MacBook Pro in flight power?

I've packed portable recording devices in my luggage. Temperature and pressure are about normal.

RIchard,

Portable recording devices in your luggage are irrelevant. According to American Airlines, its cargo hold is pressurized, but temp. ranges between 50-70 degrees. This is not the same as in a passenger compartment. Anyone who has ever shipped an animal on an airline would tell you the same thing.

If you still don't believe, read it yourself: http://www.aacargo.com/shipping/animals.jhtml

You make my point. My measurements were in the 60s and 70s (it was some years ago, so I'm not sure where the data are.) I'm pretty sure the temperature didn't dip below 60. This is certainly no problem for electronic equipment.

Well there are battery based chargers, basically book
sized batteries with a short lead - when plugged in
the laptop thinks it has mains power and charged,
whilst it is actually discharging an external
battery. They rely on interchangable tips to fit
different laptops, so until availability of magsafe
tips they aren't going to work (without DIY butchery
!) In effect, the same problem that stops people
using most of the other kit that's available.

Short answer - at the moment, there is nothing.

For those of you have have purchase the Car adapter conversion (from mikegyver.com), you can use any external battery pack(battery based charger) with an interchangable plug with the converted magsafe plug. Just make sure you are within the voltage range.





2 powerbooks G4, 1 Macbook Pro, G5 server. Mac OS X (10.4.7)

I have the Kensington 150 Inverter as recommended by the Apple Store website. I plugged it in to the seat and realized it didnt last for very long (not even a minute). To fix this you can just disable bluetooth and the airport card. Then take the battery out of the computer, make sure you dont trip the MagSafe or the computer will turn off. Another way is to make sure the Macbook Pro is at 100% charge and it uses less power so it should work.

ps: if this is already mentioned in the thread, sorry. I didnt feel like reading all these posts 8 )

I have the Kensington 150 Inverter as recommended by
the Apple Store website. I plugged it in to the seat
and realized it didnt last for very long (not even a
minute). To fix this you can just disable bluetooth
and the airport card. Then take the battery out of
the computer, make sure you dont trip the MagSafe or
the computer will turn off. Another way is to make
sure the Macbook Pro is at 100% charge and it uses
less power so it should work.

ps: if this is already mentioned in the thread,
sorry. I didnt feel like reading all these posts 8 )

Please google "macbook car adapter" you'll see that there is a solution instead of using an inverter.

I recently tested my MacPro 17 inch using the 60 watt adapter made for the smaller mac laptops on an American airline flights. When plugged in with the battery, the power kept tripping on and off every 1/2 second or so. However, when I removed the battery, I had uninterrupted power and could do all my work. Two cautions as noted above. One is the battery compartment is exposed and secondly, if you accidently disconnect the magsafe, you are toast and will have to restart. I used a Kensington plug (auto adapter). Still, it has been quite some time now and I would hope Apple would come up with a solution as I constantly see people with MacPros flying...frustration on their faces...

Is your "car adapter" an Inverter? it's already been established that inverters will not give you the best solution no matter what Apple adapter you use. Direct DC is the solution.

With the release today of the Magsafe Airline Power Adapter Part Number: MA598Z/A, this should no longer be an issue ... hopefully.

Hey up - look what I spotted in Apples store !

Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter

"Now you'll never lose your work or interrupt a DVD movie because your battery runs out at 35,000 feet. The MagSafe Airline Adapter will keep your MacBook or MacBook Pro juiced throughout your flight. Sleek and light, it works with in-seat DC power ports available on many commercial airliners — both EmPower ports and 20mm ports with the included adapter. Check with your airline regarding availability of in-seat power ports."


However, a big BUT for anyone who (like me) is thinking "Great, should work in a car" - there is a tech note that says specifically that it won't charge or run the computer in a car.

Oh yes, and in true Apple fashion - it's "a tad expensive" as well !