Adding insult to injury: USB 3G modems won't fit in the MacBook Air
By Ryan Block 
posted Jan 24th 2008 2:08PM
posted Jan 24th 2008 2:08PM
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Boohoo, you'll need a $2, 2 inch usb extension cable that can be found at 100000 stores online. Hardly news.
You still shouldn't need to because of a bad design!
So get the cable plus the adapter (again, two extra items in your bag...) to fix something that could have been included in the first place?
mike we get it. you hate Apple, and especially the MBA, so why the F do you have to post on every apple story your juvenile little trolls. Pretty much as bad as the Tony C guy being pro-Apple. Seems like neither one of you has a job, or maybe middle schools are closed this week.
How about you just go on enjoying your windows boxes, and let other use what they want to use. You think you're not a sheep? you are the moron following the anti-apple herd. About as original as a Williamsburg hipster.
It has less to do with Apple hate and more to do with Apple's penchant for taking something that is obviously poorly designed and trying to spin it into a plus. They take a technical limitation or (in this case) a poor port layout and tell you how much better your life will be now that you have this limited functionality. "One USB port is the wave of the future!"
Yeah... just keep the octopus growing... LOL
Yea...if you're paying $2000 or $3000 for a underpowered laptop, the least they could do is make sure the USB port is usable.
Also, Mr. Block, I don't ever see this much coverage for any other single product that is a non-Apple product...please cut it out.
You people make me so angry sometimes!! Quit calling the MBA a paper weight. Everyone knows that it can't even hold paper down or be a proper door stop :p.
Welcome to non news.
@Brian
The point of the macbookair is to be ultra portable and ultra compact. now i need dongles too?
and this is obviously purposeful design, or else they would have learned from the iPhone debacle.
I would prefer using an extension anyways so that the big ass 3g adapter wouldnt get broken off!
...echoes of the sunken iPhone jack that wouldn't incorporate most high-end headphones.
Now I need a USB extension cable in addition to my portable optical drive. That manila envelope is starting to fill up.
Really, though... The modem maker should have made their device so that it doesn't interfere with neighboring USB ports, thus solving this entire problem.
Mike does it for fun. That's the definition of a Griefer.
Strange, I got booted from Gizmodo's comments section because I was identifying trolls and griefers. They must love it.
Here it's refreshing and pure... now sic em.
I think I'm about done reading the comments section at Engadget, thanks to people like mike.
It'd be one thing if he just wanted to rant and ramble, but the fact that he gets a "high" rank (and even highest) for being a dick, pretty much means that the children are in the driving seat here, and that scares the piss out of me.
Maybe it's back to MacSurfer for news aggregation. Such a shame too, I used to like reading the comments here.
Why not hack the Air like the Eee and put the 3G inside?
I didn't mean to come off as supporting the Air, much less Apple. IMO, it's just a palm foleo with the sex appeal of a delorean.
I just don't believe that an extremely cheap usb extension is that big of a deal.
The device is already crippled, from a typical desktop users standpoint, so this is hardly proverbial nail in the coffin.
This reminds me of the poor design of my MB with trying to use a flash drive and another USB device. The space between them is way to small, not to mention that there is enough space on each side to move one over a 1/2 inch.
Come on Apple, get with the program.
i thought most of those 3G dongles came with a 1 or 2" extension because some laptops have this issue in the first place.
well this seems to be a case of apple going for style instead of usability,
It is a nice laptop but it doesnt have any ethernet ports and the dvd drive thing is wierd
once again, it is nice but the probably couldve done a better job with the ports
Adam:
You know why I do this? To prove to myself that you Mac fanboys are so easy to stir up! I do this because it shows what kinds of people use Macs. Now I am not saying everyone who uses a Mac is a fanboy that is so easy to manipulate but a lot of you are. You just prove to people that you are just pawns. Hell I don't even use Vista, I use XP and sometimes Linux.
