How shock-proof/vibration-resistant is the Macbook Air 80 GB ATA (not SSD)

Question

How shock-proof/vibration-resistant is the Macbook Air 80 GB ATA (not SSD)

Hello,

I already have a macbook pro and I'm now planning on buying the Air just for experiment purposes. Some few questions that have been striking my mind lately are:

1) like MBP, would I have to put it to sleep mode before moving it from, for example, my table to another table in the same room or the next room?

2) can i use it in the subway in NYC? anyone who has ever ridden the subway in NYC knows how vehemently it vibrates from side to side and sometimes jolts and screeches to a halt before it reaches a particular destination.

3) I'm a businessman on the go and what type of rough handling can MBA handle?

Thanks

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Feb 20, 2008 12:39 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 20, 2008 1:39 PM in response to Armand Loonux

1.) No you don't have to put it to sleep. But to be honest I don't necessarily put my MBP to sleep before moving it also as long as I'm reasonably careful. But with the SSD there's absolutely no reason to do this.

2.) Well I haven't tested there, but it's flash memory. No moving parts. Do you put your iPhone or iPod Nano to sleep on the subway? I would guess not. No need for the SSD either.

3.) What do you mean by rough handling? To me the MBA feels more solid than a MBP. But if you drop it I'm sure you can still break it. The aluminum case though is much more rigid feeling than the one on any MBP.

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Answer 2

Feb 20, 2008 1:52 PM in response to Armand Loonux

Is it the hard drive that worries you in particular?

If so I would point out that these same drives are used in iPods, where they are subjected to far more violent movement than on your lap whilst riding the tube.

EG: People go jogging, cycling, even skiing moguls ⚠ etc with ipods.

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Answer 3

Feb 20, 2008 2:26 PM in response to Brian Caslis

Sorry I misread the title, I thought it said SSD. Whoops! In any case my answers would the same except maybe item 2. Even though, people still use iPods in those conditions and the 1.8" drive is an iPod type drive.

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Answer 4

drv123

Level 1

14 points

Feb 20, 2008 4:47 PM in response to Armand Loonux

I carry my MBA from room to room daily without a problem.

I don't shut down anything beyond power-saving functions.

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Answer 5

Feb 23, 2008 2:54 PM in response to drv123

that kinda explains it. ty all

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Answer 6

Dan Uff

Level 2

292 points

Feb 23, 2008 6:55 PM in response to Armand Loonux

Hi:

1) I'd say if you close the lid, then it would be safe to move. As another person said in this forum, with the SSDD version, this problem wouldn't be an issue.

2) I'd would expect that Apple has thought about this and designed the air for situations such as yours.

3) Well, I would not throw it off of a three story building, but I am sure that the MBA is built to be rough handled when on the go.

-Dan Uff

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