My MacBook Air 2013 Experience

[l0gikb0mb]

So I just received my Macbook Air 13" 2013 and I'm not impressed at all. Coming from a MBP (and also had a MBA 2012 briefly), this is disappointing:

Scrolling in safari is sluggish compared to the 13 MBP 2012. General lag in UI.

Black marks on the bottom of the case (looks like tarnish, doesn't come off). Looks like I have the volume fluctuation problem, updated fully too, still there.

No wifi problem it seems. Battery is at 75% is reporting 5-7 hours with only Safari open.

Battery has 2 cycles on it already! I just opened it up 3-4 hrs ago. Did Apple send me a refurb when I bought this new???

Suffice to say, it's going back. The 2012 Air's I tried had various quality control issues. Apple has really lost it (besides their MBP line).

EDIT: Forgot about the hinge, it's pretty loose. It'll start to slowly close very easily when moved towards me.

 

[3lite]

So I just received my Macbook Air 13" 2013 and I'm not impressed at all. Coming from a MBP (and also had a MBA 2012 briefly), this is disappointing:

Scrolling in safari is sluggish compared to the 13 MBP 2012. General lag in UI.

Black marks on the bottom of the case (looks like tarnish, doesn't come off). Looks like I have the volume fluctuation problem, updated fully too, still there.

No wifi problem it seems. Battery is at 75% is reporting 5-7 hours with only Safari open.

Battery has 2 cycles on it already! I just opened it up 3-4 hrs ago. Did Apple send me a refurb when I bought this new???

Suffice to say, it's going back. The 2012 Air's I tried had various quality control issues. Apple has really lost it (besides their MBP line).

Maybe you just got a bad unit? Give it another chance. The MBA is really only inferior to a 15 rMBP.

 

[l0gikb0mb]

Three in a row though? I tried two 2012 MBA in January. Both had major quality control issues. I had two MBP ('10 & '12) and they were both fine. Apple QC has really gone downhill.

 

[mattbaar26]

Because of your one experience, all of Apple's quality control is now awful. Makes sense.

 

[l0gikb0mb]

Because of your one experience, all of Apple's quality control is now awful. Makes sense.

Hmm.. two separate Airs in January with big problems, and then another one 8 months later... yep. I think it's safe to assume.

 

[Slix]

Seems like you just got unlucky with your units. I have a 2012 MacBook Air that I bought refurbished and it's flawless, none of the issues you mentioned here. Send it back and get another one.

 

[mattferg]

Hmm.. two separate Airs in January with big problems, and then another one 8 months later... yep. I think it's safe to assume.

Ordered my 2013 Air on launch day and not had a single issue.

Plural of anecdote is not data, dear.

 

[Scott6666]

So I just received my Macbook Air 13" 2013 and I'm not impressed at all. Coming from a MBP (and also had a MBA 2012 briefly), this is disappointing:

Scrolling in safari is sluggish compared to the 13 MBP 2012. General lag in UI.

Black marks on the bottom of the case (looks like tarnish, doesn't come off). Looks like I have the volume fluctuation problem, updated fully too, still there.

No wifi problem it seems. Battery is at 75% is reporting 5-7 hours with only Safari open.

Battery has 2 cycles on it already! I just opened it up 3-4 hrs ago. Did Apple send me a refurb when I bought this new???

Suffice to say, it's going back. The 2012 Air's I tried had various quality control issues. Apple has really lost it (besides their MBP line).

EDIT: Forgot about the hinge, it's pretty loose. It'll start to slowly close very easily when moved towards me.

i5 or i7?

 

[l0gikb0mb]

i5.

Ordered my 2013 Air on launch day and not had a single issue.

Plural of anecdote is not data, dear.

I believe it is pretty safe to assume. I think a lot of people don't recognize these things as problems. Ignorance is bliss

For $1300, I don't expect a loose hinge and scratched out the box, let alone other problems. MBA: 0/3

 

[Boyd01]

I had a 2011 MBA, now have a 2013. Both have been great. Have been using Macs since 1985 and this machine is by far my favorite.

But I'm one of those people who don't know how to recognize problems. With your help, maybe I could learn to hate it.

 

[teffers]

i5.



I believe it is pretty safe to assume. I think a lot of people don't recognize these things as problems. Ignorance is bliss

For $1300, I don't expect a loose hinge and scratched out the box, let alone other problems. MBA: 0/3

I went through 4x units before I got a 5th one that was acceptable.

Black marks on the casing - I had that on 2x of the units but after some serious scrubbing it came off (was like a resin)

Mis-aligned hinges on 2x units.

Creaky hinge on 1x unit.

I considered giving up on the MBA but I knew a lot of people wouldn't have been bothered by the faults that I wouldn't accept.

As you mentioned, some people wouldn't see them as faults and accept them - my response is different

 

[l0gikb0mb]

I went through 4x units before I got a 5th one that was acceptable.

Black marks on the casing - I had that on 2x of the units but after some serious scrubbing it came off (was like a resin)

Mis-aligned hinges on 2x units.

Creaky hinge on 1x unit.