Predicted here:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/18/fujitsus-lifebook-p1620-is-lighter-than-macbook-air/comments/9920974/
I didn't need to test it out to see that this was going to be a problem...
Wireless USB FTW!
Yay! More dongles and crap.
EPIC FAIL.
mike
@ Jan 24th 2008 2:13PM
You still shouldn't need to because of a bad design!
Kind of like how my friends shouldn't have had to upgrade their 1 year old PCs when Vista came out to do basic functions OS X can do on the original iMac. (Circa 1998)
Mike:
"I do this because it shows what kinds of people use Macs."
And what does it say about people who don't use Macs then by your logic? (p.s. I don't use Macs) Get a life and stop being disruptive. You've posted 10 times and its nothing but crap.
Fits in my X505 just fine.
You know whats really funny? How little I care. Hey Engadget, shut up with this Mac crap already!
Mike -
Whether you know it or not, I'm certain that many readers here are able to extrapolate from your comments that you are quite young. What you're doing is very immature and definitely doesn't add to the environment of this website. This is an article about technology. This is no debate on abortion or economics, there is no reason to be evangelically, offensively forward.
Please refrain from making more of the silly comments you have been making. Not all Mac users are senseless and your comments are definitely not supporting your thesis.
In other words, you have been judging the users of a simple product instead of judging the product itself. That's very immature.
Thanks.
Fine I will judge the product: Apple screwed this up and idiots will buy it.
Well... that's a little better, I suppose.
:)
I'm actually surprised they didn't cut a deal with AT&T to have a SIM slot in this for cellular broadband. Not that it would have done anyone on Sprint, Verizon or T-Mobile any good.
Regardless, the design vs. how many USB devices are out there means that if it's not a broadband USB modem that doesn't work, it will be something else.
BINGO!! A cheap accessory to stop the big drama!!
I love reading conversations involving Mike. They're so exciting. He criticizes macs on a legitimate flaw and all the fanboys get their panties in a bunch . . and then he just keeps coming back for more! . . and how could you resist?
Contrary to popular belief, you can like some Apple products and criticize others and not be a hypocrite.
I love every iPod I have ever owned, including the Touch, which is amazing.
I never leave home without my airport express, its perfect.
My MacBook was OK but I happily switched back to Dell notebooks.
The MacBook Air looks very sexy but the more stuff like this comes out the more it becomes apparent that they just made too many compromises for no other reason but to say they had the slimmest laptop by x millimeters.
And when it comes right down to it, the ability to say that means a lot more to Apple's marketing machine then it does to Air owners.
I'm convinced this laptop was designed for people who like to burn money.
If you have some extra money, just give it to me.
Well actually, Apple charges $10 for a USB cable that everyone else sells for $2.... Hmm.... I sense a more sweeping analogy, but I'll stay silent...
I simply don't understand the demographic for this particular machine. One USB port? Are you kidding me?
It is an ultra-portable, what kinda stuff should be plugged in?
USB powered-
cup warmer,
massager,
drink cooler,
or
a powered cooling fan?
Function follows fashion.
The macbook air is a flawed machine in it's current state. It needs the following to be worth the price:
firewire (at least 400, preferably 400/800)
ethernet jack
at least two fully accessible USB ports
expresscard 34 slot or at the VERY LEAST a card reader
full sized 2.5" hard drive, or cheaper SSD flash drive (only time can help this)
easily serviceable interior for adding 3G upgrades, etc), or, at the very least,
a user replaceable battery (not as in swappable, but replaceable in event of failure)
The processor is fine, the screen is fine, the keyboard and trackpad are fine, the battery itself is fine, but this is a seriously crippled and overpriced machine given the current specs. Hopefull by version 3 they'll have seen the light!
@max andrews
You're talking about the MacBook Pro...
The beauty of the Air is that you don't need those. Or you have to learn to live without.
rich college kids and soccer moms with lawyer husbands who need to show it off at starbucks.
It's for that class of computer user who wants everyone to know they have the newest, coolest toy on the block. Apple isn't stupid; they understand very well the concept of planned obsolesence and design that signals status.
