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March 13, 2008
The MacBook Air: when cool becomes [ouch!] Hot!
When Apple gives it customers a guided tour of "the world's thinnest notebook" the MacBook Air, they completely neglect to mention the fact that some of the innovative new features apparently also make it the world's hottest notebook. That might explain that odd smirk on the face of the presenter.
Owners are complaining that in addition to those cool trackpad gestures, which are supposed to allow them to navigate the interface with a pinch or a swipe or a rotate, they also have to learn how to fan ... briskly, on account of the fact that the CPU shuts down intermittently from overheating.
And in a move that calls to mind its often-cavalier attitude to such issues, Apple seems to be blaming the problem on the fact that some countries experience hot weather. As if it never gets warm in, say, southern California. Or Texas. Or Florida. Louisiana. Georgia. Alabama. Nevada. Etc.
Apple has just released a software upgrade to fix the overheating. It's supposed to fine-tune the speed and operation of the internal fan. Unfortunately, users are reporting that it doesn't solve the problem ... possibly because in many cases, the fix was already installed when the Airs shipped. [Isn't it cute that that information emerges well down in a story that's headed "Apple solves MacBook Air Overheating Problem", suggesting that (a) Apple hasn't really solved the problem at all, and (b) a lot of journalists/bloggers who write about Apple products tend also to suffer from overheating problems? Can someone come up with a patch to fine-tune their cooling fans too?]
And doesn't it also suggest that Apple is taking an innovative approach to so-called "fixes"? Might it not prompt the question, "Umm, if the fix didn't work the first time, Mr Jobs, shouldn't you fix the fix before releasing it again?" And while you're at it, Mr Jobs. Can you do something about those combusting iPod nanos? How about a new fix for those other Mac notebooks? You know, the ones that explode? How about a Rush job?
Posted by cw at March 13, 2008 10:56 PM
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