Will Apple ever bring back the black MacBook?

By Chris Parsons
published

While I don't often like to admit it, there once was a time when I was a hardcore Windows user. My desktop ran Windows, my laptop ran Windows and I often scoffed at Apple's offerings. It wasn't until 2006 when the black polycarbonate MacBook appeared that I began to look at Apple machines differently. Oh how I longed to have a matte black MacBook.

By the time I got around to actually being able to afford such a machine, Apple ended up breaking my heart. The black MacBook was discontinued in 2008, but to this day I still hope they bring them back in some way. Judging from some of the responses in the iMore Forums, I'm not alone in my desires here.

I'd love for them to bring in a black MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. rayz336, iMore Forums Member

Of course, there are places out there such as Colorware that will gladly take some of your hard earned cash and transform your MacBook Pro and MacBook Air for you, but cost is always a factor there and, perhaps more importantly, the time away from your machine. It would just be simpler if you could buy one directly from Apple without the need to spend $500+ extra.

To be clear, I'm not hoping they bring back those polycarbonate matte black versions. I'd like to see them offer up a fresh anodized aluminum version though. With the iPhone 5c being 'unapologetically plastic' maybe Apple could create a casing for the MacBook? Just riffing that idea because as pointed out in the forums, the anodized aluminum version might be a bit too much.

That is a high order, my dear friend and it's going to be really hard to produce, I might imagine.Speedygi, iMore Forums Member

So what do you all think? Am I holding onto a pipe dream that I should let go of, or are you among those who would actually like to see Apple produce such a thing? Have your say in the iMore Forums.

Chris Parsons
Chris Parsons

Editor-at-Large at Mobile Nations, gadget junkie, energy drinker, ranter.

