CrapBook Air 1.0

[twist2b]

I understand your frustration. Buts still, you had the ability to read reviews.

I have found some people actually did NOT have trouble with the AIR crazy enough But some do, like you, have some problems.

I am so sorry for your problems. I recommend you sell it on ebay and try to buy another macbook.

 

[CaptainCannabis]

I understand your frustration. Buts still, you had the ability to read reviews.

I have found some people actually did NOT have trouble with the AIR crazy enough But some do, like you, have some problems.

I am so sorry for your problems. I recommend you sell it on ebay and try to buy another macbook.

I got mine on like Feb 2nd or 4th. There were absolutely no reviews by then, as people started to receive their MBAs on the same day. I didn't use mine a lot for the first 14 days... so I never got to realise how bad it was.

On the other hand, there were many reviews by websites a little before then, as they received theirs to review them, but none addressed the issue... it just makes me wonder how much they test a machine before they actually start writing about it...

 

[SFStateStudent]

I'm not onboard with the OP; I've had two MBA's and I sold my 1st to my brother b/c I needed more hard drive space than the MBA's provided. I bought my 2nd MBA b/c I realized the MBA's potential and understood what needs would be satisfied and what needs didn't need satisfying...

 

[twist2b]

I got mine on like Feb 2nd or 4th. There were absolutely no reviews by then, as people started to receive their MBAs on the same day. I didn't use mine a lot for the first 14 days... so I never got to realise how bad it was.

On the other hand, there were many reviews by websites a little before then, as they received theirs to review them, but none addressed the issue... it just makes me wonder how much they test a machine before they actually start writing about it...

OHHHH, Ok. I am sorry that happened to you. Have you tried to re-install OS X and remove un-necessary things like extra languages? Also have you tried cool-book or w.e its called? Might help ALOT. Some people have REALLY liked the Rev A air though.

Again, really sorry :'(

 

[shokunin]

Only problem left is bootcamp, there is no tool like coolbook for windows xp, and it starts throttling to 1200mhz when its only 75C

There are many Windows utilities similar to Coolbook, question is will it work with the motherboard in the air. Check our Crystal CPUID and RMClock, there are host of other "undervolting" and multiplier unlocking applications on the Windows side of the world and have been for years.

 

[1rottenapple]

Man when I read people who say wait for the second revision to buy, I thought it would never apply to me, but damn I wish I waited for the second revision. Lesson learned, never again.

 

[spencers]

guess i'm the only one with a MBA 1.0 with no issues

 

[chocolaterabbit]

With coolbook my mac is locked at the 1600mhz its supposed to run at, only thing i had to do was install coolbook and lower the voltages, i dont think reapplying thermal paste did any good then shave of a couple of degrees.

It's maxing out at 85C now at 1600mhz, i guess without thermal paste it would be 90C, and the hardware downclocking only starts at 100C.

Only problem left is bootcamp, there is no tool like coolbook for windows xp, and it starts throttling to 1200mhz when its only 75C

Did you just say you locked it to 1600? That would be very bad, since you never need 1600mhz all the time. browsing and idling you will need only 800mhz or less. no wonder your computer is so hot. your battery life is also probably a lot less.

 

[Ironic]

That's why i bought the MB and sold the Air!
Watching anything turned it into a Hover Craft.
1.8 with SD drives are selling for about 1300.00 at the moment

 

[sparkstack]

Did you just say you locked it to 1600? That would be very bad, since you never need 1600mhz all the time. browsing and idling you will need only 800mhz or less. no wonder your computer is so hot. your battery life is also probably a lot less.

Finally, someone who 'gets' it. Cool book is great for finding out the minimum amount of power your own processor can reliably run with. Less power = less heat = less battery drain = win. Locking the processor speed is retarded. You wouldn't sit at the traffic lights with your engine at the redline, so why force your processor to run at full speed when it's just waiting for something to do..?

This whole argument about the Air's processor slowing down and speeding up is retarded. Seriously, Intel has been selling processors that speed step for years. It's not an Apple thing, it's not something that has only arrived with the Air, and above all it's not a bad thing to have.

 

[iDave]

It might be stupid but it's not retarded.

