Comments on: Apple's MacBook (hot) Air problem

By: Steve, Mannington, WV

Steve, Mannington, WV — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:49:16 +0000

my macbook air has had the heating module go out twice….im not too happy about that. seems like its in the shop more than in my lap.

By: DC, Los Angeles, CA

DC, Los Angeles, CA — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:59:46 +0000

MBA has a hardware design problem, period. I've owned mine now for 3 weeks and it it runs @ 80-83C when "using the computer". When idle for say 10 minutes, it'll drop to 60-62C. The entire upper left side of the MBA gets hot to the point you can barely touch it.

The HP 7400 (Core2duo – 1.83GHz) running the same apps never gets above 55C under full load and barely gets warm to the touch.

This was my first Mac and going to be my last.

Going to the Apple store today to see what they suggest. At this point, I'd just assume swap it out for the lessor (price at least) Macbook.

By: Matt, Atlanta, GA

Matt, Atlanta, GA — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:34:49 +0000

Ok sorry to say but I own both an MBA and a SOny tz. The tz had heat issues but was repairable. ….they replaced a wire. There is no such solution for the MBA. Sorry to say but performance is not what I expect from Apple. The sorely jumped the gun on this one with the result being a portable email maching…….basically its now a nice looking iphone to me. And I do love my Iphone. Sorry but while it is half the price of the sony…..I get an integrated air card as well as dvdrw multiple ports ect with the sony……Mac needs to do something about this. Hate to say it but Sony's ultra is the better product if you have deep pockets if not…..Macbook is the way to go. Kinda reverse from the norm.

By: Julian, Traverse City MI

Julian, Traverse City MI — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:36:53 +0000

yah, there's some people on here that are morons, and there's some on here who have no lives. there's a simple solution that an apple tech gave me at a apple reseller, and he told me to use pop bottle caps to raise the air, and it works. he even showed me one the model they have out, I sat in the store watching youtube, and doing what I normally do, IT NEVER SLOWED DOWN

By: Tom porter, London, UK

Tom porter, London, UK — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:27:10 +0000

I own a MacBook air and am also a computer hardware engineer.

I have had a problem with over heating corresponding exactly to the periods when the vents at the rear of the machine were blocked (using it in bed to watch a movie).. the machine shuts down one core of the CPU under those circumstances and goes real slow, then eventually crashes.

So the answer is to make sure the vents stay clear and they'll be no problems.

By: Leonaldo Brum, Lisboa,, Portugal

Leonaldo Brum, Lisboa,, Portugal — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:11:44 +0000

Hello All.

I bought my MBA in May and it worked with some heavy applications for hours without any serious heating ou freezing – did this for over a month.

Suddenly, last week, it started first to NOT let the fan slowdown while the temperature was already down, then finally constantly raising the temperature to a max. ov over 80º C and staying over 70º C all the time, with the corresponding fan excessive speed and noise.

This temperature "raise and stay" was also accompanied by some hiccups, quite frankly never seen by me before in other laptops.

I am taking it to the Vendor today, for a possible refund. It is obvious that (judging from the feedback everywhere) that the problem is more endemic than I'd be willing to admit.

While not a speed demon, it is a sexy machine, the battery would (before the problem) last about 3 hours and the screen is gorgeous.

Now, as it stands, it is a piece of noisy junk.

I have 2 iPhones, 2 iPods and love Apple's design in general.

This was also my first Mac PC, one thet let me run Windows Vista – with the sexy MBA coat.

So sad to say goodbye to such a beatiful machine… so much in doubt about ever getting another one.

Funny, I had nothing against Apple so far – but it is sad that I have nothing in favour of their sexiest PC – it's that I wanted to, you know.

(But I still have hopes they come up with something for me… )

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:59:33 +0000

the first question that apple asked me when i phoned to complain was, "has it burned you"

There is obviously a problem if they are asking this…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:56:43 +0000

And the idea that that a MBA will run as cool as a MBP, prolly' applies at the north pole where the pitiful MBA fan isn't necessary to keep it cool. But use both at the equator and the MBP fan will keep it cool while the MBA melts.

By: Xander

Xander — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:52:40 +0000

Try using a macbook air in spain. Mine goes in the freezer every half an hour or so.

The questio is. Is it one of the first ones outta the factory: they have obvioulsly changed something with the newr ones. Ae you using it in a hot enviroment: i.e. Spain. Are you pushing the processor.

If the answer to all three is yes, then you have a laptop which is of little use. Nice ornament, though.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:41:53 +0000

I can speak for myself, and my problems ONLY come when I use flash applications.

If you use the processor at full power, that is no problem, but if you do it constanty (~10mins) then you get the overheating. For me it is always around 72ºF.

Disconnecting the battery lets you improve this time a little bit.

The definite solution is to close it, wait until it suspends, and open again: it restarts as new.