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This option is not for people who carry a second battery, however. I don't know why someone would want to, mind you.

Jan 18, 08 - 05:08 pm Comment from: macdaddy

Maybe people will stop crying about the battery now. Sheesh.

Jan 18, 08 - 05:12 pm Comment from: Ampar

"Maybe people will stop crying . . ."

Never underestimate the steady flow of whine.

Jan 18, 08 - 05:13 pm Comment from: Macromancer

The whining will be about having to find the right Phillips screwdriver and that it's not included...

... and glossy screens because obviously glossy screens have hindered Mac sales.

I'm surprised people are crying so much about the battery and not lack of optical drive or small HD. (which I cant figure out... If the MBA has the same HD as an ipod why not give it a 160gb option?)

IMO the battery isn't a big deal at all.

ApplePi, I carry a second battery when flying. Otherwise, I must conduct the usual search for an outlet during layovers to recharge what's in there. If you live in an area with the potential to lose power for maybe several days, an extra battery can also provide just that much extra work time.

Jan 18, 08 - 05:24 pm Comment from: Zune Tang®

3 minutes? Big freakin' deal. No special tools? Whatever.

I can build my own PC and customize it any way I want. I don't have to be locked into Apple's proprietary system. I can install whatever graphics card I feel like and I can replace it at any time. I can pick whatever flavor of awesome Windows Vista I want, and I save money too. Hey MAC sheep, it's a little thing us Windows enthusiasts like to call 'choice'. Losers.

Your potential. Our passion.™

Jan 18, 08 - 05:29 pm Comment from: DakRoland

Okay, Zune Tang, that time I actually laughed at one of your posts. I knew it would be a small matter to replace the battery if it ever needed it.

Hey Tang, go eat zune!

While you're getting all of your fancy customizations working together, we Mac losers are actually getting work done. Yes, real work. Not gaming. Oh, you like to play games? We can do that too, since Macs run Windows faster than most PCs do.

Tom: If the MBA has the same HD as an ipod why not give it a 160gb option?

Because even the 160GB iPod is thicker than the 80GB one. The 160GB HD apparently just doesn't fit in there.

I would expect, though, that the SSD capacities will continue to grow and the price come down. As long as the newer ones still have PATA, it should even be possible to ugrade the MBA.

Jan 18, 08 - 05:32 pm Comment from: Grigori

So I forget: is Zune Tang® the real Zune Tang, or is it the other one? Nothing clever and lovable about that one.

Jan 18, 08 - 05:34 pm Comment from: Ampar

MacGyver could do it one minute with a rubber band, a piece of gum and a paper clip and turn the MBA into a small nuclear device.

Jan 18, 08 - 05:44 pm Comment from: January 24, 1984

I built a PC two decades ago.

Should have called it the Halon. SOB caught on fire.

Running DOS. 8088. Pure dogmeat.

Jan 18, 08 - 05:49 pm Comment from: MacDave

@ Ampar,

When did MacGyber go all terrorist on us? Did I miss that episode?

Jan 18, 08 - 05:50 pm Comment from: Ampar

To MacDave: He just uses WMDs for good. That's why he was never invaded.

Jan 18, 08 - 05:52 pm Comment from: Ampar

"Running DOS. 8088. Pure dogmeat."

A high tech device made of Schnauzer will burn if it's not grounded correctly. Always make sure that you have properly screwed the pooch.

Ampar - close. Check out the latest "Joy of Tech".



Peace.

Jan 18, 08 - 05:57 pm Comment from: Ampar

That's funny, Lurker_PC! Thanks!

Personally, I am stunned and shocked that Steve would allow such tackiness as exposed screws on this machine. :O
At least it has the breathing sleep light I so miss on my AL iMac.

quick, someone call whine-1-1 for a whambulance.

From what I've seen in dissecting the macbook air, this is definitely true. The only thing I would caution is that the screws are angled in, and the battery is an integral part of the structure of the unit.

Jan 18, 08 - 06:05 pm Comment from: Jamie

I'm having some lovely whine with my lady...

..Merlot, 1992. Beautiful.

Jan 18, 08 - 06:05 pm Comment from: January 24, 1984

Ampar: Could have been those dog-eared connectors.

Jan 18, 08 - 06:13 pm Comment from: auren

@ Jamie

"1992. Beautiful."

The wine, or the lady?

@Hg Wells: True that... I'd imagine there will be third party plug in batteries that connect to the mag-safe outlet... but then again... isn't that proprietary?

Hmmm If whe was born in 1992, I'll bet there are some states she where would be jail bait.

Jan 18, 08 - 06:23 pm Comment from: Thorin

Anyone that needs to lug all of that crap around would be better suited with a MBP.

my proof reading sucks!

Jan 18, 08 - 06:28 pm Comment from: ron

@Jamie,
I'm having some lovely whine with my lady.....Merlot, 1992. Beautiful.

