Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Other Events, One More Thing
TUAW Predicts! The October 14th notebook event
With the October 14th Apple Notebook Event just around the corner, the TUAW blogger squad decided it was time to look into our iCrystalBalls and make a SWAG predictions about what laptop goodness will be announced by the Cupertino Kids on Tuesday. To make this extra crunchy, we're not only posting our best guesses as to what will actually be announced, but what Steve J. will announce as "one more thing".
Steve Sande
Best Guess -- The entire MacBook line will be made of aluminum, and the 15" and 17" models will get slightly faster processors and more installed RAM. If that's the only announcement, expect Apple's stock to dive even further than it has during the recent stock market freefall.
One More Thing -- The iTablet. Netbooks are selling like hotcakes, so Apple will get in on the action by coming out with a 9" tablet with a virtual keyboard and multi-touch support. Since it is all display and no keyboard, it will weigh less than two pounds. Think of an über-iPhone.
Victor Agreda, Jr.
Best Guess -- Ditto what Steve said, except I think a drop in price will happen in light of tough economic times. Despite what some analysts may babble about, Apple is interested in the long game, and that means building more market share. To stay in the game they have to get more price competitive on the low end.
One More Thing -- Again, I agree with Steve, although I wouldn't call this a tablet. More like a mini-Air with a decent keyboard (Apple has long been in favor of keeping decent-sized keyboards on smaller laptops) and touchscreen up top. I think the form factor will be something clever and surprising. If it appears at all, of course.
Robert Palmer
I think we'll see higher-end MacBook enclosures made of aluminum, and a sub-$1,000 model still made from white plastic. There's a part of me that says they won't ditch plastic altogether, because of the style factor: I bet there will be some people who still want a black MacBook. Hey, maybe there will be a black aluminum MacBook. Classy.
One More Thing -- I'm still bearish on the iTablet. I think Apple has too much invested in the iPhone as a mobile platform to try and dilute it with another form factor with a different screen size. If it's a Mac, I'm not a fan of jury-rigging traditionally mouse-driven operating systems for styluses. Personally, I just don't think there will be "one more thing." He hasn't done that in a while, especially at "themed" events (like the music event last month).
Michael Rose
I'm also fairly well convinced that the $800 MacBook (dare we call it the MacBook Jr.?) is inbound on Tuesday, although I'm not sure that the manufacturing rumors are completely on target. The mutterings about a mystery port on the new MacBook -- and a dockability patent from years past -- are starting to sound credible too.
One More Thing: I would love to see a BTO touchscreen option... and maybe a technology preview of an iTablet for delivery later in 2009.
Mike Schramm
New MacBooks are a given -- the Nvidia rumor sounds credible to me, not to mention that it's just what would push me to finally replace my old G4 Powerbook (though I'll miss my little 12" screen). "One more thing" seems like it's trending towards an AppleTV upgrade -- we've got HD content on the iTunes store, so it's time to have a set-top box that's fitting to play that content on. I'm hearing lots of Mac mini rumors as well, but I wonder if Apple will ever upgrade the mini -- it's small, it sells as-is, why break what's not broken?
Of course, as Victor mentioned in an email, "Whatever happens, AAPL will drop 10% because iUnicorn wasn't announced..." Think we're out of our minds? Let's hear your prediction in the comment section!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
LJ Wilson said 3:41PM on 10-13-2008
You guys are close. So close. What will happen is that the Macbook line will indeed be aluminum cased. They will also all now have multi-touch trackpads. The entry level (still alum) Macbook will start at $899.99. The graphics chipset will not be Intel. The Macbooks will be .3" slimmer and the MB Pro's only .2" slimmer. There will also be an option for a SS drive for both the MB Pro's and the MB. Take it to the bank.
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Jon Niola said 4:02PM on 10-13-2008
I think you and I are on the same page except I believe that SSD will be default in the 17" MBP.
Jon Moss said 3:47PM on 10-13-2008
I'm with you all on the updated MacBook line, but no way will it be a tablet, at least I hope not.
A 10" netbook of some description would be just the ticket, perhaps on Air format :-)
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quandmeme said 4:23PM on 10-13-2008
Maybe January _announcement_ for the tablet. Definitely not now.
(1) There are two routes to take on a tablet: (a) mini OS X = wait for Snow Leopard
(b) iPhone OS = need to get developers on board for new screen size therefore announce in January and ship in spring.
