Ethernet adapter

[njx58]

My daughter has a Macbook Air that is a couple of months old. I gave her an Ethernet cable and adapter for her dorm room, for use when the wifi is just too slow. The adapter is Apple-brand (or has the Apple logo, who knows who made it.) Anyway, she notices that the adapter gets really, really hot. My Google research tells me that this is a common issue.

Is there a better alternative to the Apple adapter? I don't mind spending a little more money. I've done some searching but I don't see an obvious answer.

 

[chrfr]

My daughter has a Macbook Air that is a couple of months old. I gave her an Ethernet cable and adapter for her dorm room, for use when the wifi is just too slow. The adapter is Apple-brand (or has the Apple logo, who knows who made it.) Anyway, she notices that the adapter gets really, really hot. My Google research tells me that this is a common issue.

Is there a better alternative to the Apple adapter? I don't mind spending a little more money. I've done some searching but I don't see an obvious answer.

Exactly which MacBook Air does she have, and exactly which Apple adapter does she have? The thunderbolt to ethernet adapter for the older MacBook Air gets warm, and that's totally normal.

 

[njx58]

I can't recall the exact model -- I'd have to look it up later -- but we bought a brand-new MacBook Air at the Apple store in July. The adapter is the $29 Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet one sold on the Apple Web site.

 

[z2000]

I used one with" A1433 EMC2590" Thunder to Ethernet. Daily use with a bit warm - but not hot.

 

[njx58]

Thanks, I'll make a note of that one. I am going to try one with a metal exterior. Perhaps that will help dissipate heat.

 

[HappyIntro]

As your research showed, this seems to be common. I used to use a Thunderbolt 2 to Ethernet adapter, and it would definitely get HOT, no matter what I was doing with the computer. I was sort of concerned at the time, but at some point I sold my old MB Air and stopped using it.

 

[Bazza1]

I've used both the USB > Ethernet (for slower internet speeds) and the Thunderbolt > Ethernet (for faster), and I was not made aware of any heat issues on either. But then, I don't actually recall checking, either.

If it's a slower connection, you might want to try just going out and getting a simple, compact Wi-Fi router (like TP-Link's travel modem) and using that instead. I have found that I haven't gotten the 'advertised' speed of a faster service using Wi-Fi, but it's an option.

And if you go that route, remember to set up a password, so her entire dorm isn't using it!