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I have the new 13" MBA and I have not had this problem... I guess I lucked out :) It's still an amazing, beautiful, and strong laptop and I recommend it to everybody. It's really fast and my WiFi works great!
 
I remember I used to have infuriating WiFi issues with my 2007 Santa Rosa MacBook Pro. The WiFi would just ransomly disconnect, then reconnect itself a moment later. The only reason I even noticed was because I had Growler installed and it was set to make a sound whenever the connect/disconnect happened. And at one point I kept getting connection issues where the Mac would disconnect and fail to reconnect properly -- it would get its own self-assigned IP address. Manually going into network settings and clicking Renew DHCP Lease often fixed it -- but not always. These problem did not occur with any other device on my network including my iPad or iPhone.

I eventually chalked it up to my Mac and my D-Link router not getting along. I replaced the D-Link with a Netgear router and have not seen the problem since.

But yes, Apple products have definitely had WiFi issues in the past (I agree that the metal casing probably is a factor). I'll wait to see how this one gets resolved before I commit my dollars!

For me I've had nothing but bad luck whether it is Netgear, Linksys or Belkin so in the end I've stuck with the Airport Extreme without a problem. It seems that the former three spend too much time on pointless crap rather than just getting the basic fundamentals right with good follow up support in the form of firmware updates.

This is true. More often than not I will open up my laptop and connect and be working, while my PC using friends are still asking "Hey, are you sure the WiFi is working? I'm not getting anything."

Apple raises the bar I guess -- that "It Just Works" mantra makes it all the more glaring in the rare instances when it doesn't. Windows, you get conditioned to get used to all the minor little problems and quibbles, though they do add up over time.

Reminds me of a ThinkPad T61 I had where there was constant conflicts between the 'ThinkVantage' Wifi connection manager and the built in Wifi connection manager - I don't expect perfection from Microsoft because they're one step removed from the end user but I do expect if I'm paying for a Thinkpad, a premium device designed for 'professionals' that maybe they would spend some time ensuring that things actually worked as they're supposed to rather than the horrific nightmare I've experienced every time I've used one of their computers. The only thing worse than that was the Toshiba laptop that went through 3 motherboards in a space of 6 months or the HP laptop with heat dispersion issues because of the cruddy placement of their heat vents. Then there is my old man and his Dell where it is a hit or miss whether it actually wakes up and connects which has gotten to the stage he has given up and just gone ethernet because it has become such a PITA.

Regarding the 'It just works' comes with obvious caveats - there is no claims of absolute perfection but rather a smoother experience to which the vast majority of end users experience. I know it'll piss off the Apple hating brigade who seem to troll this website but most people actually have a pretty damn smooth experience with their Apple device.
 
Wow, Apple's new Macs are having problems these days it seems.. I guess the stuff of the past when it was called: Apple Computer, Inc was much better built and lasted a lot longer(PowerPC and early Intel Macs) than todays stuff..

A shame...a real shame.
 
What I find funny is how there is no attention spent to all those wifi issues that Windows users have -

It is NOT funny. It is infuriating. It's not FAIR!!!

[stomps widdle footsie as panties tie up in a knot]

/s
 
Wow, Apple's new Macs are having problems these days it seems.. I guess the stuff of the past when it was called: Apple Computer, Inc was much better built and lasted a lot longer(PowerPC and early Intel Macs) than todays stuff..

A shame...a real shame.

I think you have selective memory. Or maybe you don't recall the 5300 series PBs that would burst into flames? Or the iMacs or Powerbooks that had display issues that Apple chose to ignore for months. Or the '07 MBP with defective battery that caused random shutdowns. Or the original water cooled Power Macs. Or... I can think of so many other Macs through the years that had wholesale issues, most minor, but all required Apple to extend the warranty for that specific issue.

----------

I heard the new Mac Pro is having the same issues. Could it be in the software?

No. You didn't hear the complete rumor with the new Mac Pro. It only has the issue when hugged by King Kong and an airplane is nearby, blocking reception.
 
Clearly this is a user problem. Apple products just work.

