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Is an ultraportable MacBook up in the works? I’m a big fan of the 12″ Apple PowerBook (a.,k.a., AlBook for its aluminum body). It’s small and durable. Sure, it’s not that power-packed, but well-traveled people really do appreciate being able to carry around small computers. With the prevalence of smaller storage devices and more efficient power architectures, I think Apple should seriously consider introducing an ultraportable, or at least bringing back the small notebook.

Apple Insider cites analyst Gene Munster:

“… we also expect Apple to expand the MacBook lineup with one new model.”

That one new model is expected to be the company’s “smallest portable ever,” according to the analyst. While he was initially expecting an ultra-portable device with an 8- to 11-inch screen, he said his latest round of checks now leads him to believe the device will sport a display of approximately 11- to 13-inches.

“That said, we continue to expect the ‘ultra-portable’ MacBook to be Apple’s thinnest and lightest ever. While it may not be as small as we originally expected, we believe this could be the most consumer-friendly way to expand its current lineup of MacBook portables,” Munster told clients. “It will likely be priced between the $1,099 consumer level MacBook and the $1,999 MacBook Pro.”