Apple \"MacBook\" filing suggests iBook re-branding
Apple Computer last month filed for a trademark on the term "MacBook," which may hint at a re-branding of its iBook consumer notebook product line later this year.
The document carries a priority date of Sept. 28, 2005, implying that Apple first filed for the trademark outside the United States late last year — about three months before the company officially re-branded its professional PowerBook notebook computers under the "MacBook Pro" moniker.
The filing is just the latest evidence to suggest the company will rename its iBook consumer notebooks "MacBooks" early in the Spring when it rolls out a pair of the "stunning" new portables based around a 13-inch widescreen display and Intel's Core Solo and Core Duo processors.
At the unveiling of Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro professional notebook in January, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said the decision to ditch the PowerBook name in favor of MacBook Pro was part of an ongoing company effort to better leverage and distinguish the company's "Mac" trademark and brand along with its personal computer offerings.
Also in January, AppleInsider noted the company had filed for a trademark in New Zealand on the term "Mac Pro" — which may imply that the company also has aspirations of re-branding its professional desktops, currently called Power Macs, later this year.
In this filing, dated November 18, 2005, Apple broadly described "Mac Pro" as "computers; computer hardware; computer software; computer peripherals; notebook computers; laptop computers; tablet computers; computer servers; handheld computer" and so forth.
A MacBook filing almost identical to the one filed in the Unite States, also turned up in New Zealand on Feb. 23, a day after the US filing was made.
54 Comments
oh, its coming that's for sure...
just take that core solo mac mini, smash it flat and add a screen, integrated graphics and all! Here's to hoping for better than that...
oh, its coming that's for sure...
just take that core solo mac mini, smash it flat and add a screen, integrated graphics and all! Here's to hoping for better than that...
If they can put a core duo in a mini for $799, they can put a core duo in an iBook for $1299. Intel IG looks baked into the cake though.
oh, its coming that's for sure...
just take that core solo mac mini, smash it flat and add a screen, integrated graphics and all! Here's to hoping for better than that...
Indeed. Just looking at my iBook right now I can see how simple it will be for Apple to do that.
Here's hoping it has the full range of ports that the Mac Mini has, including optical audio output, and a mini-DVI output instead of mini-VGA. I guess the modem will go, which is a shame as it's useful for faxes (the two times a year I need to send one anyway).
add fax ability to .mac and charge more calling it .mac pro with more business functions built around it. Perhaps adding Pro Care as part of the mobile me thingy.
Why New Zealand?