Want something different? Lenovo, HP and Dell have magnesium alloy models, but they are expensive.

sxr7171

I wouldn't mind a new regular Macbook...

michaelwiggins

So Apple Legal isn't confirming rumors anymore? Usually they're pretty liberal with their takedown notices.

aseriesoftubes

@duffyanneal: I agree with the limitations (graphics). Maybe carbon fiber will be next.

Earthslide

Removable Battery and HDD = GREAT news. I hope Apple still keeps the memory user-replacable. I don't want to gain one functionality and lose another. Hopefully it shouldn't be that way :)

bmw5

@LillieDesigns & hu_hu_cool: That's happened to me twice. I've realized it will always happen with MBP, no matter how quick you purchase from release, there'll always be, at least, rumors of the next (which is usually twice the speed/features for the same price).

kahri

@danielmakman: But it's so much fun removing two dozen screws to get to the HDD.

duffyanneal

@Earthslide: I've been staring (because I've bought them) at aluminum PBs/MBPs for the past several years. I'm ready for something different. I tried a black MB, but I find them too limiting for certain applications and don't get me started on how everything on it is plastic.

duffyanneal

HDD being user-replaceable = WIN + SALE

That's all I need to see.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

I think the old ones bottom looked a bit nicer the two aluminum bumps are not that appealing to me but the hard drive access is a nice feature though. You could always cut a hole in the bottom of your MPB and make a latch

danielmakman

so i dont seem much evidence of ports, is this the new worlds thinnest computer, with ZERO ports?

thistle.john

Cool. I've been waiting for so looong. Could someone offer a price guestimate based on 12 inch macbook pricing and 17inch mbp?

SeattleTed

They could have at least waited till August, that way they could make all of the new MBP owners sad.

Blinklink11

@hu_hu_cool: I'm a little tempted to sell mine for a good price now and then upgrade. I just don't know how long I might be waiting.

itchytooth

so now it gets all scratched if we dont want the battery in? GREAT

thistle.john

@duffyanneal: No. Apple fans will complain that it's not Aluminum ... Look at the back of the iPhone, they jumped on Apple about that.

Earthslide

needs the back lit logo....

Pepper

No, i just bought a new mac book pro.......

hu_hu_cool

I still have no idea what I'm looking at.

BB7

does anyone wonder if this is purposefully leaked by apple to just stimulate hype on the interwebs? This is relatively obscure, yet a confirmation of it is real: 'AppleInsider has confirmed it to be real after consuling some people in the know.'

misplacedparadox

Well at least I don't feel bad about just purchasing a 15inch MBP...not yet anyway.

LillieDesigns

Hopefully these will hit before the new school term.

Itsuru

Don't we deserve something other than plain anodized aluminum? Come on Apple give us some variety.

duffyanneal

I was hoping to see something other than aluminum, as they always have that potting problem.

dead_red_eyes

@SeattleTed: There's no 12" MB. It's a 13.3" to be precise.

12" was the old Powerbook.

But what I want is a 13" MACBOOK Pro.

CutePuppyz

@aseriesoftubes: They are too busy trying to take down all the iPhone unboxing sites.

duffyanneal killed WALL-E

Oh just out of curiosity, who says that this can't be a MBA refresh? Maybe remedy the whole internal battery thing? I mean...it could be. We haven't seen the the thickness of the said case yet..

CutePuppyz

removable hard-drive, im totally sold.

Bantam

@Pepper: According to the article, the Apple logo will still be backlit.

Elk

@Blinklink11: Hu_Hu_Cool is already sad.

Mike918

if this at all translates to a price-drop in macbooks, or a clearance sale on old MBPs (neither of which can happen, but i'm a dreamer) then i'm happy. otherwise, the MBP looks fine as-is and redesigning it is a waste of time, unless the redesign comes with breakthroughs like doubled battery life, cooler-running processors or $1-per-GB flash SSD (which is a pipe dream).

rimplestultskin

Make a smaller one - I miss the 12" PB.

meefer

@CutePuppyz: I think lots of people want to see a 13 / 12" mbp, I just don't know that there's room between the MBA and the 15" MBP in the product line. To me, the air just doesn't even really seem to exist as so many people are turned off by what it is.