39 Comments
  • We want macbook colors :)
  • Will Apple bring back the "MacBook"? No, that's a pipe dream and discontinued product. Perhaps a better way to frame this question is whether Apple will bring back black laptops/notebooks, not MacBooks. Having said that, I gave my black MacBook to my parents, and they still use it. Loved that thing. Plastic and all.
  • And now we have the MacBook line back with a space grey option.
  • Two words: Space Grey
  • Oh my, I might just want one!
  • I actually like the current look of the MacBook line but the Space Gray color may do it for me. Sent from the iMore App
  • Space gray aluminum? (Anodizing black isn't great, and I don't see any more plastic in the MacBook line)
  • I'd certainly take Space gray as well!
  • Would you like a gold MBP?! Sent from the iMore App
  • I've often thought Apple should distinguish their Pro & Consumer line of products with color. They are doing that, in a way, with the latest iPhone refresh.
    Who knows, Apple went fruity & white w/iMacs, now the iPhone 5C... A black MBP would be sharp! Apple's only solid black colored product is the Apple TV. Sent from the iMore App
  • I would love to see Apple match the color scheme of all it's products. Give us Space Grey, White, and classic silver aluminum on all the products. Sent from the iMore App
  • I was just thinking about this the other day a space gray or slate model would be great I'd be more enticed to buy one as if I wasn't enticed enough already but I definitely think it'd help apple sell more units instead of having just one neutral color. Sent from the iMore App
  • MBP in "Robocop Noir". Sent from the iMore App
  • Too funny - I too was a hard core Windows fanboy... Microsoft made my career at one time (did the whole MCSE thing etc.) The black Macbook was the very first Mac I bought... it was after seeing it with my wife in Best Buy and convincing her that SHE needed it and that I could BORROW it for IT knowledge sake. It really wasn't until we got her an iPhone and I made it 2 miles from the AT&T store before I turned around and got my own iPhone that my Apple days started... but I always liked that black Macbook. Don't know that I care to see one again though... maybe a black metallic look rather than the poly.
  • But if they made it polycarbonate or "unapologetically plastic" I think they'd sell more macs and reach further out to the people who really can't afford $1000 plus pc's, because the price would drop a lot and that way apple and broaden their market and possibly make more money. I wouldn't have a problem with a plastic laptop, sure having an aluminum laptop is better, but does it really matter for a laptop whether it's plastic or aluminum as much it matters whether your phone is plastic or aluminum? Most laptops out today are made of plastic and perform really well sure apple wants to be different but why not make a plastic version as well? Sent from the iMore App
  • As seen with the 5c, the price would not drop at all if Apple adopted plastic.
  • The new Mac Pro is black. Considering what Apple did with iPhone 5C, it is very likely there may be additional colors in the future for the other Macs. Apple always focus on details like this, so they probably don't want to do this until they can figure out the best way to get black on the Macs that tells them apart from any other black laptops.
  • The black polycarbonate Macbook is the first Apple product that I really wanted. Unfortunately, it was too expensive back then for my age and I preferred a laptop that could play games so I ended up with a Toshiba laptop (it sucked).
  • Those "BlackBooks" were hideous!
  • I agree with rayz336 I would LOVE a black MacBook. Maybe they'll do a hot space Gray model, by anodization over plastics. That's something I would pay for. Sent from the iMore App
  • This actually looks so dope Sent from the iMore App
  • I wasn't aware there was a black MacBook. Looks great ! Sent from the iMore App
  • I would love to see the mac back in black. They have set such a strong pattern of black and white that I don't even consider other colors necessary for things such as phone. Like the iPhone 5c meh... Sent from the iMore App
  • Perhaps the real question is how long can they continue with aluminum before it gets boring?
  • If you really think about it. When rivals are now using aluminium it means that it is going to become jaded fairly fast and the Mac range will cease to stand out from the crowd. The time to look towards new designs and new materials is here. Of course though we will see if the Apple design team and especially Jony U Ives are looking to maybe not next year but possibly three years from now when aluminum is boring and so last year's styling!
  • god I hope not. Take one look at used black Macbooks and you see the same problems; the finish didn't hold up well over time.
  • I think this depends on the owner. My black MacBook has been well cared for and at over five years old it is still looking pretty sharp if I do say so myself.
  • Black aluminum. Not black plastic. Space Grey MacBook, anyone? Sent from the iMore App
  • I actually owned one of those! I bought it at MacWorld 2007, I was in Apple heaven seeing the newly announced iPhone and buying my first MacBook it was awesome. Sent from the iMore App
  • An anodized black MacBook would be awesome! Not the original versions like you said. I agree with a few other posts that it has potential, especially with Apple giving color to the iPhone line. Hopefully not TOO wild, but a anodized black and a current version with white trimmings would look awesome, especially for the MacBook Air line! Sent from the iMore App
  • If they'd make these anodized aluminium versions and sell them at prices that don't make my wallet tremble (at least not beyond the level it already is), I'm all for it.
  • One word: scratches. Black plastic is all black, anodyzed aluminium is black only superficially. Sent from the iMore App
  • One thing:pure black is just boring.
    Come on we laugh at windows fans that they have only black boxes!
    But different color have some potential
  • Black would be sweet and probably host of other colors like the iPhone C, hell make a few thousands and see what happens?
  • I would love black or space grey MacBook Pros in their anodized aluminum glory. Would Apple do it? will depend on how much it would cost for the process and how scratch resistant it would be. They wont up the price of the laptops and if they do not by much so if the process ends up costing them $500 more/unit as an example it probably aint gonna happen. I think they should do it because just like fighting against the beige boxes of old it would be different. It would be elegant and it would just be freaking awesome!
  • A gold and space grey macbook would be cool however the scratch potential would make me concerned about getting a space grey model. The gold would be nice but maybe just a bit... Weird. Sent from the iMore App
  • Black? Pfffttt. Bring on the gold Macs! Sent from the iMore App
  • Id take a space grey MBP. Loving the space grey look on my 5s and it's yet to scratch after a few months. Sent from the iMore App
  • God damn I want a matte black MBP