“Rumors that Apple Computer may finally be on the verge of introducing its first consumer Intel notebooks are true, AppleInsider has learned. Development of the 13-inch widescreen portables wrapped up last month. Ever since, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company has been waiting for the signal from its marketing division to begin manufacturing ramp and rollout procedures,” AppleInsider reports. “According to well-placed sources, Apple began building the new notebooks — expected to be called MacBooks — sometime last week. It’s believed that Asustek is handling production. Each MacBook is expected to sport Core Duo processors from Intel Corp and pack novelties such as a completely magnetic latching system, built in iSight video camera, and MagSafe power adapter. Additionally, each MacBook is expected to come bundled with Apple’s Front Row and PhotoBooth software applications.”
Full article here.
“Following up our report earlier this week concerning the MacBook’s May availability, sources have nailed down next Tuesday, May 9, as the introduction day for the Intel-based laptop,” Think Secret reports. “On a side note, a coding glitch with Apple’s Web site has all but confirmed the MacBook moniker for the new consumer laptop. The error began cropping up late Thursday evening and was still present intermittently Friday morning and resulted in Apple’s iPod homepage being replaced by an empty page sporting a navigation hierarchy reading ‘Home > Hardware > MacBook.'”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Sounds more and more like there will be eventually be a couple of 13-inch “MacBook” models at the entry level, a couple of 15-inch MacBook Pro models, and one or two 17-inch MacBook Pro models when all is said and done. Now, will those “MacBooks” come in colors?
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Related MacDailyNews articles:
Report: iBook replacement due soon, 1.2 million Apple 13.3-inch ‘MacBooks’ on order from Asustek – April 12, 2006
RUMOR: New Apple MacBook to come in colors – April 12, 2006
Apple trademark filing suggests ‘iBook’ to be rebranded ‘MacBook’ – March 06, 2006
RUMOR: Apple iBook to become ‘MacBook’ while ‘MacBook Pro’ will offer more screen size choices soon – January 11, 2006
Great.. one more rumor..
MDN word: true. It’s true this time.
Yawn
Does anyone know who won the Jim Rome Smack Off this morning?
I think the color phase is done…but they’ll have to have some way to distinguish them from the Pro line (other than what’s inside). Will be interesting to see the overall specs…
MW=size; does size really matter?
“novelties such as..” not innovations?
I think black (like my iPod) would look really sexy…
I hope there isn’t mass hysteria and people calling for Steve Job’s head if the new intel iBook’s name isn’t changes to MacBook like it’s RUMORED to be changed. Lets pray to God that it’s 100% scratch proof and stays cool enough to chill your favorite beverage.
andy – They’re novelties.
justme2 – they’ll remain white, like the rest of the consumer line. They’ll just change the printing under the screen.
They should have led with these, not the Pro portables. These suckers better outperform the minis and be damn close to the iMacs.
Here come the Schoolkids, aching for their princial to hand them a MacBook! There goes the stock–UP UP UP. Then, of course, down, down again as profit takers take, and analysts knock the company relentlessly.
Where do all these “Mac Virus” and “Apple isn’t as great as people think” stories come from anyway? Is there a conspiracy out there or are the pundits all idiots, or paid off?
Please have dedicated graphics card.
Please have DVI connector.
Please have Digital Audio In/Out.
Please have dedicated graphics card.
If I pre-order a rumored product, do I still have to pay?
What about…
White with colors (green, blue, purple, etc.)
&
Black with colors (green, blue, purple, etc.)
I heard they are incorporating a new technology in the screen.
They place light sensing pixels between the normal pixels so that it can recort light or Pictures.
Reportedly this will be used as a scanner. So you can place a sheet of paper on your laptop and scan it right in.
Also this will allow for scanning your ass and any other funny faces you will make.
MDNMW: Light – as in making light of . .
I suppose a 13 inch MacBook’s worthiness will largely come down to its screen resolution. If they’re going to ask iBook users to carry an extra inch and not gain any screen real estate as a result, then there’s really no point to it. But if it gives us a higher pixel count, then the new MacBook should be a winner. Anyone want to buy a 12 inch G4 iBook?
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Sounds as though it is going to be expensive if the rumours are true (which they never are)…
/me aches for a new Macbook Pro but my wallet screams stop. Maybe the Macbook (I still hate that name) will be a good compromise.
i’m thinking we are going to see GMA950 on these MacBooks.
PC Apologist,
considering the increasing trend to portables, together with Apples expansion in the education market, I believe these ‘books’ could well outsell the iMacs.
I have no doubt that an entry/consumer level laptop would rival iMac sales. Portable is always nice.
Does anyone else think that equating a bigger screen size with a “pro” machine and smaller screen size with a “consumer” machine is just plain stupid? There is NO reason for Apple not to create a 14/15″ consumer laptop and a 12/13″ pro laptop. There are “pros” who already have an LCD display and who need the smallest powerful laptop they can get; and there are “consumers” who want a decent size screen but don’t need a lot of power.
What is Apple thinking?!?!?
🙁
I’m waitin for them to bring the colored laptops back.
Bring em’ on.
Dammit. I sure hope there is a 12” model somewhere in the future. Its a perfect size and weight for easy transportation. I was aiming for a 12” PowerBook to replace my iBook when they announced the MacBook Pro, and it seems increasingly unlikely that they will ever come up with a 12” intel-based Apple portable.