@Mike
It's a computer that will fit in my briefcase and be non-intrusive in the conference room. Calm down, big boy.
can't agree more with Grant, somehow i always have this feeling that apple users and starbucks lovers are the same kinda people
IT'S A LAPTOP, a small one at that, how many USB ports do you need?! I mean if you want to hook up and external HDD, your new MacBook Air Superdrive, your TV remote and a bunch of other crap at the same time... get a desktop! The idea about a laptop is that it's portable, not that it's a whore for your USB dongles.
It's weird how some many people can be like, "I don't understand who would want this thing". If you don't want it, dont buy it. I know Apples marketing makes you feel like if all the cool kids have one you should too, but use what you want. Get a laptop with 8 USB ports if that's what makes you happy.
ClaMs said it right.
That's why there are different models of Apple Notebooks. I was just at the library earlier writing a paper for class. To do that I had to carry around with me a huge power cord and my huge Dell. I'm not there to watch movies, play games, listen to a high-end audio system . . just there to browse the internet and type up a paper, and maybe chat online. But I need to bring a huge ass computer with me.
The price is what's wrong here . . . I'm paying a premium and getting less? does that make sense? I really think 5-600 bucks is perfectly legitimate, and theyre not making 800% profit.
@ ClaMs:
Exactly, so if this computer at that price were to be worth it, it would essentially be a macbook pro. If all I want is a simple computer for word processing or web browsing, why not an EEPC which is only $300? Things the air CAN'T do:
can't work with raw images (because of slow shitty 1.8" ipod drive)
can't do any sort of meaningful video editing (again, shitty 1.8" ipod drive)
can't work with any firewire 400/800 drives (limiting expansion to slow and shitty USB 2.0 drives)
can't get 3G internet without an adapter AND and extension cable (really portable now eh?) can't play any sort of games (integrated graphics)
can't effectively dual boot windows (not enough HD space for two decent partitions)
can't burn or read CD's without an external drive
Let's consider the shit we now have to carry around with us, just to bring this computer to the level of the cheapest $1099 macbook:
proprietary external cd/dvd drive ($99)
external USB hard drive -- Oh shit we only have one port so we'll have to trade off. What if I want to burn something from my external have drive onto a cd or dvd? Can't do it. ($99)
So we've spent twice the price of a normal, faster, macbook, and we have to carry around two extra chunky pieces of crap just to be able to do the same things?
Want to know why it pisses me off? Because I like the air in theory. Really I do! I'm typing this on a macbook pro right now and my ipod is hooked up to the stereo, I like apple and most of their products. And I WANT to like the air, but I feel it was maybe a year too soon. Hell I'd like it twice as much if it just had firewire, because then at least I could use it with a decent external while at home on my desk. If they'd waited a year, they could have charged $1799 with the SSD included as standard. I like the SSD option because it makes working with big images on a small computer fast and easy (images are essential to my work). But the SSD is small so the lack of firewire for expansion is a dealbreaker for me. This is ALMOST my ideal computer, I could care less about the cd drive or the 3G, but not for this price and not without firewire.
For $1,799 this computer is SO convenient!
Yeah I think the best thing about this computer is that reading about it makes my macbook seem better and better.
Holy Crap! That's disgraceful. "Most flash drives..." That's disgraceful too. Looks like we're back to the old days of Apple, i.e. "What for Rev B"
bash it all you want. say its specs suck, say one usb port is garbage, say it is over priced, say the non-user replaceable battery is dumb. say what you want. but im still convinced. this thing is dead sexy
What would be cool is if it could use an iPhone to connect to the internet. Surely most of the people who buy this already have an iPhone.
And be stuck on slow EDGE?
It has bluetooth, right? While it sucks that the port can't fit a lot of USB devices, I prefer to tether through my phone anyway -- less wires to deal with, and less devices to carry and manage. Of course the iPhone can't do that, but a lot of other phones can.
