MacBook Air 2018

[raqball]

there is a Software Update, specially for the new 2018 MacBook Air.

Downloading it now, it's 1,48Gb (pretty big, I think)

I got it yesterday... Supplemental update or something like that... Did not fix my slow boot and I still have lag at times in Safari..

 

[EugW]

If say in Handbrake or iMovie you decide to encode/export a movie, how long does it take for the fan to become audible, and how long does it take for it to become loud?

I got it yesterday... Supplemental update or something like that... Did not fix my slow boot and I still have lag at times in Safari..

Was it like that with a clean install? Do you have any external devices attached at bootup? External USB devices are notorious for causing boot delays, for example.

 

[Geert76]

I got it yesterday... Supplemental update or something like that... Did not fix my slow boot and I still have lag at times in Safari..

This morning I received my new 2018 Air, used my time machine backup. Everything went smooth with the backup.

I have really 0 lag and hiccups this first day, and boots go pretty fast.
To be honest, I am pretty amazed by the speed on this first day after the time machine backup (indexing)

I like my new Macbook Air, especially the lightning fast TouchID (faster than any iPhone with TouchID I had in the past)
The only real negative is the screenbrightness/colors

Also, the keyboard I find much better than the 2017 Pro

 

[raqball]

If say in Handbrake or iMovie you decide to encode/export a movie, how long does it take for the fan to become audible, and how long does it take for it to become loud?


Was it like that with a clean install? Do you have any external devices attached at bootup? External USB devices are notorious for causing boot delays, for example.

No externals, boot has been slow since I opened the box and the Safari issues started today..

 

[EugW]

This morning I received my new 2018 Air, used my time machine backup. Everything went smooth with the backup.

I have really 0 lag and hiccups this first day, and boots go pretty fast.
To be honest, I am pretty amazed by the speed on this first day after the time machine backup (indexing)

I like my new Macbook Air, especially the lightning fast TouchID (faster than any iPhone with TouchID I had in the past)
The only real negative is the screenbrightness/colors

Also, the keyboard I find much better than the 2017 Pro

Brightness not high enough? What is your room environment? (The Pro goes brighter.)

 

[Howard2k]

there is a Software Update, specially for the new 2018 MacBook Air.

Downloading it now, it's 1,48Gb (pretty big, I think)

Are you using wifi? If so, please can you share the connection details (Option click the wifi icon in the task bar while you are within 1 foot of your router).

 

[- rob -]

Fast forward to modern times and my favourite small laptop is the 12" MacBook. The 13" models feel awkward in comparison when in smaller spaces (economy class on the plane), and are a lot heavier.

I'm pretty excited about the potential of a powerful ARM-based 12" macbook. Apple said something like the new iPad pro is what their original vision of what a tablet should be. Like a lot of technology and design planning had finally come together.

I think the slimming down of portables, the major software development preparation and testing of arm chips and secure enclaves all of that has been working toward a truly great Macbook with Apple technology at its core.

But I really like this 13" so far, I had dim expectations of it before putting it to use. I will likely hold on to it until we see some other development from Apple.

 

[Geert76]

Brightness not high enough? What is your room environment? (The Pro goes brighter.)

It's a mix of brightness but most of all the colors, this compared to the 2017 Pro

Are you using wifi? If so, please can you share the connection details (Option click the wif

It's installing the software update for my Mac. Just give me a minute please

is this the info you're looking for? (it's about a feet from my router)

 

[raqball]

Are you using wifi? If so, please can you share the connection details (Option click the wifi icon in the task bar while you are within 1 foot of your router).

Here is mine but like I said before, I don't think this will help what you are looking for as I use an AT&T hotspot for my home internet....

 

[Howard2k]

Here is mine but like I said before, I don't think this will help what you are looking for as I use an AT&T hotspot for my home internet....

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. Looks like it's 2x2.

 

[Geert76]

Are you using wifi? If so, please can you share the connection details (Option click the wifi icon in the task bar while you are within 1 foot of your router).

the first photo was while on my 2.4 GHz, this one 5 GHz

 

[Ma2k5]

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. Looks like it's 2x2.

I believe all the built in Gigabit WiFi Controllers on the Amber/Whiskey Lake laptops are 2x2 MIMO radio’s (from Intels specs).

