Concepts spearheaded by MacBook Air

Apple has this week won the rights to three patents, all covering the construction of unibody MacBooks. Two of these document the MacBook Air, which was the first Apple notebook to use a combination frame and casing made out of a single block of aluminum. Aside from external design, the other patent covers the Air's multi-touch glass trackpad, which has also since spread to other Apple portables. Its origins can be traced back to the iPhone.

The remaining patent covers the MacBook Pro, Apple's flagship notebook, which was given a technological makeover in late 2008. The basic plastic MacBook was only updated to match in October 2009. Most competing Windows notebooks continue to use single-touch trackpads, and multi-section frames and casings more susceptible to damage. At the same time, the current MacBook architecture now relies on integrated batteries that cannot be quickly replaced when on extended trips.

by MacNN Staff