New MacBooks for the Holidays!

Yes folks, it’s that time of the year where we put on our thinking caps and play the “what’s Apple going to do next” game. Rumors of a new and improved Macbook have been floating around for some time. Of course, there has been nothing substantial to back it up, but that changed somewhat with Leopard’s release.

Mac OS X Leopard includes a full set of drivers for Intel’s GMA X3100 integrated graphics chipset. Current MacBooks and Mac Minis use the Intel GMA 950 chipset. The Intel GMA X3100 is the new and improved version that the next generation of machines would presumably use.

For the uninitiated, Intel GMA X3100 is a more powerful graphics processor than the GMA 950 and is the mobile version of the GMA X3000 used in the Intel GL960, GM965 chipsets. Basically, it has better 3D performance and better video decoding.

The iPod line was refreshed just after the back-to-school period. It’s possible that MacBooks and MacBook Pro’s will receive the same treatment before the holidays.

Update 2: That was even faster! The real deal’s out! The new MacBooks come with the following specs (again, from MacRumors):

White 13.3″
$1099.00 2.0GHz/1GB RAM/80GB/Combo/GMA X3100
$1299.00 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/120GB/SD-DL/GMA X3100

Black 13.3″
$1499.00 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/160GB/SD-DL/GMA X3100

… The MacBook Pro now has the option to upgrade to a 2.6GHz processor for $250, and also has the option for a 250GB drive.

Update: That was fast! Well it looks like the new MacBook rumor now holds some water with them being spotted in stores in the US. Macrumors has the scoop:

In an unusual move, Apple has quietly shipped boxes of new MacBooks to their retail stores this week, many of which arrived today. Special instructions on these boxes indicated that they were not to be opened at this time. But according to reports, the boxes do contain updated Santa Rosa MacBooks. We’ve even heard claims that some have been inadvertantly sold to unsuspecting customers.

The specs are said to be as follows:

White 13.3″
- 2.0GHz/2×512MB/80GB/Combo
- 2.2GHz/2×512MB/120GB/SD-DL
- 2.2GHz/2×1GB/160GB/SD-DL

Black 13.3″
- 2.2GHz/2×512MB/120GB/SD-DL
- 2.2GHz/2×1GB/160GB/SD-DL

The 2.0/2.2GHz speeds do suggest that these MacBooks are based on the Santa Rosa chipset, and they reportedly do include the X3100 integrated graphics chip that had been spotted amongst Leopard’s drivers. Note that Apple often sells slightly upgraded models in their retail stores so the 160GB models may be retail configurations.

We can only assume they will be officially announced next Tuesday.

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