14 DAY TRIAL // Rumors last year spoke about an order Apple might have made to Foxconn about some 15.4-inch MacBooks that was due May 2007. Foxconn was involved the "iPod City" scandal, when it was said that the company used underpaid and overworked employees, some of them might have actually been children and they were made to work more extra-hours than legally allowed. At the time, an Apple investigation found these statements to be false, although the company itself admitted to some degree part of the allegations.
Industry Taiwan sources cited by DigiTimes say 15.4-inch MacBooks are being produced by Quanta Computer, not by Foxconn, and that they will indeed ship in May. Quanta Computer worked together with Foxconn for the production of MacBook Pros. The current manufacturer of 13.3-inch MacBooks will not be also the manufacturer of these super-sized MacBooks, the same sources say.
The new 15.4-inch model will fill the gap between Apple's 13.3-inch MacBooks and the 15.4-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros. This new model is likely to be cheaper than the 13.3-inch one, due to the lower cost of 15.4 LCD panels.
MacBook shipments are expected to reach 700,000 units in the first quarter of 2007. The growth will be grater still in the second quarter, with the shipment of these new 15.4-inch MacBooks, the source estimates.
Although these are just rumors, many portable Mac owners have expressed their opinion about these new MacBooks. Some say 'great, I'll get one', especially if it will indeed be priced lower. Others, on the other hand, say 'what's the point?'. They say they bought MacBooks precisely because they are small. And smaller is the way to go, they say. We'll keep you posted if we hear any news or confirmations on the matter.