Apple seems to be moving away from the familiar white look of past years.
The white imac is no more. The white shuffle is no more. The white ipod is gone.
What else must go? The mighty mouse is certain to be revamped and I am guessing it won't be white any longer.
The macbook? It is now the only product left with the "old" white look. Will it too pass by and be replaced by the new aluminium look?
I am betting it will, sometime soon. What do you think?

No, because many are bought for use by schoolkids. Thick plastic is the go for that.

Yeah I've got to say, durability of the white plastic means a whole lot to the consumers (not pros).

Perhaps thick aluminium coloured plastic?

My Mrs just bought a MacBook (after five years prodding from me), and although it is smaller than my PowerBook, it feels more rugged. I don't know whether it is because the screen is smaller, but the Plastic feels less susceptible to dents, and more scratch/discolour resistant than the Alu-Books are.

The Palm rests on my PowerBook are stuffed - pitting, paint falling off and scratches galore. That won't happen as much on a Plastic Laptop (like my work Dell).

Unless Apple comes out with another exotic metal, iBooks* will stay plastic.


I walked into my local Apple store and asked for an iBook. There is no substitute for good branding/

don't think they'll make that change to the macbooks as it will take from the macbook pro (ie. the macbook pro is damn sexy)

Either way the screen gets marks from the keys when you are travelling (Any cures for that?)

I reckon the rugged look of the plastic MacBooks is just from the thicker edge around the screen (as opposed tot that thin strip of metal around the MacBook Pro's).

If you stick your cleaning cloth on your keys that doesn't happen anymore. Thats what i do anyway. Works like a charm.




I hope they never get rid of the white. I thought that i would get sick of my white MacBook after a few months, but every time i look at it i am still in love. I'm usually not a fan of the white, but this thing is damm hot. Marry me white MacBook

Truly a sad departure from great design to good design.

that thin foamy insert that comes with the machine stops this apparently.

If all Apple products must show a design identity, my next guess would be black and chrome - a merge of professional and retro.

...and a continuing influence from industrial design classics, like Braun products from the 70s.

Also, don't forget the white plastic ends of the Cinema Displays (and the current shuffle.)

I loved the minimalistic pure white look. I wish they could retain it but figure out a way to keep it from getting ganked and darkened over time.

there is obviously a clear difference between macbooks and macbook pros
they are aimed at different audiences, henced designed that way. i dont no how the macbook would look in a alu case. i think they are stop on this generation, both macbooks and macbook pros look good the way they are.. i dont think they should change that.

The Macbooks may follow the iMacs - an aluminium body, a glass screen with a black plastic frame (glass would be too heavy for a portable) and white plastic keys.

It'd be a good look