New 2.13 Owner

[NomadicRiley]

Been lurking in this forum for the past month or so, ever since I went on a business trip and saw my coworkers MacBook Air slide into the seat pocket in front of him while I was wrestling with an HP brick of a laptop. I was waiting for the potential WWDC update before buying.

I just picked up my 2.13 last night at Austin apple store. Tonight was the first time i've had time to do more than just turn it on and so far it's great. Leopard is a great OS (so far) and i love the form factor. The ability to easily move it around the house is and just flip the lid closed when you're done working is great.

Speed is very good, both on bootup and launching apps. I have noticed the back left corner gets hot if you're wearing shorts as I assume that's where the CPU is. Love the keyboard and trackpad. As far as the much discussed display lines, they haven't been a problem for me, not saying I don't have them (no idea), just saying that for me it's not an issue. Granted I have not spent any time/effort trying to find flaws in the screen. I'm just using it like I did my PC laptop. If you're on the fence, just look at an air at a store and see if the screen looks good to you, if it does, buy it and enjoy it.

[student_trap]

Been lurking in this forum for the past month or so, ever since I went on a business trip and saw my coworkers MacBook Air slide into the seat pocket in front of him while I was wrestling with an HP brick of a laptop. I was waiting for the potential WWDC update before buying.

I just picked up my 2.13 last night at Austin apple store. Tonight was the first time i've had time to do more than just turn it on and so far it's great. Leopard is a great OS (so far) and i love the form factor. The ability to easily move it around the house is and just flip the lid closed when you're done working is great.

Speed is very good, both on bootup and launching apps. I have noticed the back left corner gets hot if you're wearing shorts as I assume that's where the CPU is. Love the keyboard and trackpad. As far as the much discussed display lines, they haven't been a problem for me, not saying I don't have them (no idea), just saying that for me it's not an issue. Granted I have not spent any time/effort trying to find flaws in the screen. I'm just using it like I did my PC laptop. If you're on the fence, just look at an air at a store and see if the screen looks good to you, if it does, buy it and enjoy it.

thanks for the positive comments. Could you comment more on the heat?

[Scottsdale]

My new 2.13/SSS is warmer in the middle on the bottom of the case than my previous rev B 1.86/SSD. Not too hot but noticeable difference compared to previous because previous was rarely ever even warm.

[Quad 2.5 G5 =)]

Congrats...
I am really thinking about getting one soon, if the performance is identical or greater than my 2.4 BlackBook.

[Scottsdale]

Congrats...
I am really thinking about getting one soon, if the performance is identical or greater than my 2.4 BlackBook.

With faster RAM and SSD, I am pretty sure the MBA will smoke the BlackBook.

[NomadicRiley]

thanks for the positive comments. Could you comment more on the heat?

I actually don't think it's any warmer than my old HP laptop, i think i notice it more because i actually have it on my lap more. The HP was so large and heavy, I almost always put it on a desk/table. Based on my experience with PC laptops, my Air appears to generate about the same heat.

My only recommendation would be to get the SSD. If you don't want to spend $1799 on the 2.13, get the refurbished 1.86 SSD from the apple online store for < $1500. SSD is worth it.

[student_trap]

thanks for the advice, im actually in a bit of a dilemma really choosing between a macbook air 2.13 or a macbook white 2.13 (I am very picky about screens and cannot deal with the reflections of the UMBP). I know they technically fit 2 different markets but I have good reasons for needing both, and also paying lots for a mba with a dodgy screen doesn't seem like fun at all.

my deciding factors are Heat on the lap, ease of typing on the lap, potential over the long term (2-3 years), and screen quality.

[entatlrg]

I would suggest two possibilities for you.

1. MBA revB 1.8/ssd - runs cooler and you won't see any speed gain in the 2.1

OR

2. You may not agree here, but take the glossy screen 13" MBP home for the 14 day trial period and I'll bet you fall in love with the screen. I hated glossy and swore I'd never own one, since having the 15" MBP for a little while the one thing I did love about it was the screen, which is part of the reason I'm counting the days until my new 13" MBP arrives :)

[aaquib]

With faster RAM and SSD, I am pretty sure the MBA will smoke the BlackBook.

SSD is the only advantage and will be tremendously noticeable in day-to-day apps. However, when doing anything CPU intensive such as video encoding, the BlackBook will smoke the MBA. And, the DDR3 RAM is essentially irrelevant as there is no real world difference.

[stoconnell]

my deciding factors are Heat on the lap, ease of typing on the lap, potential over the long term (2-3 years), and screen quality.

One thing to consider is the location of the vents on the MBA. You do have to adjust the way you work with it your lap at bit, or you can end up covering the vents up and wonder why all of sudden your fan kicks on. I find it best to make sure the laptop sits so the taper rests on your inner thighs and sits in between your legs rather than across the top of your legs as this leaves the vent completely free. This also keeps the parts that get warmest not in contact with your legs .. to be honest, I have a first generation MacBook Pro from work and used that in my lap, and it got a lot warmer on a regular basis than my MBA ever does.

