“Due to its ultra-thin profile, Apple’s new MacBook Air was designed with an integrated 37-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery that is not user-replaceable [but] the replacement process is quite trivial,” Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.
“According to people familiar with the new-generation notebook, there are no special tools or knowledge required to swap out the MacBook Air’s battery,” Jade reports. “Instead, the process requires a single size-0 type philips screwdriver and some diligence.”
“Once flipped upside down, the MacBook Air’s bottom cover is easily unscrewed and removed, providing immediate access to the battery cavity. From there, the battery can be unscrewed from the chassis with the same screwdriver and unplugged from the circuit board with a simple tug — it’s not soldered to the board,” Jade reports. “The entire process, according to those in the know, can be completed by any service technician in as little as three minutes.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “bob” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Note: As a side note, for those times when you need it, third-party sources such as Batterygeek.net offer external battery packs for Apple’s MacBook and MacBook Pro which offer anywhere from 3 to 20+ hours of additional runtime per charge. These third-party suppliers are not just going to randomly decide to ignore MacBook Air. Patience, Padawans. MacBook Air was just unveiled on Tuesday.
Other items of interest — or what we like to call “Whiner Silencers” — that Apple already offers for MacBook Air:
• MagSafe Airline Adapter: $49. Just plug it into your airline seat power port and keep your MacBook Air powered up for the entire flight.
• Ethernet Adapter: $29. Connects to the USB 2.0 port of your MacBook Air and provides an RJ-45 connector that supports 10/100BASE-T performance.
• Modem: $49. Connects to the USB port on your MacBook Air.
• MacBook Air SuperDrive: $99: Compact external MacBook Air SuperDrive connects to your MacBook Air via USB and fits easily into a travel bag. Read and write CDs and DVDs, including double-layer DVDs.
Other things MacBook Air road warriors might consider (besides canceling their chiropractic appointments): USB EVDO Modem for wireless broadband, USB Travel Hub for multiple devices, and other such items.
Hmmm If whe was born in 1992, I’ll bet there are some states she where would be jail bait.
Anyone that needs to lug all of that crap around would be better suited with a MBP.
my proof reading sucks!
@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?
“dog-eared connectors”
Yeah, that could be rough. But it doesn’t mutter. You have a new leash on life now.
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!
Jamie,
I’ll bet you’re a real corker.
ROFL!!! Well said Skylark!
Here I thought the world was done with the boorish Zune Tangy. At least we know he still breathes.
“At least we know he still breathes.”
Zombies don’t breathe.
Sorry Z.T., couldn’t help myself.
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.
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™
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).
Where’s the serial number?
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.
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!
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 !