Apple: The spotlights turns to notebooks. October 14th 2008

UPDATES:
Will it be 14, 16, and 18?

Apple sends out select invitations for notebooks related event today with the tag-line “The spotlight turns to notebooks.” The event is set to take place at Apple’s Town Hall in Cupertino. Based on rumors and speculations, Apple will be introducing it’s new notebooks line-up. Numerous pictures are hitting the web claiming to be the part of the new Apple notebooks.

To summarize the currently circulating rumors and leaks, Apple will be dropping the Polycarbonate MacBook in favor of new Aluminum MacBook. Price point is set to be as low as $800.00 for the entry level notebook.

According to our imaginary source who seems to be a pathological liar, who claims to be a person who works for Apple and is not Phil Schiller (again?), the new MacBook Pro will have the option for Quad-Core CPU. It will only be available for the larger model. We are not sure if that applies only for the 17-inch model or also for the 15-inch model. We are guessing the the Quad-Core option will be available for the 15-inch model. Our source assures us that the new Apple notebooks pack a surprise feature, but refuses to disclose further informations.

Other informations we receive is that Apple is also preparing new desktop line-up set to be unveiled in MacWorld San Francisco 2009, along with iLife ’09 and iWork ’09. New features of iLife ’09 and iWork ’09 will rely heavily on the “Core” system of Mac OS X (Core Animations, Core Graphics, etc.). It is said the certain features are only available on Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Even though the date is set, Apple might choose to unveil the new iLife and iWork suite after MacWorld San Francisco 2009.

Editorial: 3G Wireless in MacBook Pro, You Must Be Crazy!

Computerworld’s Seth Weintraub wrote about what to expect with the upcoming MacBook Pro. While it is somewhat entertaining to read for a minute or so, he is expecting Apple to include some kind of 3G Wireless technology built in the MacBook Pro. Weintraub elaborates that Apple now has the experience thanks to the iPhone 3G, and Dell has done it.

Now, let’s see. Apple has been getting a lot of criticsm for choosing AT&T as their “partner” for the iPhone. Now, if the MacBook Pro should be equipped with some kind of 3G Wireless technology, that means the service would be tied to certain carrier. HSDPA or EVDO? AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile?

Why would you want your portable computer tied to a service provider? Make it an add-on, so people would have the options for the carrier. Doesn’t matter which partner Apple chose for 3G Wireless support, people will complain about it. Even if Apple would support all the major 3G Network protocols, they would have to be tied to a service provider.  Not to mentions there would be the seemingly idiotic person would find a lawyer to sue Apple for saturating the 3G network.

Please stop asking for built-in 3G network in your computer, the business model still disadvantages end users.

Wishing for MacBook Pro Quad Core (2008)

Back in January 2008, a cryptic message from an imaginary source who was allegedly working for Apple hinting at redesigned MacBook Pro. Although no time table was revealed, the information pointed out that the next iteration of MacBook Pro would benefit from the not yet released technology from Intel sometimes in 2008.

Then. I was hoping that the new MacBook Pro would sport the new technology and new design. The current MacBook Pro design borrows a lot from the 17-inch PowerBook G4. As a matter of fact. All current Apple’s MacBook ad MacBook Pro has the somewhat “dated” look.

Rumors about the new MacBook Pro design hit the series of tubes a few week prior. Intel’s announcement on their quad-core mobile processors fueled the speculations even more.

In addition to that, during Apple’s earning conference call a new mystery product was mentioned. A product that competitors can match. A product that would be sold at a lower profit margin. Apple already has the product and it is ready for launch in several weeks if they chose to do so.

I for one hope that the Apple would release the newly redesigned MacBook Pro with quad-core processor at a lower price point.

In addition to that, Apple has been working on a new Mac model to fill in the gap in their product line. Somewhere in between the iMac and the Mac Pro.

Another completely unfounded rumor us that Apple is looking into partnerships with one or more major PC manufacturers for a Mac related product. Please take this one with a truck-load of salt. For now, it is a part of Apple branding strategy.

Sifting through the rumors, I am still waiting for the newly redesigned MacBook Pro to replace the original MacBook Pro Core Duo.