And it's pretty easy to type on in your lap (either sitting properly or with feet kicked up on a table).

[aleksandra.]

SSD is the only advantage and will be tremendously noticeable in day-to-day apps. However, when doing anything CPU intensive such as video encoding, the BlackBook will smoke the MBA. And, the DDR3 RAM is essentially irrelevant as there is no real world difference.

If it's anything like earlier BlackBooks (mid 2007), it'll almost literally smoke too ;). As much as people are complaining about MacBook Air becoming too hot, it's nothing compared to old MacBooks.

[batistuta]

hm, I am also most interested in the heat issue of the 2.13 GHz Air. I am currently using a MBP rev.4,1 (2.4GHz, 8600M GT) and find it a bit too warm when using it on the lap for longer periods, even if not taxing the system much. A temperature comparison would be nice as what people find as 'hot' is rather subjective.

[stoconnell]

hm, I am also most interested in the heat issue of the 2.13 GHz Air. I am currently using a MBP rev.4,1 (2.4GHz, 8600M GT) and find it a bit too warm when using it on the lap for longer periods, even if not taxing the system much. A temperature comparison would be nice as what people find as 'hot' is rather subjective.

Alright, using iStat Menu, the CPU temp is at 56 C (fan at less than 2500RPM) and the 3 temps along the bottom of the enclosure are 35C, 35C and 32C, and I am wearing shorts. In its current state, it feels less warm than when the cat invades my lap :) It can get noticeably warm, but never as hot as the firstgen MBP.

[Scottsdale]

SSD is the only advantage and will be tremendously noticeable in day-to-day apps. However, when doing anything CPU intensive such as video encoding, the BlackBook will smoke the MBA. And, the DDR3 RAM is essentially irrelevant as there is no real world difference.

Ok, want to take that position. With h.264 hardware decoding on 9400m, the MBA will not have its CPU bogged down with video. Now, throw in the performance differences once Snow Leopard offloads tasks to 9400m! Then, remember that OpenCL in Snow Leopard will NOT work with the BlackBook's 3100; now, what's your position again about that?

[Scottsdale]

hm, I am also most interested in the heat issue of the 2.13 GHz Air. I am currently using a MBP rev.4,1 (2.4GHz, 8600M GT) and find it a bit too warm when using it on the lap for longer periods, even if not taxing the system much. A temperature comparison would be nice as what people find as 'hot' is rather subjective.

There is a big difference as when people talk about rev B or newer MBAs they should write that they get warm - never hot. You could fry an egg on a PlaticBook, and the older MBP could literally burn a leg for someone wearing shorts.

The newer MBAs, at least with SSD, never get more than warm to the touch.

[skye12]

My gf just got the new MB 2.13 with the the 9400M graphics chip. I don't care now, but when snow comes out this 'ole 3100 grahics chip just is not going to cut it anymore.

[Scottsdale]

My gf just got the new MB 2.13 with the the 9400M graphics chip. I don't care now, but when snow comes out this 'ole 3100 grahics chip just is not going to cut it anymore.

You may want to swap the display from your current MBA to the new MBA when you "upgrade" if the display on the new MBA has lines...

Does anyone know if this is possible? I had read one time that the connections were different, so I always excluded the idea.

[h1d]

Heh, if that were possible, you can secretly swap the rev A display and sell it off...

[Maven1975]

You may want to swap the display from your current MBA to the new MBA when you "upgrade" if the display on the new MBA has lines...

Does anyone know if this is possible? I had read one time that the connections were different, so I always excluded the idea.

It is possible. I did this with Rev A - Rev B.

[h1d]

Wow, that is totally interesting. Can you make a detailed description of what happened? Obviously you probably did it because of lines on rev B and lines just disappeared? Had any trouble on the process?

[aleksandra.]

hm, I am also most interested in the heat issue of the 2.13 GHz Air. I am currently using a MBP rev.4,1 (2.4GHz, 8600M GT) and find it a bit too warm when using it on the lap for longer periods, even if not taxing the system much. A temperature comparison would be nice as what people find as 'hot' is rather subjective.

I have 1.86/SSD, so not exactly what you're asking... only Firefox running, CPU is at 44° C, Enclosure Base 1, 2 & 3 at 29° C, 29° C, 26° C respectively. I can use this computer on my lap for 4-5 hours and don't mind the heat. However it can get warmer (CPU up to 80° C, enclosure around 40° C) if you do something that'll use 80-90% of the CPU for a few minutes.

[justit]

It is possible. I did this with Rev A - Rev B.

So you took the entire thing apart as the screws to get to the screen are at the very bottom, then you made sure the display connectors worked, then you put the whole thing back together?

.....Ya..... pics would be nice.

