∞ Will Apple release new Macs before the holidays?

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With its annual September event done, Apple is set for iPod releases for the holidays, but will the company update its Macs before the biggest shopping season of the year? One research firm thinks so.

MacBookWedge Partners said in a note to clients on Wednesday that it expects Apple to release new iMacs and MacBooks “in the next several weeks,” according to a report on Barron’s.

Wedge describes the iMac as having a “thinner, organic design, likely with smoothed or rounded edges.” The report gives no indication on what they base that description on.

With the release of the new Macs, Wedge foresees a good quarter for Apple. “We believe these new designs and price points will help Apple achieve a 3 million unit quarter for Macs in [calendar] Q4.”


  • Michael Adams

    The iMac may be due for a refresh, but isn’t the Aluminum MacBook Pro line fairly new?

  • Jim Dalrymple

    I think they’re talking about the MacBook, not the pro.

  • Pats

    Not to state the obvious, but Apple is sort of tied in with what Intel is doing and since Intel is finally releasing a mobile version of i7 you could make a logical guess that Apple would support the new processor/socket in the Imac & Macbook Pro, the new processor combined with SL will allow Apple to jump to 4 cores for the Macbook Pro/IMac leaving room for the MacBook and 20″ IMac with the existing Core 2 Dou at a better price.

  • Joe Anonymous

    There were some rumors earlier this year about an OLED 15″ MacBook Pro (LG Electronics also announced a 15″ laptop screen at the same time and expected to have them out by late summer).

    Four core i7 with OLED? I’ll buy one as soon as they’re available. However, realistically, I’m guessing it won’t be until 2010.

  • http://www.marketingtactics.com Dave Barnes

    Could we have some real news instead of an “analyst’s” masturbation fantasies?

  • Jim Dalrymple

    What are you looking for Dave?

    • http://www.marketingtactics.com Dave Barnes

      1.specs
      2.photos
      3.prices
      4.part numbers

      • Jim Dalrymple

        That certainly would be nice to have.

        • charli

          but in keeping with Apple you won’t get until the big ‘note happens.

          that said I think that yes something will occur. but it will be on the desktops only since the laptops just got theirs last june. perhaps the 24″ display also.

          what do I think is on the line.
          well first off, I do not believe as some do that blu-ray in the machines is a given. not in the standards, perhaps as a custom item for the Pro and maybe the highest 24″ imac. as a test.
          i do think that new glass on the displays/imac is possible since there have been a lot of complaints. again, maybe not standard but as a custom item test. and likely at a small markup. I’m pay $50 more myself
          perhaps the 30″ display will be redone to fit the new look. if that happens I think the anti-glare test is more likely since that size is favored by pro users. or they might keep the old one for now for those folks
          on the imac front I see taking everyone to 4GB of Ram (i think the 20″ inch is still 2 and maybe that low 24″), increasing the HD and the processor speed with perhaps the addition of a card slot (that frankly I wish would be open like the old laptops had so I can pick if I want SD, esata or something else). this might turn up on the Pro as well.
          on the ‘chin’ debate, I don’t mind it. but I find it is a bit of a waste when it could be used for front connecting USB and audio port. perhaps cut it in half height wise and use it in such a manner. maybe paint the whole front black even for a ‘cleaner’ look. then again, that’s what modeling paint is for. I also wouldn’t mind if they moved the display area down a bit to have the camera a little lower and perhaps space for better speakers. that would reduce ‘the chin’ a bit as well

          and I think that the Mini would likely give a speed bump, HD bump and maybe Ram also.

          if nothing else, some price drops could happen and probably should. on the computers and that 8gb upgrade (ouch)

  • David Frantz

    I would suspect that a Clarksfield based iMac would be a high priority before Christmas. Actually before Thanksgiving as that would make iMac much more attractive. In fact until Apple updates the iMac I can’t really reccomend it to anybody it is just to expensive for the tech wrapped up inside it.

    The MacBook though is a different story and I can only see minor changes there right now. Maybe a processor and memory bump. Of course Apple has been surprising us with laptop upgrades of late but I just don’t see any hardware available for a massive update. The next major update would have to wait for Arrandale.