 

[Howard2k]

I believe all the built in Gigabit WiFi Controllers on the Amber/Whiskey Lake laptops are 2x2 MIMO radio’s (from Intels specs).

I thought that there was one of the recent ones that was Wave 2 enabled? 2x2 with Wave 2 would be very usable.
[doublepost=1541703646][/doublepost]

the first photo was while on my 2.4 GHz, this one 5 GHz

Thanks. Looks like 2x2 too. At the top does it say 80MHz or 160MHz?

 

[Ma2k5]

I thought that there was one of the recent ones that was Wave 2 enabled? 2 x 2 with Wave 2 would be very usable.

Does this shed any light?

 

[Geert76]

I thought that there was one of the recent ones that was Wave 2 enabled? 2x2 with Wave 2 would be very usable.
[doublepost=1541703646][/doublepost]


Thanks. Looks like 2x2 too. At the top does it say 80MHz or 160MHz?

80MHz

 

[Howard2k]

80MHz

Thanks.
[doublepost=1541703878][/doublepost]

View attachment 802480

Does this shed any light?

Yep, that's Wave 2 (160MHz).

Question is, are these folks seeing 80MHz because they don't Wave 2 routers? Or because the MBA can't do Wave 2? Or both?

 

[Ma2k5]

Thanks.
[doublepost=1541703878][/doublepost]


Yep, that's Wave 2 (160MHz).

Question is, are these folks seeing 80MHz because they don't Wave 2 routers? Or because the MBA can't do Wave 2? Or both?

I would think it’s down to the router, would seem odd for the MBA not to support it.

 

[Geert76]

I am almost sure that 99% (including me) of Macbook users don't even know what 2x2 Mimo means

They probably think it's the new Burger from the MacD 😛

 

[fokmik]

ofc first macbook air was $1,799 so in today currency, over 2000$....so 1200$ is a good price

 

[DanUC6]

MOD: ANY CHANCE WE CAN GET ONE FORUM FOR THE NEW MacBook Air as a sticky????

 

[trombo22]

I have an air in the mail and Wave 2 router, I'll report back once I have it.

 

[Howard2k]

I would think it’s down to the router, would seem odd for the MBA not to support it.

Both need to support it.

nTB MB Pro 2x2 80MHz. (Wave 1 - 867Mb/s). (Previous MBA too)
TB Pro 3x3 80MHz. (Wave 1 - 1.3Gb/s) (Almost everything since 2015 except nTB MBPro and older MBA)

MBA appears to be 2x2, but could be Wave 1 (80MHz 867Mb/s) or Wave 2 (160MHz 1.7Gb/s).

 

[Ma2k5]

Both need to support it.

nTB MB Pro 2x2 80MHz. (Wave 1 - 867Mb/s). (Previous MBA too)
TB Pro 3x3 80MHz. (Wave 1 - 1.3Gb/s) (Almost everything since 2015 except nTB MBPro and older MBA)

MBA appears to be 2x2, but could be Wave 1 (80MHz 867Mb/s) or Wave 2 (160MHz 1.7Gb/s).

Yep, although other laptops with the new Whiskey Lake CPU’s have advertised the Wave 2 speeds such as say the Acer Swift, so it would be strange I think, given the chip itself has the required WiFi controller.

 

[Howard2k]

Yep, although other laptops with the new Whiskey Lake CPU’s have advertised the Wave 2 speeds such as say the Acer Swift, so it would be strange I think, given the chip itself has the required WiFi controller.

Yep, agreed. My assumption is that it is Wave 2. If so, that gives it (theoretically) double the potential wifi performance of the nTB Pro, and slightly faster performance than the 12" MB and other MBPro laptops.

 

[Ma2k5]

Yep, agreed. My assumption is that it is Wave 2. If so, that gives it (theoretically) double the potential wifi performance of the nTB Pro, and slightly faster performance than the 12" MB and other MBPro laptops.

Faster WiFi speeds has been the reason I’ve waited for the new chips. I don’t know if it’s mainly the wave 2 or a better implementation with the integration of the controller on the chip that is driving the performance, but it’s definitely welcomed.

Here’s hoping it has also improved on the sleep/hibernation issues.