I considered giving up on the MBA but I knew a lot of people wouldn't have been bothered by the faults that I wouldn't accept.

As you mentioned, some people wouldn't see them as faults and accept them - my response is different

Yeah, some people just don't notice them or care - that's their choice, but for this much money, it shouldn't come scratched and defective out of the box. I'm sure there are some that aren't like this, but I believe it's few and far inbetween.

I'm going to go with a refurb 11" 2013 Air and give it another shot. I've been without a laptop waiting for the Air to arrive and realized my desktop is more than enough, just need a laptop for school and garage band here and there.

Maybe the 11" will be more solid since it's a smaller foot print. Irregardless, I won't care as much on an $850 machine

 

[jonasdamn]

It is first mac i have ever had- MBA 2013 i5/4/256gb. However i was windows user for 12 years, also my studies is related to windows enviroment. But there was nice discount for that specification MBA and it costed me 1000euro brand new, way cheaper and better than other ultrabooks like samsung or sony. So i gave a shot and bought MBA. Now using windows 7 just for programs which isnt supported by Mac but 90% of time i prefer mountain lion. Didnt see any hardware or quality issues, seems to be perfect while had problems with quality issues on my iPhone 5, have replaced it 4 times, atleast the last one replacement is perfect, no issues or whatsoever. Maybe you arent lucky with MBA like i was with iPhone 5

 

[3lite]

Yeah, some people just don't notice them or care - that's their choice, but for this much money, it shouldn't come scratched and defective out of the box. I'm sure there are some that aren't like this, but I believe it's few and far inbetween.

I'm going to go with a refurb 11" 2013 Air and give it another shot. I've been without a laptop waiting for the Air to arrive and realized my desktop is more than enough, just need a laptop for school and garage band here and there.

Maybe the 11" will be more solid since it's a smaller foot print. Irregardless, I won't care as much on an $850 machine

Get the "13.

 

[jg321]

Yeah, some people just don't notice them or care - that's their choice, but for this much money, it shouldn't come scratched and defective out of the box. I'm sure there are some that aren't like this, but I believe it's few and far inbetween.

Imagine how many of these things are sold. I'd suggest that the faulty ones are few and far between. Saying that, it's easy to understand why you feel like you do, and I 100% agree that for the amount of money, they shouldn't be scratched and defective.

Hope you get one that you're happy with soon! It must be a nightmare not having a laptop in the meantime.

Edit: I'll add the experience that I've had with an 11" 2013 - it's been perfect from day one and is a great little machine. Tempted to take it in as my own though as my girlfriend hardly uses it!

 

[yosemit]

Are you sure? GUI uses GPU acceleration, and the 2013 MBA has obviously better GPU than the 2012 13-in MBP. Both use integrated GPU. The 15-in MBP does have better GPU which is discrete.

Scrolling in safari is sluggish compared to the 13 MBP 2012. General lag in UI.

 

[jmoore5196]

I've had at least one of every iteration of the MBA since the original, and I'm as picky as they come. My automobile is concours-ready; everything else I own is similarly kept.

I've never encountered any of your issues with any of my MBAs. I'm using a '12 11" that I absolutely love (very nearly my main machine, replacing a 2011 MBP) and my wife still uses my old '10 13". An old friend still uses my original MBA and loves it.

Bad luck has to fall on someone ... I've certainly had my share. I remember the last PowerBook Duo I bought that was DOA out of the box. My G4 Cube had the power switch problem and would shut itself off at odd moments. My 24" ACD had a bad logic board. But my MBAs have been flawless. I'll upgrade to the 2013 version without hesitation.

I'm not sure at what price you'd be prepared to accept the problems you've found, but value is obviously a foremost concern. I think you ought to keep sending yours back until you get one that satisfies you ... the inconvenience being the price you have to be prepared to pay to get something that's virtually hand-built delivered to you in 100% order.

 

[AXs]

Sounds like he never really intended on keeping it and that's why EVERYTHING is wrong with his Macbook Air.

 

[jonasdamn]

Are you sure? GUI uses GPU acceleration, and the 2013 MBA has obviously better GPU than the 2012 13-in MBP. Both use integrated GPU. The 15-in MBP does have better GPU which is discrete.

I have also noticed some strugling while scrolling in safari on my MBA 2013. It could be related to issues to drivers. It uses new gpu and cpu and maybe Apple didnt have time to optimize it well- mavericks, iOS7 projects takes a lot of time. Need to wait for mavericks there should be more optimization for haswell MBA.

 

[Boyd01]

I remember the last PowerBook Duo I bought that was DOA out of the box. My G4 Cube had the power switch problem and would shut itself off at odd moments. My 24" ACD had a bad logic board.

Haha, never had any problems with my two Duo's and I am still using the 23" Apple Cinema display that I got around 2004 everyday with my MacBook Air. I have owned countless Apple products, starting with the Apple ][ in 1978, then the "Fat Mac" 512k in 1985. Have only had two problems over all these years. The old huge blue/white 21" Apple CRT monitor failed after about 6 months and was quickly replaced by Apple. The first aluminum PowerBook G4 was more of a problem, it wouldn't recognize all it's RAM. Apple replaced the Logic Board three times on that under AppleCare. Still had issues, but I had moved on to Intel by then and didn't follow through. It was a known issue though, and there was talk of class action suits, etc.

