10/09/2008, 7:35am, EDT
Thursday, October 9thMacBook case shots, $800 price claims appear
Following an earlier leak of an alleged MacBook Pro case, new shots have surfaced today of what appears to be a new 13-inch MacBook through the same Taiwanese site that has carried earlier leaks. The new images show an aluminum casing reminiscent of a MacBook Air but which is just thick enough to include a full range of ports (similar to those of the current MacBook) as well as a slot-loading optical drive. It also shows a space for a larger trackpad.
No photos have shown with this latest leak, though a past set showed a matching lid again like the ultraportable system.
Separately, former TechCrunch blogger Duncan Riley at the Inquisitr claims to have received details of a significantly expanded price list for a new MacBook range that adds four new price points, including a higher $3,100 option as well as a new, lower $800 price. If accurate, the rumor would reveal Apple's first-ever plan to sell a notebook significantly below $1,000 and would imply less expensive parts and potentially a new model. The announcement would come within 10 days, according to the allegedly reliable sources for the tip.
Such claims are difficult to verify and so should not be taken as fact, though introductions for iMacs and other systems have been revealed through similar price sheet leaks. Analysts have repeated predictions of a lower-cost MacBook but have so far suggested the base price would rest at $999. [via MacRumors]
, 
, 6
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Top
subscribe to comments
for this article
I don't know
without larger images it's hard to tell, but I am starting to believe that these will be true.
Missing a port
Current Macbooks have 6 ports on the side (excluding audio):
- Power
- Ethernet
- Video
- USB
- USB
- Firewire
So what's missing? Is power moved to the back? Is Ethernet now relegated to a USB adapter, like the MacBook Air?
$900 is still too high
It's time to realize, schools and students are the best place to hook customers. With current financial crisis- Apple needs to come in with a $700 model MacBook. So what if the processor isn't screaming- you may be able to make more money on volume.
Plus- just think of all those system upgrades to 10.6.
Re: missing
If you believe the pictures, it would be the firewire port, I would think. Unless Apple has decided that wired ethernet is dead and of no use.
Looks good
I love the idea of a metal body and if these are "one piece" man these will be sweet! Sturdy and sexy I only hope the prices come down too.
Current financial crisis?
What? Apple should reduce prices because people have problems with their mortgages? Or do you think students are somehow using RIFFs, RRSPs, or stock portfolios to buy these?
Pretty sensationalist answer there. I guess Current financial crisis is the buzz word now, replacing the war on terror.
No matter how cheap macbooks get PCs will ALWAYS be cheaper. So get over it and stop thinking thats were you expect Apple to be.