Apple MD711B/B User Manual
Congratulations, you and your MacBook Air
were made for each other.
Built-in iSight camera
Video chat with up to three
friends anywhere in the world
at the same time.
www.apple.com/macbookair
Mac Help
isight
Finder
Browse the contents
of your computer
using Cover Flow.
www.apple.com/macosx
Mac Help
finder
Time Machine
Automatically back
up your files to an
extra hard drive.
www.apple.com/macosx
Mac Help
time machine
iMovie
Collect all your video in
one library. Create and
share movies in minutes.
www.apple.com/ilife/imovie
iMovie Help movie
iPhoto
Organize all your photos
with Events. Publish to a
Web Gallery with a click.
www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto
iPhoto Help
photo
GarageBand
Create music by adding
musicians to a virtual stage.
Enhance your song to sound
like a pro.
www.apple.com/ilife/garageband
GarageBand Help
record
iWeb
Create beautiful websites
with photos, movies, blogs,
podcasts, and dynamic
web widgets.
www.apple.com/ilife/iweb
iWeb Help
website
Contents
Chapter 1: Ready, Set Up, Go
8
Welcome
9
What’s in the Box
10
Setting Up Your MacBook Air
15
Setting Up DVD or CD Sharing
16
Migrating 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
34
Running Your MacBook Air on Battery Power
35
Getting Answers
Chapter 3: Problem, Meet Solution
40
Problems That Prevent You from Using Your MacBook Air
44
Using Apple Hardware Test
Contents
5
45
Reinstalling Software Using Remote Install Mac OS X
49
Reinstalling Software Using the MacBook Air SuperDrive
51
Problems with AirPort Extreme Wireless Communication
51
Problems with Your Internet Connection
53
Keeping Your Software Up to Date
53
Learning More, Service, and Support
56
Locating Your Product Serial Number
Chapter 4: Last, but Not Least
58
Important Safety Information
60
Important Handling Information
62
Understanding Ergonomics
64
Apple and the Environment
65
Regulatory Compliance Information
Looking for Something?
70
Index
6
Contents
1
Ready, Set Up, Go
www.apple.com/macbookair
Mac Help Migration Assistant
1
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.
Â
If you know you will primarily be downloading applications and content from the
Internet and not migrating information from another Mac, you can follow the basic
instructions to set up your MacBook Air quickly.
Â
If you want to migrate information from another Mac or get content from CDs or
DVDs onto your MacBook Air, you can identify one or more Mac or Windows
computers to partner with your MacBook Air.
Important:
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 35. 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.
8 Chapter 1
Read all the installation instructions (and the safety information starting on
Ready, Set Up, Go
What’s in the Box
®
Micro-DVI to
DVI Adapter
AC
plug
45W MagSafe Power Adapter
Important:
Remove the protective film covering the 45W MagSafe Power Adapter
Micro-DVI to
VGA Adapter
AC power cord
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. You can also use the optional MacBook Air
SuperDrive, an external optical disc drive.
Chapter 1
Ready, Set Up, Go
9
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:
Â
Plugging in the 45W MagSafe Power Adapter
Â
Turning on your MacBook Air and using the trackpad
Â
Using Setup Assistant to access a network and configure a user account and other
settings
Â
Setting 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
®
MagSafe power port
¯
10 Chapter 1
Ready, Set Up, Go
AC power cord
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 first 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.
Chapter 1
Ready, Set Up, Go
11
Step 2: Press the power (®
) button briefly to turn on your MacBook Air.
You will hear a tone when you turn on the computer.
®
® Power button
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.
12 Chapter 1
Ready, Set Up, Go
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:
1
In the Setup Assistant, follow the onscreen instructions until you get to the “Do You
Already Own a Mac?” screen.
2
Do a basic setup or a setup with migration:
Â
To 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.
Â
To do a setup with migration, first set up another Mac that has an optical disc drive
to partner with (see “Setting Up DVD or CD Sharing” on page 15). Then go to page 16,
“Migrating Information to Your MacBook Air.”
