MacBook Release Date: September Hinted

Well, remember the “there will be no MacBooks in September” speculation that was going on? This new source seemed to have ended it by examining the stocks of items that are being shipped from Apple and this letter had started the MacBook and iPod drought:

More specifically, the Cupertino-based company in recent days issued an advisement bulletin to some of its channel partners hinting at a manufacturing ramp down of iPods and certain Mac notebook models, which will result in limited supplies of those products in the coming weeks.

To best address this situation and assure ample supplies for new customer orders through August, Apple “strongly suggested” that resellers bring in — or place immediate lump orders for — approximately 4 weeks worth of their top selling iPod models. Supplies of the players would start to become extremely limited in the next seven days, the bulletin said.

Similarly, the company also advised resellers that it would be in their best interest to place at least 3 weeks worth of orders for existing Mac notebook models. In this part of the communication, Apple is said to have specifically identified 13-inch MacBooks and 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros, but made no mention of the MacBook Air.

Based on past experiences and knowledge of their own inventory sell-through, those resellers who received the bulletin believe the notice is a strong indicator that Apple will begin introducing its holiday consumer electronics and Mac offerings sometime in early to mid-September.

Indeed, recent anecdotal evidence has suggested Apple is readying new models of both the iPod nano and the iPod touch. A report from AppleInsider earlier this week also provided an update on the company’s redesigned MacBook and MacBook Pros, noting that shipments were unlikely for at least another 6 to 8 weeks.

Source

So what does this mean? Are new MacBooks coming in September with new and redesigned features? Of course Apple is going to release new iPods, every single year at September there is always, always, always a new release.

If the best thing happens, we’ll have a new MBP with a newer and more functional design and a new MacBook as well with an aluminum case and a glass trackpad. To be honest, I don’t want to see aluminium taken over to the MacBook simply because I love the design on it currently.

Worst, we just get a small update 5% of Mac users will notice.

One thing I didn’t bring up that I did want to talk about was in the PowerBooks and in current MacBooks, to remove the battery you need a coin. Unfortunately, Apple removed this from the Pro reverting back to normal latches. The coin system was wonderful making the battery almost impossible to fall out of the computer if you trip a latch by a mistake or if you let a kid use the computer and you’re afraid they might pull a latch or something, making the battery fall out.

Another thing, wouldn’t a MacBook that weighed a little less be nice? I mean right now, they’re 13 inches, though another pound off of them would make a small difference. They’re a lot more heave than you think.

Finally, how about a 12″ MacBook Pro for $1499? Most of us miss the old 12″ PowerBook, and my brother still has his. I always ask him why he doesn’t upgrade and he loves the sleek metal design on it. It’s broken down twice and I fixed it for him every time, and I’m sure I’m not alone and a good percent of us who use Mac’s know someone that won’t upgrade. Of course so it doesn’t take sales from the BlackBooks, make it a little less powerful, but with a dedicated graphics chip. It was really the PowerBook (MacBook Pro at the time) that most people did buy just instead of the iBook (the MacBook at the time Apple killed to get PowerBook sales).

Hmm… anything else? Of course. I’m not too big of a fan when it comes to major changes and really, it’s rare for Apple to do that, not even in the PowerBook/iBook -> MacBook/Pro transition was there really any major changes. I just like little things that make a big difference Webcams! Yes, those little black things on the top of the screen, hopefully Apple will improve them a bit setting a higher standard for other companies.

If Apple keeps plastic, hopefully it will get even more stronger. The PowerBook -> Pro did bring in stronger aluminium, and MacBooks plastic has been changing, though we all still hear of and replace the plastic that cracks on the MacBooks due to the latch. Now, I’m not an an expert here, though could Apple place multiple latches on them and just lower the power to make the computer less likely to crack due to the strong pull between the two magnets? Maybe even a few of the same that are pushing each other apart with very, very little power, but just enough to slow down the case slightly if slammed for example. Okay, I’m going a little crazy there, I’ll admit that, though something should be done to reduce cracks in the casing.

Heat has always been a huge issue the MacBooks all the way back to the TiBooks. They don’t stay cool and do heat up, just feel the bottom of one in the Apple Store. While the MacBooks do stay cooler than the Pros, maybe we could use a few more powerful fans to cool it down or additional vents?

Well, that’s what I hoping for at the MacBook revision, though doubt it will happen.

Filed under: Macbook/Macbook Pro