Just like Apple Maps "just works".
Just like the iPhone 4 cell signal "just worked" when you held it in your hand.
Just like on several occasions certain iOS features "just worked" when the midnight of new years eve ticked over into the new year.
Just like the iOS lock screen "just worked" and never had bugs that allowed someone to bypass a passcode.
 
What I find funny is how there is no attention spent to all those wifi issues that Windows users have - from dealing with crapware third party wifi connection controllers from their OEM through to updates from Microsoft failing to install because of butchering to the base installation of Windows by OEM's (experienced that first hand trying to update via 'Windows Update' on Windows 7 when running a Lenovo X1 Carbon from out of the box). Funny how an Apple product has an issue then all hell breaks loose but not a single thing said about the crapfeast of hell that the average user faces when running a Windows laptop or desktop.

Too many people would lose their jobs if Windows was closer to perfect, with no daily fixes.
 
Wow, Apple's new Macs are having problems these days it seems.. I guess the stuff of the past when it was called: Apple Computer, Inc was much better built and lasted a lot longer(PowerPC and early Intel Macs) than todays stuff..

A shame...a real shame.
Just joined this month? Are you new to Apple products? Cause apple has had models that have had problems for years and years. Wifi issue is minro compared to having to have my logic board on my g3 ibook replaced multiple times...
 
No issues

I'm using the 13" 1.3ghz version. Got delivered last week been using it for hours at a time every day, not one single issue or dropped wifi.
 
It is NOT funny. It is infuriating. It's not FAIR!!!

[stomps widdle footsie as panties tie up in a knot]

/s

Yeah I know, if the writers did that then Gizmodo would be filled to the brim with stories about users with crappy Wifi issues and how they had to put up with someone on the phone who barely knew English trying to guide them through the configuration procedure or how a support staff tried to assure the customer that the wifi connection dropping out every 15 minutes is part of their super power saving algorithm. I swear there are so many spoilt brats out there who have never seemed to experience the pain and misery of owning a PC - it is a character building experience that I think no Mac user should miss out on.
 
Of course they're still butt hurt but then again why Macrumors re-post this crap God only knows because like anything it will take five minutes of investigation to find that there are corner cases where there are issues that need address via an update hence 10.8.5 is in testing as we speak. So when are we going to see Gizmodo cover the frequent locking up of Nokia Lumia devices? the high amount of crapware loaded onto Lenovo, Dell and HP laptops/desktops? the lack of timely Android updates where in June 2013 the Samsung Galaxy S3 still hasn't received Android 4.2 yet?


Angry run-on sentence that makes no sense alert!

:confused:
 
Final solution

I stumbled upon this wi-fi problem, running a mid 2011 macbook air, and for me it had a simple solution:

System Preferences -> Network -> The small gear icon under the Network list -> Set Service Order, then drag your current / primary wifi network to the top of the list.

Done. Wi-fi problem gone.
 
An anonymous source at one of Apple’s retail stores in London has also told me they’ve had “well above average” complaints and returns (in a few cases) of Airs owing to Wi-Fi issues.


[Rubbing my hands together] Discounted 2013 Refurbished MBAs in 10-9-8-... :D
 
Apple releases new hardware, consumers complain about wifi. Always happens. Apple's ineptitude is widely known, yet people stupidly continue to buy the products at launch. Just wait for a few updates, then buy it.
 
Lets face it doesn't every Apple product have wifi issues at least once in it's life - it is usually a software issue - an update recently which came out fixing wifi problems actually caused wifi problems on my rMBP :/ I didn't have any beforehand!

Apple just has never gotten any wireless protocols to work consistently.

A few off the top of my head... Pre-unibody MacBook Pro wifi issues, iPhone 4 Bluetooth issues (even addressed in keynotes!), random disconnects on iMacs/MacBook Pros etc, signal attenuation issues with iPhone 4 etc. The list is endless, but my memory is going - so that's all you get. :)

One bright moment is Apple's Time Capsule/Airport Extreme, though. They are super-solid products now.
 
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