New MacBook 13" is now call MacBook Pro!

WWDC Apple up graded all the unibody notebook to Pro level with faster CPU better screen and SD card slot and backlit keyboard with lower pricing :)

SLOrk (Stanford Laptop Orchestra)

Redefining the next generation of music instrument?

http://slork.stanford.edu/

What the big deal? It's just another MacBook, right?

The new MacBook and MacBook Pro is now more than 2 weeks old. With the introduction of the aluminum MacBook the Apple laptop family is look more and more like the other Mac. The only Mac that doesn't have the Glass X Aluminum treatment will be the MacBook White (999USD), and that I think might be entering its final year.

So what's the big deal about about this new MacBook. Is it the beautifully design "Unibody" design that reduce almost 1/2 the parts needed to put together the laptop? Or is it the new "No Button Trackpad with Multi-touch Gestures? I think those are important touches but I think the biggest and most important improvements lie inside the unibody and those improvement will be the most important factors in choosing your next Mac notebook.

The first major improvement goes to the GPU (Graphic  Process Unit). Last look at the MacBook Al first. With the new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M the MacBook can now not just about to run fancy 3D games. It now can handle consumer level HD video editing (1080i) and hight quality photos with ease. So if you just bought a Full-HD video cam the new MacBook Al will be a great match. If you are still using stander miniDV or 720P HD cam the basic white MacBook will do if you have a tight budget (999USD/7800HKD).

For the new Unibody MacBook Pro. The GPU improvement is event more crazy.

Yes crazy, why? Cause this Notebook I think is the first laptop that uses 2 GPU. You might wonder why the need of 2 GPU, just because you pay more for the Pro so they give you more? The reason is simple for the Pro laptop the balance between processing power and battery life has always been a reason why laptop never gets desktop level GPU power. Some PC laptop has try but it end up to be a huge laptop with very limited battery hours. Sometime the industry call those "Desktop replacement", for people that can't leave the desktop power, but wanted something that is more portable. With 2 GPU Apple has manage to let the user to have a choose in running their MacBook Pro in a more power saving mode or screaming graphic mode that rival the Mac Pro performance. For pro user that work on 3D, video editing and design the new MacBook Pro is a must have if you are looking to replace your notebook.

The 2nd most important improvement goes to the new system design that can 

now handle DDR3 (very fast memory) and 1066MHz frontside bus. What those combination means is that program that process a lot of memory will run much faster. Like iMove, Final Cut Express, Photoshop, Final Cut Studio etc... So if you run a lot of memory intensive program, the new MacBook or MacBook Pro 15"will be your best choose even over the upgraded MacBook Pro 17".

With those major improvements the MacBook can really replace a lot of desktop system, specially combine with Apple new 24" LED Cinema Display. It might cost more then any iMac with similar power, but now you can have desktop grade power everywhere you go. For Pro user the new MacBook Pro might not be as speedy as a Mac Pro workstation, but it come very close to be the Mac Pro on the go.

Link to MacBook reviews:

gizmodo.com

macnn.com

macworld.com

More Rumors Photos and Info on MacBook.

More photos and info has been flowing around the net, below are links to those Mac news site. Well the announcement is lest then 12 hours from this post at Apple head quarter. Also another important announcement on the same day will be "US investing $250 Billion in Banks".

macnn.com

engadget.com

The Spotlight is on.

Is official. Apple has confirm a Oct. 14th event for their notebooks. For all of you that is waiting to get a new MacBook just holdout for a few more days.

So what can we expect on the new MacBook line? My guess it will be a overall revision of the complete MacBook line with new looks and more power. The white looks is out and the hold line is going to look more like the iMac "Aluminum X Glass" and MacBook Air design theme. The most important change will the architecture change to keep it up with other PC notebook (Montevina). Basically more powerful CPU and the possibility of using DDR3 (Fast memory speed similar to desktop) memory in the MacBook Pro. Another important improvement might not come from the hardware side, it will come from the pricing and packaging department where it will matter a lot in the coming economy situation. A possibility of a MacBook in the low 800USD range (6,200HKD). What ever happen I think for those that are waiting to upgrade their Mac notebook Oct. 14th will be a good day.

Waiting for the new MacBook?

A lot of talks and a lot of rumors about the new MacBook and MacBook Pro has been posted online in the pass weeks. Many of my friends has been asking about when the new Mac will arrive. It is not easy to pick a day as the Apple Inc. doesn't talk about unannounced product. Anyway, my guess will it should happen any day within Oct. but If I have to pick a day my guess will be Oct 14th as many source has point to that day also and Apple has been announcing product on Tuesday a lot in the past years.

I think new MacBook is not going to be a big surprise. More importantly is what product range will the MacBook line become as laptop is now account for 50% of all new PC sales. Surly, the laptop has become the people choose for their new PC, but will Apple move to a UMPC (ultra mobile Personal Computer) like many PC vendor in the past months? I believe Apple iPhone will continue to be Apple answer to the mobile computing for the near terms. A UMPC Mac is unlikely, but a updated version of the MacBook Air is for sure.

I think more importantly is will Apple lower it's entry level laptop price to continue to attract more non Mac buyer will be interesting to see as the US economy will surely slow in the coming months.

MacBook Touch! Will you want a Macbook in touch format? My guess is unlikely... what's yours?