Loading...Congratulations, you and your MacBook Air were made for each other.
Say hello to your MacBook Air.
www.apple.com/macbookair
Built-in iSight camera and iChat
Video chat with friends and family anywhere in the world.
Mac Help
isight
Finder
Browse your files like you browse your music with Cover Flow.
Mac Help
finder
Multi-Touch trackpad
Scroll through files, adjust images, and enlarge text using just your fingers.
Mac Help
trackpad
MacBook Air
Swipe Rotate
Scroll |
Four fingers |
Pinch and |
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swipe |
expand |
Mac OS X Leopard
www.apple.com/macosx
Time Machine |
Quick Look |
Spotlight |
Automatically |
Instantly preview |
Find anything on |
back up and |
your files. |
your Mac instantly. |
restore your files. |
Mac Help |
Mac Help |
Mac Help |
quick look |
spotlight |
time machine |
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Safari
Experience the web with the fastest browser in the world.
Mac Help
safari
iLife ’08
www.apple.com/ilife
iPhoto
Share photos on the web or create books, cards, and calendars.
iMovie
Make a movie and share it on the web with ease.
GarageBand |
iWeb |
Create your own |
Build websites with |
song with musicians |
photos, movies, blogs, |
on a virtual stage. |
and podcasts. |
iPhoto Help |
iMovie Help |
GarageBand Help |
iWeb Help |
photos |
movie |
record |
website |
Contents
Chapter 1: Ready, Set Up, Go
8 Welcome
9 What’s in the Box
10 Setting Up Your MacBook Air
15Setting Up DVD or CD Sharing
16Migrating Information to Your MacBook Air
19 Getting Additional Information onto Your MacBook Air
22 Putting Your MacBook Air to Sleep or Shutting It Down
Chapter 2: Life with Your MacBook Air
26 Basic Features of Your MacBook Air
28 Keyboard Features of Your MacBook Air
30 Ports on Your MacBook Air
32 Using the Trackpad and Keyboard
35Running Your MacBook Air on Battery Power
36Getting Answers
Chapter 3: Problem, Meet Solution
40 Problems That Prevent You from Using Your MacBook Air
43 Using Apple Hardware Test
Contents 5
44 Reinstalling Software Using Remote Install Mac OS X
49Reinstalling Software Using the MacBook Air SuperDrive
50Problems with AirPort Extreme Wireless Communication
50 Problems with Your Internet Connection
52 Keeping Your Software Up to Date
52 Learning More, Service, and Support
55 Locating Your Product Serial Number
Chapter 4: Last, but Not Least
58 Important Safety Information
61Important Handling Information
62Understanding Ergonomics
64Apple and the Environment
65Regulatory Compliance Information
Looking for Something?
70 Index
6Contents
1
1 Ready, Set Up, Go
www.apple.com/macbookair
Mac Help 
Migration Assistant
Welcome
Congratulations on purchasing a MacBook Air. Your MacBook Air is streamlined for portability and a completely wireless experience. Read this chapter for help getting started setting up and using your MacBook Air.
ÂIf you know you won’t be migrating information from another Mac, and you’d like to get started using your MacBook Air right away, you can follow the Setup Assistant to set up your MacBook Air quickly.
ÂIf you want to migrate information from another Mac or get content from DVDs or CDs onto your MacBook Air, you can set up one or more Mac or Windows computers to partner with your MacBook Air. Then follow the Setup Assistant and use DVD or CD Sharing to use your MacBook Air and the information from the other computer.
Important: Read all the installation instructions (and the safety information starting on page 57) carefully before you first use your computer.
Many answers to questions can be found on your computer in Mac Help. For information about getting Mac Help, see “Getting Answers” on page 36. Apple may release new versions and updates to its system software, so the images shown in this book may be slightly different from what you see onscreen.
8Chapter 1 Ready, Set Up, Go
What’s in the Box
AC plug
AC power cord |
45W MagSafe Power Adapter |
Important: Remove the protective film covering the 45W MagSafe Power Adapter before setting up your MacBook Air.
About Optical Discs
Although your MacBook Air doesn’t have an optical disc drive, it does include DVD discs with important software. You can easily access this software, as well as install applications and access data from other optical discs, using the optical disc drive on another Mac or Windows computer and the Remote Disc feature on your MacBook Air. You can also use the optional MacBook Air SuperDrive, an external optical disc drive.
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Setting Up Your MacBook Air
Your MacBook Air is designed so that you can set it up quickly and start using it right away. The following pages take you through the setup process, including these tasks:
ÂPlugging in the 45W MagSafe Power Adapter
ÂTurning on your MacBook Air and using the trackpad
ÂUsing Setup Assistant to access a network and configure a user account and other settings
ÂSetting up the Mac OS X desktop and preferences
Step 1: Plug in the 45W MagSafe Power Adapter to provide power to the MacBook Air and charge the battery.
Insert the AC plug of your power adapter into a power outlet and the MagSafe connector into the MagSafe power port, located on the back left side of your MacBook Air. As the MagSafe connector gets close to the port, you’ll feel a magnetic pull drawing it in.
