14 DAY TRIAL // All signs point to new MacBook computers, yet we cannot report ‘confirmed’ until Apple itself makes the big announcement. However, Apple has begun instructing retail staffers and resellers to not open sealed packages that should arrive at their doors soon.
AppleInsider cites people briefed on the matter as saying that large European resellers are being told they could expect delivery of sealed product pallets as early as Monday, February 28th.
The date coincides with one of ten federal holidays (President's Day) in the United States, the news report outlines, adding that Apple has historically avoided making major product launches on federal holidays.
The Mac maker is expected to officially introduce the new MacBook Pro computers soon thereafter.
According to the same source, “Apple is vocalizing its right to yank reseller licenses from any dealer who tampers with the sealed shipments ahead of that said announcement.”
As usual, the company is highly secretive about forthcoming product launches.
It is widely believed that a new line of MacBook Pro computers is on its way from Apple, not just because the systems are overdue for a refresh, but because resellers who have run out of them have not been able to place new orders.
The systems are expected to bear an unchanged form factor, though recent speculation has centered around a metallic-dark design, presumably achieved from Liquidmetal, a space-age material.
New technology from Intel is to make it into these laptops, the hottest rumors say.
Sandy Bridge processors and Light Peak connectors are just two of the flagship new features believed to make it into Apple’s new MacBook Pros.
It is also believed that Apple is considering phasing out optical disc drives from its portables completely, with the current MacBook Pro family being the last to support them.
Should Apple eliminate optical media support, while installing solid-state drives (SSD) as standard, the new MacBook Pro family would resemble the ultra-thin MacBook Air laptops more closely.