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As I've said before when the Cube analogy was made, the "issues" with the Air are, IMO, mostly perceived issues, not real ones. I'd guesstimate that 90-99% of laptop users never swap batteries, so they might as well be built into the case.

However, when faced with a purchase decision, the non-swappable battery will seem like a great disadvantage for the MacBook Air.

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Tom_N wrote:

frankly wrote:

First let's start with the facts:

1) The battery in the MacBook Air falls somewhere in between that of a MB and an iPhone. It is not swappable like the MB battery but it is not soldered to the board like the iPhone battery. You will be able to change the battery yourself by using a #0 phillips screwdriver:
http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/18/mac … t-trivial/

That's a comfort to someone worried about their laptop becoming an $1800 paperweight when the battery wears out (refuses to hold recharges), but it doesn't help travelers who want to carry a charged spare.

frankly wrote:

2) Is the cross country flights extra power really an issue? I say that it is not because the FAA has just instituted new rules that state you are no longer allowed to carry extra lithium ion batteries on board with you. You have to leave them in your checked baggage. Therefore, no one is going to have extra batteries, regardless of the type of laptop they are using.

There are new FAA rules on lithium ion batteries, but you've got it the wrong way around.  The FAA doesn't want loose batteries in checked luggage, because if those batteries catch fire, nobody onboard will be able to get to the fires to put them out!  (I believe your checked luggage can still contain lithium ion batteries that are installed in turned-off equipment, but double-check the FAA site before packing your suitcase.)

Carry-on batteries are OK, within certain size and quantity limits.  They do want you to place loose lithium ion batteries in their original packaging or in plastic bags -- again, to reduce the chances of a fire (caused by accidental shorting of battery terminals).  And I believe that large, external notebook batteries pack enough power to fall under stricter limits/rules.

The first could be easily solved by Apple licensing the MagSafe technology.

The second I already noted in a reply above. CNN had reported on it incorrectly and unfortunately that is where I heard about it.

Bat wrote:

Swapping batteries may never be an issue for many. Replacing batteries, especially if you fork over the ~$3,000 for the SSD model and keep it for some years, probably will be. Replacement batteries are warranteed for one year. Replacing it yourself almost certainly voids any warranty.

I'm not sure what you are saying the problem is. If it is under warranty then it will be free. If it is not under warranty then you can replace it yourself. Unless you are worried about having to give up the laptop in order to get it replaced under warranty??? I'm think that if it is as easy as MacRumors states then it will be able to be done at any Apple store as well. Sounds like it takes minutes.

The battery costs the same as the battery for the MB and MBP and includes installation. The major downside being out of commission as it makes its trip to TX and back.

Seems a bit steep to me, but I'm not in the market. However, as always & moreso than with desktops, back up your data frequently, especially later in the battery's expected life...

Will the data on my MacBook Air be preserved?
Don't rely on it being preserved. Many repairs require Apple to replace or reformat the hard disk, which will result in the loss of your data. Please make sure you back up your data on a regular basis to minimize your data loss. .Mac members may download and use Backup to save an archive of their data to a series of CDs. Apple and its AASPs are not responsible for any damage to or loss of any applications, data, or other information stored on your MacBook Air while performing service.

Aqua OS X wrote:

Someone may have already said this, but I'm too lazy to read all these posts.

It is the TSA / DHS, not the FAA, that mandates airport security. Moreover, you can't bring loose batteries in checked baggage. Carryon is still OK. You can still bring enough juice to do some work in coach (if you don't buy a MacBook AIR).

Yes, but the batteries are allowed in the airport, not on the airplane

We already did mention the correction to how the new rules were originally stated. But anyway, the FAA has the info on their site about the batteries:
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/hea … teries.pdf

and the TSA has info on their site about billy clubs, dynamite, etc.
http://www.airsafe.com/issues/security/tsa_broc.pdf

In fact, from http://safetravel.dot.gov/ you will find this:

Getting Through Security
FAA forbids the carriage of hazardous materials on commercial aircraft, except as provided in Part 175 of the Code of Federal Regulations. TSA forbids the carriage of other items for security reasons. Click the links below to get through security, within the regulations!

And it is followed by each of the links I posted above with the FAA having the rules about batteries on their site.

Batteries don't pose a security risk. They pose a safety risk. That is probably why the FAA is making the rules about them. Hell, if the TSA is letting us carry on nail clippers, scissors, 2" knives, etc. I don't think they are worried about frickin' batteries.

Frank

Aqua OS X wrote:

frankly wrote:

Yes, but the batteries are allowed in the airport, not on the airplane

You can still bring them on a plane, they simply need to be in carry-on baggage.

It was a joke referring to your statement about the TSA being responsible for securing the airport. You said:

Aqua OS X wrote:

It is the TSA / DHS, not the FAA, that mandates airport security.

I was making a joke differentiating between securing the airport (as you said) and securing the airplane

wow - I'm still on the original battery on my 12" PBook (Rev A - so it must be over 4 years old).

iSam wrote:

wow - I'm still on the original battery on my 12" PBook (Rev A - so it must be over 4 years old).

Same here. Original 12" PB battery (4 years old). Original MBP battery (1 year old)

wellfleation wrote:

frankly wrote:

iSam wrote:

wow - I'm still on the original battery on my 12" PBook (Rev A - so it must be over 4 years old).

Same here. Original 12" PB battery (4 years old). Original MBP battery (1 year old)

How long of a charge do you guys get? I'm lucky to get 15 minutes with my 12" 1GHz, 3 year old PowerBook.

Are you asking how long it will last on battery only? I see my wife on the couch for hours on battery power on a regular basis. I would estimate that she is getting at least two hours of battery life, if not slightly more. She doesn't get the 4 hours that my MBP gets but it is much more than 15 minutes. Perhaps you need to cycle your battery, several times.

^^^I think that the five hours is using airport.  There is no doubt in my mind that with airport off it would last even longer (that is...if it reaches the quoted five hour usage time).

Never changer battery here, neither after two years of PowerBook duo, two years of PowerBook G4 1.33 nor a year of MacBook. (And brother still runs the PB G4 on the same battery)
So for me it wouldn't be an issue at all.
(Nor would the usb port, btw..)

toadkiller wrote:

I guess what I'm saying is - even though I actually *have* two batteries I don't use them.  It is just more hassle than it is worth.  That said, I'd rather they'd but a hatch in the Air so it was simple to replace, but if I bought one I'd be fine with using a screwdriver on it.  Apple's always been pretty lenient on that kind of thing so far as I know.

I agree with that sentiment. Also, I saw a video of the removal of the MBA battery today and while it was a lot of screws it didn't take long. There were 10 screws to remove the bottom of the case and it came off easy. There were 9 screws holding in the battery which is VERY FLAT and basically goes across the entire machine. It would literally be impossible for them to have created a hatch for that battery. It also would likely have been impossible to make the battery in a more normal shape so that it could have been removed easily.

To be honest when you see the MBA opened up it looks more like they designed it along the same lines that they design an iPod or the iPhone. They designed the components and the layout based on the space they had available. They did a really nice job. It looks well laid out inside of that thing. In fact, the person opening it called the battery sexy.

Frank