[Scottsdale]

Well, can we just buy an original MBA display from Apple without lines and load into new MBA. Would be great if we could even tell Apple which model id of display we need for replacement.

[Maven1975]

So you took the entire thing apart as the screws to get to the screen are at the very bottom, then you made sure the display connectors worked, then you put the whole thing back together?

.....Ya..... pics would be nice.

Look, there are a few ways you can do this. The case for A & B are the same. The way I accomplished it was to swap the logic board, HD and usb/display port. Pretty easy actually.

Also, you do not need to remove the heat sink. just make sure you know what screws go where. There are not a bunch, just a few different sizes. Do the board fist, then the HD and port. Honestly, its very simple. removing the display is possible. I have done this before as well. There is too much fine adjustments that need to be made to do it this way. Also you will have to untack extra wires (Wifi & Bluetooth)

If you do it the way I have suggested, it will looked untampered with.

[h1d]

And more importantly, did the lines disappear using rev A display? (Assuming you did it because of lines on rev B display)

[Maven1975]

And more importantly, did the lines disappear using rev A display? (Assuming you did it because of lines on rev B display)

The MBA Rev. B is a noisy device to begin with. The audio out jack is extremely noisy when hooked up to a TV with the display port as well. This could be compounding an issue for some.

I found the screen much better after it was swapped. (Perfect to me)

Scottsdale, If you want, I can help you with the procedure.

On a side note.. Anyone here find their display hinge soft/not tight on their 2.13? I wouldn't call it floppy, but it definitely moves REAL easy compared to A & B.

[h1d]

Needs more similar reports but the theory is starting to conclude as the display actually being the problem.
Do you mind lining out the display swapping process a bit more in detail?, since I'd like to try when I get a rev C with lines.

[Maven1975]

Needs more similar reports but the theory is starting to conclude as the display actually being the problem.
Do you mind lining out the display swapping process a bit more in detail?, since I'd like to try when I get a rev C with lines.

There is a swap, but its not the display. Its the guts. If you had both of them open side by side you can use one for the guide. (screw placement and layout) I found the cases absoutely identical.

My Rev C has no lines, so I won't be performing this again anytime soon. All in all it takes about 1 hour.

You will need Phillips P0 and Torx T6 drivers.

Don't over think it. The screws are obvious except for a piece of plastic trim on the top of the logicboard. That needs to be pooped off to reveal a screw for the mainboard and one for the HD.

[h1d]

I'm somewhat willing to do it, but do you have to remove the entire motherboard off by unscrewing every screws that holds it on the case?
I did see the cables that connect the display and perhaps the other line was for the camera, but had no idea how to proceed.

Would it be in the order of,
back case panel
battery
mobo
unplug cables
display
?

Also, I saw 2 star shaped screws around the hinge which +- drivers can't do a stuff on them, but I assume they need to be unscrewed as well?

[Maven1975]

I'm somewhat willing to do it, but do you have to remove the entire motherboard off by unscrewing every screws that holds it on the case?
I did see the cables that connect the display and perhaps the other line was for the camera, but had no idea how to proceed.

Would it be in the order of,
back case panel
battery
mobo
unplug cables
display
?

Also, I saw 2 star shaped screws around the hinge which +- drivers can't do a stuff on them, but I assume they need to be unscrewed as well?

Backcover
Battery
Logicboard Removal & Replacement
Hard Drive removal
Speaker removal - its in its own case with a different cable than Rev. A. However, the piece is the same size.
Port compartment swap
Hard Drive replacement
Battery replacement.

Everything can be done with a P0 and T6 drivers.

[manhorse]

This is actually my second Macbook Air purchase. I had originally picked up one of the first gen 1.6s. I loved the form factor but the hard drive speed was really painful so I took it back. When this was came at a kinda lower price point with SSD I figured I'd give it another go. WOW is all I can say. The speed on this thing is so nice and the Nvidia card is just a bonus. I have a Macpro for my primary computer so for being on the road I think this will compliment things quite well. :)

[929406]

Just got mine a few days ago and so far I see faint lines but they don't bother me as I see patterns on my 23" ACD as well. I think all matte screens have this type of pattern.

The Air is super fast, runs hotter than my MBP but nothing serious. Its a perfect road computer and love the form factor

[hitekalex]

Also got my new 2.13 MBA this weekend. Loaded it up with Snow Leopard - this thing flies, especially compared to my old Rev A 1.6. SSD makes a huge difference - the Air seems snappier than my wife's 2.4Ghz iMac because of SSD.

The display is fine as well. I can't see any "lines" no matter how hard I looked, and a few units at Apple store didn't have any either.

All that I can say is - people, don't let all the negative commentary here stop you from getting the latest Air - go and check one out for yourself.

[h1d]

After doing horrendous hardware hacks, I came to the conclusion that lines don't bother me, but yellow dull look does... I'm putting back the displays to where they belong...