Mac case designs: Nirvana achieved?

[houltmac]

Nearly a month ago Macworld ran an article entitled "Mac case designs: Nirvana achieved?". While I disagree with much of the article, it does raise an interesting point. I think we can all agree that the aesthetic of the case designs are getting a little old now:

MacBook Pro - PowerBook
MacBook - New (I don't care what anyone says) but a couple of years old
iMac - New, but heavily based on the old
Mac Pro - Power Mac
Mac mini - a few years old (and still with the white top)

In that sense then they are getting a little old; but are they aging well enough that there is no need for a re-design?

I would like to see magnetic latches on the MBP as well as the optical slot of the 17" being brought to the 15". I'd also like to see a thinner bezel on both the MB and the MBA. The rest of the line-up is pretty much perfect for me. Perhaps continuing to get a mm or two thinner with the notebooks but apart from that...

Internally of course there have been some huge case changes over the past few years. Apple have really refined these designs. The longer they stay out, the more data Apple can collect about their thermal and structural envelopes and tweak accordingly. I would like to see the designs stay for a time to come, but would like the whole glass and aluminum thing complete the line up.

What say you?

[studioprisoner]

well everyone has read my rants on the keyboard for the MBP, lol. i would love to see the MBP get the MBA keyboard design!!

i love the designs of the iMac's and the designs will always change when the hardware gets smaller and that, so yeh. But i'm happy with all the designs, bar the MBP keyboard :P

[philbowell]

The only thing I would like to see change is the MB to move to an Aluminium case to match the rest of the range. It's the only Mac that isn't Alu and a black Alu one like the Nano would look amazing!

[Yuiichi]

I'd echo Phil's statement with the MacBook. However much I love my white MacBook, I'd love to see it get a little sturdier with Aluminum.

I do think that all of the lineup looks better than pretty much any other kind of PC on the market. They're elegant, functional, beautiful, and they also match nicely (except for the MB). That said, I would like to see what else Apple's engineers could do. Since they've made computers I like this much already, who knows what else they could do?

Only time will tell.

[Chipell]

Originally Posted by Yuiichi

I'd echo Phil's statement with the MacBook. However much I love my white MacBook, I'd love to see it get a little sturdier with Aluminum.

I do think that all of the lineup looks better than pretty much any other kind of PC on the market. They're elegant, functional, beautiful, and they also match nicely (except for the MB). That said, I would like to see what else Apple's engineers could do. Since they've made computers I like this much already, who knows what else they could do?

Only time will tell.

The new Dell 'all in one' is trying to make a bid towards the iMac crowd. It's got some very severe limitations however, has known heat problems, and is pretty expensive for what you get.

Aluminum would give the MacBook some sturdiness, but it as well has some drawbacks. A bump that a plastic case would absorb would leave a ding in aluminum. Etc.

[houltmac]

I've seen some of those Dells, and the older HPs. Both were awful, fat and ugly as hell. They got real hot, real loud and wouldn't make you want one. I don't think they quite get it.

Aluminum is a two sided coin. All in, it can absorb impact quite well (like in my MBA), but it can also flex and stretch (like the MBP can sometimes). Plastic has color issues, heat issues, cracking issues and can break fairly easily. I'd prefer Aluminum any day.

[J Walk]

I think Apple have kept their designs for so long because they've just worked. Mac users have responded saying they love the aluminium design of the MacBook Pro, and it wouldn't be the same without it. I can see Apple making some changes to the design, but nothing too significant.

However, there might be a different plan in store for the MacBook. As some others have mentioned, it doesn't really fit in with design of any other Apple products. That "clad plastic" look seems to be fading away.

It'll be interesting to see what Apple can do to the MacBook design. Even though Apple seems to be going all aluminium, I think they might reveal a surprising design with something crazy and new.

[baseballboy828]

I wonder when Apple will release a revolutionary new product in the computer line, the way the iPhone was. The MacBook Air is new, but is based on their MBP design. I'm excited to see what they do with the form factors of the iMac and Mac Mini in the future. I'm not sure what kind of design changes can go on with the MacBooks, other than changing the MB to aluminum. Macworld '09 maybe?

[houltmac]

People keep expressing how they see the MacBook Air as being based on the MacBook Pro and I just don't see it. Externally the design is bar more similar to that of the MacBook - the keyboard, the clamshell, the display bezel... The only similarity to the MacBook Pro is the case material. Internally it is of course completely revolutionary, wether the general public appreciate that or not. It's not like anything we have seen before (at least in the Mac line-up). With regard to assembly it most closely relates to the iBook if anything, but is pretty far from anything we have seen before. Specs compare most closely to the MacBook also.

I do like the new IR port, sleep light and camera assembly (the round look with the matching mic and ALS). I also like the new hinges and magnets since closing the machine feels so much smoother and thanks to the full bezel it feels much more taught when closed. These are all things I would like to see in the rest of the line-up over time. Of course I am also a big perponent of the backlit keyboard, and while once it seemed like a "pro" feature I really think it's of at least as much use to my little brother, if not more (he is IM'ing way into the night in the dark).

There are a lot of small touches I would like to see in all the machines taken from the MacBook Air, but the overall designs of the machines to me are just about perfect. Weight is of course something I would push for, and the environmental stats could also be pushed. The real killer for me right now in everyones portables is the battery life. Get moving on the whole power thing - it's not Apples nor Intels job to make up for the lack of progress in this area.

[philbowell]

This has just occurred to me and is likely way off the mark but I thought I'd float the idea anyway.

Does anyone see the MBA as a replacement for the normal MB? The MBA and MacBook are close to each other in terms of size and design (I agree with Matt on that!). With Apple seeming to be reluctant to refresh the shell of the MB do you think once the spec of the MBA is a little closer to that of the MB they'll lose the MB completely along with the Air monica?