 

[netdog]

We have two MBA rev. A's, and I love these computers, but they do have big issues with heat. Neither can play a movie (iTunes supplied) without stuttering after a while. Anybody who says these machines don't have issues hasn't done much with theirs. Video should play on a modern laptop without issue.

 

[buccsmf1]

the heating issues are certainly a problem for me but other than that i love the thing to death. And, even if you dont want to admit it, THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE YOUR MAIN COMPUTER. I've got my iMac that i use whenever I'm at home and my air for taking to class and traveling. Perfect combination for me.

 

[macsmurf]

Finally, someone who 'gets' it. Cool book is great for finding out the minimum amount of power your own processor can reliably run with. Less power = less heat = less battery drain = win. Locking the processor speed is retarded. You wouldn't sit at the traffic lights with your engine at the redline, so why force your processor to run at full speed when it's just waiting for something to do..?

This whole argument about the Air's processor slowing down and speeding up is retarded. Seriously, Intel has been selling processors that speed step for years. It's not an Apple thing, it's not something that has only arrived with the Air, and above all it's not a bad thing to have.

Speedstep and other technologies like it is designed to prolong the time a laptop can run on battery power. It is not designed to make up for poor industrial design. Any well-designed laptop will be able to run at full speed indefinitely (well, for years anyway) if power is not an issue. In addition, speedstep can be turned off and the only thing you'll notice is a slight decrease in battery life. To my knowledge, no laptop manufacturer besides Apple limit the CPU to compensate for a poor thermal envelope.

The problem with the Air is that it is not a well designed laptop from a hardware point of view. Anyone who knows anything about computers would feel ripped off.

The argument that you can just reapply the cooling paste og undervolt your CPU is what is laughable. Consumers shouldn't be mucking about with either in order to make any computer run as it was meant to run in the first place, especially when we're speaking of a company that take a lot of pride in their so-called end-to-end solutions.

So I guess the question is: If the customers don't know that you're ripping them off, are they actually being ripped off?

Granted, the Air has other qualities but Apple should at least be honest about its shortcomings.

 

[HLdan]

the heating issues are certainly a problem for me but other than that i love the thing to death. And, even if you dont want to admit it, THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE YOUR MAIN COMPUTER.

That may be true but for the type of money that you pay for the AIR it should at least be able to play videos for hours without a hitch or cause of core shutdowns. Playing videos or movies is as simple as web surfing. Rev B has corrected this.

 

[NewGenAdam]

That sounds kind of contradictory.

Oh, it makes perfect paradoxical sense.
^o^

 

[lenselijer]

Did you just say you locked it to 1600? That would be very bad, since you never need 1600mhz all the time. browsing and idling you will need only 800mhz or less. no wonder your computer is so hot. your battery life is also probably a lot less.

I bought a 1.6ghz macbook air and not a 800mhz one. And yes, I notice a big difference between these 2 speeds, programs like photoshop, safari and itunes start much quicker now.
My computer is 35C while browsing, only when i watch a video on youtube or play a game its 85C. But atleast it wont stutter or anything, even 1080p movies play smooth.

The 65nm chips in the first revision were just not efficient enough to be used in such a small casing. Yes, I should have waited for the reviews, but after seeing the keynote I went to the store and bought it immediately.

I've tried numerous undervolt tools on windows xp, like rmclock, but when the temp reaches 75C it clocks down to 1200mhz.
Run the Everest stress test and check the cpu speed for yourself.
It looks like there is no tool that is compatible with the air which can turn off all the 'safety' features apple has put in place. I dont understand why apple did this, because the CPU will clock itself to 1200mhz when it reaches 100C anyway.

Now when i play a game on bootcamp it will play smooth the first 3 minutes, then the temperature reaches 85C and the framerate drops because the CPU is running at 1200mhz

 

[twist2b]

I am going to try to make a "tl;dr" version of this thread:

The Rev A has many faults, but still loved by some.
The Rev B corrected those faults, it is loved by everyone.

For those that bought the Rev A, sad day...
For those that waited and bought the Rev B, happy day!

 

[iDave]

After reading about all of the problems with all of the MacBooks, I decided last night to order a $500 windoze netbook instead. For my portable needs, I think it'll be great. I now need not worry about glass screens, faulty hinges and trackpads or overheating.

