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MacBook Air notes: SuperDrive, 3G modems

updated 06:50 pm EST, Thu January 24, 2008

MacBook Air notes


Two new facts have surfaced regarding Apple's newly released MacBook Air and its optional SuperDrive that could influence the purchasing decisions of some consumers. The new notebook, which Apple touts as the "thinnest" notebook ever made, is incompatible with USB-based 3G modems, according to Engadget. The small high-speed wireless devices are too large to plug into the MacBook Air's collapsible USB port, preventing their usage without a USB extension cable or a powered USB hub.

Further complicating matters, the optional SuperDrive designed for MacBook Air does not work with other systems, and is only usable with Apple's latest notebook. Standard USB doesn't support the power draw that an optical drive requires, and suggests that Apple has configured its MacBook Air USB port with more power than most standard USB ports.


by MacNN Staff

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 MacBook Air, Apple

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  1. Flying Meat

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2007

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    01/24, 07:08pm | report spam | Reply |

    meh

    "preventing their usage without a USB extension cable or a powered USB hub."

    I've got two usb extension cables and a powered hub already. not a deal breaker.

    The optical drive issue is old news, too.

  1. e:leaf

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2006

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    01/24, 08:22pm | report spam | Reply |

    Can you be any more

    misleading? Needing an "extension cable or powered USB hub" is NOT the same thing as being incompatible. And the need for an extension cord would apply to all USB accessories, not just a 3G modem.

    Way to report a non-story.

  1. fuellemann

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2001

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    01/25, 05:09am | report spam | Reply |

    GlobeSurfer Modem works

    fine with the MacBook Air all over the world: http://www.novamedia.de/e_pages/e_produkte_gs_icon_72.html

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

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    01/25, 09:42am | report spam | Reply |

    Re: meh

    "old news?". Gee, it was reported a day or two ago. How is it 'old news'?

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

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    01/25, 09:48am | report spam | Reply |

    re: can you be..

    misleading? Needing an "extension cable or powered USB hub" is NOT the same thing as being incompatible.

    It's close though. Without the proper equipment, you just can't use the items as they exist now. Whether that equipment is a USB extension cable or a PCI-Express->PCI converter assembly, it still requires something else for it to work. Ergo, it's incompatible.

    And the need for an extension cord would apply to all USB accessories, not just a 3G modem.

    How does it apply to ALL USB accessories? Are you saying that the Apple DVD player also needs an extension cable? That your standard mouse or keyboard would need an extension cable?

    In fact, if it applies to ALL USB devices, you should be arguing that the port IS incompatible, as you apparently can't use it to plug in any USB device.

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