@mike
Slow? Probably if you live amongst the Pennsylvania Amish, yes. I'm pulling down decent surfing speeds in the bay area.
I do live in PA but not with the Amish! I used EDGE at the ATT store iPhone demo and it took forever to load a site.
If you think oldschool EDGE is acceptable surfing speeds, you just BSing yourself. That's like saying dialup is "good enough"
For some reason, the iPhone only supports mono audio in its Bluetooth profile (and only for calls, not for music).
This is why function > ̶M̶a̶c̶ Looks...
One USB PORT? LOL? Four isn't enough...
Four isnt enough? on my laptop, which I use almost exclusivly, almost never has anything plugged into the usb ports. I print over my wireless network. I use a cd once in a blue moon. Hell on my gaming rig I only have one usb port filled... with my mouse. I dont know why everyone is whinning this is made to be a road warrior for a buisness professional to throw in his bag to check his email and work on some documents, or a student to lug around to his/her classes. Besides if you buy this your most likely know what your getting into so why doesnt every just shut up about it already? and if you need a evdom network. Why dont you just use your phone as a bluetooth modemn or get a 2 dollar ext. Hell I have a 2 inch one I'll mail to someone!
(Excuse grammar and spelling, just woke up and no coffee as of yet)
Sorry, one usb port used for my logitech wireless dongle thingy that I pair my mouse AND keyboard with.
#1: Phoenix Sim USB cable.
#2: Nintendo wifi/USB storage stick.
#3: USB printer.
#4: Logitech MX revolution wifi dongle.
Granted the USB stick/nintendo usb isn't in there all the time but when it is I can be a pain to plug anything else in such as cameras.
I was just using it as an example for a laptop that is carried around all day long will almost never have things plugged in, other then power cords. Honestly you'd have to really hate trackpads if you just HAD to plug a mouse into your laptop everytime you went to use it...
This laptop is made for people on the go who dont need to be bothered with other things. This isnt meant to be your ONLY laptop. just your daily use commuter laptop.
Meh, whatever I still wouldn't touch it.
I take around my Dell Inspiron 15.4" and get on just fine. Faster then any Mac user I bet ya. Amount of people I've seen while out and about using Macs... Mostly Chinese people? Related? All seem to be struggling with something.
Eh true but obviously we arent the target users. As much as I like OSX i still prefer windows. Even though personally I believe osx makes for a better laptop... dont know what. But to pricey for me!
Technex,
If you have a flight simulator control, a video game thingy, external key board and mouse and a printer attached, then you my friend are definitely not a mobile user. I'd like to see you lug all that stuff around!
If you do use that machine mobile on occasion, then a powered USB hub will definitely make more sense because you only have to plug-in or unplug one connector instead of 4.
@Raghu
Flight sim(so far:))/wifi mouse/printer is only for desktop use. I have no external keyboard and I guess by video game thingy you mean my Nintendo USB connector?
Four is plenty enough while mobile, I just mean when it's on my desk. Mac would be useless here. Not that I would think about using one.
@ Technex
The video game thingy I mentioned was from your previous post "#2: Nintendo wifi/USB storage stick".
So what do you need 4 ports for when you are mobile? And why wouldn't a powered hub make more sense when you are at your desk?
Also no need to get racist in your posts, quoting "Mostly Chinese people? Related? All seem to be struggling with something."
How about an External 2.5" HDD Enclosure to make up for the anemic 80GB HD? Ooops, can't do that, most 2.5" HDD's need more than 500ma, so they need 2 USB Ports to get sufficient power.
Apple knows this, because they've had to hack the MBAs external optical drive to get 1A of power from a single port, but I can guarantee you that it won't be available to any other device that needs more than 500ma.
My USB ports?
Let's see...
1) Mouse
2) External hard drive
3) Printer
4) Headset
5) Optical Out for speaker system
6) Webcam
7) Spot always used for flash drive.
Yea, I can see how more than one port would come in handy. But the macbook air can't handle games, it's a glorified iPod / Palm Foleo.
