Mid-2007 Prototype MacBook Air Found on eBay
MacRumors forum member Brett33 bought an "as is" MacBook Air on eBay for a selling price of $730. As it turns out, it appears the machine is actually a prototype model of Apple's MacBook Air.
After receiving the unit, Brett33 noticed that the bottom of the laptop was made of black aluminum and that the screen bezel did not have "MacBook Air" written on it. The laptop runs an interim build of Mac OS X 10.5 (8R4016).
No "MacBook Air" wording on Bezel
Black bottom (removed)
The serial number on the machine indicates that it was built in May 2007, over six months before the MacBook Air was introduced. Another poster was able to specify that this model represented "M82 PROTO2 ENC 4", based on the serial number.
Though rare, prototype Apple machines have been known to circulate.
After receiving the unit, Brett33 noticed that the bottom of the laptop was made of black aluminum and that the screen bezel did not have "MacBook Air" written on it. The laptop runs an interim build of Mac OS X 10.5 (8R4016).
No "MacBook Air" wording on Bezel
Black bottom (removed)
The serial number on the machine indicates that it was built in May 2007, over six months before the MacBook Air was introduced. Another poster was able to specify that this model represented "M82 PROTO2 ENC 4", based on the serial number.
Though rare, prototype Apple machines have been known to circulate.
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42 months ago
Now on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200278121944
I recently picked up a used Macbook Air 1.6
The bottom case is black without any markings on it.
Computer does boot up, but the battery has swollen and distorted the case. I removed the bottom of the case and pulled the battery with thoughts of purchasing a replacement battery. When looking at the connections they are different from the disassembly pictures on the web, and then most of the other internals are slightly different than on the various disassembly sites as well.
(Sorry for the relatively bad photos)
As you can see it looks very similar to the disassembly photos on the web, but it does not look exactly like them. The main board does have "Apple" stamped on it.
Just wondering what exactly is going on.
Thoughts?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200278121944
I recently picked up a used Macbook Air 1.6
The bottom case is black without any markings on it.
Computer does boot up, but the battery has swollen and distorted the case. I removed the bottom of the case and pulled the battery with thoughts of purchasing a replacement battery. When looking at the connections they are different from the disassembly pictures on the web, and then most of the other internals are slightly different than on the various disassembly sites as well.
(Sorry for the relatively bad photos)
As you can see it looks very similar to the disassembly photos on the web, but it does not look exactly like them. The main board does have "Apple" stamped on it.
Just wondering what exactly is going on.
Thoughts?
42 months ago
Intriguing. Do you have a serial number? Who did you acquire this from? Since it booted up, any System Profiler info.?
42 months ago
Here's more pics as requested. Notice that the camera look a bit different and that it doesn't say macbook air on the bezel.
42 months ago
Intriguing. Do you have a serial number? Who did you acquire this from? Since it booted up, any System Profiler info.?
I left the swollen battery at a friends when I took it apart, I'll try to grab it tomorrow and reassemble it and pull the info on it. I did try the system profiler on it and the interesting thing was that it said that the airport was not detected.
42 months ago
I actually like the two-tone look with the black plastic bottom. It follows the color scheme of the original iPhone. I'd take a guess and say you got a pre-production unit, which probably has a higher value for the right Apple collector. Nice find!
42 months ago
I wonder if is a copy?
Back in the early 80's, in Korea you could purchase Apple ]['s a huge discount.
The Korean Apple computers were black market imitations/clones and they were very much like the originals except for some parts. They worked well and were about half price. We called them Krapples for short.
Maybe this is a modern day version of a clone.
It could also be a prototype.
Back in the early 80's, in Korea you could purchase Apple ]['s a huge discount.
The Korean Apple computers were black market imitations/clones and they were very much like the originals except for some parts. They worked well and were about half price. We called them Krapples for short.
Maybe this is a modern day version of a clone.
It could also be a prototype.
42 months ago
Most probably a prototype MBA, no idea how it wound up on ebay, but it does happen.
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