Apple Doesn't Want You Opening the MacBook Air
Here it is, just in time for the weekend, the latest issue of Gadget Porn Weekly from the folks at iFixit.
On Wednesday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs revealed two new MacBook Airs and gave us a little peek inside the 13-inch version to show how well they'd used the space. Apple used what looks to be more than 50 percent of it just for the battery. So what else is inside? We know Apple offers a max of 4GB of RAM, up to 256GB (128GB for the 11-inch) in SSD storage, an Intel Core 2 Duo and Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics. But there are still things we don't know – like how easy would it be to upgrade the machine at home? We know that to save space, Apple has omitted the SSD enclosure, instead preferring to attach the flash storage directly to the board, so adding more storage is out. But could you upgrade your RAM from 2GB to 4GB yourself? Well, Apple definitely doesn't want you to, that's for sure.
The company has made it especially difficult to get inside these notebooks. iFixit reports that the designers opted for 5-point Security Torx screws to keep the fairy dust and unicorn tears (that's what these things run on, right?) locked up nice and tight. The six battery cells (a total of 35W) and the Toshiba SSD are held in place by, you guessed it, more of those pesky 5-point screws. These 5-point screws show up time and time again throughout the disassembly, each one making self-repair even more unlikely than the last. Still, if you do purchase one, at least you'll be able to send it to the iFixit gadget hospital if it breaks. They sacrificed one of their Phillips head screwdrivers, filing it until it did the trick.
Peep the full gallery (and teardown instructions if you're feeling brave) over on iFixit.











Oh why do I even bother anymore...
Well thats what they're paring for right?
Oh why do I even bother anymore...
Still a waste of money.
For their looks! i think almost half the price is being charged for its design. One day when i am rich and want to spend all my money on my showcase, i'd consider one.
Good point! Yeah, definitely owning all these special bits has made my life disassembling things easier.
What looks? The "here's my piece of metal" look? Buy a real laptop, and then have someone machine you a brushed aluminum case for it. It'll be $1000 cheaper.
Maybe not. iFix-it claims that Apple ordered new special design security screws from Torx and ask them to make patent on it and only sell the screwdriver to Apple service partners and sue everybody who try to make similar head screw driver. So maybe Apple REALLY doesn’t want you to be able to open up / service your own device.
Aprox. 200-220$ for end user. But Apple used custom form (the device is made by Toshiba) so probably you never be able to upgrade
Apple keep pushing their products as class leading premium products, but many fall down on reliability (iphone 4 / ipad etc) and dont have the highest spec components. That said there will be millions of buyers who buy it because its an apple and therefore it must be the best
And given the memory is soldered on (space savings) and SSD card (again for space savings) is quasi-proprietary, why WOULD you need to open the MBA???
And I have never heard of an Apple store charging for diagnostics. I know their service agreement at the Genius Bar mentions such a fee, but I've never seen it charged and I've been using the bar over the years for a lot of things.
And lastly, I don't know where the idea of low quality components entered anyone's mind. Apple's equipment isn't exotic, but it's certainly not low quality. They use Samsung Original memory in many of their portables, they source their CPUs from Intel, many of their hard drives are from Seagate, their SSDs come from Samsung, the touchpads come from Synaptics. I'm sorry, but the list of reliable manufacturers goes on. To say that an Apple uses low quality components is ridiculous. At least the casing is made from a single block of metal as opposed to plastic, and the keyboard letters are laser engraved instead of cheap melted-on plastic that rubs off over time, and that the trackpad coatings withstand years of abuse instead of wearing away and becoming smooth and frictioned... What in the world are YOU using??? Must be made from pixie dust and unicorn tears...
Now all of the above said.. I would simply never purchase one.. It is underpowered for the price you pay, non-upgradable and comes from a company run by jobs, a man I dislike.
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