Thanks for all of the lively discussion.

 

[chocolaterabbit]

In addition, speedstep can be turned off and the only thing you'll notice is a slight decrease in battery life.

I'm not sure you can turn it off, unless you force it with coolbook. Apple laptops don't have this function anyway. I'm pretty sure the battery life difference is significant, but if you never unplug it, then there's no reason to worry.

I bought a 1.6ghz macbook air and not a 800mhz one. And yes, I notice a big difference between these 2 speeds, programs like photoshop, safari and itunes start much quicker now.

I think your issue is speed step not working well for you since apple downclocks whenever temperatures reach a certain level. you want it to speed up to full speed even if the CPU is near 100 degrees, which it doesn't do, and so the only solution is to run it at full speed all the time. I don't really have a solution in that case, i would've done what you did. However, on battery you'd be advised to return to normal settings to save battery life.

 

[robeddie]

Here's my question...

I have a rev. 1 Macbook Air (just bought it new at a local Apple store for a good deal).

I too have seen the choppiness that begins to occur when you watch a lot of YouTube (or other online videos).

What I don't get is, let's say it is clocking down to 1.2ghz or even 1.0ghz. Even so, WHY is 1.0ghz TOO SLOW to view a little online video!?!?!?

For goodness sakes, it was just a couple years ago I was on a 1.0ghz g4 and watching online videos all day (well not ALL day).

What's going on that now that a 1ghz machine (assuming that's what the Macbook Air becomes when hot) isn't enough to play some postage stamp sized videos without choking?

 

[aleni]

I have a rev. 1 Macbook Air (just bought it new at a local Apple store for a good deal).

I too have seen the choppiness that begins to occur when you watch a lot of YouTube (or other online videos).

What I don't get is, let's say it is clocking down to 1.2ghz or even 1.0ghz. Even so, WHY is 1.0ghz TOO SLOW to view a little online video!?!?!?

For goodness sakes, it was just a couple years ago I was on a 1.0ghz g4 and watching online videos all day (well not ALL day).

What's going on that now that a 1ghz machine (assuming that's what the Macbook Air becomes when hot) isn't enough to play some postage stamp sized videos without choking?

i'm confused too by this crap.

when i erase 1400 and 1600mhz from coolbook and just let the air operate at 800 and 1200mhz, youtube runs damn fine. some skipping occured but it's not that annoyed me.

but when coolbook uninstalled, and then let the osx throttling back down to 1200 and 800mhz, the video becomes stuttering like butter from the south park.

 

[twist2b]

After reading about all of the problems with all of the MacBooks, I decided last night to order a $500 windoze netbook instead. For my portable needs, I think it'll be great. I now need not worry about glass screens, faulty hinges and trackpads or overheating.

Thanks for all of the lively discussion.

Thats actually pretty funny though. We critique apple's supply line just because we know its the one company that can bring the perfection that we demand. Most companies like Dell and HP take diff hardware and throw them together in a box. But, everyone has an opinion. Good luck.

 

[mmulin]

i'm confused too by this crap.

when i erase 1400 and 1600mhz from coolbook and just let the air operate at 800 and 1200mhz, youtube runs damn fine. some skipping occured but it's not that annoyed me.

but when coolbook uninstalled, and then let the osx throttling back down to 1200 and 800mhz, the video becomes stuttering like butter from the south park.

you guys need to understand that video de/encoding is still quite a CPU taxing task. usually, dedicated HW takes care of it, in professional context or home appliances anyway. the RevB MBA's GPU finally supports most of the de/encoding, hence taking load of the CPU.

 

[aleni]

you guys need to understand that video de/encoding is still quite a CPU taxing task. usually, dedicated HW takes care of it, in professional context or home appliances anyway. the RevB MBA's GPU finally supports most of the de/encoding, hence taking load of the CPU.

my sister's laptop which sucks so bad with its 1.6ghz core duo and intel graphic card can run youtube without stuttering.

i can't wait for the new mba SSD version to arrive (indonesia). maybe 2 weeks.

i love the air so bad that i'm willing to sell my first gen and buy the second gen of the SSD version.