(2) In light of deal in (1), foolish to announce it now and dampen holiday sales with a wait-n-see.
(3) After MobileMe and smaller missteps, Apple needs to make it polished. Let it mature in house. Then move.
(4) there have been no credible leaks.
P. said 8:57PM on 10-13-2008
BrickBook.
$799 Mac Mini replacement type thing with an optional detaching LCD screen.
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JohnPQ said 3:54PM on 10-13-2008
Still waiting for a Mac mini update! :-(
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Jon Niola said 4:05PM on 10-13-2008
Yeah I am kind of surprised they never really revisited the mini. This was one of those breakthrough devices for Apple.
I could not tell you how many people I know that had the mini as their first Mac.
Jash Sayani said 9:20AM on 10-14-2008
@ John
I am one of them.... Waiting to get the new MacBook this Christmas....
Paul said 3:59PM on 10-13-2008
I think that Steve will stick with notebooks tomorrow. New, thinner, aluminum MacBook, priced at $999, maybe $899. Also, new, thinner, still aluminum MacBook Pro with a spec upgrade and a few hundred dollars cheaper (at least, I wish). Bigger trackpads, hard drives, and RAM for both of them. Minor updates to the MacBook Air, with bigger HD and more RAM at same price. And I hate to say it, but I think that'll be about it.
As much as I would like to see Blu-Ray integration, it just doesn't seem like anybody has really gotten it to catch on with notebooks yet. They can barely get the general public to buy into it for TV's. Maybe Apple is the brand to finally get people thinking about it for christmas! Or, maybe not. I'm keeping that rumor tucked away for next year (Snow Leopard?).
Paul
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atuck said 4:01PM on 10-13-2008
oh man. why do you guys think a tablet is coming? There has been NO evidence to support this. The brick rumor is just a rumor, or a pointless manufacturing change.
Look for updated macbooks and pros, and expect nothing else. Nvidia Chipset sounds like a lock.
The only thing that makes me wonder is how they could sell the current cinema displays with an old firewire port if the macbooks no longer support it... But regardless, come on, stop getting our hopes up!
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Jon Niola said 4:08PM on 10-13-2008
Yeah - this rumor has been running so long that it is almost becoming a one-liner like Duke Nukem Forever lol
Frank said 4:57PM on 10-13-2008
except that it's more than just a rumor: they have been researching and patenting the tablet concept for some time now, and the iPhone interface makes it clearly possible. just scale it up!
Simon Arch said 5:14PM on 10-13-2008
Patents are not reliable indicators of future products though. Corporations tend to patent EVERYTHING they come up with, useful or not, just to protect themselves.
atuck said 2:03PM on 10-14-2008
Hate to say it, but I friggin CALLED IT!
Ah well, maybe next time.
Colonel Panic said 3:08PM on 10-14-2008
All I want on October 14th is an iTablet......
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Tom said 12:16PM on 10-14-2008
No mention here of blu-ray drive support? I thought that would be a logical step. Also, any chance that they'll use this to introduce flash hard drives to the rest of the MacBook line? 128GB anyone?
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AJ said 4:17PM on 10-13-2008
MacBook Nano? Probably not but it could be. I'm all for a new AppleTV. I've been holding off because it doesn't output 1080p but once it does i'll snap that piece right up.
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rTwelve said 4:04PM on 10-13-2008
I predict no change in price. Granted that was because I saw placeholder SKUs in my store's system with the same price points as before. (They did this last month just before the iPods came out.)
Am I misinterpreting? Did I not see a placeholder for a tablet/cheap option? [shrug] I guess we'll see. But I won't be surprised to not see cheaper MacBooks.
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Adam Drew said 4:06PM on 10-13-2008
It'd be good to see the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros. What I would like to see is advancements in the iSight cameras - maybe some gesture control a'la Minority Report. That'd be cool.
Perhaps some built in iPod / iPhone docking (I don't mean software, I mean hardware!) - let's face it, how many of us Mac owners haven't got a 'pod or 'phone?
Blueray burning capabilities. Snow Leopard. iLife and iWork '09.
Something extra : New cinema displays with built in iSight.
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Bill said 4:38PM on 10-13-2008
It seems that the past few media events have been let downs, so I am not getting my hopes up. I bet as basic redesign of the case, upgrades to the video card, and probably the same price point...if not then a small drop of no more than 100 bucks...After the ipod presentation I just can't seem to believe that there will be any big reveal this time.
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