Following the early successes of its of 11-inch and 13-inch ultrabooks, Acer has reportedly decided to build a brand new 15-inch ultrabook that may dramatically undercut the price of Apple’s rumored 15-inch MacBook Air. DigiTimes said Wednesday that Acer has already contracted Pegratron to build the new computer, and that the device could be priced as low as $699 — $300 cheaper than the entry-level 11-inch MacBook Air. The latest rumors suggest that Apple could be prepared to deliver its 15-inch MacBook Air to the market as soon as the first quarter next year and that the device is already in the early stages of production. It is unclear when Acer’s new ultrabook will launch.

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Apple may launch an ultra-thin 15-inch MacBook laptop as early as the second quarter of 2012 according to a new report. Components for the new notebook have already begun shipping, DigiTimes reported on Tuesday, though details are extremely limited for the time being. The site’s nameless sources say that components started moving this month in small volumes, perhaps for test runs of the new computer. As was the case when earlier reports emerged regarding the new laptop, it is unclear if this new model will be added to the high end of Apple’s MacBook Air line or if it will simply be a new, thinner MacBook Pro. Mass shipments are currently scheduled to begin in March according to the report, though firm launch timing is unknown at this time.

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Apple is designing a new 15-inch MacBook model that will offer an ultra-thin MacBook Air-like design, Macotakara said recently. We heard a similar rumor in July that suggested Apple had already entered late testing stages with the device. It remains unclear if Apple will introduce a 15-inch MacBook Air or if the new model will be a thinner MacBook Pro model. Apple currently only offers 13-inch and 11-inch MacBook Air models, so it is possible the company is adding a larger laptop to the mix. Apple currently outfits its MacBook Pro computers with an optical drive and beefier hardware that contribute to the bulkier size; a thinner model might mean the company is ditching the optical drive to remove some bulk. The Cupertino-based firm quietly upgraded the MacBook Pro on October 24th, however, so any drastic changes to the computer probably won’t be unveiled until some time next year.

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Apple on Monday quietly updated its line of MacBook Pro notebook computers with faster processors and more storage. The late-2011 MacBook bump comes a bit later than expected, but it is somewhat in line with various reports. Apple’s low-end $1,199 13-inch MacBook Pro laptop now includes a 2.4GHz dual-core Core i5 processor with 500GB of storage, and $1,499 will now buy a 2.8GHz dual-core Core i7 with a 750GB hard drive. The 15-inch MacBook Pro includes a 2.2GHz quad-core Core i7 and an AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics card for $1,799 or a 2.4GHz quad-core Core i7 and AMD Radeon HD 6770M GPU for $2,199. Atop Apple’s laptop lineup, the base-level 17-inch MacBook pro now includes a 2.4GHz quad-core Core i7 processor and the AMD 6770M for $2,499, and a fully-loaded 17-inch model includes a 2.5GHz quad-core Core i7 CPU and a 512GB solid state drive for $3,849. Apple’s updated MacBook Pro notebooks begin shipping immediately.

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Apple is planning to sneak in a modest refresh of its high-end MacBook Pro line later this month according to a new rumor. AppleInsider cites multiple anonymous sources in claiming that Apple’s MacBook Pro line will receive a light bump in late September that delivers marginal speed improvements to the laptops’ Intel Core i-series processors and little else. Intel’s just-announced 2.4GHz, 2.5GHz and 2.7GHz quad-core Core i7 processors are expected to replace the current 2.0GHz, 2.2GHz and 2.3GHz chipsets found in Apple’s current 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pro models, the report says. Apple may also update the current 2.7GHz CPU in the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Intel’s new dual-core 2.8GHz Core i7 chip. If the late-2011 MacBook Pro refresh does occur later this month, AppleInsider says it will take place after September 20th when Apple’s back-to-school promotion is set to end.

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Apple has yet to release a MacBook with an integrated 3G modem, but that doesn’t mean the company hasn’t toyed with the idea. A 2007 15-inch MacBook Pro has surfaced on eBay with a built-in 3G antenna and a SIM-card slot. The seller says he or she originally purchased the 3G-capable MacBook Pro “for parts,” from a former Apple engineer and said “it was immediately clear this was no normal MacBook Pro.” The machine’s SIM card slot is still recognized by OS X 10.6.8 Leopard but the seller has been unable to get the data connection working properly, and noted that “it’s entirely possible it never worked.” The high bid for the one-of-a-kind MacBook Pro was $11,211.11 at the time of this writing. Read on for a few more images.

[Via MacRumors]

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Apple is in the late stages of testing a new ultra-thin 15-inch notebook computer that may or may not be an upcoming new addition to the MacBook Air family. MacRumors on Tuesday reports that the new ultra-thin laptop could either be a MacBook Air, which is currently offered in 11 and 13-inch sizes, or a MacBook Pro, which is currently offered in 13, 15 and 17-inch sizes. No pricing or release timing is being reported at this point, though a launch in the near term is unlikely. Apple refreshed its MacBook Pro lineup this past February and new MacBookAir models launched just this past week.

