Will the new Air run any cooler?

[Scottsdale]

Yep. $300 Atom netbooks with Win7 run Flash better than $1,300 Air.

But it's difficult to blame Adobe. Apple is the real source of the issue as it's so closed when it comes to low-level access to hardware.

Finally a few months ago Apple gave h.264 low-level hardware access to h.264 acceleration from the GPU to non-Apple apps. This allows Adobe to finally get some access.

With Windows, Adobe has been given full reign to run the hardware as best as possible. Here's a real story for you. Install Windows 7 64-bit on your MBA and do not use BootCamp. Just go in and manually install the drivers, then let Windows update everything. One will find 4x+ the performance of Flash on Windows as opposed to OS X, and this is on the same exact hardware.

It is easy for some to blame Adobe if they just hear the typical Apple fans who don't really understand the situation. However, this is all on Apple. I believe it was Apple's move to allow this finally as it gave up on the Mac and decided it would fight its battle solely on iOS in the future. Sorta like Apple trying to show some goodwill to the justice department and anyone looking at its attempt to completely control everything.

It is in our worst interest to allow Apple to continue down this path as consumers. However, if it were my property, I would do what was best for my company too, and that brings up more points for debate.

Going back to the Air running cooler. I have a Core Duo 15.4" MBP I bought for my wife as she just needed a Mac and doesn't care at all about the software, performance, and etc. Anyways, while "playing" with this thing I literally burned my legs. Not a joke nor a lie, it was hot and it actually burnt my legs. I left it there too long, and I really had burn marks on my legs. I have never experienced this with an MBA. I think the heat comes from the thinness in these Mac notebooks. Apple is simply going too thin. More air inside the case would allow these to cool much better.

I hope the new MBA feels cool, but my rev 2,1 MBAs always ran very cool anyways. Now there are many other Mac notebooks that aren't so cool running, and the MBPs are a big heat factory in my experience.

 

[altecXP]

I personally consider such devices rubbish.

Then they obviously arn't designed to do what YOU want. I think a Mercedes Benz is rubbish. I'm sure some would disagree.

 

[Scott6666]

11" uses 10w processors vs the 17w processors of the 13" (and I believe the last gen). That could make a big difference.

Be sure when you check the initial reviews you know which model they're referring to.

 

[bolsen78]

Rubbish to your comment. Netbooks run many things well and at the same time. Also, my Samsung (I sold it to get an ipad) netbook didn't get hot; it barely got warm.

As of now, I really like the specs on the new mbas. However, for me, if they get too hot, it's a no go. I'm crossing my fingers.

HA I just wanted to comment cos I LOVE your sig!! GO MOSS AND VIKINGS!! Ok im done now back to the post!!

 

[ghileman]

Music to my ears.

that's good news, but quieter is not cooler.

is the fundamental heat problem the Air's design or the core2duo processor? in other words, as Scottsdale suggests are we going to need to wait until there is another processor on a future Air Rev before we can expect a head reduction improvement?

my future children await...

 

[mac jones]

I can't b sure, but this 11" doesn't seem to get very warm.

Spotlight was going for a while so the cpu was maxed. I figured it was getting hot so I felt the bottom and it wasn't hot.

They may be using very low voltage chips in these.

But it's too early to tell what's what'

 

[ghileman]

I can't b sure, but this 11" doesn't seem to get very warm

that's encouraging for the 11", but any reports on the 13"?

 

[bouncer1]

all joking aside that's a pretty important issue op. God knows how many hot notebooks have fried my procreation potential over the years.

And yes I do think so as well that the heat issues here are cpu related 100%. I would put it as far away as 2012 before we get a much cooler device. I sure hope by then amd have a good apu proposition and apple opt to go with them, but even then it's not as if x86 will miraculously become arm in terms of the thermals. And it's also up to apple, if they say we are fine with X degs of temperature and we ll always get the best cpu/gpu option for said degrees then we are not happy campers. If they opt to make a cooler device (which I sure hope they do) with each iteration then we stand a chance.

 

[R.Youden]

Can someone install iStat (I think that's what is it called) so we can get some real figures? Also what is hot to one person may not be to another, whilst 60deg is 60deg in whichever language.

iStat

 

[drjsway]

Wow, I played Portal for two hours tonight on High/Very High settings. Gaming used to turn my old MBA into a frying pan. My 11.6" 1.4GHz barely got warm at all! I was shocked. It was cooler than pressing your hand against your forehead (assuming you don't have a fever).

I suspect maybe the 13" gets a bit warmer. The lower TDP of the 11" CPUs might've helped.

 

[bouncer1]

I think we d better open up a thread for this with a title such as measure and report your mba's temp, make it a sticky, with a brief first post on how to use istat and the order to post model, cpu, ram and temperature, and we could also put some set basic tasks to be run together, a few links to youtube html5, a few ones for flash youtube, and maybe have itunes, mail, and a few ilife apps open too.

It will come in very handy for a lot of users I am sure to see what stats each model outputs with each scenario.

(btw there's no point having the rev. 2 had to take apart as sticky, I mentioned this in that thread but I was typically ignored by whoever is moderating here. They were quick to jump with derision at the thanks to Scottsdale thread and send it to wasteland, but in terms of setting up a few stickies that will help all of us put some info together, I suppose it's too much to ask for)

Wow, I played Portal for two hours tonight on High/Very High settings. Gaming used to turn my old MBA into a frying pan. My 11.6" 1.4GHz barely got warm at all! I was shocked. It was cooler than pressing your hand against your forehead (assuming you don't have a fever).

