Apple to unveil entirely new MacBook series at WWDC

KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has been a reliable source of information on unannounced Apple products, expects that the company could introduce an entirely new MacBook model at the next week’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

Apple previously offered an entry-level white polycarbonate notebook known simply as the "MacBook," but that product was discontinued last year. Kuo's report suggests that Apple intends to resurrect the MacBook name with two new products in the 13- and 15-inch varieties.

He suggests that the new laptops will be available in sizes of 13 and 15 inches with price starting at $1,199 for the basic 13-inch model. The rumoured laptop will not have an optical drive; instead it could include either a solid-state drive or a traditional hard-disk drive. Ming-Chi Kuo believes that such new MacBook will feature a Retina display and a larger battery with improved capacity.

Apple is expected to unveil its new 15-inch MacBook, priced at $1,799 with a hard-disk drive, next week, and the device will go on sale soon after. Kuo said he doesn't expect the new 13-inch $1,199 MacBook to be available until August, as the smaller MacBook has "limited space for thermal dissipation," and will also use a "lower-yield" Retina display than the 15-inch model.