Pictures of Apple's new MacBook leaked on Taiwanese site?

We can't say for sure these are the real deal, but if recent leaks of iPhone 3G production models are any indication, we might just be looking at Apple's new MacBook. It's a bit hard to make out what's happening in these photos, but to our eyes we're seeing the back of a metal laptop lid, as well as the as-yet-unused inner panel of the display. The text clearly reads MacBook, which falls right in line with rumors that the next iteration of the smaller laptops would be aluminum just like their big brothers. Right now it's anyone's guess if these pics are legit or not -- but you can be sure we'll be keeping a close watch on this one as these pictures emanate from the same site carrying the last supposed leak. Two more shots after the break.

[Jamma @ Aug 4th 2008 4:01PM]

You sure this isn't a pic of the lid of an MBA?

[Jamma @ Aug 4th 2008 4:01PM]

with the word air "shopped out

[Joshua.JWilliams @ Aug 4th 2008 4:03PM]

Good point - it looks just like the MacBook Air lid without any differences.

The MacBook's plastic construction and old design is a major reason why I didn't buy an Apple last Oct. But gosh -- do I wish I could just run Leopard. :( Maybe next time.... or unless I can sell my current laptop.

[Joe @ Aug 4th 2008 4:08PM]

I don't really have anything to say. I just want to bombard this guy's inbox!

[billedluh @ Aug 4th 2008 4:24PM]

i agree with joe.

[Craig @ Aug 4th 2008 4:28PM]

That's not nice, Joe.

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 4:32PM]

i see what you (and i) did there, craig

[Jamma @ Aug 4th 2008 4:38PM]

No worries, Joe, i stopped using the e-mail this account is attached to months ago

[billedluh @ Aug 4th 2008 4:41PM]

oh I see that I clicked the "E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment" box. That was double clever. I'll stick it to you, then i'll stick it to me!

[bob sakamano @ Aug 4th 2008 5:16PM]

the apple logo is way off center

[Alan @ Aug 4th 2008 5:55PM]

EPIC FAIL!
The apple logo is way off in the first photo.

[mike @ Aug 4th 2008 6:34PM]

this is obviously bogus and theorizing on *how* it is bogus seems a little odd in my opinion...

[Shunnabunich @ Aug 4th 2008 6:48PM]

Alan & Bob: or the lid could be partially covered on the left side by another sheet of the foam wrap it's laying on. Hard to tell from the lighting, but I can't really see the same rounding on that "edge" as on the others. Doesn't necessarily mean it isn't a fake, but that could be why the logo appears off-center.

[Quikboy @ Aug 4th 2008 6:57PM]

Isn't Engadget a great place to get the weekly Mac rumors? Oh wait, I thought that was TUAW...

[Steffen Jobbs @ Aug 4th 2008 10:23PM]

Woohoo! A see-through topless MacBook. Now every company will be trying to copy that feature. Why is Apple so darn innovative? Body fluid-leaking excitement on the way in about a month or so.

My avatar thinks the photo is just a Photoshopped picture of an dis-assembled MacBook Pro. What the heck does some lower primate know of the Apple genius? Lookie, lookie, it's the new MacBookie.

[[R] @ Oct 11th 2008 7:23PM]

THIS TUESDAY!!!
APPLE PRESS CONFRENCE!!!
THE NEW MACBOOK RELEASE DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

TRUST ME ON THIS.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2008

EXCLUSIVELY FROM [R]

[quomen @ Aug 4th 2008 4:01PM]

And we all know it's a fake.

What a phony.

[xValentine @ Aug 5th 2008 12:33AM]

We also know that this might be real.

Remember the Fat Nano rumor ?

iPhone 3G ?

[awhite @ Aug 4th 2008 4:02PM]

look at the apple logo looks all wrong, fake!

[Colin Potter @ Aug 4th 2008 4:16PM]

yeah it seems a bit off-center

[Metkis @ Aug 4th 2008 6:43PM]

@Colin: You're a bit off center!!

:P

[puhsitch @ Aug 4th 2008 6:29PM]

Um, I think that's because about 25% of the left side is obscured by a foam sleeve.

[nDee @ Aug 4th 2008 10:48PM]

I think everyone said that on the 'leaked fake' iPod nano3, Alu keyboard news

then it turns out to be true.

[Jona @ Aug 4th 2008 4:03PM]

Doesn't aluminum make for bad wifi reception?

