Similar to the past MacBook Air design, Apple’s new Air is under lock and key–or five-point Security Torx screws, to be exact. So, users will have to defer to Apple for upgrades, according to iFixit’s teardown of the Air.
“The new MacBook Air is an exercise of proprietary engineering. While you can easily access everything once you remove the proprietary screws, you can’t really replace any component with an off-the-shelf part,” according to iFixit, which dissassembled the 11.6-inch model.
And iFixit offers some advice for prospective buyers: “Unfortunately, like all previous MacBook Airs, the RAM is soldered to the logic board and is not upgradable. Apple does offer a 4GB RAM option at the time of purchase, but if you opt for only 2GB and decide you want more RAM later you’ll be out of luck. Our advice? Go for 4GB.”
Not surprisingly, the thin-and-wide battery–which CEO Steve Jobs says will deliver up to seven hours of active battery life–comprises vast tracts of real estate inside. Also of note is the flash memory module which is not a solid-state drive per se, but a flash module like the one used in the iPad.
source: cnet.com
