MacBook Air Disassembly Photos and Battery Access

MacRumors · Jan 24, 2008, 07:11 PM

MacBook Air Battery
Gizmodo provides a gallery of screenshots and video documenting the disassembly of the MacBook Air and shows that it is relatively easy to access the battery, which is held in by a number of screws.

Article Link

jnc · Jan 24, 2008, 07:13 PM

So would it be relatively painless to DIY a spare one in there, on a long journey for instance? Which assumes in the first place you're walking around everywhere with the right screwdriver... lord how I wish for the simplicity of a battery removable by a mere coin-turn...

tjcampbell · Jan 24, 2008, 07:15 PM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3)

the battery situation is totally balls.

Ja Di ksw · Jan 24, 2008, 07:19 PM

Ok, so it's possible to take a battery out and put a new one in. Question though . . . these batteries look very specialized. Will Apple even sell these? If they don't, if they want you to send it in, it doesn't matter if it's possible for us to do it.

jnc · Jan 24, 2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjcampbell

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3)

the battery situation is totally balls.

I find it funny you're using an iPhone

I'm not sure how booming the "carry a spare" market is... but it could be a PITA for the frequent travellers the thing seems to be geared toward.

NAG · Jan 24, 2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnc

So would it be relatively painless to DIY a spare one in there, on a long journey for instance? Which assumes in the first place you're walking around everywhere with the right screwdriver... lord how I wish for the simplicity of a battery removable by a mere coin-turn...

I believe this addresses when a battery dies dies and is not intended to persuade people who demand hotswappable batteries. Yes, the Macbook Air can't hotswap batteries, we get it.

jnc · 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ja Di ksw

Ok, so it's possible to take a battery out and put a new one in. Question though . . . these batteries look very specialized. Will Apple even sell these? If they don't, if they want you to send it in, it doesn't matter if it's possible for us to do it.

Very true. I've heard it costs $129, but of course if they only want Apple Genius...es to install them, they probably won't sell them over the counter.

Also - if you're covered for a year (a period in which battery failure should definitely be regarded as a defect), when will anyone even need to buy one? Outside of accidental damage, not for at least 12 months...

Quote:

Originally Posted by NAG

Yes, the Macbook Air can't hotswap batteries, we get it.

Why the attitude? If anything this shows (if you can acquire a spare) it should be possible to perform a swap yourself. Loads of people would like to hear that

matthewHUB · Jan 24, 2008, 07:26 PM

they took it apart but they didn't mention whether the HD is soldered in, or whether it looks replaceable. For me, the option to upgrade to SSD in 6 months and save $600 is a plus.

iMikeT · Jan 24, 2008, 07:27 PM

As ugly as this thing is on the outside (yeah it's my honest opinion, live with it), it sure is beautiful on the inside.

Now, only if Apple could have gotten much more powerful hardware, I would be sold.

twoodcc · Jan 24, 2008, 07:27 PM

well at least you can change out the battery. i guess it's not perfect though.

mashinhead · Jan 24, 2008, 07:29 PM

very easy, but the fact that they crippled the remote disk to not include cd's and dvd's (to pigeonhole you from buying them from itunes) pretty much tipped this thing to the wrong side of the thin line it was walking on.

NEENAHBOY · Jan 24, 2008, 07:30 PM

Dear God, that thing is gigantic!

a1016neo · Jan 24, 2008, 07:31 PM

Compared to the Macbook and Macbook Pro... That's one ugly battery

NAG · Jan 24, 2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewHUB

they took it apart but they didn't mention whether the HD is soldered in, or whether it looks replaceable. For me, the option to upgrade to SSD in 6 months and save $600 is a plus.

Yeah, I would like to know exactly what you can feasibly replace. I know the ram is on the motherboard so no luck with that. But I'd think the hard drive would be just as easy to swap out as the battery.

Techguy172 · Jan 24, 2008, 07:31 PM

So you can change the battery yourself but where would you get it 3rd Party seller?

NAG · Jan 24, 2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techguy172

So you can change the battery yourself but where would you get it 3rd Party seller?

The same place you get the iPod batteries?

jnc · 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mashinhead

very easy, but the fact that they crippled the remote disk to not include cd's and dvd's

That sucks! So what are you limited to in remote disc? I thought surely you could access data and play DVDs, rip CDs to the MBA... weak.

edit: found an engadget article: http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/24/r...everything-el/

Quote:

(to pigeonhole you from buying them from itunes)

I can't agree with that. There's still the SuperDrive option. It still sucks, but alas.

MacRumorUser · Jan 24, 2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewHUB

they took it apart but they didn't mention whether the HD is soldered in, or whether it looks replaceable. For me, the option to upgrade to SSD in 6 months and save $600 is a plus.

Yeah I'd be interested in this aspect too, like you say a big saving and a relative pain free upgrade in 6 months or so when the price has fallen considerably for SSD would be very enticing.

MrCrowbar · Jan 24, 2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a1016neo

Compared to the Macbook and Macbook Pro... That's one ugly battery

That's why it's hidden inside

ncbill · Jan 24, 2008, 07:40 PM

Someone needs to pull the drive and measure its height.

If it is 8mm then we can swap in a 1.8" 160GB drive - for about $200.

(if 5mm, then we're stuck at 80GB for now)

arn · Jan 24, 2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewHUB

they took it apart but they didn't mention whether the HD is soldered in, or whether it looks replaceable. For me, the option to upgrade to SSD in 6 months and save $600 is a plus.