 

[MacJuice]

I picked up my MBA 13" a few weeks ago and I absolutely love it. Its the base model which I intend to only use for internet/e-mail/school but it is very capable in other areas as well. Not to mention its my first mac machine, switching from windows. I've used OS X machines before but really loving owning one. Never going back to windows that's for sure. Sorry to hear about your bad experience with the air. With all the units that they produce there are bound to be a few bad apples (no pun intended ) but I hope you keep trying to get a good one because they are great computers.

 

[l0gikb0mb]

Sounds like he never really intended on keeping it and that's why EVERYTHING is wrong with his Macbook Air.

I sold my MBP 2012 for it, as it was a bit heavy lugging around just for simple school use and occasional recording. I need a laptop. I really enjoy the screen being 16:10, the spaciousness of the 13", and resolution. Dislike the build quality, screen quality, and overall sluggishness on Safari. Would you like me to make a video of the hinge closing when it faces anywhere near my direction? The creaky hinge that sounds like a fisher price toy when I graze it with my finger tip? Not exactly nice on a $1300 laptop, is it?

Get the "13.

As a secondary computer, I think it's good to try out the 11" - it's smaller, so less volume to potentially have faults. I also think the smaller screen will help with not having to always tilt the screen to find that sweet spot as much.

I picked up my MBA 13" a few weeks ago ... but I hope you keep trying to get a good one because they are great computers.

I agree, the base model is all I need. I thought about staying with the 13" but my luck has been awful so I'm trying the 11". I think it will suite me way better and the portability is just great. After the disappointing experiences 3x in a row, I was considering an iPad - but 32gb $670 vs. an 11" Air for $950, the latter is surely more desirable and worth another shot. I'll give an update when it arrives in a week or two.

 

[Brian Y]

I sold my MBP 2012 for it, as it was a bit heavy lugging around just for simple school use and occasional recording. I need a laptop. I really enjoy the screen being 16:10, the spaciousness of the 13", and resolution. Dislike the build quality, screen quality, and overall sluggishness on Safari. Would you like me to make a video of the hinge closing when it faces anywhere near my direction? The creaky hinge that sounds like a fisher price toy when I graze it with my finger tip? Not exactly nice on a $1300 laptop, is it?


I think it's good to try out the 11" - it's smaller, so less volume to potentially have faults. I also think the smaller screen will help with not having to always tilt the screen to find that sweet spot as much.


I agree, the base model is all I need. I thought about staying with the 13" but my luck has been awful so I'm trying the 11". As a secondary computer, I think now it suites me way better and the portability is just great. After the disappointing experiences now 3x in a row, I was considering an iPad - but $670 (after tax) vs. an 11" Air for $950, the latter is surely more desirable and worth another shot. I'll give an update when it arrives in a week or two.

You keep saying "because it's a $1300" laptop. Everything's relative. You bought the cheapest laptop in their lineup. You can't expect the same quality screen, etc, as the pro. Misaligned hinges can be easily rectified by your local Apple store (in about 5 minutes).

To be honest, as much as I hate to say this - it does look a little like you're looking for problems. Those black marks (the resin) are normal after the manufacturing process - and will come off with a quick clean. Some people are looking for perfection "because it's expensive". Yes, it's expensive, but it's still a consumer level, mass-produced device. Expecting perfection from any mass-produced device will always be fruitless.

 

[l0gikb0mb]

You keep saying "because it's a $1300" laptop. Everything's relative. You bought the cheapest laptop in their lineup. You can't expect the same quality screen, etc, as the pro. Misaligned hinges can be easily rectified by your local Apple store (in about 5 minutes).

To be honest, as much as I hate to say this - it does look a little like you're looking for problems. Those black marks (the resin) are normal after the manufacturing process - and will come off with a quick clean. Some people are looking for perfection "because it's expensive". Yes, it's expensive, but it's still a consumer level, mass-produced device. Expecting perfection from any mass-produced device will always be fruitless.

Cheapest laptop in their lineup? I can get the 2012 cMBP for cheaper - and it's a hell of a lot better in quality all around. Never had a problem when setting it up for a family member or my own experiences. Flawless.

Black marks didn't come off. I'm not expecting perfect. I'm expecting it to not have a god damn loose hinge and marks out of the box. An Acer netbook a friend bought a year ago had none of these problems, and it costed $299. Why should I expect a laptop that costed a grand more to be worse in this aspect?

It's built cheap and cutting corners.

 

[AXs]

Let it go Op.

You're not going to convince people to suddenly start hating on their macbook air. My Haswell Air has had no issues whatsoever. The same goes for majority of Air Owners.

So yea, let it go. You hated the Air and you've returned it. Good for you. No one should spend $1500 on a laptop they don't like.

But why push the envelope. There's less to achieve creating a Macbook Air Bashing thread on macrumors forum.

Return your Air and go for something else that you like. Just stop making up stories please. Like Brian Y has stated, most of these things can be dealt with in minutes.