I suspect maybe the 13" gets a bit warmer. The lower TDP of the 11" CPUs might've helped.

And it's also lower tdp on the same physical frame essentially isn't it? Because the smaller model just shaves off the ends, so that should leave in theory the same space in there as the 13" but with a lower tdp.

 

[mac jones]

And it's also lower tdp on the same physical frame essentially isn't it? Because the smaller model just shaves off the ends, so that should leave in theory the same space in there as the 13" but with a lower tdp.

this may be true.

But I've got a hunch that the 13" is going to be pretty good also. They may have aggressively addressed this issue.

but only time will tell.

 

[rdubya5]

As a former rev b macbook air owner I for one am very interested in this issue. My air would get so hot from using it in bed as the vents were covered by the blanket it would be barely usable. It did better when using it on a table since the vents had more room to breathe but still got hot quick when doing anything remotely fun (playing games, watching videos). I hope they addressed it with this model. It does appear that the bottom vents are gone. I assume it vents out the back like the other macbooks. My wife has a white unibody and it works great in bed. If anyone wants to let me know how it works sitting on a blanket I would be very appreciative.

 

[potatis]

My future unborn children are counting on Apple solving the heat problem.

You won't have any if the MBA's heat makes you infertile when keeping it on the lap.

 

[ghileman]

News?

Reports are coming in that the 11" runs cool, but no word on the 13" heat. I have heard that the 13" fan cranks up on some games.

 

[Gruber]

Wow, I played Portal for two hours tonight on High/Very High settings. Gaming used to turn my old MBA into a frying pan. My 11.6" 1.4GHz barely got warm at all! I was shocked. It was cooler than pressing your hand against your forehead (assuming you don't have a fever).

I suspect maybe the 13" gets a bit warmer. The lower TDP of the 11" CPUs might've helped.

Wow. 42 messages, and this is almost the only posting worth reading. Why? Because you seem to be the only person that actually has the new MBA, tried something heavy with it, and could give advice based on your experiences.

Thanks, drjsway!

 

[tianh2002]

Could someone give the istat temperature when you watching HD online video on either hulu or youtube? I am thinking about replacing my MBP 13" 2010 for a macbook air 11.6.

When I use my MBP for watching tv shows on Hulu, my temperature often rise to 70 degree Celcius. Is this normal for MBP 13" 2010?

Thanks

 

[AppleGoddess]

I now have mine and there is no heat at all.

 

[bouncer1]

Reports are coming in that the 11" runs cool, but now word on the 13" heat. I have heard that the 13" fan cranks up on some games.

you mean "proper" ones, or from fora?

 

[AtmChm]

Just adding to the speculation...

since I don't have the new MBA. However, I highly suspect Apple was not able to solve the heat issue in an even smaller case design than the previous MBA. I have a Rev A and the last Rev C. The Rev C is clearly substantially cooler, but still does produce noticeable heat.

I suspect the reason the stock CPU on the new MBA is 1.4 GHz on the 11.6" and 1.8 GHz on the 13.3" is to keep the temperatures down. I mean, you HAVE to get the 256 GB SDD 13.3" MBA to even have the 2.1 GHz CPU as an option. I think Apple is really trying to limit the number of 2.1 GHz MBAs out there to those who feel they absolutely have to have it. I also suspect there is a good tradeoff for Apple: crank down the CPU but put in much faster SSD (maybe this is one of the reasons it took so long for an update???) I think the overall experience for the user is a better MBA. From the reviews coming in on the 11.6" version, there do not seem to be any complaints about the MBA being slow, and reports seem to be no real heat issues.

I'd say kudos to Apple for figuring out the right balance.

 

[prefabsprouter]

I purchased my first Air (rev. A) in early 2008. I was plagued with heat problems from the very beginning. I always use my computer in bed a lot, and when the vent on the bottom is covered by the sheets, the laptop would get hot very quickly, especially if ANY video was being played. The computer would get so hot that it would start slowing down to a CRAWL, at which point I would have to put it to sleep, wait a few minutes, and start using it again. This would happen OFTEN.

About a year later I purchased the next Air gen (rev. B), thinking Apple would have solved the problem. Hell no!

Some of you might be wondering why I keep sticking to the Air in spite of all my issues. Yes, I'm an addict. I LOVE the weight and thinness of the Air. After using it, everything else in comparison feels like a behemoth. I'm hooked!

I've been impatiently waiting for the latest Air, which I'm set to receive on Wednesday; I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm eagerly reading all the feedback regarding heat on the new units. Please share!!

 

[tivoboy]

no heat 13"

I've been using a 13" for the past three days now, not heat at all to speak of. At the back, along the trailing edge is the only place there COULD be heat, and I don't feel anything at all. I could honestly use this machine on a bare leg without problem. Haven't even heard the fans once, doing youtube HD videos, vimeo and other processor intensive tasks. I don't know how it do what it do, but it don't get hot.

 

[hachre]

I've been using a 13" for the past three days now, not heat at all to speak of. At the back, along the trailing edge is the only place there COULD be heat, and I don't feel anything at all. I could honestly use this machine on a bare leg without problem. Haven't even heard the fans once, doing youtube HD videos, vimeo and other processor intensive tasks. I don't know how it do what it do, but it don't get hot.

That's very great news... I haven't heard a confirmation that the 13" is as cool as the 11" yet, but it seems to be

 

[ghileman]

Haven't even heard the fans once

with regard to the fan, this guy is reporting the exact opposite as you:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1035945/

 

[hachre]

with regard to the fan, this guy is reporting the exact opposite as you:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1035945/

Yea but that's while playing SC2!!