AC plug |
MagSafe connector |
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AC power cord
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To extend the reach of your power adapter, replace the AC plug with the AC power cord. First pull the AC plug up to remove it from the adapter, and then attach the included AC power cord to the adapter, making sure it is seated firmly. Plug the other end into a power outlet.
When disconnecting the power adapter from an outlet or from the computer, pull the plug, not the cord.
When you connect the power adapter to your MacBook Air, an indicator light on the MagSafe connector starts to glow. An amber light indicates that the battery is charging. A green light indicates that the battery is fully charged. If you don’t see a light, make sure the connector is seated properly and the power adapter is plugged into a power outlet.
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Step 2: Press the power (®) button briefly to turn on your MacBook Air.
When you turn on the computer, you’ll hear a tone and see the sleep indicator light turn on.
® Power button
Sleep indicator light
Trackpad |
Trackpad button |
It takes the computer a few moments to start up. After it starts up, Setup Assistant opens automatically.
If your computer doesn’t turn on, see “If your MacBook Air doesn’t turn on or start up” on page 42.
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Step 3: Configure your MacBook Air with Setup Assistant
The first time you turn on your MacBook Air, Setup Assistant starts. Setup Assistant helps you enter your Internet information and set up a user account on your
MacBook Air. You can also migrate information from another Mac during setup.
Note: If you don’t use Setup Assistant to transfer information when you first start up your MacBook Air, you can do it later using Migration Assistant. Go to the Applications folder, open Utilities, and double-click Migration Assistant.
To set up your MacBook Air:
1In the Setup Assistant, follow the onscreen instructions until you get to the “Do You Already Own a Mac?” screen.
2Do a basic setup or a setup with migration:
ÂTo do a basic setup, select “Do not transfer my information now” and click Continue. Follow the remaining prompts to select your wireless network, set up an account, and exit Setup Assistant.
ÂTo do a setup with migration, partner with another Mac that has an optical drive and supports DVD or CD Sharing. (You may have to install software if the other Mac doesn’t have Mac OS X version 10.5.5 or later installed. See “Setting Up DVD or CD Sharing” on page 15.) Then go to page 16, “Migrating Information to Your
MacBook Air.”
Note: After you start Setup Assistant on your MacBook Air, you can leave it midprocess without quitting, move to the other computer if you need to install the DVD or CD Sharing Setup software, and then return to your MacBook Air to complete the setup.
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Step 4: Customize the Mac OS X desktop and set preferences.
You can quickly make the desktop look the way you want using System Preferences. Choose Apple ( ) > System Preferences from the menu bar or click the System
Preferences icon in the Dock. System Preferences is your command center for most settings on your MacBook Air.
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Setting Up DVD or CD Sharing
You can partner your MacBook Air with another Mac or Windows computer that has an optical disc drive and is on the same wired or wireless network. Use this other computer to:
ÂMigrate information to your MacBook Air, if the other computer is a Mac (see “Migrating Information to Your MacBook Air” on page 16)
ÂShare the contents of DVDs or CDs or install applications (see “Sharing Discs with DVD or CD Sharing” on page 19)
ÂRemotely install Mac OS X (see “Reinstalling Software Using Remote Install Mac OS X” on page 44) or use Disk Utility (see “Using Disk Utility” on page 48)
The computer with the optical drive can be a Mac with Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later, or a Windows XP or Windows Vista computer. If the Mac has Mac OS X v10.5.5 or later, DVD or CD Sharing is already installed. You can partner with more than one other computer.
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If the other computer is a Windows computer or a Mac with a Mac OS X version earlier than 10.5.5, insert the Mac OS X Install DVD that came with your MacBook Air to install the DVD or CD Sharing Setup, which includes software for DVD or CD Sharing,
Migration Assistant, and Remote Install Mac OS X:
ÂIf the other computer is a Windows computer, choose “DVD or CD Sharing” from the Install Assistant that starts automatically.
ÂIf the other computer is a Mac, double-click the DVD or CD Sharing Setup package on the Mac OS X Install DVD.
Important: After you install the DVD or CD Sharing Setup package on your other Mac, make sure you have the latest software by choosing Apple ( ) > Software Update. Install any available Mac OS X updates.
Migrating Information to Your MacBook Air
You can migrate existing user accounts, files, applications, and other information from another Mac computer.
To migrate information to your MacBook Air:
1Configure the other Mac (see page 15), and then make sure that it is turned on and that it is on the same wired or wireless network as your MacBook Air.
Check the AirPort (Z) status icon in the menu bar at the top of the other Mac screen to see what wireless network you’re connected to. Choose the same network for your MacBook Air during setup.
16 Chapter 1 Ready, Set Up, Go
2On your MacBook Air, follow the Setup Assistant onscreen instructions until you get to the “Do You Already Own a Mac?” screen. Select “from another Mac” as the source of the information you want to transfer. On the next screen, choose your wireless network, and then click Continue.
