MacBook Pro Port Changes

Apple's anticipated MacBook Pro revision might sacrifice some of its now-traditional ports in the name of space, says a relatively new but allegedly accurate source for AppleInsider. Although Apple has included a full-sized DVI port on every 15-inch or larger notebook since a mid-cycle update to the titanium PowerBook G4, the new model is now claimed to drop this in favor of a smaller port to maximize the use of space in the system. Apple's proprietary Mini DVI adapter is described as most likely, though the company recently introduced a smaller-still alternative known as Micro DVI for the MacBook Air.

A native FireWire 400 port is also said to have been cut from at least one of the professional notebooks, with FireWire 800 left as the only option. FireWire 800 is now more common among high-end external drives and is technically compatible with 400 but requires an adapter to work with devices using the older standard.

The rumor if true would also support an apparent case leak from last month which suggests the 13-inch MacBook will be cosmetically similar if not identical to the MacBook Pro, which is still believed to be shipping in 15- and 17-inch variants. Both lines would ship in aluminum shells and have tapered designs that recall the MacBook Air in a less extreme form. The Pro has also been reported as gaining easier access to the hard drive and memory than on the current model.

Little else is known about the notebooks, though most expect Centrino 2-era Intel processors. More recent rumors have pointed to a launch at or before mid-October.

By Electronista Staff

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Intel, MacBook, computers, industry, Core 2, Centrino 2, Apple