On 2009-08-19 Bern, Aberystwyth, Wales wrote: I loved my MBA when I recieved it as a gift in July 2008. I was so pleased with it - great graphics, the ´cool´ factor, perfect for all I needed it for (as a writer and photographer, the storage was excellent and the application were perfect).
However, after having it for only six months, I noticed the screen was wobbling back and forth alarmingly. I was more gentle with it than before - this computer needs a lot of TLC, the lid scratches easily and the screen must be cleaned regularly for fear of the dreaded ´fingerprint´ marks.
In about December, the screen was now wobbling up and down AND side to side. I was very worried about it, but I needed the laptop for my work and studies. I didn´t think it was really a problem though, as I had been assured the design was ´robust´.
Then in April 2009 the right side hinge snapped. I was shuttin the screen as I usually do and I heard a loud ´snap´. I tried to open it once to see if the hardware still worked, and found that everything was in order. It appeared that the hinge had broken through the plastic inverter which joins the base to the lid. I took it into the Apple store here and they informed me that they wouldn´t cover it unless I could find the receipt which showed I had paid the tax on the laptop. The next few months were spent trying to track the thing down, and yesterday, when I took it to two separate Apple stores who told me that, whether it was under warranty or not, Apple would not fix the hinge under it as they classed it as ´user damage´. I dare anyone to type in the words ´Macbook Air hinge´ into Google and see the problems with the hinge. There are so many people with the same problem that it can´t be a coincidence. I live in South Africa, and the Apple stores here state that Apple itself have sent out a blanket statement to ALL Apple stores saying the hinge is classed as ´user damage´. That very action shows the amount of complaints they must have had regarding this problem. The MBA is a rare computer in South Africa, which adds to the controversy.
Apparently, I have seen that the second version of this MBA (the Revolution B) has a different hinge contraption on it, showing that Apple must know about the fault.
So, beware if you want to buy this laptop. The technical specs are great (baring the lack of DVD drive, FW and only one USB port - but if you wanted that, then why buy a ´cool´ computer) and the running speeds are brilliant. However, this issue is simply with Apple´s customer service with something which is not the user´s fault which I have issue with here. Make sure you buy the Revolution B laptop if you can.
On a side note? It´ll take R7000 to fix the hinge (the screen and hinge are joined), which I can´t afford. That´s half the price of the entire laptop. So I´m probably going to buy a different Macbook, one that isn´t as powerful but is thicker, sturdier with a DVD RW incorperated.. And summed up by saying Great computer but faulty hinge. Currently Apple MacBook Air MB003LL/A 13.3 Inch Laptop (1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive) has an overall rating of 8 over 10.
Apple MacBook Air MB003LL/A 13.3 Inch Laptop (1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive) can also be found in the following searches:
Apple Computer claimed Thinnovation. Apple MacBook Air the thinnest notebook in the world. At 0.16 inch at its thinnest point, just 0.76 inch at its thickest point, and a mere 3.0 pounds, MacBook Air is so compact and light that you can take it everywhere. But unlike other ultraportable designs, it doesn´t compromise on features and performance. MacBook Air includes a bright 13.3-inch widescreen LED display, built-in iSight camera, 2GB of RAM, 80GB hard drive, and a powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 Cache. Enjoy also a full-size backlit keyboard with keys that automatically illuminates from behind in low-light conditions, and a spacious solid-state trackpad with multi-touch gesture that lets you zoom, rotate, swipe, and scroll with just a flick or a pinch. Engineered for the wireless world, MacBook Air also comes with 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and Remote Disc to deliver unparalleled wireless versatility to use any Mac or PC storage drive. The MacBook Air battery is our thinnest ever, yet it doesn´t compromise power. You can access the web wirelessly for five full hours. With MacBook Air, mobile computing is a sensible reality. 13.3 diagonal Glossy WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT LED backlit Display Built-in iSight camera and Microphone Built-in full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) keys, including 12 function keys; Solid-state trackpad Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with up to 144MB Shared Video Memory Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi wireless networking (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 1 USB 2.0 port, 1 Audio out, 1 Micro- DVI Pure digital video output -DVI output using micro-DVI to DVI adapter (included); VGA output using micro-DVI to VGA adapter (included) Approximate Unit Dimensions/Weight - 12.8 (W) x 0.16-0.76 (H) x 8.94 (D); 3 lbs MacBook Air SuperDrive (MB397G/A) optional
Item that are similar to Apple MacBook Air MB003LL/A 13.3 Inch Laptop (1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive) can be found at: