MacBook Glass Trackpad

The next generation of MacBooks will mark a radical change to the company's trackpad design, says a new rumor. Both the regular MacBook and the MacBook Pro will allegedly switch to glass-surfaced trackpads that allow multi-touch gestures. It's unspecified as to whether the change will also add new gestures beyond the simpler pinch, rotate, and swipe motions used with the existing MacBook Air and MacBook Pro or will just make gestures easier to perform.

The report also expands on apparent confirmations by AppleInsider that both systems will use new aluminum casings. Either uses a "completely different" manufacturing process that builds the majority of the system shell with a single piece of aluminum. The outer appearance is also more rounded and thinner for each equivalent model.

Apple is widely believed to use the new introduction for its first notebooks based on most of the components from Intel's Centrino 2 platform, including faster and more efficient Core 2 Duo processors and potentially X4500MHD integrated graphics for the MacBooks.

If accurate, the rumor would have Apple introduce the new systems in late September, or nearly two months after the early August rollout of the parts the company will need for the larger MacBooks. It should also come roughly in time with the unveiling of Intel's low-voltage Core 2 Duo processors, which are the most likely candidates for a refresh of the MacBook Air.

By Electronista Staff