Apple’s New Mac Notebooks: Priced From $800?

Apple seems not to worry much about leaks or exposing product launch plans to the public.

For months Mac prognosticators have predicted an update to the aging MacBook and, especially the MacBook Pro line of Apple notebooks. Apple plans to introduce the new line at a special event next week.

Will this be an evolutionary, or revolutionary change in the popular notebooks? How about an $800 starting price? Here’s a quick look at Mac prognosticators and their news spawn.

At the top of the news heap is Inquistr, which says ‘Apple to launch $800 laptop.’ Apple already has about 20-percent of the US domestic notebook market, though the lowest priced MacBook is $1,099.

Inquisitr says Apple has plans for 12 notebook models, four more than the 8 models currently in the lineup. That includes three MacBook models, three MacBook Pro models, and two MacBook Air models.

For their part, Apple has announced an event scheduled for October 14 with an invitation to the media and selectees that says, ‘The spotlight turns to notebooks.’ So, make no mistake about it, Apple has a new line of notebooks coming soon.

Alright, what kind of notebooks? Evolutionary, or revolutionary? AppleInsider has published a number of photos considered to be of new MacBook Pro models, which look remarkably similar to current models.

However, other reports suggest that Apple has a new manufacturing process that will carve a notebook out of a single slab of aluminum, Apple’s metal of choice in recent years. If so, is that evolutionary or revolutionary?

Based on Apple’s steady progress to define the notebook experience in ways far beyond mere PC manufacturers, I suspect evolutionary will continue, but with a few twists.

Look for a larger track pad with even more multi-touch capability. Look for aluminum to show up in a slim design for the MacBook models, ala the popular and diminutive MacBook Air.

But what about those four extra models that some Mac prognosticators expect? Could it be that the so-called code named “Brick” model is a long awaited Mac tablet, an iPad of sorts, featuring multi-touch screen, aluminum case, and ports for external keyboard, mouse, and monitor?

My money, what is left of it after the stock market meltdown, would normally ride on mere evolutionary design changes across the line. What about lower priced MacBooks? Why or why not? What about a completely new model? Why or why not?

Is Apple after market share? After all, Apple’s notebook market share is substantial already, and with notebooks priced higher than the average selling PC notebook. Why would Apple cut the profit margins and price tag?

To carry the analysis to another ridiculous level, if the notebooks receive mere evolutionary changes, why would Apple even bother to call a special event to announce the notebooks?

No, something else has been cooked up. It’s either, 1) all aluminum notebooks with faster processors, more capability, and, importantly, an $800 entry level price tag, or, 2) a completely new type of Mac notebook, ala our long awaited iPad, the Mac tablet. Or, both.

What do you think? I’ve been saving my money and the hole in my pocket will barely last another week.