Digitimes: 15.4" MacBook Coming April '07?


Apple has reportedly inked a deal with Foxconn in Taiwan to produce a 15.4" edition of the consumer-oriented MacBook, Digitimes reports.

If correct, this would mean two manufacturers would be supplying Apple with MacBooks. Asustek manufactures the 13.3" models currently.

The tremendous popularity of the MacBook is said to be driving the move to an optional larger screen. Apple is shipping 200,000 MacBooks per months, with growth in its portable sales at an industry-leading 59.5%, according to Garner figures cited by Digitimes.

Analysis: Providing there's sufficient processor and equipment differentiation between MacBook and MBP, Apple needs a mid-range 15.4" consumer laptop, a segment of which it might have lost a part with the disappearance of the 14.1" iBook. Dell dominates this segment with 15.4" Dell Latitudes, which are cheap, can be well equipped and appeal to students and general consumers. The 15.4" screen is the big selling point (I did see 3 people crouching close to a MacBook screen the other day and it did look rather small when viewing iTunes). People would buy the MBP 15.4", but it's too pricey as a 'consumer' laptop.

Where Apple can beat Dell in this area is with design. A 15.4" MBP should be significantly lighter than a Dell and, frankly, most people aren't too worried about high-end CPUs on these things, because they're cheap laptops, not high-end gaming machines. They're mainly used to surf wireless, burn CD/DVDs and (especially) run iTunes. Careful attention to features and CPU speeds will allow Apple to reap the benefits of a mid-range consumer 'Book without cannibalizing the lucrative MBP market.