Apple unveils Airline Power Adapter for MacBooks
Alongside the introduction of Core 2 Duo-based MacBook Pro notebooks on Tuesday, Apple Computer quietly unveiled a new power cord accessory that makes it more convenient for air travelers to keep their Apple notebooks powered-on during flights.
The $59 Apple MagSafe Airline Power Adapter plugs it into an airline seat power port, allowing a MacBook or MacBook Pro to maintain power for the full duration of a flight.
"Now you'll never lose your work or interrupt a DVD movie because your battery runs out at 35,000 feet," Apple said. "The MagSafe Airline Power Adapter will keep your MacBook or MacBook Pro juiced throughout your flight."
The "sleek and light" connector works with in-seat DC power ports available on many commercial airliners -- both EmPower ports and 20mm ports with the included adapter. Apple recommends that users check with their airline regarding availability of in-seat power ports ahead of flight.
Like the standard MagSafe power adapter shipping with each new MacBook and MacBook Pro, the magnetic DC plug on the airline adapter both ensures a tight connection and enables a clean break from the power port if there is undue tension -- preventing a MacBook from being pulled off of an airline tray table if someone accidentally yanks the cord.
Although the MagSafe Airline Power Adapter provides power to a MacBook, it does not charge the battery, Apple said. Despite some connector resemblance, its also not compatible with automobile power ports.
Each MagSafe Airline Power Adapter ships with an EmPower connector, 20mm adapter and user guide.
Also Tuesday, Apple introduced its new MacBook Pro notebook lineup, which features Intel Corp.'s Core 2 Duo (Merom) processors.
The $59 Apple MagSafe Airline Power Adapter plugs it into an airline seat power port, allowing a MacBook or MacBook Pro to maintain power for the full duration of a flight.
"Now you'll never lose your work or interrupt a DVD movie because your battery runs out at 35,000 feet," Apple said. "The MagSafe Airline Power Adapter will keep your MacBook or MacBook Pro juiced throughout your flight."
The "sleek and light" connector works with in-seat DC power ports available on many commercial airliners -- both EmPower ports and 20mm ports with the included adapter. Apple recommends that users check with their airline regarding availability of in-seat power ports ahead of flight.
Like the standard MagSafe power adapter shipping with each new MacBook and MacBook Pro, the magnetic DC plug on the airline adapter both ensures a tight connection and enables a clean break from the power port if there is undue tension -- preventing a MacBook from being pulled off of an airline tray table if someone accidentally yanks the cord.
Although the MagSafe Airline Power Adapter provides power to a MacBook, it does not charge the battery, Apple said. Despite some connector resemblance, its also not compatible with automobile power ports.
Each MagSafe Airline Power Adapter ships with an EmPower connector, 20mm adapter and user guide.
Also Tuesday, Apple introduced its new MacBook Pro notebook lineup, which features Intel Corp.'s Core 2 Duo (Merom) processors.
Comments
http://us.kensington.com/html/10359.html
It's not quite as elegant, but I believe it charges your battery (the Apple one only powers the MB, does not charge the battery). And it also works in a car, which the Apple one does not.
Why the heck would I buy the Apple one instead of this? Am I missing something?
I can't believe the airlines are so behind on this. And now Boeing is taking a step BACKWARDS with the end of Connexion.
That's really strange. If you search for Airline on the Apple Store, you find that for $10 more, you can get one of these:
http://us.kensington.com/html/10359.html
It's not quite as elegant, but I believe it charges your battery (the Apple one only powers the MB, does not charge the battery). And it also works in a car, which the Apple one does not.
Why the heck would I buy the Apple one instead of this? Am I missing something?
The airlines want you to take the battery out. That's what this is for.
That's really strange. If you search for Airline on the Apple Store, you find that for $10 more, you can get one of these:
http://us.kensington.com/html/10359.html
It's not quite as elegant, but I believe it charges your battery (the Apple one only powers the MB, does not charge the battery). And it also works in a car, which the Apple one does not.
Why the heck would I buy the Apple one instead of this? Am I missing something?
one reason i can give you is that, while this does not charge MB battery, it is a lot less bulkier than Kensington one. Kensington one requires you to hook adapter on it; Apple one works without one. less dangling of wires.
of course, that probably is not the strongest reason to get one.
The airlines want you to take the battery out. That's what this is for.
So the Apple one powers the computer directly where the kensington one powers the battery which then powers the compuer?
If that's true, it's a shame that the kensington adapter doesn't have that extra (needed if the airline does indeed make you remove your battery) feature.
So the Apple one powers the computer directly where the kensington one powers the battery which then powers the compuer?
If that's true, it's a shame that the kensington adapter doesn't have that extra (needed if the airline does indeed make you remove your battery) feature.
