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MacBook Air

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MacBook Air
DeveloperApple Inc.
TypeLaptop/Notebook
Release dateJune 8, 2009 (current model)
January 29, 2008 (original release)
CPUIntel Core 2 Duo 1.86 / 2.13 GHz
WebsiteApple MacBook Air

The MacBook Air is a Macintosh notebook computer designed by Apple. It is positioned as the ultraportable in Apple's MacBook Family and was introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 15, 2008. It has been revised twice since the original release.

When the MacBook Air was introduced, Apple described it as the "world's thinnest notebook". After the release of the MacBook Air, Dell challenged that claim with the release of the Dell Adamo.[1][note 1]

Overview

Steve Jobs with a MacBook Air at the Keynote 2008.

Several features were sacrificed to reduce the computer's size and weight. It is Apple's first notebook since the PowerBook 2400c without a built-in removable media drive.[2] It also omits a FireWire port, ethernet port, line-in, media card slots and a Kensington Security Slot. The battery is internal and not user removable, and the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard. A single speaker is included for mono sound.

A flip-down hatch on the right side reveals the ports on the MacBook Air: a single USB port, a Mini DisplayPort, and a stereo earphone jack. The left side of the machine has a MagSafe adapter for power, and there is a webcam above the 13.3" screen.

To regain the features of an optical drive, users can either use a separately-available external USB SuperDrive, or the bundled Remote Disc software to access the optical drive of another computer. However, this method only allows for disk browsing or software installation; DVD Movies or CD audio cannot be watched or listened to.[3]

Using an ethernet cable requires a separately available USB-to-ethernet adapter.

The MacBook Air was the first subcompact laptop offered by Apple since the full-featured 12" PowerBook G4 was discontinued in 2006. It was also Apple's first computer with an optional solid-state storage drive.[4] ArsTechnica found "moderate" performance improvements of the 64 GB[5] solid-state drive of the first generation Air over the standard 80 GB hard drive in tests. On October 14, 2008, new models were announced boasting improved capacities of 128 GB (solid-state) and 120 GB (hard drive).[6] The Air comes standard with 2 GB[7] non-upgradable RAM.[8]

The CPU on the original Air was a Intel Core 2 Duo chip especially designed to be 40% the size of the standard Core 2 Duo chip.[9] The current Air has a low voltage, small form factor Core 2 Duo "Penryn" with 6MB of cache, running on a 1066 MHz bus.[10]

The laptop has an aluminum casing similar to the MacBook Pro. All models ship with a larger trackpad that responds to iPhone-like Multi-Touch gestures such as pinching, swiping, and rotating.[11]

Remote Disc

The optional MacBook Air SuperDrive

The MacBook Air can wirelessly access the optical drive of another Mac or Windows PC that has the Remote Disc program installed, to allow installation of applications from optical media.[12][13] It can also be used to reinstall the system software from the included installation DVD.[14] Remote Disc supports netbooting, so the MacBook Air can boot from its installation DVD in another computer's drive.[15] This feature requires Remote Install Mac OS X to be running on the remote computer. The software does not allow the playback or importation of DVDs or CDs, nor does it allow the installation of Microsoft Windows. [16] For these features, an external USB drive is required.

User-serviceability

Unlike the rest of the MacBook family, the MacBook Air has no directly user-replaceable parts. The hard drive, memory, and battery are enclosed within the casing, with memory soldered directly to the motherboard. The MacBook Air's battery is enclosed within the case but can be replaced using normal screwdrivers, though it is unclear whether this process would void the notebook's warranty.[17][18] The hard drive is not soldered and can be replaced through a difficult disassembly procedure.[18] As part of the out-of-warranty service, Apple offers to replace the battery for a fee.[19]

Environmental considerations

Apple incorporated several features in the design of the MacBook Air to make it more environmentally friendly.[20][21] Greenpeace responded by stating, "We can say that Apple is getting greener, but it's still not green enough."[22]

Criticism

The MacBook Air has been criticized for having a price premium compared to other notebooks of similar or better specification.[23] The flip-down hatch is a tight fit for some headphone plugs and USB devices, requiring users to purchase either a powered USB hub or an extension cable.[24][25]

Lacking FireWire, the MacBook Air does not support Target Disk Mode, which would have enabled it to be used as an external hard drive for quick data transfers or operating system repairs. [26]

Several MacBook Air users[27] since the release of the first-generation product have complained of severe overheating causing CPU lockup. The effect can be seen at CPU temperatures as low as 66 degrees Celsius and worsens with higher temperatures. Apple released a software update in early March 2008 to fix the problem with mixed results: the deactivation of 1 CPU core appears to have been corrected; however, the runaway kernel problem remains for at least some users.[28] The problem is aggravated by system-intensive tasks such as video playback or video chatting.[29]

Turning the integrated fans to full speed by using third-party software or using USB-powered cool-pads does not cool down the notebook sufficiently to prevent core shutdowns. A downloadable application called Coolbook regulates the voltage of each of the six processing speeds of the Air, and has been said by users that it has worked better than the Apple update. Apple states that these software are unsupported, should be removed, and that users should rely on the update.

