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iFixit rips apart a MacBook Air

by Scott McNulty Feb 1st 2008 at 7:30AM



Every time a new Apple product comes out our friends at iFixit go way beyond the typical unboxing pictures, and take the whole darn thing apart. They have done the same thing with the MacBook Air, and posted a bunch of very high quality pictures.

They found out a few things:
  • The battery is very easy to replace (though the procedure requires removing 19 screws).
  • The multitouch trackpad uses the same controller as the iPhone making it unlikely we'll see a software update enabling that feature for older MacBooks.
  • The processor is very photogenic.


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Every time a new Apple product comes out our friends at iFixit go way beyond the typical unboxing pictures, and take the whole darn thing...
 

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Plugtwo

i thought reviewers have already been ripping apart the MacBook Air all week? (har har)

February 01 2008 at 3:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jason

It bugs me to see that Apple is still slathering on about 20x more thermal paste than needed onto the CPU.

February 01 2008 at 1:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lane

I agree, I have a Macbook and highly reccommend it over the Air due to it's "limits" but it is a pretty damn nice looking sexy lappie for those that already have a Desktop at home!!!

I wouldn't take mine apart though, I'd never get it back together physically or mentally hahahaah.

Faslane

February 01 2008 at 11:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brian

Nice to see that the Apple Product Cycle keeps on going.
http://www.misterbg.org/AppleProductCycle/
That is one of the single most insightful (and funniest) pieces of writing I've ever seen on the Web.

February 01 2008 at 10:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
basscadet

design will take 2-3 months to get used to (even less if one has been using Apple hardware after the iMac and is used to sleek looks) but performance will keep on giving for years. It's a tool, not a fashion accessory.

February 01 2008 at 9:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to basscadet's comment
Rookie

What are you talking about, performance wise this thing is a mac mini with downs. Regular Macbooks bought a year ago will perform better, longer than a new MBA.

I think you have this backwards, It is most certainly a fashion accessory before a tool. A macbook is a more powerful machine, they have the same footprint. The macbook is only about .6" or so thicker than the MBA's thickest point. Not to mention the price difference, I'm afraid the only tools these people have are themselves.

February 01 2008 at 10:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Clifford

Uh, Rookie -- have you actually used one? Because the four I've tried were all much more powerful than a mini, and zippier than a current MacBook. Doubtless it's because the Air has twice as much RAM and a much faster bus speed. Oh, but yes, the processor speed is slower. Who cares? Processor speed is nearly useless as a measurement of computer performance these days anyways.

February 01 2008 at 10:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eckofish

I just realised that i could buy a 24" iMac speced to the max and it would come to the same price as this.

Though the Macbook Air is still a very very desirable machine.

February 01 2008 at 9:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Eckofish's comment
south

so then, extend your logic further and think about how much you would pay for the equivalent of a 24" maxed-out iMac small enough to fit in an envelope.

February 01 2008 at 6:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kizor

I'm not usually amazed by motherboards and the such. But that one is one damn fine piece of engineering on Apple's part.

February 01 2008 at 9:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alpay

I hope they have been able to put it back together :)

http://www.unofficialmac.com/

February 01 2008 at 8:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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