New MacBook Airs To Feature Black Case Option

In recent weeks more and more reports have appeared, claiming that Apple is putting final touches to the new MacBook Airs that are expected to be released late June or July. MacRumors has a guess that  the high-end models may come with a black option for the aluminium case.

Over the past week, we’ve received several anonymous tips claiming that at least some models of the next-generation MacBook Air will be be available with a black finish, different from the aluminum case used on the current MacBook Air and most of Apple’s other Macs. The most specific of the claims suggests that a black anodized aluminum case would be available on a top-end MacBook Air model, in much the same way as Apple once offered a high-end black MacBook on top of the standard white offerings.

As for the black colour, Apple already offered black versions of the MacBook a few years. MacRumors also reports that their source close to Apple sent them e-mail, where he said that the  black MacBooks were indeed produced, but didn’t get Steve Jobs’ approval in the end.

We tried to powder coat the Air’s (and Pro’s for that matter) in black as a test run. There are more than a few floating around campus. The coating looks good and holds up well, but it also soaks up body oils, making the palm rest look pretty gross. Ultimately that is the reason that the top brass (Jobs) killed the idea… it was just too easy to make the computer look like crap. At some point we may offer a black coating, but it won’t be powder coat, and it won’t be anytime soon.