The current MacBooks get much better reception than the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.

[Big John @ Aug 4th 2008 4:11PM]

I don't ever see a different with my Air. I get reception all the same as folks that bring in MacBooks or other plastic PCs into my apartment, classes etc.

[tb @ Aug 4th 2008 5:13PM]

my MBP has HORRIBLE wifi reception, I just hope they drom metal in their cases(or at least the screen contour where the antennaes are

[ali @ Aug 4th 2008 5:41PM]

Yeah, aluminum isn't good for wifi reception, but the antenna on the MBP is under a rubbery-plastic strip on the hinge (between the keyboard and the screen) so it's not completely shrouded in aluminum... I haven't had any major issues with mine, but it's range isn't quite as good as my mates plastic HP laptop.

[Mikeweezer @ Aug 4th 2008 5:55PM]

My aluminum G4 has always had reception issues - my work PC has full bars, Mac is at halfway :(

[Brad @ Aug 4th 2008 6:17PM]

That's probably why the reception is terrible;

Think about it: 2.4gHz signals radiate in a kind of "doughnut", where the center of the doughnut is pierced by the antenna, causing the signal to radiate outwards. The longer the antennae, the flatter the doughnut (and longer the range but narrower the vertical margin). This is why most antennae are vertical, to provide the maximum horizontal coverage.

If a MBP had to place the antennae along the hinge because of the construction material, it would either be very stubby (providing a dense, almost spherical dispersion pattern) or would be a vertical torus slicing through the user and radiating out counter to the way we expect.

Someone grab a signal meter and see if it gets better/worse when you spin the laptop around in the same plane as a router (at a 200+ foot range). I'm curious now, but don't own one of these things.

[HOOPER @ Aug 4th 2008 4:07PM]

Hooray, aluminum. Anybody know when these are supposed to be released?

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 4:10PM]

they're already out. run to the apple store and don't come back! =)

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 5:40PM]

actually i'm running Leopard. good try, obnoxious little fangirl

[UltimateTOR @ Aug 5th 2008 2:29AM]

lol...erik is a dumbass

[jacozza @ Aug 4th 2008 4:03PM]

Is it me or does the first picture look really fake?

It looks short, with the apple going the wrong way.

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 4:03PM]

(in my best Agent Smith voice)

ohhhh, Mr. Topolsky

[Pochi @ Aug 4th 2008 11:25PM]

13.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Aug 4th 2008 4:04PM]

The apple logo on the first photo is facing sideways and not the proper way round.

[Caitlyn I. @ Aug 4th 2008 4:06PM]

Although it says MacBook, this looks exactly like the MacBook Air. I'm wondering why Apple would want the two to look exactly alike. Unless the MacBook was significantly thicker or I dunno, had a downfall which made users want to spend the extra cash on a MacBook Air.

[MC7447A @ Aug 4th 2008 4:07PM]

Here's some some top secret info smuggled out of Apple's heavily fortified Chinese assembly plants by spies that are ever fearful for their own lives now. Hold on, this is really going to knock the socks off all you Mac fans.

THE NEXT GEN MACBOOK IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE A RECTANGULAR SLAB OF ALUMINUM WITH SLIGHTLY ROUNDED CORNERS.

Remember, you've read it here first.

[Big John @ Aug 4th 2008 4:11PM]

My god the sheer genius of it.

[The Dude @ Aug 4th 2008 4:35PM]

NO WAI. You must be some kind of fucking psychic/sorcerer/insider.

[Decoy @ Aug 4th 2008 6:08PM]

Many Bothans died to bring us this information.

[John Doe @ Aug 4th 2008 4:08PM]

more fakes

[getStringFromObj() @ Aug 4th 2008 4:10PM]

But does it cut cake?

[V Langs @ Aug 4th 2008 4:23PM]

only time will tell.....

[alllrighty then @ Aug 4th 2008 4:33PM]

maybe it cuts cake, but does it blend?

[kinshadow @ Aug 4th 2008 4:36PM]

cheese cake?

Oh, THAT's why they call it the air!

[Mike10010100 @ Aug 4th 2008 4:13PM]

Spammers like you should get a life!

[Fragmit @ Aug 4th 2008 4:15PM]

How about.... NO!

[Erik @ Aug 4th 2008 4:16PM]

In all the history of Apple computer have any of these leaked photos EVER been real?