Report: Apple Developing 15-inch Super-Slim MacBook Pro
Is the Pro about to get an Air makeover?
Just last week, Apple launched its new line of Sandy Bridge equipped MacBook Airs. However, it seems the MacBook Air is not the only superslim laptop Apple has been working on. Rumor has it that Cupertino's got an uber-skinny 15-inch MacBook Pro in development. Not only that, but the laptop is supposedly near completion.
MacRumors was first to report the news and readily admits that it's not sure if this is an addition to the MacBook Air line, or a new design for the MacBook Pro. However, the blog claims that what it does know is that the laptop has entered "late testing stages at Apple." The Unofficial Apple Weblog has since chimed in with its own version of events, reporting that yes, this will be a MacBook Pro. TUAW also reports that there will be a second model, this one a 17-inch notebook, to go along with the first slim machine and that both will appear as part of a MacBook Pro refresh.
There isn't much in the way of details at the moment. TUAW reckons that the laptops might be available in time for Christmas but, other than that, there's nothing regarding specs available right now. One of the more interesting points is that the Air's skinny form-factor has seen Apple ditch the optical drive. It's not clear if these diet-Pros will also lose their drives. While we're waiting for more information, let us know if a MacBook Pro dressed in MacBook Air clothing sounds like something you'd be interested in!
Further Reading
MacRumors: Apple Finishing Up Work on an Ultra-Thin 15" Mac Notebook
TUAW:Rumor: Apple's next 15" laptop refresh will be Air-like

If so would it be the Macbook Air Pro or the Macbook Pro Air?
as Lord Jobs waives his hand in front of your face.
Whether or not this will come back to bite them? We'll see.
My other thought is that the dedicated GPU will be lost if this is as thin as the Airs. That would ruin the Pro's selling point.
What I do need is dedicated GPU, this is why I won't buy the new 13" air (13 is my preferred size..) lets hope this one gets a proper GPU ha?
either way, removing the optical disc is not a big deal. In the last 4 years, I think I used it once. And if you really need one, there is an external superdrive, not to mention that Mac computers can wirelessly access a DVD drive from a Windows PC or another Mac
Hopefully we will see this soon: Thunderbolt Firewire
and of course: Thunderbolt *
I haven't used the optical drives in any of my computers (Windows PCs and Macs) for ages.
The last time I used it was to burn a music CD for my car's stereo.
Operating system, applications, games, video, music... u get all of these from the internet these days.
Professionals who need to share large amounts of data with customers still need optical drives, but I can't think of any other reason to have a heavy and bulky optical drive in a laptop.
And, tomorrow's headline will be, "Apple Accidentally Leaks Image of New 15inch MacBook Pro".
And there's no way in hell you're making me buy something without an optical drive.
The last time I used it was to burn a music CD for my car's stereo.
Operating system, applications, games, video, music... u get all of these from the internet these days.
And sorry for the double post, but are you suggesting that we pirate? Because I'm pretty sure programs (or apps, whatever floats your boat) are still installed via. discs. I mean, god knows Apple could do with an ego and revenue beatdown right about now, but pirating programs such as Adobe PS is still illegal.
Or am I missing something?