Los Angeles (CA) - Although we generally don't believe in most “leaked” product images on the Internet, this one is from a Taiwanese source that has proved somewhat reliable in the past. Nevertheless, we still think it's a fake because if it's real - it's going to be one hell of an ugly MacBook Pro.

Leaked photos of products under development are nothing new. Leaked photos of products from Apple are also nothing new, but generate far more excitement due to gadget maker's legendary secrecy. However, most of these supposed internal leaks turn out to be fake images created by Apple fans. As a matter of fact, these have become trademark of a sub-culture that follows every consumer electronics giant's move. One of such leaks comes from a Taiwanese website that claims to have pictures of the expected MacBook Pro redesign.

As you can seen from the photo, laptop exteriors didn't receive significant change in appearance. The depicted prototype casing sports redesigned Apple logo that is no longer backlit, casting shadow on the legitimacy of the photo. Glowing logos on Apple laptops has become a sort of trademark signature created to attract the attention of the drooling masses. The author also doesn't explain mysterious indentations in the Apple logo on the prototype casing.

The fact that the bottom case is smaller than top is explained as an artifact of the prototype design, I’m sure some experienced prototypers can weigh in on this. The site claims more space will be added in the shipping product to make up room for a removable battery and that the redesigned laptop would sport the same black keyboard as the MacBook Air.

We give this one low credibility mark, especially since similar anonymously leaked photos generally proved false in the past. Apple has introduced the MacBook Pro two and a half years ago, replacing the aging PowerBook Titanum G4 model. It brought new Intel-based architecture and the trademark aluminum enclosure. Since the introduction, MacBook Pro received three incremental upgrades but the design remained unchanged. The latest upgrade is over four months old but new revision with Montevina chipset is expected around September. It is general opinion that Apple would redesign MacBook Pro with the Montevina revision.

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