Metal MacBook Casings In Full Production, Claims Analyst

According to Citigroup analyst Richard Gardner, Apple has begun to receive metal casings for its upcoming MacBook laptop refresh.  Gardner told investors that the casings have entered mass production, hinting at a near-term launch; according to the analyst, the new MacBook will feature a "very thin aluminum casing, an LED-backlit display and an aggressive entry-level price point". 

A switch from plastic to metal for the MacBook has been tipped for some time now, with a supposed leak of pre-production casings back in August.  The change would bring the entry-level MacBook in line with the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air ranges.

Apple are rumored to be planning a MacBook event on October 14th, where the suggestion is that they will announce not only new, metal MacBooks but a Penryn update to the MacBook Air.  The company also told retailers that they should stock up on certain product lines in preparation for limited availability.