Macworld is nigh upon us and already Apple has fueled tabloid-esque speculation around the ever recurring "Steve Jobs is sick" meme, but what really counts is the new products our favorite Cupertino-based company will yield. What's on everyone's mind is of course the long forgotten Mac mini and Quad Core iMac, but let's not forget the silently delayed 17-inch MacBook Pro with the possibility of a revamped Mac Pro. Read on for our full rundown of Macworld '09 predictions.

Redesigned Mac mini

 Apple once positioned the Mac mini as the first step for switchers to embrace the platform and maybe pick up an iPod or Cinema Display. The mini worked rather nicely as the low 500 dollar price tag enticed budget consumers, modders who had an eye for small form factors, and of course Windows migrants. But that was when Apple was at the end of relying solely on PowerPC CPUs for the core of their computers and sadly, Apple raised the bottom line putting the price to performance ratio in dismal territory.

 Although the Mac mini hasn't been updated in nearly a year and a half, it has become the center of rumors ranging from its demise to an eventual redesign during an upcoming Apple event which is why I partially think we'll see a new Mac mini during Apple's final Macworld. What's expected is a unibody enclosure but to be honest, I fail to see how this could apply to the mini's current form factor and instead could pave the way for a notebook-like case. 

Nvidia's GPU and chipset solution, the MCP79 coupled with a GeForce 9400M, is expected but to shave costs, Apple could choose a 9200M GS. Firewire 400 would probably be cut out to save room within the case as well as the addition of Mini Display Port. I would guess a SuperDrive would finally grace all models but knowing Apple, they could stave that off for a bit longer.

 Upgraded iMac

 Last updated in April to sport a faster CPU and Nvidia GeForce 8 series GPU, Apple has left the iMac relatively unchanged. The only major change was last made in 2007 when a new aluminum enclosure took the place of an already slim white polycarbonate casing. That gives Apple the opportunity to add some "wow" to what will be their final Macworld appearance by introducing an upgraded iMac.

 A rumor originating from Digitimes cites Apple's interest in an upcoming batch of quad core Intel CPUs that not only provide higher clocks speeds and increased level 2 cache but a thermal peak decrease; a mere 65 watts down from 95 watts. The move to quad core seems like the only logical step for Apple to take, but would mark a transition from mobile components to desktop parts for use in the iMac's slim form factor although the benefits are worthwhile.

 In addition to quad core computing power, it's likely that Apple will incorporate more of Nvidia's GPU family into their lineup. To say that a single 9600M GPU along with an accompanying MCP79 chipset would round out the package would be monotonous. I'd like to think that Apple would add some more video horsepower with a 9800M GT considering the iMac's higher thermal tolerance when compared to notebooks and the heavy push behind OpenCL, a framework targeted at tapping unused power in GPUs.

 Other logical additions would be an LED-backlit display, as the iMac is one of the last remaining Macs to utilize fluorescent lighting. Mini Display Port would definitely take the place of Mini DVI on a new iMac as Apple is trying to promote the newly designed spec; they're differentiating it from the failure of a previous Mac-only video connector (ADC) by making Mini Display Port open to anyone for licensing. This would make Apple's newest 24-inch Cinema Display more compatible with the overall Mac family and not tie it down to Apple's newest portables. 

 However, it wouldn't be surprising to see the subtraction of Apple's low end iMac, simplifying the line to two models with built-to-order configurations. I don't think ATi GPUs will go away any time soon and would differentiate the mid-range models from the higher level machines. Firewire 400 would likely be cut out in favor for a single Firewire 800 port as Apple convinces us that USB 2.0 (and eventually a new 3.0 spec) is far superior in terms of connectivity and adoption.

Upgraded Mac Pro

 Apple hasn't done much with the Mac Pro in terms of pushing the envelope for computing power but then again, we have to wait on the latest breakthroughs from Intel before a new Mac Pro can come off the assembly line. This coming Macworld will mark the one year anniversary of its last update and what better way to celebrate that with yet another upgrade.

 The most obvious upgrade will definitely be Intel's newest line of processors, Core i7, replacing the aging Core 2 based Xeon CPUs. The likely choices would be processors from either the Gainestown or Beckton family, both of which are based on Intel's new Nehalem architecture. Both support dual socket configurations and have multiple QuickPath interfaces while the later supports Fully Buffered Double Data Rate Three memory. A preview of Snow Leopard running on a Nehalem based Mac Pro would demonstrate the power of Grand Central, a new technology designed by Apple to better utilize multi-core systems.

 I don't expect any other significant changes to the Mac Pro besides a larger hard drive and more RAM on the base line model. Newer versions of ATi's Radeon and Nvidia's GeForce line of GPUs will possibly grace the Mac Pro while a GeForce 9800 GT and ATi Radeon HD 3750 would be likely suitors. 

MacBook Pro 17-inch With Unibody Enclosure

 Curiously downplayed in Apple's notebook event held during October was the 17-inch MacBook Pro. Instead of being graced with a redesigned aluminum unibody enclosure, glossy screen and Nvidia GeForce 9 series GPUs, it was left in its PowerBook-esque design with minor spec bumps. AppleInsider cites Optical Drive and display issues as being the main factors in the larger, redesigned MacBook Pro not making its debut. 

 Looking at the smaller MacBooks, it's obvious a glossy screen, shielded by glass with LED backlighting will be the norm. A larger aluminum-based unibody enclosure with the subtraction of a Firewire 400 port and a black border around the screen would signal the transition from the previous aluminum casing that gave the PowerBook its distinct look. The GPU expected is of course the GeForce 9600M GT but Apple may want to at least bump it up to a 9700M GT or even 9800M GT. 

Now that you've read our predictions, we want to hear yours. Think we got something wrong? Have a secret inside source with other goodies not on this list? Let us know your Macworld predictions in the comments.