Damn you, Apple.
“Now, will those “MacBooks” come in colors?”
Man, I just wish they’d ship my 17″ SILVER one…. I’m not worried about colors!!!
But on the MacBook/iBook note, I lean towards the idea the the iBook moniker will remain for the true consumer level ‘books since they didn’t drop the “i” for the iMac. I think MOSR is right about that. I think the regular MacBook will be the smaller “pro” level book.
Glaken- They didn’t drop the “i” from the iMac since it already has “Mac” in its name, and MacMac wouldn’t make a lot of sense.
It seems they want to put “Mac” in all computer products that don’t already have it.
MacBook, Mac Mini, iMac, Macbook Pro, Mac Pro.
I want mine now ! ! ! ! ! !
so if they didnt change the “i” in imac, the maybe they won;t change the “Power” in PowerMac?’
I think it sounds right.
I had a girlfriend once who came in colours. She was Canadian.
Okay let’s get it out in the open now, so you all have a few days to bitch and moan..
THE MacBook WILL INCLUDE INTEGRATED GRAPHICS AND THE PRICE IS GOING TO INCREASE!
Why? Because the core-duo Mac mini wich costs $799 has the lowest profit margin of any computer Apple has ever sold.. The MacBook costs will be considerably more expensive to build than a mini.. The 13 widescreen LCD alone is an additional $143, plus the iSight cam, mag-safe connector and larger case enclosure, you are looking at a minimum of $1099 for the base-model. I mean, Intel has recently lowered prices on the core-duo processor, but it is still more expensive than the previous generations G4 chip.
Apple is certainly trying to be more price competitive as of late, but we need to be realistic here.. There is absolutely NO WAY to build a MacBook with these specs and still be priced at $999.. It’s simply not posssible, unless you expect Apple to lose money on each unit sold and we all know thats not gonna happen! Based on Mac minis pricing, we’re looking at $1099 for a base-model MacBook.
I predict a 13.1″ widescreen “iBook” with poopy integrated graphics, available with Core Duo for $1299.
…smart people will opt for a refurbished 15″ MacBook Pro for $1699.
Mmmm… it’d be nice to have a black one for my iPod video…
OMG, I have been wanting an intel iBook for freaking ever…I shall order mine the moment they are announced…
rasterbator – the only now FOUR time winner. I forgot his name but he whooped some ass.
I will be very disappointed if these do not have…….
A Dedicated Graphics Card!
A Dedicated Graphics Card!
A Dedicated Graphics Card!
A Dedicated Graphics Card!
DEDICATED GRAPHICS!
Please Apple, not integrated cheesy graphics. Give us a Radeon or nVida REAL video card…
– Mark
i cannot wait…!
i just hope the graphics card is good enough to play halo..! hehe.
OK – maybe the core duo will cut into the profit margin a bit. But Dell are selling a 14 inchnotebook with 1.66 ghz core duo for 650. Whilst Apple’s components and technology will be better and more costly, I think they can still get a base book for 999.
it’s coming out or at least being announced tuesday. that’s not a rumor, that’s a fact.
For the intended users, by and large, it’s not important to have a dedicated graphics card. Integrated is good enough and saves space, power, and money. They should bring it out in the same durable shell as the iBook (that’s a big selling point for many users) but also make a black one (so you can mix and match with iPods
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I really hope this is true, I’ve been drooling over the new Intel iBooks (or MacBooks as they seem to be known soon) for a looooong time! Tuesday here we come!
Widescreen is better for me than those 12″ traditional screens. It’s just easier to look at, it fits naturally into the field of vision of humans.
Just hoping they don’t come with integrated graphics…
Specs: two models
first $ 1099, 1.66 Core Duo, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB HDD, integrated graphics, Combo drive, Gigabit Ethernet, 2 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 port, built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0, built-in iSight, Apple Remote
second $ 1399, 1.66 Core Duo, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB HDD, GeForce graphics card, 4x SuperDrive, Gigabit Ethernet, 2 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 port, built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0, built-in iSight, Apple Remote
Expect prices of MacBook Pro models to drop soon
I doubt there will be a built-in camera. Probably not even FireWire, since USB 2.0 has pretty much blown away FireWire in the non-pro market.
Once The Steve thinks Apple has cleared out all the people who want a new Intel Mac, can’t stand waiting for the new “iBook” and willing to fork out the bucks for the “Pro” model, then Apple will cut loose the “consumer” model.
Truth be told, for most people who purchase the “pro” model, the “consumer” ones (at close to half the price) would be fine. The Steve doesn’t want to leave money on the table®
Rock on Steve, you capitalist god you!

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To mac
A 13″ screen sounds good?
Only on a laptop which costs less then $500 or weighs 3 pounds or less…
Any one got any ideas of the dimensions and weight? I’m sure I read that the 13″ widescreen would essentially be the same form factor as the 12″. If they’re aiming at selling some to pro-ish travellers they can’t really exceed the 2.1kgs of the current Powerbook. Would be quite sweet if I didn’t have to shell out $100 on a new Brenthaven bag.
ill think apple has learned their lesson with colors.
the old clamshell ibooks have dated worse than anything apple has ever produced.
i think it is a possiblilty to incorporate color though. i would like to see the apple glowing logo on the back of the screen be different colors, possibly changable within the OS.
that would look great and not be too in your face.
may 9th eh? same day as stadium arcadia is released on iTunes.