Some users of the first revision have found that the plastic holding the right hinge cracks under normal use, making the notebook nearly unusable.[30] Additionally, there has recently been a "blanket rule" sent out by Apple to its stores around the world which says that the hinge breaking is caused by "user damage", despite a number of cracked and snapped hinges on the Rev A laptop. Therefore, the expensive replacement of the hinge (ergo, the screen as well) is at the user's expense and is not covered by the warranty [31]. Apple has recently changed its policy however and is accepting damaged MacBook Airs for repair even when out of warranty[32]. Users who previously paid for these repairs can also request a refund. Some display distortions have appeared on some machines of the late 2008 version as well.[33]

Thinnest Laptop

The Mitsubishi Pedion, released in 1998, was the thinnest rectangular laptop at 0.72 inches (1.84 cm) until the release of the Dell Adamo in March 2009, which is a rectangular laptop 0.65 inches (1.65cm) thick.[34][35] Although both these laptops are thinner than the MacBook Air's thickest point (0.76 inches/1.94cm), it tapers from 0.16-0.76 inches (0.4-1.94 cm), leading to some controversy over the "thinnest" laptop.[36]

The Sharp Actius MM10 Muramasas, a thin, tapered notebook, had a minimum height (thickness) of 0.54 inches (14 mm)[37] and a maximum height of 0.78 inches (20 mm).[38]. It was the thinnest tapered laptop until the release of the MacBook Air in 2008.

Specifications

Discontinued Current
Model Early 2008[39] Late 2008[40] Mid 2009
Model Identifier MacBookAir1,1 MacBookAir2,1
Display 13.3-inch glossy LED backlight TFT LCD widescreen display, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution
Graphics integrated Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory integrated nVidia GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Storage 80 GB 1.8 inch ATA HDD @ 4200 RPM or 64 GB SSD 120 GB 1.8 inch SATA HDD @ 4200 RPM or 128 GB SSD
Front side bus 800 MHz 1066 MHz
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo P7500 (1.6 GHz) or P7700 (1.8 GHz) Intel Core 2 Duo SL9300 (1.6 GHz) or SL9400 (1.86 GHz) Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400 (1.86 GHz) or SL9600 (2.13 GHz)
Memory 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM soldered to the logicboard 2GB[7] of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM soldered to the logicboard
Wireless networking Integrated AirPort Extreme supports 802.11a/b/g/n
Wired Ethernet none, Optional USB Ethernet Adapter USB Ethernet Adapter included
Optical storage none, Optional External USB SuperDrive

4x DVD+/-R DL writes, 8x DVD+/-R read/write, 8x DVD+RW writes, 6x DVD-RW writes, 24x CD-R writes, and 16x CD-RW recording, 8x DVD read, 24x CD read

Camera Built-in iSight, 640×480 pixel resolution
Battery 37 W-Hr Lithium-ion polymer battery
 40 W-Hr Lithium-ion polymer battery
Physical dimensions 22.7 cm D × 32.5 cm  W × 0.4–1.94 cm H
8.94 in D × 12.8 in W × 0.16–0.76 in H
3.0 lb (1.36 kg)
Bluetooth Built-in (2.1+Enhanced Data Rate)
Port connections 1× USB 2.0
1× Micro-DVI video port (adapters are included for VGA or DVI monitors up to 1920 by 1200 pixels)
1× Headphone jack (3.5 mm) 		1× USB 2.0
1× Mini DisplayPort video port with HDCP[41](adapters are optional for VGA or DVI monitors up to 2560 by 1600 pixels)
1× Headphone jack (3.5 mm)
Audio Built-in microphone and mono speaker
Stereo headphone output jack
Keyboard Backlit full-size keyboard with ambient light sensor
Trackpad Multi-Touch gestures like the iPhone, iPod touch, MacBook, and MacBook Pro
K-slot None
Minimum operating system required Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.1 Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.5 Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.7, Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6

Advertising

The MacBook Air launch was accompanied by a television commercial emphasizing its slender design. In the commercial a hand unthreads a manila envelope and slides out a MacBook Air, then opens it to wake it from sleep. The music playing is "New Soul" by Yael Naïm.[42] This advertisement has often been parodied and comically reproduced.[43]

