I'm glad I can't afford it because if I could I would very quickly snap up a 13" MacBook Air!

They are fricking gorgeous and compared to my current MacBook Pro (late 2007 model that doesn't have a battery as it eats them up and they cost over £100 to replace) it would be likle owning a portable super computer!

I thought I was going to buy an iMac next but now I'm not so sure

OK, would REALLY like a Mac Mini Server also!

Could host a blog on there and use it as a github sevrer for my programming!

GAH!

I am waiting for the next gen iPad with hopefully a 1080p screen. Fortunately it is months away so can avoid that expense, but have the same problem with the next get iPhone which is only weeks away. Not so good.

I must admit I would like to have a 13¨mac air but has anyone any ideas about the battery being sealed in and you cant get at the hard drive .

Swings and roundabouts really. While you have to send the machine away if there is a problem with the battery and drive because it is a sealed unit, it does also make it stronger and lighter. The new MBA have better battery life as well apparently. The thing is that Apple kit is remarkably reliable and I have never experienced a DOA machine, though the same applied for me to the PC's in the past.

Depending on how adventurous one is (needn't be very), see here:

MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 Repair Manual

There is the point that if you get an Air with a dud battery and you have an Apple shop somewhere near you, you can book an appointment and they'll swap the battery for you while you wait. IIRC if it's in the first 2 years they'll do it for free.

Jon

I don't like the airs. Yeah they're very nice for sofa surfing but I like my USB and firewire ports. If wanted to buy a slimline device I think I would go for the iPad.

I've changed my mind anyway.

I'd go for a fully specced up 11"

That is what I have.

Best impulse buy I have ever made.

So someone (reputable ) I knw is selling an mac book air 11 for 550€ should I ?????.

This could be a way to get into macs learn some stuff to add to my portfolio ,
but as they never seem to go wrong is there a call for mac hardware trouble shooting ,
while we are on the subject what if any are the top 5 things that go wrong with a Mac.

Well, all new Macs come with a suite of Hardware Tests - usually on the original System Install discs - now as the MacBook Air doesn't have a DVD drive I'm not sure how that works. Newer models come with a USB drive with the OS X installers and software on it - presumably the Hardware Tests are on there? Anyway, boot into Hardware Tests (with the System Install drive available, press and hold Alt as you startup) and run the Extended Tests to check all major components for possible problems. If it all passes, job's a good 'un.


Don't think there's a definitive answer, just the usual things that go wrong with any laptop really. As they get more handling and knocked about a bit, check the screen obviously, make sure the hard drive is healthy (launch Disk Utility and run "Verify Disk") and all applications launch OK. The only other weak point on any laptop is usually the DVD drive, but as the Air doesn't have one, you can rule this out!

Presumably, the Macbook Air has a non-UK keyboard layout too (as you're in Spain, presumably Spanish?) - if you're OK with that then fine, if not then you'll have to get the keyboard replaced to a UK one. The system is international anyway, so you can switch to the UK layout in System Preferences > International - but the keys won't match that's all. I've heard of people switching the keys around, but it's not for the faint-hearted. If the non-UK layout bothers you, either walk away or factor in the price of getting it replaced with a UK one - that's probably an Apple job.

Note that newer macs you actually hold down 'd' when booting from the second system disk to get to the hardware diagnostics system. IIRC I think you can do this from a Lion USB recovery Disk, if you have one. if you have another Mac as well as the Air, I think you can use DVD sharing to do it.


The main thing I've seen Macs have issues with in general is overheating. Other than the mac pros, the snazzy design does have a tendency to mean it can't deal with heat as well as it's more lumpen brethren. If you're in a hot climate this may be something to be careful about. Obvious thing to do is download one of the various dashboard systems monitor widgets and keep an eye on the various temperature sensors built into your Mac. If something looks like it's running way too hot, that could end up a problem.

The only other things that go wrong are the things that go wrong on pretty much any PC. Hard disks going pop, for example. Given the Air has an SSD, that's not likely to happen. Plus no DVD drive as you say. In fact, there's pretty much no moving parts in an Air, are there? I think the Air is probably as 'failure proof' as any Macs get.

Jon

You might want to check the battery life maybe.

Sometimes they can suffer and it costs quite a bit to replace as Apple has to do it.

Yep, that as well - good call!

There's a free utility called Battery Health Monitor which you can download to check the battery's capacity. With it fully charged, check the "Original Capacity" value against the "Current Capacity" value. Anything above 90% is OK. You'll never get 100% unless it's brand new and the battery hasn't had any power cycles, but as long as it's above 90% then you have nothing much to worry about. Apple recommend you do at least one full power cycle per month (charge it up to 100% and use it on battery until it goes to sleep, after the warning message appears).