USB and Gigabit Ethernet. It is also reported that the power requirement for the chipset is lower, which would allow Apple to design thinner case while improving battery life.
The last piece of information (rumor), posted by Seth Weintraub on Computer World, contradicts Apple’s plan to go all aluminum for its notebook lineup. Seth posted, “The new MacBook is a thicker version of the MacBook Air with slightly curved black plastic much like the G3 Powerbook. It is mostly black on the outside with aluminum around the edges. I’ve even heard “much sleeker, modernized G3 Powerbook” as a descriptor.”
Though, right now, the information above is all rumors, it is very likely that some of the details give above will match the final MacBook lineup when it’s launched next month.