MacBook Air USB Ethernet - slow, < 10 MB/s

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Level 1

4 points

MacBook Air USB Ethernet - slow, < 10 MB/s

This information wasn't posted on the Apple sales web pages, but it turns out that the USB Ethernet does not use the Gigabit ethernet standard, but rather 100 MB/s. It is actually slower than wireless. Wireless gets me about 15 MB/s, whereas the ethernet gets just under 10 MB/s. Disappointing.

Furthermore, the System Profiler indicates that the hardware should offer "Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec" under Hardware | USB.

If this is really a 100 MB/s ethernet adapter, the sales info should be updated accordingly. I would have saved myself this purchase.

The lack of high-speed connectivity to this laptop seems to be the worst part. Too bad there is no Firewire 800 or eSATA, or Gigabit ethernet port.

Mac Book Air 13", Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Nov 1, 2010 3:10 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 1, 2010 3:14 PM in response to lukasc

Is this a question? A complaint? Nothing any of us can do about that, and this is a well-documented and well-known issue.

It doesn't effect most MBA users who most likely use wireless for most of their transactions, and the times you need to use ethernet, you are right, it will run slower.

If that doesn't work for you, there is a return period and you can exchange for a Macbook Pro.

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Answer 2

JasonFear

Level 5

4,965 points

Nov 2, 2010 8:02 AM in response to lukasc

Are you referring to this product?

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC704ZM/A

The product that has been 10/100 since the first MBA was released in early '08. Where did you read that it was Gigabit? Furthermore, where did you read that it was something other than 10/100? The product that's featured on the online store has already been advertised as 10/100.

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Answer 3

Nov 5, 2010 11:46 AM in response to RonAnnArbor

I agree with Lukas - well documented our not, it still ***** and I suspect affects more users than you imagine. For me, video streaming of HD content over the home network is not worth it without fast transfer rates. IMO, the accessory listing should make it clear to non-techies that it will not solve the speed problem for which many would be buying it in the 1st place.

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Answer 4

Nov 6, 2010 7:38 PM in response to lucca9000

There are aftermarket Gig-E dongles from places like MonoPrice that give you better performance than WIFI.

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Answer 5

MacShed

Level 1

0 points

Nov 29, 2010 1:27 PM in response to Miata2000

So I recently purchased an 11" MBA and a third party Gig E dongle to go with it. However, when I tried connecting at school, it wouldn't connect and I got the "USB Gigabit Ethernet has a self-assigned IP address and will not be able to connect to the Internet" message.

Any help for this problem?

Thanks

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Answer 6

Nov 29, 2010 1:46 PM in response to RonAnnArbor

RonAnnArbor wrote:
Is this a question? A complaint? Nothing any of us can do about that, and this is a well-documented and well-known issue.

It doesn't effect most MBA users who most likely use wireless for most of their transactions, and the times you need to use ethernet, you are right, it will run slower.

Just curious I have a pretty fast 5N wifi network. If I'm setting up a new MB Air from another laptop is it going to be faster through the ethernet adapter or the wifi network?

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Answer 7

Toocool4

Level 2

365 points

Nov 29, 2010 3:00 PM in response to lukasc

Sorry to point out the obvious but how do you think you are going to get Gigabit speed out of a port that is only capable of a theoretical max speed of 480 Mb / sec ?

I have to admit that if Apple had put an Ethernet port on the MBA, the MBA would have been a perfect machine.

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Answer 8

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,821 points

Nov 29, 2010 9:46 PM in response to Toocool4

Toocool4 wrote:
I have to admit that if Apple had put an Ethernet port on the MBA, the MBA would have been a perfect machine.

If you look at the profile, you see why Apple had to leave it off.

Those UTP connectors are just too big. 😟

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