Apple MacBook Pro, iMac rumors: Ivy Bridge processor, USB 3, Retina Display
(CBS News) MacBook Pro and iMac fans anxious for an update of Apple computers can chew on new rumors that have re-surfaced.
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According to a recent report by 9to5Mac, a "trusted source in Apple's supply chain" says the new 15-inch MacBook Pro will include Retina Display, USB 3 ports and Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge processor. It's also rumored that in order to achieve an ultra-thin design Apple may leave out DVD players from the popular laptop computers.
It's been long rumored that Apple would re-design the MacBook Pro to closer emulate the MacBook Air. The new report by 9to5Mac suggests the new MacBook Pro won't have the same teardrop body - rather it will look like a slim version of the late-2008 "unibody" design.
Optical drives are also said to be excluded from the next round of Apple computers. This aligns with previous rumors that the next MacBook Pro would switch to solid-state drives and omit optical disk drives.
It wouldn't be the first time Apple pushed consumers out of their comfort zone. When the original iMac 3G was introduced in 1998, it didn't have a 3 1/2 -inch disc drive, which was standard at the time.
Get ready to buy more converter boxes. Another big update will be the upgrade to Universal Serial Bus (USB) 3. According to the report, the USB 3 port will co-exist with Thunderbolt - a high-speed data transfer port designed by Intel and Apple. The addition of a USB 3 port sounds like a nod to Intel's next-generation microchip, Ivy Bridge.
The MacBook Pro is also rumored to get Retina Display, the same sources say. Previously, the Taiwanese tech blog DigiTimes their own "sources in the upstream supply chain" that the new MacBook Pros screen resolution would be 2,800 x 1,800.
Apple's iMac may be getting an update, as well. Several sites have sourced information from the website GeekBench, which measures hardware performance, showing a test of an "iMac13, 2." The new iMac is said to be pre-loaded with OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion).
No launch date has been confirmed for the MacBook Pro or iMac. However, previous rumors have suggested a June MacBook Pro release date. The next Apple event will be the Worldwide Developer's Conference in June.