I just asked Brian Lam, he said the hard drive is easily accessible/replaceable.

arn

matthewHUB · Jan 24, 2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arn

I just asked Brian Lam, he said the hard drive is easily accessible/replaceable.

arn

you're the best Arn. Thanks a lot!

dual64bit · Jan 24, 2008, 07:47 PM

I think this proves the MacBook Air is potentially customizable.

If third party comes out with hard drive swap, like previous poster said the 160Gb may fit. Even third party could make batteries.

The point of this is, things are possible.

Still no "take apart" instructions on Apple's service source.

SolRayz · Jan 24, 2008, 07:47 PM

The MBA will be relatively obsolete in a few years anyway so who cares if you can change out the battery.

jnc · Jan 24, 2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arn

I just asked Brian Lam, he said the hard drive is easily accessible/replaceable.

arn

Such good news. Now I feel ok with ordering the 80GB but with 1.8GHz, and holding out for cheaper SSDs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolRayz

The MBA will be relatively obsolete in a few years anyway so who cares if you can change out the battery.

Man people just love using that word here, don't they? You can still get away with light day-to-day usage on G3 iBooks so the Air should function much longer than you'll need it to. Everything it can do today it'll be able to do ... well, always.

Jan 24, 2008, 07:11 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	MacBook Air Disassembly Photos and Battery Access MacBook Air Battery Gizmodo provides a gallery of screenshots and video documenting the disassembly of the MacBook Air and shows that it is relatively easy to access the battery, which is held in by a number of screws. Article Link

Jan 24, 2008, 07:13 PM	#2
jnc macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nunya, Business TX	So would it be relatively painless to DIY a spare one in there, on a long journey for instance? Which assumes in the first place you're walking around everywhere with the right screwdriver... lord how I wish for the simplicity of a battery removable by a mere coin-turn... __________________ The views expressed above do not, and are not intended to represent or reflect the opinions, policies and/or statements of my employer(s).

Jan 24, 2008, 07:15 PM	#3
tjcampbell macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London	Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3) the battery situation is totally balls. __________________ Follow Tommy Campbell Official Actor/Comedian Tommy Campbell Website

Jan 24, 2008, 07:19 PM	#4
Ja Di ksw macrumors 65816 Join Date: Apr 2003	Ok, so it's possible to take a battery out and put a new one in. Question though . . . these batteries look very specialized. Will Apple even sell these? If they don't, if they want you to send it in, it doesn't matter if it's possible for us to do it. __________________ Fetch Daddy's blue fright wig! I must be handsome when I unleash my rage.

Jan 24, 2008, 07:26 PM	#8
matthewHUB macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2005	they took it apart but they didn't mention whether the HD is soldered in, or whether it looks replaceable. For me, the option to upgrade to SSD in 6 months and save $600 is a plus. __________________ Macbook Air 1.8 SSD; Powerbook 12" 1Ghz; iPhone 8gb 2.1 (t-mobile); iPod Nano 8gb (red); AEBS, Airport Express; WD Passport 320gb (airdisk)

Jan 24, 2008, 07:27 PM	#9
iMikeT macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: California	As ugly as this thing is on the outside (yeah it's my honest opinion, live with it), it sure is beautiful on the inside. Now, only if Apple could have gotten much more powerful hardware, I would be sold.

Jan 24, 2008, 07:27 PM	#10
twoodcc macrumors 603 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Right side of wrong	well at least you can change out the battery. i guess it's not perfect though. __________________ tville pump Smarter than the average bear

Jan 24, 2008, 07:29 PM	#11
mashinhead macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2003	very easy, but the fact that they crippled the remote disk to not include cd's and dvd's (to pigeonhole you from buying them from itunes) pretty much tipped this thing to the wrong side of the thin line it was walking on.

Jan 24, 2008, 07:30 PM	#12
NEENAHBOY macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chicago, IL	Dear God, that thing is gigantic!

Jan 24, 2008, 07:31 PM	#13
a1016neo macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2006	Compared to the Macbook and Macbook Pro... That's one ugly battery

Jan 24, 2008, 07:31 PM	#15
Techguy172 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ontario Canada	So you can change the battery yourself but where would you get it 3rd Party seller? __________________ Macbook 2.2 4GB 320GB 7200 Sony DSLR-A200 Follow Me On Twitter

Jan 24, 2008, 07:40 PM	#20
ncbill macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2002	Someone needs to pull the drive and measure its height. If it is 8mm then we can swap in a 1.8" 160GB drive - for about $200. (if 5mm, then we're stuck at 80GB for now)

Jan 24, 2008, 07:47 PM	#23
dual64bit Contributor Join Date: Nov 2004	I think this proves the MacBook Air is potentially customizable. If third party comes out with hard drive swap, like previous poster said the 160Gb may fit. Even third party could make batteries. The point of this is, things are possible. Still no "take apart" instructions on Apple's service source. __________________ jwandrews.com ACTC 10.4 & 10.5; ACSA 10.4; MCSA 2003 20th Annv. Mac; MBP 2.53; QS 2002 DP 1Ghz; G4 Cube; Newton 2100; Pismo; Apple TV; iPhone; iPods

Jan 24, 2008, 07:47 PM	#24
SolRayz macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Netherlands	The MBA will be relatively obsolete in a few years anyway so who cares if you can change out the battery. __________________ MacBook Pro 15" SR 2.4GHz, 4GB, 320GB BlackBook 13" Penryn 2.4GHz, 2GB, 250GB Snow Leopard 10.6.2, AEBS, 1TB WD Elements External HD, iPhone 8GB

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