14 DAY TRIAL // The rumors about a MacBook update and the new sub portable member of the family have been around for quite a while, and when Leopard was released with drivers for hardware that was not used in any of the current models, it was seen as all but direct confirmation from Apple.
Apple has indeed updated its MacBook lines, but the update was not the one that many expected, rather one that many will not even notice. Stealth updates occur when Apple does bump the specifications but by such small an amount that they even announce it to the press. The vast majority of customers are not even aware that they are receiving such an upgraded product. In the case of the updated MacBook and MacBook Pro models, the update is not only silent, but also slight. Both processor speeds, storage capacity and memory remain unchanged. The only thing that has been changed is the motherboard chipset which includes a 800Mhz bus and the GMA X3100 video card, whose drivers were already present in Leopard. The updated motherboards are also supposed to have better power management and Pre-N wireless.
Much like the update to the mini earlier this year, the improvements are nothing to write home about, offering only minimal benefits. Obviously, people who have been putting off purchases in hope of an update model or a new one altogether did not receive this update very well. While the company cannot help it when people's expectations are built up by rumors and reports about possible upcoming products, the timing of this update as well as the meager offerings proved to be less than fortuitous. Besides the patent applications, the Leopard drivers were the clearest indication of an upcoming MacBook update or new model, but that is no longer the case. It could still be that Apple will introduce a new sub-portable or significantly improved MacBook models, but considering this update another one could be quite some time off.