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According to Consumer Reports, Apple’s various lines of laptop computers are the best notebooks in the world. Recent rankings published by the popular nonprofit consumer product tester place Apple computers at the top of every relevant laptop category. Apple’s low-end MacBook Air topped competitive offerings from Dell and HP in the 11-inch category, and its computers took the top five spots in the 13-inch class — the 13-inch MacBook Air was No. 1, followed by three different configurations of the 13-inch MacBook Pro and then Apple’s standard 13-inch MacBook. In the 15-inch category, various configurations of the MacBook Pro took the top three spots, and Apple’s high-end MacBook Pro beat out HP’s Pavillion and the Dell XPS for top billing in the 17-inch category. The only category Apple did not dominate was the 14-inch class, but Apple does not currently offer a 14-inch notebook.

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According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Dell is ready to readdress the luxury notebook market with a new ultra-thin offering to take on Apple’s MacBook Air. Dell launched its sleek Adamo line in March 2009 and its first model was an underpowered, over-designed offering that started at $2,000. Dell would later introduce less expensive Adamo laptops but consumers still wouldn’t bite, and the Adamo line was killed off in early 2011. On Tuesday, Dell will unveil its latest attempt to capture the hearts, minds and credit card numbers of prospective MacBook Air buyers with the slender XPS 15z. The new laptop will sport a price tag that starts at $999, and while Apple’s MacBook Air starts at $999 as well, that sum will only get you an 11-inch Air while Dell’s new notebook will apparently be the thinnest 15-inch laptop on the planet. Hit the break for a teaser video Dell ran earlier this month.

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Apple on Thursday surprised no one when it launched its new line of MacBook Pro computers. Despite ongoing rumors that have been swirling for weeks now, anxious Apple fans in need of new rigs can finally breathe a sigh of relief as they open their wallets nice and wide. Here’s the breakdown:

• MC700LL/A: 13.3-inch display, 2.3GHz dual-core Core i5, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 320GB HD, Intel HD Graphics 3000 — $1,199
• MC724LL/A: 13.3-inch display, 2.7GHz dual-core Core i5, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB HD, Intel HD Graphics 3000 — $1,499
• MC721LL/A: 15.4-inch display (1440×900), 2.0GHz quad-core Core i7, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB HD, AMD Radeon HD 6490M  — $1,799
• MC723LL/A: 15.4-inch display (1440×900), 2.2GHz quad-core Core i7, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 750GB HD, AMD Radeon HD 6750M — $2,199
• MC725LL/A: 17-inch display (1920×1200), 2.2GHz quad-core Core i7, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 750GB HD, dual graphics processors with automatic switching (Intel HD Graphics 3000 and AMD Radeon HD 6750M) — $2,499

Oh, and don’t forget those nifty little Thunderbolt ports on each notebook, of course. The new MacBook Pro models will become available for purchase shortly. Hit the break for Apple’s full press release.

Apple Updates MacBook Pro with Next Generation Processors, Graphics & Thunderbolt I/O Technology

CUPERTINO, California—February 24, 2011—Apple® today updated the industry-leading MacBook® Pro family with next generation processors and graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and a new FaceTime® HD camera. Featuring the very latest dual-core and quad-core Intel Core processors, the entire MacBook Pro line is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.*

“The new MacBook Pro brings next generation dual and quad Core processors, high performance graphics, Thunderbolt technology and FaceTime HD to the great design loved by our pro customers,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Thunderbolt is a revolutionary new I/O technology that delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second and can support every important I/O standard which is ideal for the new MacBook Pro.”

Starting at $1,199 the new 13-inch MacBook Pro offers amazing value and performance in a compact design. The highly portable 13-inch MacBook Pro features Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors up to 2.7 GHz and Intel HD Graphics 3000. The powerful 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature quad-core Core i7 processors up to 2.3 GHz and AMD Radeon HD graphics processors with up to 1GB of video memory for high performance gaming, pro video editing and graphics intensive applications.

MacBook Pro is the first computer on the market to include the groundbreaking Thunderbolt I/O technology. Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, Thunderbolt enables expandability never before possible on a notebook computer. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to an amazing 10Gbps each, Thunderbolt delivers PCI Express directly to external high performance peripherals such as RAID arrays, and can support FireWire and USB consumer devices and Gigabit Ethernet networks via adapters. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Freely available for implementation on systems, cables and devices, Thunderbolt technology is expected to be widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O.