Timeline of portable Macintoshes
Mac transition to Apple siliconiMac ProApple WatchiPadiPhoneMac ProPower Mac G5Power Mac G4Power Macintosh G3Power MacintoshCompact MacintoshMacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)iBook G4PowerBook G4PowerBook G4iBook (white)PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook 2400cPowerBook 3400cPowerBook 1400PowerBook 5300PowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 190PowerBook G4PowerBook 150PowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 160PowerBook 140PowerBook 180PowerBook 180PowerBook 160PowerBook 160PowerBook 140PowerBook 170PowerBook 140MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Intel-based)12-inch MacBookMacBook Air (Intel-based)iBook G4iBook (white)iBook ClamshellMacBook Air (Intel-based)MacBook (2006–2012)PowerBook Duo 210MacBook Air (Intel-based)MacBook (2006–2012)MacBook (2006–2012)PowerBook G4PowerBook 100Macintosh PortablePowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoMacintosh PortablePowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoPowerBook Duo 230Macintosh Portable
See also: List of Mac models

See also

Other Thin Laptops

Notes

  1. ^ The Adamo is rectangular and 0.65 inches (1.65 cm) thick, while the MacBook Air tapers from 0.16-0.76 inches (0.4-1.94 cm) thick. This has lead to some controversy over which is the thinnest laptop.

References

  1. ^ Ackerman, Dan (2008-03-16). "Hands-on with the Dell Adamo". Crave. Retrieved 2008-04-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Apple Macintosh 2400c/180 specs, EveryMac, retrieved January 2008.
  3. ^ MacBook wireless specifications,Apple Inc. retrieved Jan2008
  4. ^ Choney, Suzanne (2008-01-24). "Lighter laptops move to flash-based drives". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-01-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ In this article, the conventional prefixes for computer storage denote base-10 values whereby “kilobyte” (KB) = 103 bytes , “megabyte” (MB) = 106 bytes and “gigabyte” (GB) = 109 bytes.
  6. ^ http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air?mco=MTIyMDI
  7. ^ a b In this article, the conventional prefixes for computer RAM denote base-2 values whereby “kilobyte” (KB) = 210 bytes , “megabyte” (MB) = 220 bytes and “gigabyte” (GB) = 230 bytes.
  8. ^ http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air?mco=MTI4MDI
  9. ^ Cohen, Peter (2008-01-15). "Apple introduces MacBook Air". Macworld. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ CNET. "Intel comments on chips in new MacBook". Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  11. ^ MacBook Air features, Apple Inc., retrieved January 2008.
  12. ^ Yager, Tom. "MacBook Air, a detailed preview". Infoworld. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  13. ^ "MacBook Air". Apple Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  14. ^ "MacBook Air - Guided Tour". Apple Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  15. ^ Gruber, John (2008-01-15). = 2008-01-15 "The MacBook Air". Daring Fireball. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ ""Apple's MacBook Air Is Beautiful and Thin, But Omits Features"". Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  17. ^ "Sources: MacBook Air battery replacements take only minutes". AppleInsider. 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2008-01-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ a b "First Look at the MacBook Air". iFixIt. 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2008-02-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "MacBook Air Out-of-Warranty Battery Replacement Program". Apple Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  20. ^ "Apple Introduces MacBook Air—The World's Thinnest Notebook". Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  21. ^ A Greener Apple, Steve Jobs, Apple.
  22. ^ "Apple Unveils Green Ultrathin Laptop". 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  23. ^ MacBook Air review
  24. ^ Adding insult to injury: USB 3G modems and even some thumb drive and mp3 players will not fit in the MacBook Air flip down USB port
  25. ^ Thin is in: Ars Technica reviews the MacBook Air: Page 2
  26. ^ Macworld | Editors' Notes | MacBook Air: Holding my breath
  27. ^ The MacBook Air: when cool becomes [ouch!] Hot! Bleeding Edge blog, 13 March 2008.
  28. ^ Apple’s MacBook (hot) Air problem, Philip Elmer-DeWitt, CNN Fortune Apple 2.0 blog, 13 March 2008.
  29. ^ Apple fans burned by hot Airs, Asher Moses, The Age, 13 March 2008.
  30. ^ MacBook Air hinge defect not covered by Apple's warranty?
  31. ^ We'll give you Applecare as long as it's not a macbook air.
  32. ^ Troubleshooting MacBook Air hinges
  33. ^ TidBITS Problem Solving: Grey Lines Mar MacBook Air Displays
  34. ^ http://news.cnet.com/Mitsubishi-unveils-notebook/2100-1001_3-205190.html
  35. ^ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/01/mitsubishi-pedi/
  36. ^ http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10197495-1.html
  37. ^ Kanellos, Michael (2008-01-16). "Update: Thinnest notebook crown belongs to Sharp". CNET News.com. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  38. ^ "Official Data Sheet" (PDF). Sharp Corporation. 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  39. ^ MacBook Air - Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., retrieved 2009-03-03
  40. ^ MacBook Air (Late 2008) - Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., retrieved 2009-03-03
  41. ^ Apple Incorporates HDCP (Copy Protection) in New Laptops MacRumors.com November 18, 2008
  42. ^ Hey, Let's Write A Song Called "Steve Jobs Is Dreamy" 100 And Single, Idolator. Accessed 12 February 2008
  43. ^ Not funny, Lenovo, The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs, Daniel Lyons, 29 April 2008.
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