Note:
If you’ve already started Setup Assistant on your MacBook Air, you can leave it
mid-process without quitting, move to the other computer to install the DVD or CD
Sharing Setup software, and then return to your MacBook Air to complete the setup.
Chapter 1
Ready, Set Up, Go
13
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.
Menu bar
Help menu
Spotlight search icon
Dock
14 Chapter 1
Finder icon
Ready, Set Up, Go
System Preferences icon
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:
Â
Migrate information to your MacBook Air, if the other computer is a Mac (see
“Migrating Information to Your MacBook Air” on page 16)
Â
Share the contents of DVDs or CDs (see “Sharing Discs with DVD or CD Sharing” on
page 19)
Â
Remotely install Mac OS X (see “Reinstalling Software Using Remote Install Mac OS X”
on page 45) or use Disk Utility (see “Using Disk Utility” on page 49)
The computer with the optical drive can be a Mac with Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later, or a
Windows XP or Windows Vista computer. You can partner with more than one other
computer.
Mac or Windows computer MacBook Air
Chapter 1
Ready, Set Up, Go
15
Insert the Mac OS X Install Disc 1 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:
Â
If the other computer is a Mac, double-click the DVD or CD Sharing Setup package on
the Mac OS X Install Disc 1.
Â
If the other computer is a Windows computer, choose “DVD or CD Sharing” from the
Install Assistant that starts automatically.
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:
1
Configure 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
to see what wireless network you’re connected to. Choose the same network for your
MacBook Air during setup.
2
On 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.
16 Chapter 1
Ready, Set Up, Go
) status icon in the menu bar at the top of the other Mac screen
3
When 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.
4
On the other Mac, open Migration Assistant (located in /Applications/Utilities/), and
then click Continue.
5
When you are prompted for a migration method, select “To another Mac”, and then
click Continue.
6
On the other Mac, quit any other open applications and then click Continue.
Chapter 1
Ready, Set Up, Go
17
7
On the other Mac, enter the six-digit passcode displayed in Setup Assistant on your
MacBook Air.
8
Click Continue to start the migration.
Important:
18 Chapter 1
Don’t use the other Mac for anything else until the migration is complete.
Ready, Set Up, Go
Getting Additional Information onto Your MacBook Air
Your MacBook Air comes with several applications installed, including the iLife ’08 suite.
Many other applications can be downloaded from the Internet. If you want to install
third-party applications from CD or DVD, you can:
Â
Install applications onto your MacBook Air 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.
Â
Attach 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 so that your
MacBook Air can 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 you first install the DVD or CD Sharing Setup software on any Mac or
Windows computer you want to partner with. See page 15 for more information.
To enable DVD or CD Sharing, if your other computer is a Mac:
1
Make sure the other Mac and your MacBook Air are on the same wireless network.
Check the AirPort (Z
connected to.
) status icon in the menu bar to see what network you’re
Chapter 1
Ready, Set Up, Go
19
2
On the other Mac, choose Apple (
3
In the Sharing panel, select “DVD or CD Sharing” in the Service list. If you want other
) > System Preferences and then open Sharing.
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:
1
Make 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.
3
Select “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.
2
On 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.
3
On the other computer, when prompted, click Accept to allow your MacBook Air to use
the DVD or CD.
4
On 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.
Chapter 1
Ready, Set Up, Go
21
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:
Â
Close the display.
Â
Choose Apple (
Â
Press the power (®
 Choose Apple () > System Preferences, click Energy Saver, and set a sleep timer.
NOTICE: 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:
 If the display is closed, simply open it to wake your MacBook Air.
 If 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
) > Sleep from the menu bar.
) button and click Sleep in the dialog that appears.
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:
 Choose Apple () > Shut Down from the menu bar.
 Press 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 60 for information about how to prevent your battery
from draining completely.
Chapter 1 Ready, Set Up, Go 23
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