It seems that way. also, as has been mentioned. the Apple unit is much smaller.
It's always the laptop's embedded controller that decides whether the battery will be charged or not, the power brick just provides power — how it's routed inside the laptop is another thing.
That said, there are additional pins on the MagSafe plug which might provide information on the brick's power output to the controller. Now, I remember a thread here about maximum power output on airline sockets being only 75 W, that's 10 W less than the MBP's adapter peak rating. What it meant was when the MBP power brick was plugged in and reached its peak output (i.e. the notebook was on and the battery was being charged at the same time), the circuit breakers came into action so it was effectively impossible to use the laptop while charging the battery on an airplane anyway.
Regardless of whether it's this thing or the exploding battery one, it's the Apple adapter that is crippled, not the Kensington one.
a bit dramatic, don't you think?
Now, if Apple could just start an airline so you could know with certainty if you'll have an in-seat power source available to you.
I can't believe the airlines are so behind on this. And now Boeing is taking a step BACKWARDS with the end of Connexion.
Have you seen this?
http://www.seatguru.com/
Steve
Airline websites list amenities for travel, including power ports. But I'd also make a phone call to make sure.
Have you seen this?
http://www.seatguru.com/
Steve
Thanks Steve - that's a great site.
But things happen and you end up on different equipment / flights / airlines than you expected. I was just saying that this many years in to laptops you'd think the in-seat power would be more universal.
It shows the long, long development cycle of commercial aircraft.
This is stupid. There is no way for a power adapter to magically circumvent the power circuit, and there are no separate power sockets labeled 'battery charge' and 'AC only' in any laptop.
It's always the laptop's embedded controller that decides whether the battery will be charged or not, the power brick just provides power ? how it's routed inside the laptop is another thing.
Yeah you're right... This is stupid... This product probably doesn't work because you don't understand how Apple designed it.
Thanks Steve - that's a great site.
But things happen and you end up on different equipment / flights / airlines than you expected. I was just saying that this many years in to laptops you'd think the in-seat power would be more universal.
It shows the long, long development cycle of commercial aircraft.
It really isn't a matter of aircraft development. Each airline gets their own customized versions. There are many options offered. This is just one of them. They can choose to get them, or not.
Every few years they upgrade the interiors, and can choose new options.
Look to the airlines for this.
Why can't this charge/power the laptop in the car
Besides the fact that EmPower is 15VDC where as a car's is 12 which is easily overcome, ther most important fact is that the car's power is unregulated, the voltages could fluctuate from 10-14 volts easily, and without regulation circuits, this would fry your MBP.
This is also why you can't just plug a motherboard 12VDC in straight from the car's battery, but there are easily plenty of car power supplies for computer out there that regulates the voltage.
If you're looking to plug your magbook into your car, your easies option is to get an inverter to get 110V AC wall socket and plug your regular power brick into there.
But for the more adventurous, this adapter provides a cheap source for magsafe connector that you can use to make your own power adaptor....
This is stupid. There is no way for a power adapter to magically circumvent the power circuit, and there are no separate power sockets labeled 'battery charge' and 'AC only' in any laptop.
It's always the laptop's embedded controller that decides whether the battery will be charged or not, the power brick just provides power ? how it's routed inside the laptop is another thing.
That said, there are additional pins on the MagSafe plug which might provide information on the brick's power output to the controller. Now, I remember a thread here about maximum power output on airline sockets being only 75 W, that's 10 W less than the MBP's adapter peak rating. What it meant was when the MBP power brick was plugged in and reached its peak output (i.e. the notebook was on and the battery was being charged at the same time), the circuit breakers came into action so it was effectively impossible to use the laptop while charging the battery on an airplane anyway.
Regardless of whether it's this thing or the exploding battery one, it's the Apple adapter that is crippled, not the Kensington one.
You have no idea what you're talking about and yet you spout off like everyone else is crazy.
It doesn't charge the battery because it cannot charge the battery. It does not supply the computer with enough power to do so. This is essentially like how apple says that a macbook pro can use a macbook's adapter but it won't charge the battery. This is because the macbook has a much smaller power brick than a macbook pro and can't supply it with the necessary power to charge it while running.
I know this first hand. At my girlfriend's house I use her macbook's adapter to run my macbook pro if it runs out, it works fine but doesn't charge the battery, unless I turn it off, because of the power brick size.
The same is true for the airline adapter. It doesn't charge the machine because of it's lack of power brick, it does not supply the computer with enough power to both run and charge at once. It MAY be able to charge when off, but no one will use it like this and it's complete lack of brick might make that impossible anyways.
Calm down, it's not a secret science.
unveils?
a bit dramatic, don't you think?