3When you see the Connect To Your Other Mac screen with a passcode displayed, do the remaining steps on the other Mac. You will enter the passcode in Migration Assistant on the other Mac.
4On the other Mac, open Migration Assistant (located in /Applications/Utilities/), and then click Continue.
5When you are prompted for a migration method, select “To another Mac”, and then click Continue.
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6 On the other Mac, quit any other open applications and then click Continue.
7On the other Mac, enter the six-digit passcode displayed in Setup Assistant on your
MacBook Air.
You can choose the items (user accounts, documents, movies, music, photos, and so on) that you want to migrate to your MacBook Air.
8Click Continue to start the migration.
Important: Don’t use the other Mac for anything else until the migration is complete. If the connection is terminated during migration, you can resume the migration at a later time using Migration Assistant on your MacBook Air and your other Mac.
18 Chapter 1 Ready, Set Up, Go
Getting Additional Information onto Your MacBook Air
Your MacBook Air comes with several applications installed, including the iLife suite.
Many other applications can be downloaded from the Internet. If you want to install third-party applications from a DVD or CD, you can:
ÂInstall applications onto your MacBook Air or share information using the optical disc drive on another Mac or Windows computer (if DVD or CD Sharing is set up and enabled). Read the next section for more information.
ÂAttach the MacBook Air SuperDrive (an external USB optical disc drive available separately at www.apple.com/store) to the USB port on your MacBook Air, and insert your installation disc.
Sharing Discs with DVD or CD Sharing
You can enable DVD or CD Sharing on a Mac or Windows computer to use the Remote Disc feature of MacBook Air. Remote Disc allows you to share the discs you insert into the optical disc drive of the other computer. Some discs, such as DVD movies and game discs, may be copy-protected and therefore unusable through DVD or CD Sharing.
Make sure DVD or CD Sharing is already set up on any Mac or Windows computer you want to partner with. See page 15 for information.
To enable DVD or CD Sharing, if your other computer is a Mac:
1Make sure the other Mac and your MacBook Air are on the same wireless network. Check the AirPort (Z) status icon in the menu bar to see what network you’re connected to.
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2 On the other Mac, choose Apple ( ) > System Preferences and then open Sharing.
3In the Sharing panel, select “DVD or CD Sharing” in the Service list. If you want other users to request permission to share a DVD or CD, select “Ask me before allowing others to use my DVD drive.”
To enable DVD or CD Sharing, if your other computer is a Windows computer:
1Make sure your MacBook Air and the Windows computer are on the same wireless network.
20 Chapter 1 Ready, Set Up, Go
2 On the Windows computer, open the DVD or CD Sharing control panel.
3Select “Enable DVD or CD Sharing.” If you want other users to request permission to share a DVD or CD, select “Ask me before allowing others to use my DVD drive.”
To use a shared DVD or CD:
1 On the other computer, insert a DVD or CD into the optical disc drive.
2On your MacBook Air, select the Remote Disc when it appears under Devices in the Finder sidebar. If you see the “Ask to use” button, click it.
3On the other computer, when prompted, click Accept to allow your MacBook Air to use the DVD or CD.
4On your MacBook Air, use the disc as you normally would once it becomes available.
If you try to shut down the other computer or eject the shared DVD or CD while your MacBook Air is using it, you’ll see a message telling you that the disc is in use. To proceed, click Continue.
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Putting Your MacBook Air to Sleep or Shutting It Down
When you finish working with your MacBook Air, you can put it to sleep or shut it down.
Putting Your MacBook Air to Sleep
If you’ll be away from your MacBook Air for only a short time, put it to sleep. When the computer is in sleep, you can quickly wake it and bypass the startup process.
To put your MacBook Air to sleep, do one of the following:
ÂClose the display.
ÂChoose Apple ( ) > Sleep from the menu bar.
ÂPress the power (®) button and click Sleep in the dialog that appears.
ÂChoose Apple ( ) > System Preferences, click Energy Saver, and set a sleep timer.
NOTICE: If your MacBook Air has a hard drive, wait a few seconds until the sleep indicator light on the front of your MacBook Air starts pulsing (indicating that the computer is in sleep and the hard disk has stopped spinning) before you move your MacBook Air. Moving your computer while the hard disk is spinning can damage it, causing loss of data or the inability to start up from the hard disk.
To wake your MacBook Air:
ÂIf the display is closed, simply open it to wake your MacBook Air.
ÂIf the display is already open, press the power (®) button or any key on the keyboard.
When your MacBook Air wakes from sleep, your applications, documents, and computer settings are exactly as you left them.
22 Chapter 1 Ready, Set Up, Go
Shutting Down Your MacBook Air
If you aren’t going to use your MacBook Air for a day or two, it’s best to shut it down. The sleep indicator light goes on briefly during the shutdown process.
To shut down your MacBook Air, do one of the following:
ÂChoose Apple ( ) > Shut Down from the menu bar.
ÂPress the power (®) button and click Shut Down in the dialog that appears.
If you plan to store your MacBook Air for an extended period of time, see “Important Handling Information” on page 61 for information about how to prevent your battery from draining completely.
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