The MacBook Pro now includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera with triple the resolution of the previous generation for crisp, widescreen video calls. With Apple’s innovative FaceTime video calling software, the new camera allows high definition video calls between all new MacBook Pro models and supports standard resolution calls with other Intel-based Macs, iPhone® 4 and the current generation iPod touch®. FaceTime is included with all new MacBook Pro models and is available for other Intel-based Macs from the Mac® App Store℠ for 99 cents. The MacBook Pro lineup continues to feature its gorgeous aluminum unibody enclosure, glass Multi-Touch™ trackpad, LED-backlit widescreen display, illuminated full-size keyboard and 7-hour battery.**

As the industry’s greenest notebook lineup, every Mac notebook achieves EPEAT Gold status and meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting the standard for environmentally friendly notebook design.*** Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, are PVC-free and are constructed with recyclable materials.

Every Mac comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for creating and sharing great photos, movies and music. Snow Leopard builds on more than a decade of innovation and includes multiple features for portable computing such as Multi-Touch navigation, advanced wireless networking, easy file sharing, automated data backup and intelligent power management. The new iLife ’11 features iPhoto® with stunning full screen views for browsing, editing and sharing photos; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use tools to transform home videos into fun theatrical trailers; and GarageBand® with new ways to improve your playing and create great sounding songs.

Pricing & Availability
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro are available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 320GB hard drive starting at $1,199; and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,499. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at $2,499.

Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.3 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 750GB, solid state storage up to 512GB, more memory up to 8GB DDR3, antiglare and high-resolution display options and AppleCare® Protection Plan. Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/macbookpro.

Blog 9to5Mac has procured some interesting information in regards to what Apple is cooking up behinds its closed web store. The blog is reporting that all 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models will have an Intel i7, quad-core processor clocked from 2.0GHz up. The laptops will also switch from NVIDIA graphics cards to AMD silicon. The base-line 15-inch MBP will have AMD Radeon HD 6490M with 256MB of RAM, while upper tier 15 and 17-inch models will sport a AMD Radeon HD 6750M chip with 1GB of dedicated RAM. The 15-inch model will be available with a 1920 x 1200, 1080p display and this display resolution will be standard on the 17-inch model. The SKUs and additional specs are waiting for you after the break. Anyone biting?

MC700LL/A – MBP 13.3/2.3/2X2GB/320/SD-USA
MC724LL/A – MBP 13.3/2.7/2X2GB/500/SD-USA

MC721LL/A – MBP 15.4/2.0/2X2GB/500/SD/GLSY-USA
MC723LL/A -MBP 15.4/2.2/2X2GB/750/SD/GLSY-USA

• 15″ 1080P 1920 x1200
• 4GB 1333MHz RAM
• 750GB hard drive
• 2.2Ghz Dual Core i7
• SDXC
• AMD 6750 GPU w/1GB.

MC725LL/A – MBP 17/2.2/2X2GB/750/SD/GLSY-USA

• 17″ 1080P 1920 x1200
• 4GB 1333MHz RAM
• 750GB hard drive
• 2.2Ghz Quad Core i7
• SDXC
• AMD 6750 GPU w/1GB

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Earlier this week, we wondered aloud why Acer might announce new tablets and a smartphone prior to naming said devices. Today, we have our answer. Behold… the Acer AS5745DG-A54E/L. If that name doesn’t stick in your head like a Britney Spears song, we don’t know what will. Unveiled Monday, Acer’s virgin 3D notebook features a 15.6-inch screen, an NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M GPU with NVIDIA’s 3D VISION at 120Hz, a 2.53GHz Intel Core i5-460M processor, 4GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g/n and a 1.3-megapixel webcam. It also ships with 3D VISION glasses, of course. Pricing hasn’t yet been announced, though Acer did say the AS5745DG-A54E/L will be available in Japan on December 3rd for “less than” 100,000 yen, which is roughly $1,200 US. Acer has not yet addressed availability outside of Japan.

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Behold what could very well be the sexiest piece of kit introduced at Macworld. Axiotron took the wraps off its latest OS X tablet endeavor yesterday at Macworld and caused inner conflict in nearly everyone who passed its booth. I can spend $5,000 on a tablet, right? NO, I need to pay rent! But the weather is great in California, can’t I make it on the streets? No, I’ll miss the premier of Lost! Wait, I can just watch it on the Modbook Pro… If you can swing it, Axiotron’s first Pro version based on the 15-inch MacBook Pro most definitely has the juice every Mac fan has been hoping for. 15.4-inch WXGA touchscreen display with finger and pen support, 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (2.4GHz base), NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics processor, 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive or 128GB SSD, integrated GPS, handwriting recognition and plenty more – all wrapped in a 0.93-inch thick case. Basically, it’s 6.6 pounds of hot. Axiotron is currently offering a $400 discount for Macworld but we have to image if $5,000 is too much, so is $4,600. If you were already on board however, the discount is nothing but gravy.

[Via Macworld]

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