MacBook Air Disassembly Photos and Battery Access

[bigmc6000]

Unfortunately that is all you will be doing with the MBA, is light day to day usage. IMO the MBA should have been priced $799 aux lieu $1799, affordable to a larger demographic of not so savvy computer users.

Well, let's see here. I'm still using my 12" PB and I know of scores of others on this site that are still using their PB's so I guess that means we're "not so savvy computer users" anymore since our computers can't even hold a candle to this thing? Dedicated GPU or not we're still talking about a vastly superior processor and I'm sure in every single test out there the MBA beats even the best PB.

Anybody have a link to something like that or have people stopped comparing MB's to PB's?

 

[ViperrepiV]

Does anyone know what the warranty policy is on opening up your computer (and potentially replacing the HDD)? The reason I ask, is because if it voids your warranty, there is no point to get the extended AppleCare if you plan on replacing the HDD a year down the line....I don't want to spend unnecessary $$$

 

[Breckenridge]

So the photos where pulled out. Why Apple, why? still battery situation is lame and very impractical, I can just see myself running around the airport trying to find a plug, Lame, Lame, Lame.

 

[latergator116]

Does anyone know what the warranty policy is on opening up your computer (and potentially replacing the HDD)? The reason I ask, is because if it voids your warranty, there is no point to get the extended AppleCare if you plan on replacing the HDD a year down the line....I don't want to spend unnecessary $$$

FWIW, I replaced the hard drive on my iBook G3 and later sent it in for repair (still under warranty). And From the looks of it, replacing the Air battery will be MUCH easier than doing anything with any iBook. As long as you are careful I think you should be all set.

 

[rtdunham]

Random numbers are just to darn important to be left up to chance.

so is spelling.

 

[rtdunham]

expect that SSDs will significantly drop in price and increase in capacity in the next few years.

That's a good bet. But I doubt we'd be able to buy just any SSD and use it: it's probably going to have to be manufactured specifically for the MBA (dimensions, mount, connector), or require enough hacking that most of us would pass on the opportunity.

 

[kuwisdelu]

That's a good bet. But I doubt we'd be able to buy just any SSD and use it: it's probably going to have to be manufactured specifically for the MBA (dimensions, mount, connector), or require enough hacking that most of us would pass on the opportunity.

But despite how much more expensive the SSD option on the MBA is, Apple is actually selling the SSD for a pretty good price. They're not being stingy with that SSD like their RAM. I expect they'll put better, cheaper SSD's in on their own, but I'm not sure what it'll mean for those who already have an MBA with an old SSD.

 

[nemaslov]

This is actually the first new Apple Laptop that I didn't really want to get right away as a new release. I was ready to buy but now I will wait for the next round of Macbooks or Powerbooks

 

[ncbill]

And this model uses a parallel ATA interface.

What happens when higher-capacity units are available as SATA only?

That's a good bet. But I doubt we'd be able to buy just any SSD and use it: it's probably going to have to be manufactured specifically for the MBA (dimensions, mount, connector), or require enough hacking that most of us would pass on the opportunity.

 

[kajitox]

That IS a sexy battery! And if I had an extra 2K laying around (haha <-starving college student) then I would definitely have one.

 

[Zweben]

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cach.../macbook-air-tear-down-sexy-on-the-inside-too

Google Cache of the video and text they took down.

 

[compuguy1088]

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cach.../macbook-air-tear-down-sexy-on-the-inside-too

Google Cache of the video and text they took down.

Nice. I was also able to get the flv off there server. Apparently they just took down the player but not the actual file.

The video can also be found here:
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/video/macbookteardown.flv

Edit 2:
Here it is on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyc8wMAihZA

 

[ewxlt]

I can't believe so many people have the guts to hack apart a new computer! I always have the feeling that it won't go back together.

 

[Genius Dude]

Amazing

It's amazing how technology is getting smaller and smaller

 

[johnpaul191]

user replaceable batteries require thicker housing. it probably requires some sort of lid. look at, for example, the battery of an ibook. the battery has a plastic shell, plus there is sort of a docking bay for it to pop into. the MBA battery (or iPhone battery, iPod battery) are not in the kind of shell that can get tossed around in a backpack. that extra little shell adds up enough in those devices that it would add significant thickness. these are lithium after all, and there is a safety issue.
i guess it does say something about how thin devices have become when things like that are now significant.

 

[jaknudsen]

But I doubt we'd be able to buy just any SSD and use it: it's probably going to have to be manufactured specifically for the MBA (dimensions, mount, connector), or require enough hacking that most of us would pass on the opportunity.

Most likely, like all the other proprietary hard drives and memory modules they are currently using …

 

[netdog]

And this model uses a parallel ATA interface.

What happens when higher-capacity units are available as SATA only?

There will be PATA drives available.

 

[EagerDragon]

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...

Likely it would void your warranty if you open the case, also may not be able to purchase the spare battery as is prob considered a replacement part only handled by repair stores.

 

[EagerDragon]

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.

very easy fix, $99.00 fix.

The system is for people who have little to no need for a cd/dvd/burner. For those rare occasions, they sell the separate drive. Same thing for firewire .... mainly needed for some disk drives, for movie cameras and for the old iSight. The target audience for this machine does little to no media work while on the road and have a second more powerful system at home or office.

If you are that worried about the ability to burn DVDs or multi-media than is likely you are not the target for this system.

 

[Marx55]

Which main board is smaller, the one of the MacBook Air or the one of the Mac mini? I guess the smaller one could be used to build the ultimate light (400 g or so) and small (pocketable) full Mac, much as the Axiotron ModBook, but as light and small (pocketable) as the OQO model 2+:

http://www.axiotron.com
http://www.oqo.com

Is that possible with video-out and USB2 port? That would be awesome for Keynote and PowerPoint presentations, because even the MacBook Air is too heavy and too large. So, you make the presentation on the larger Mac, and then use the pocketable one for the classroom, meeting, home, etc for the video presentation.

Thanks.

 

[AidenShaw]

Which main board is smaller, the one of the MacBook Air or the one of the Mac mini? I guess the smaller one could be used to build the ultimate light (400 g or so) and small (pocketable) full Mac...

Motherboard design is not that expensive - look at the proliferation of DIY motherboards available. If it were expensive, you wouldn't see companies making so many boards that are minor variations of specs and features.

Better to design a board specifically for the netbook - especially since neither the MBA or mini have a Gobi chip for universal 3G.

 

[Marx55]

Motherboard design is not that expensive - look at the proliferation of DIY motherboards available. If it were expensive, you wouldn't see companies making so many boards that are minor variations of specs and features.

Better to design a board specifically for the netbook - especially since neither the MBA or mini have a Gobi chip for universal 3G.

But I guess that is not legal and in any case not as easy as using a board already available. I can use an existing board; but I cannot design and make a new one!