A brave MacBook Air owner (capitalizing on the Air's internal USB onnections we posted on previously) has embraced the wireless promise of Apple's ultra-thin notebook by installing a USB727 Verizon Aircard inside the Air. The hack involved disassembling both the Air and the USB EVDO modem and soldering it to one of the Air's internal USB connections.
Unfortunately, the hack also required removing the internal Airport and Bluetooth card (both to get the space and to use the Airport antennas), so I doubt most Air owners would be interested. Nonetheless, the end result is quite impressive and looks great. He has also started a forum thread to discuss the hack.
Thanks Amy!
Update: The hacker who put the EVDO card into the Air is not the same as the one who previously discovered the USB connections.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-29-2008 @ 4:12PM
cesar said...
Via engadget 8 hours ago
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/29/macbook-air-hacked-with-internal-ev-do-finally-live-up-to-its/
Reply
4-29-2008 @ 4:50PM
Bender Bending Rodriguez said...
Your point? Does TUAW have to beat all other blogging sites if it wants to post an article?
4-29-2008 @ 5:16PM
Mat Lu said...
No, via Amy, which is why she's credited.
4-30-2008 @ 7:35AM
ron said...
So true! sorry but TUAW is allways 12 to 48h late. Also, if so sad that so many non-mac sites are much faster than TUAW.
4-29-2008 @ 4:54PM
tnkgrl said...
It's unfortunate about the WiFi and BT - but really, kudos on this mod!
I don't have the guts do to something like this to my MBA despite doing some crazy mods myself: http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2007/05/07/oqo...l-02-hsdpa-mod/
Reply
4-29-2008 @ 4:55PM
tnkgrl said...
Doh. That's http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2007/05/07/oqo-model-02-hsdpa-mod/
4-29-2008 @ 8:57PM
drewgaren said...
I wouldn't do that to my air unless the evdo card had bluetooth and wireless support. Those evdo fees are a lot, it'd be nice to have it all. Judging by the pics though you could probably fit a card on the other side just find one that is smaller.
Reply
4-29-2008 @ 9:39PM
Listed1st said...
You've got to remember the edges are tapered in, come to a very tiny point! It looks like plenty of room, but near those edges, it's thin!