I'm having some old whine with my witch....Merlin 700 AD, Ugh!!

maybe a little whine sharing will make your dogmeat snappier!

MW word, "speak"

yawn, come on, some body bitch about he battery again!

Zunie, where are you when we need a laugh?

Well,

I suspect the battery was designed not to be user servicable AND cost the same as a user servicable battery for any other mac b/c Apple will control ewaste better. How many folks replace a battery and dispose of properly?

Jan 18, 08 - 06:54 pm Comment from: Ampar

"dog-eared connectors"

Yeah, that could be rough. But it doesn't mutter. You have a new leash on life now.

Jan 18, 08 - 06:57 pm Comment from: Jamie

Hmmmmmmmmmm, if my lady was born in 1992, she'd be 16 and it's legal in my country, so I fail to see the humour.

But, I was actually talking about the red wine I was drinking with my lovely lady who turn 30 this year.

And my lady is like a fine wine - she only gets better with age.



Peace & Love.

How can you tell when a plane load of tech journalists / bloggers has arrived at the airport?

Easy ... When the engines of the plane are shut down, you can still hear the whining!

Jan 18, 08 - 07:11 pm Comment from: LorD1776

Jamie,

I'll bet you're a real corker.

Jan 18, 08 - 08:12 pm Comment from: Real IT Guy

ROFL!!! Well said Skylark!

Here I thought the world was done with the boorish Zune Tangy. At least we know he still breathes.

Jan 18, 08 - 08:41 pm Comment from: LorD1776

"At least we know he still breathes."

Zombies don't breathe.

Sorry Z.T., couldn't help myself.

Jan 18, 08 - 09:01 pm Comment from: Jubei

I would get the USB EVDO modem for anywhere connectivity. A USB 4GB stick for the PC Weenies who can't figure out how to do file sharing with their WiFi or BT so that I can send them large files. There done.

Jan 18, 08 - 09:16 pm Comment from: silver surfer

I just love how Apple on it's website has the apple symbol on the MBA keyboard, and on the Macworld photos provided by MDN has it without it.

what's up Apple I loved the apple symbol on the keyboard

Ethernet Adapter: $29
Modem: $49
MacBook Air SuperDrive: $99

MDN:

Don’t all these extras, accessories, and dongles:

(i) mean carrying around more stuff; and defeat the intended purpose of the ease, convenience, and portability of MacBook Air?

(ii) increase the risk of losing more stuff because they are not physically designed into MacBook Air?

(iii) require users forking over more cash because they are not designed into MacBook Air?

(iv) add to the weight of lugging around yer MacBook Air defeat the intended purpose of the super thin portability of MacBook Air?

Jus' askin'.

3 minutes? Big freakin' deal. No special tools? Whatever.

I can build my own Mac and customize it any way I want. I don't have to be locked into Microsofts proprietary system. I can install whatever graphics card I feel like and I can replace it at any time. I can pick whatever flavor of awesome Mac Leopard I want, and I save money too. Hey PC sheep, it's a little thing us MAC enthusiasts like to call 'choice'. Losers.

Your potential. Our Blunder™

Jan 18, 08 - 09:49 pm Comment from: ken1w

I think Toshiba will soon (if not already) have a 100GB drive to fit into the available "thin" space. It's remarkable that the two-platter 160GB drive won't fit in there, when it fits in an iPod. The MacBook Air is REALLY thin.

I can definitely see making a MacBook Air my only computer. When using it at my desk, I would simply plug in a powered USB hub (already connected to mouse, keyboard, and printer), connector for a DVI display, powered-speaker plug, and power. A third party (like BookEndz) should make a one-piece connector for the right side. Everything else, including extra storage, can be wireless. When I leave my desk with the MacBook Air, I will not need to take anything else, other than maybe the power supply (if leaving for more than a few hours).

Jan 18, 08 - 09:55 pm Comment from: Wade

Where's the serial number?

Jan 18, 08 - 10:36 pm Comment from: ron

Where's the serial number?

On the side of the box. Oh, serial no.

I haven't seen any bona fide videos of anyone actually changing a MacBook Air battery in three minutes.

Jan 19, 08 - 12:29 am Comment from: MizuInOz

Phred -
The Modem and Ethernet Adapter (if same weight as the modem) are both lighter than air and shold not be a problem...

The SuperDuperDrive will be made of Swiss cheese and Ham so it can sandwich between the MBA and you nifty new carrying envelope!

No worries and it goes well with your whine!
I prefer a Shiraz 1972 but you go with Silicon Valley 2008 - it will have just the right after taste!

Jan 19, 08 - 12:29 am Comment from: GizmoDan

MacBook Air SuperDrive: $99

I'm waiting for this to come out and for someone to test this to see if it will work on any MacBook or iBook even. Some people opted for the cheaper drives, and then later wished they had a superdrive so they could burn DVDs. $99 seems cheap.

I carry around an Airport Express, for those hotels that haven't gone wifi.

Some love to cry with a beer and a PC in front of them !