This and the previous Air post made me laugh. Keep the comedy coming, Engadget and Apple!
no way i'd trade my MacBook for the air
While I do agree this is 'news', i dont see why it needs to be a separate article...couldnt we have 1 post about your review unit of the air, and you can then point out all of its flaws in that 1 post?
Naw, Apple is probably paying them to post these.
That would condense all my laughter into one ten-minute segment of reading, which could implode my lungs. Think of this as Engadget's laughter buffer for people who think that this is laptop is in hilariously poor taste. Engadget's keeping us safe and alive, man.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Using a low profile (if that what those short plugs are called) USB extension cable will significantly reduce the risk of breaking that single lonely port. My Acer has one effed up port now, because of a large wireless mouse receiver/transmitter and some hefty torque.
What's positive about it then?
If you don't have a long USB plug sticking out, you can't bend/break it. Don't get me wrong, the fact that the Air only has a single USB makes it quite useless for me (and probably a lot of other potential buyers).
That's by design Ryan! The proprietary connector to tether your iPhone to the MacBook Air and use it as an EDGE modem will be available this summer!
Plus 20 dollars to update the software on your iPhone.
Can't you use the iPhone as a modem over bluetooth?
Can't you use the iPhone as a modem over bluetooth?
The more I hear about this computer, the more I think it's a waste of a product. Apple really screwed this one up, I think.
I agree. I would have bought this if it was more like an EEE PC and thats coming from a Windows user!
MacBook Error, where design meets complete and udder impracticality....
OMG! Really?
ya rly!
no wai!
I'd be interested to see the Sierra Wireless 881 USB - it has a longer flip-out USB connector than what you're showing here. It's not about size of the overall adapter, it's length of the USB connector that's built in.
Pretty silly oversight - they could have avoided so many problems without this recessed port cavity.
Most USB devices vendors knows enough to include a dongle already. I use one when ever possible, because I don't want to break my USB port by accident even though my laptop is only worth $200-300 dollars.
I am cracking up laughing right now.
I think we're all still missing the point of this laptop - It's for word processing, document follow ups and for people who have almost constant WiFi access. There are HUGE measures afoot to get in-flight WiFi and almost every major airport has it. Any business worth their salt has WiFi.
Chances are, if you find this an inconvenience - you're probably not the target demographic, which is why it's $1799.
Why would you want to spend $1800+ just to do word processing, document follow ups?
Because believe it or not there are people in the world who have money just to spend on whatever they want. Hell I have a friend who is 27 and still has her parents credit card with a 80k limit... she'll spend 2-5k a week on clothes, let alone "neccesities" ... Oh that must be nice..
Yeah, it's a lousy lack of foresight on the part of apple; but how many other computers have the same mistake in design? -Quite a few from my experience. The USB port is, half the time, stuffed away from view and hindered by some fold of plastic or too near another port to use very many successfully. And why isn't the complaint equally made in regard to the USB designer? Is that plastic and bulk necessary right up to the business end? No. -There's nothing structural in a box on the point that can't be made in tapering the point to the plug itself. It's a compounded problem, but hardly apple's alone.
No wonder Ryan Block's Wikipedia page reads like this...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Block
this website should be called MSEngadet 2008
hey fanboy, have you actually read this blog? its usually completely pro-apple, MS-bashing, but since there are obvious, serious defects, they have to call them you know. Wouldnt you be pissed about that if you expected to use 3G on it? i know id take mine back right away and would be pissed at anyone who made a review and didnt mention these details for a potentially business-oriented laptop.
I am not an Apply fanboy, I just find it amusing thats all. I agree the MacBook Air is pretty pointless. But in the case of these entries they are being written in a way that communicates a bias, not saying that there IS A BIAS, just saying that these posts make it seem like there is. Cool down buddy... I didn't write the Wikipedia entry or anything. Just discussing my thoughts...I think you need a MacBook Air to fan yourself down a little bit.