Fake / Prototype Macbook Air

[mhnajjar]

I am sorry, but the value of this MBA just dropped since the owner just declared that Apple is not interested in it

 

[Gizmotoy]

I am sorry, but the value of this MBA just dropped since the owner just declared that Apple is not interested in it

I would have said just the opposite. The eventual buyer now knows that Apple doesn't consider the laptop stolen, and thus won't be sending their legal team to retrieve it.

 

[VSMacOne]

I am sorry, but the value of this MBA just dropped since the owner just declared that Apple is not interested in it

It still doesn't change the fact that it's got unique parts in it and is most likely a unique product. It makes sense that Apple not make a big deal out of this, because they would have pretty much acknowledged that it slipped past them unnoticed. But i'm pretty sure somebody at Apple is getting destroyed over this!!

 

[MacsBestFriend]

Brett33 is a friend of mine and I just got off the phone with him.
Being the kind of guy that he is… he went into his local Apple store to see what Apple’s position would be.

After explaining the situation to the manager (who knew of this thread and this proto-type) corporate people were called….

I am glad to report that Brett33 did make it out of the store alive… and while I don’t want to steal his thunder about what happed in the store, I am going to suggest that all should watch this thread later tonight for his update.

Cheers
The Bunny Man

the suspense builds!!!!!!!

*gasp*

 

[mudenza]

I find it quite surprising how Apple seem quite unconcerned about this whole matter after all. Probably since the Air is already out.

 

[voicegy]

Update:

(...) corporate and they did not want the Air back, and I was free to do whatever I would like with it. I plan on taking some more pictures of it and listing it on ebay tonight, and hopefully, I'll eventually be able to get a "normal" MacBook Air.

Yeah, what I said.

 

[voicegy]

Hopefully they rewarded him with a real MBA for his honesty. I predict his wife has a nice new computer..

Reward? For what? sheesh...

 

[MacsBestFriend]

Update:

<snip>

After that he called Corporate, but had no success getting anyone that could help, but did leave messages. After that we exchanged information and he said he'd be in touch. True to his word he called back within the hour and said he had heard back form Corporate and they did not want the Air back, and I was free to do whatever I would like with it. He said that they would not support it and basically not acknowledge that it exists.

They would, however, not give me a written statement saying this.

I now feel that I have covered myself as far as the legality of selling it, and that is what I now plan on doing.

I plan on taking some more pictures of it and listing it on ebay tonight, and hopefully, I'll eventually be able to get a "normal" MacBook Air.

lol i guess your macbook is now a ghost

 

[NC MacGuy]

Reward? For what? sheesh...

For returning something that obviously wasn't supposed to be in his hands and was considered confidential.

 

[Sweetfeld28]

Update:
After a bit the Manager came over, and said he was already familiar with the story of the prototype MacBook Air.

I thought Apple Employees weren't allowed to be conversing on the Rumor sites or whatever. Though, i guess this story is now on almost every Mac/Tech site on the web.

 

[mustang_dvs]

Update:
...I then asked if he frequented this site (sadly he said no), so I went over to a new MacBook and pulled up the site and showed him the story on the front page....

Employees are instructed not to acknowledge the content on any of the Mac rumor sites. (In most cases, it easiest to simply deny any knowledge of the rumor sites, with a knowing wink.) They're also told that browsing those sites on any of the CPUs in the FoH would be grounds for dismissal.

I thought Apple Employees weren't allowed to be conversing on the Rumor sites or whatever. Though, i guess this story is now on almost every Mac/Tech site on the web.

Managers have a bit more latitude than most ARS employees.

 

[mustang_dvs]

For returning something that obviously wasn't supposed to be in his hands and was considered confidential.

Apple's released prototypes into the wild before -- which is why just about every model's prototype has been found on eBay at least once. (Including Pipin.)

I once had a pre-production PM7500 -- it was purchased through the normal sales channel and I had no idea that it wasn't a stock Outrigger until I opened the case to add RAM, and noticed the red motherboard. It was otherwise unremarkable.

 

[thewireman]

*continues to eat my popcorn* This is an awesome story! I'm wondering what will happen in the end.... *suspense music begins*

 

[voicegy]

For returning something that obviously wasn't supposed to be in his hands and was considered confidential.

Key word there is "was". MBA has been out for a while, so corporate doesn't care about prototypes from the past.

 

[Pixellated]

All together now: EBAY LINK! EBAY LINK! EBAY LINK!

 

[Apple iCider]

Ebay no fair

I recently picked up a used Macbook Air 1.6

The bottom case is black without any markings on it.

Computer does boot up, but the battery has swollen and distorted the case. I removed the bottom of the case and pulled the battery with thoughts of purchasing a replacement battery. When looking at the connections they are different from the disassembly pictures on the web, and then most of the other internals are slightly different than on the various disassembly sites as well.

(Sorry for the relatively bad photos)

As you can see it looks very similar to the disassembly photos on the web, but it does not look exactly like them. The main board does have "Apple" stamped on it.

Just wondering what exactly is going on.

Thoughts?

So how come every time I buy something from Ebay it stinks, but you get a collectors edition MacBook Air No fair!

 

[morespce54]

Not only is the Ebay listing gone BUT, I no longer have any of the sellers items in my list of items being watched. I had been viewing the Ebay ad just last night and added one of the sellers items to watch so I could follow this seller.

All has been removed from my Ebay account. I smell something fishy going on here. Those sneaky little Apple ninja are at work here

This ABSOLUTELY makes this story that much better. Too funny

That's it, he *mysteriously* disappeared...

 

[Ironic]

Maybe he is making a ebay ad

 

[morespce54]

Brett33 is a friend of mine and I just got off the phone with him....
I am glad to report that Brett33 did make it out of the store alive…

Hooray for Brett!!! Now, what about the seller, any trace of his body?

 

[Fonzijr1964]

Not on eBay yet i just checked

 

[brett33]

there's been a bit of a change.

 

[GoCubsGo]

there's been a bit of a change.

Ummm complete sentences man!

 

[bornblind]

Apple has struck?

there's been a bit of a change.

I wonder if Apple just knocked down his door while he was was in mid sentence?

FREE BRETT!!

 

[pcogan]

Good for Brett

Brett - glad you did this - and probably not surprising they wouldn't give you a letter as I suggested. I hope you at least got the business card of the manager.

Good luck with the auction!

Update:


They would, however, not give me a written statement saying this.

I now feel that I have covered myself as far as the legality of selling it, and that is what I now plan on doing.

 

[Beric]

there's been a bit of a change.

AND?