Analyst: new MacBook Pros, "MacBook mini" possible at WWDC

We're always a little more skeptical of Mac-fanboy analysts (fanalists, if you will) that often seem to make this stuff up as they go, but American Technology Research's Shaw Wu -- who doesn't really have the best track record on calling Apple's moves -- is jumping on the bandwagon in the belief that WWDC will break from its typically developer-centric agenda and land some new laptops, including LED-backlit MacBook Pros (which we weren't really expecting this early in the year), and even a "MacBook mini" geek-fantasy ultraportable, complete with power-saving SSD drive. Also on Wu's docket: OS X virtualization, which would enable, say, Windows to run almost as an app in itself (another beaten-to-death rumor; see also: Parallels). Not that we'd put a lot of weight on this one, but you've been warned.

[carlo @ Jun 4th 2007 10:16AM]

@Nabukaz

Um, you must be being sarcastic because is that an advertisement in your post? You're talking about companies taking advantage of readers and speculators, yet you yourself are trying to corner your own market share.

How common.

KEEP SPECULATING guys and girls. We can dream, can't we? If they listen to us, then the better for us right?

[Nabukaz @ Jun 4th 2007 11:25AM]

You are right my friend, Carlo. It is not very coherent from my part. For this reason, from now on, I WILL NEVER LEAVE MY LINKS AGAIN.

Mario Ruiz

[DrewNL @ Jun 4th 2007 4:01AM]

In my opinion SSD's are still a little too pricey to be included in consumer products, unless we're talking tiny volume, which doesn't exactly make the "MacBook mini" a viable purchase.

[crescentdavid @ Jun 4th 2007 4:35AM]

Somebody's got to do the SSD thang and why not Apple? They've show the capability of introducing machines ahead of the purchasing curve ... to show strength of innovation and manufacturing.

[Phil @ Jun 4th 2007 4:56AM]

I agree with crescentdavid's "why not Apple?" comment. They introduced built-in networking when PC people called it too pricey. They introduced SCSI drives when PC people called them too pricey. If the SSD drive in a MacBook Mini is removeable so that I can keep a drive with OS-X and buy an addditional drive to put Vista on then I will buy one of these ultraportables and an extra drive. The ability to remove and re-insert the drives on my current Compaq Armada laptop is essential to allowing me to put sensitive data into the hotel safe when I am travelling and allowing me to keep experimental OS installs on their own drives. Too few notebooks have this feature, so I hope that Apple not only goes SSD but also supports thousands of remove/re-insert cycles.

[Rynth @ Jun 4th 2007 5:12AM]

I'd rather have a palm foleo..

xD

Macbook mini would be cool, but I'd expect a not-so-mini price.

[gpdrummr @ Jun 4th 2007 5:53AM]

i freaking want them to release a new ipod.
just make a iphone without the phone.
lets call it "i"
:D

no pun intended.

[Melvin @ Jun 4th 2007 6:46AM]

I think a mini laptop would be really cool. The 12" is small but what about a 8.5" or less that has a multi-touch screen!

Honestly we need some tablets Apple,... now that your doing the iphone stuff I would maybe hope for a tablet soon. :D

[Ethan Duffy @ Jun 4th 2007 8:05AM]

I'd love a mini macbook, space and design are far more important to me than power.

[Dan Ben-Amar @ Jun 4th 2007 8:11AM]

Sony & Dell, among others, already offer SSD as an option with some of their laptops.

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Jun 4th 2007 3:09PM]

Oh Ryan.. you rumor-monger you.

[Alex @ Jun 4th 2007 11:01PM]

Like your new word, Ryan. Ah, Shaw Wu... putting the "anal" in "fanalyst".