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Apple has been sending out its usual cryptic invites to the event, which feature a shadowy outline of a MacBook with the tagline, "The spotlight turns to notebooks" just beneath it.

The advent of any new Apple product is usually good cause for a groundswell of rumours and wild theories and the MacBook event has not disappointed.

A posting on the Nvidia site, purportedly showing a MacBook but titled, "Nvidia optimises the notebook PC" had led a number of analysts concluding the refresh will dump Intel graphics for Nvidia.

A recent rumour also suggested Apple will employ an entirely new manufacturing process in the creation of the new MacBooks. This process will see the case developed from a single piece of metal, possibly aluminium. Apparently these new designs are to be dubbed, "The Apple Brick".

Other rumours have hinted at a wider trackpads to accommodate multitouch gesture controls, a possible touchscreen trackpad, and a lighter, thinner design following in the footsteps of the MacBook Air.