A number of photos of what are supposedly new MacBook and MacBook Pro aluminum cases have begun to surface.

Yesterday, Engadget posted a picture of a MacBook Pro case in keeping with rumors of a new production process.  The photo originated at a Chinese site, which lends credence to the possibility that they are real, since Apple’s manufacturing facilities are currently based in the country. And as of today, AppleInsider is claiming that their sources “confirm” that this image is in fact of the new 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Soon after the first photos appeared, a Taiwanese site posted three pictures of what it claims are the new MacBook casing, which also show an aluminum body case without keyboard or trackpad components. The space for the trackpad is significantly larger than on the current MacBook, and the case appears to be slightly slimmed down.

In addition to pre-production photos, new price sheets have apparently been circulating at Apple retail stores. The document lists 12 price points for the as yet unreleased laptops.  That would mean four more base configurations than are currently offered, although it is not clear how those extra four models will be divided among the laptop categories (i.e., MacBook, Pro, and Air) or if categories will be changed or added.  Sources claim the new price points will range between $800 and $3100, which would mark the first time Apple has offered a laptop for under $1000.  Previous analyst predictions had included a $999 model, but if Apple can profitably produce an $800 dollar laptop, they will be far better positioned to compete with popular Windows laptop manufacturers like Toshiba and HP.  Such aggressive pricing would also make them better able to withstand deepening global financial woes, which has most industry analysts predicting decreased consumer electronic spending.  It will be interesting to see what you get at the top of the range as well, since at $3100 that’s a full $300 more than the current best-spec’d MacBook Pro.

More (low quality) photos of the MacBook casing:

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A few days ago we posted a story about the much-sensationalized upcoming Apple mystery product, “The Brick.”  While there is still no definite word regarding what it actually is, 9to5mac is now reporting that a “reliable” source has lead them to believe that “The Brick” is not a product at all, but rather a production process and the facility to house it.

The blog cites Steve Jobs’ experience with in-house manufacturing during his days helming NeXT computers, and their earlier accuracy in predicting the arrival of a number of Apple products prior to launch (aluminum iMacs, MacBook Air, etc.) to back up their claims. 

The process they describe involves using lasers and water jets to carve MacBook casings from a single, continuous block of aluminum, thereby reducing or eliminating structural weak spots arising from the need for bends or screw holes in the metal.  Essentially, the apparatus sounds like a computer-mapped, high-precision, high-tech wet tile saw.

This rumor has a number of things going for it.  For one, it’s in keeping with Apple design principles (i.e. as few breaks in product shells as possible).  Second, after the substantial initial investment required to build the facility, production costs would actually be much lower in the long term, allowing Apple to move closer to a market-broadening lower price point.  Third, as Computerworld points out, being able to build and operate production facilities in the U.S. would potentially future-proof Jobs’ company in the event of a falling out between the U.S. and China.  This would also have the added benefit of allowing Apple to offer a totally domestic product to an American consumer base that is on the verge of becoming much more economically insular.

The new “Brick” rumors are hot on the heals with TUAW‘s reports this weekend that Nvidia employees are being given early demos of MacBooks with graphics cards manufactured by the company.  This is in keeping with earlier, less detailed claims along the same lines.

While an innovative production process and a graphics spec bump might not be as sensational as new, never-before-seen product types, the potential for future application is exciting.  What do you think, laser carving more or less drool-worthy than say, a tablet Mac?

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The internets are currently abuzz with rumors of a new, genre-bending product due out of Cupertino, possibly at the speculated October Mac event.

Though most agree it likely isn’t a building material to be used with mortar in the construction of buildings, there are a number of different theories about what the “Brick” in fact could be.

iPhone Savior cites the ever-informative “sources” in suggesting the the “Brick” may in fact be the long-awaited Mac Mini redesign.  They admit their source is unreliable, and that the supposed near-pro performance upgrades attached to the rumor seem far-fetched at best.  While it is true that the Mac Mini has been nearing obsolescence for quite a while now, a mere spec bump does not seem grounds enough for Apple to use the speculation-inspiring term “product transition.”

Perhaps the most obvious theory holds that the new device could be the elusive Mac tablet.  There has been a devoted contingent clamoring for a new Newton since production lines stopped rolling on the original.  While the theory seems sound, it also could be more sound than fury.  Like copy-and-paste for the iPhone, the voices asking for it are many and loud, but Apple has seemed reluctant in the past to grant either wish.  Not to mention the fact that while a Mac tablet would greatly appeal to designers, artists, and creative professionals, that’s a market where Apple already has a commanding share.  They seem to be looking to broaden, not focus, their consumer appeal.

Most recently, TUAW chimes in with the possibility of a category-breaking dockable tablet/workstation-wherever-you-work (walkstation?) type device.  The admittedly elegant concept would be a truly convertible device, and not in the current, underwhelming sense of the word (the screen flips around, ooh!).  Instead, the walkstation model would allow laptop/tablet functionality on its own, and full-featured desktop power and usability when “docked” at home or at the office.

This last rumor has true game-changing potential.  Imagine entire creative firms with multiple worldwide locations built around the dock-and-walkstation model.  Employees carry their desks with them, and can operate anywhere globally without skipping a beat, or drop everything and visit a client site at the push of a button.  Combined with cloud computing and other developing tech, it could be a true evolution of the computer form factor, of a degree unseen since the advent of the laptop.  I don’t know about you, but color me excited.

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