I would love to get inside the brain of Steve Jobs and Jonathon Ive and see what their thoughts on future case materials are. There's a lot of ridiculously cool alloys out there just begging to be put into laptop form.

lpranal

That was one rumor that I was hoping wasn't true. That design is an aesthetic nightmare.

Thrillcekr

No Nehalem, none of my money!

('sides, just built a beast of a hackintosh.)

Nelson

Sweet, this was my exact prediction and explanation for the odd holes and size of the bottom plate in the original post!

This'll be my new toy when it comes out, especially if it comes in the 12/13.3" range, as a replacement for my first gen macbook.

Hijakk

I still love mine!
But I'm going to be seriously pissed if they'll release a 12" MBP.

mangochutney

The MBP's been needing a redesign.

But this ain't it.

I mean, the MBP needs a casing that takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' (Like the MacBook, but less cracks please), and that won't hinder wireless performance. (MacBook again)

I owned a MBP and a MB. I must say I like the MacBook more. Metal on laptops is begging for disaster, since the entire bottom enclosure acts as if it were a heatsink on the MBP.

As such, I couldn't use the thing on my lap. The MacBook, I can.

I think Apple needs to take some cues from the MacBook, but nail the durability issues as well.

Anticitizen

My friend says a lacquered cardboard composite is what the Pro's are getting. He's Steve Job's roommate so...

peacefulpony

I've been interested in my own Pro to load Linux on since the other adult in the house got one. However, since seeing the Voodoo Envy 133 and it's carbon fiber lusciousness, not to mention its slimmer-than-Air-ness, I'm reconsidering.

Carbon Fiber is so today, so now, so hip. Aluminum is a hobo-suit, darling.

shawn_dude

Hmm, interesting. The placement of the battery suggests to me that Apple might be willing, like other notebook makers, to put out an "Extra Capacity" battery option for the MBP.

Regarding the HDD, as a current MacBook owner, I'd just like to say, user replaceable HDD ROCKS.

Dearhaw

It'll be a bigger, thinker, heavier Macbook Air. It has the same rounded corners and the same feet.

fpn1010

@Dearhaw: This is one of only two grudges I have with my MBP. The 'non' replacable HDD and the heat under strain.

The first thing I amended with a 250GB BTO HDD, which is usually enough for me.
I seldom come to the point where I have only 15GB left.
The second thing is annoying when I do video-stuff or mass-picture corrections.
But when Moshi finally releases its cooling solution for the MBP that shouldn't be a problem either.

I'm still curious though.

I pitty the poor soul that has only 80GB of storage and no FW800 to attach a fast external HD to their beloved laptop.

mangochutney

@misplacedparadox: I have a feeling that most "leaks" are from PR reps.

hammertime94

@hammertime94: Whatever keeps the diehards biting right? Haha.

@lpranal: I agree. With two 13.3" models already available, adding another 13.3" laptop to the line would just be simply overwhelming for the average Apple buyer (mostly switchers nowadays).

The best bet would be a 12" MBP, but like most reasoning, it's most likely no in the cards.

The only reason I haven't jumpshifted to a 15" MBP is simply because it's too big IMO. The 17" is monstrous, and anyone who owns it should never even bring the thing out. It's like the HULK of notebook computers. My 13.3" MB is doing just dandy, and a 4GB RAM upgrade in the cards hopefully within the month is in the works. 1GB - 4GB is maxing this sucker out. Even at times, I feel my MB is a tad heavy.

I'm really all for very light laptops. Always have been, and with the onslaught of netbooks left and right, it's been very enticing, but alas, nothing has really piqued my interest. The Voodoo is much too glossy all over the place. That thing would be a fingerprint/dust magnet from hell for me. The MBA is too expensive, and underpowered. When the MBA gets some decent specs and a price cut, I may reconsider it.

Apple sure likes their tapering of edges on their designs these days.

CutePuppyz

Variety, paint it white black and red. And some other colors for a change., But leave it aluminum just paint over it, no more plastic it's to week and scratches to easily

Felix26591

that's jus sad

mpar

There is nothing like Blurry Photographic Evidence

Human Bomb

Let's also see some Macbooks in more colors.

videoCWK