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MacBook Air Q&A
Update Published August 13, 2019
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Does the MacBook Air really not have an Ethernet port? How can you connect to wired networks?
Indeed, MacBook Air models really do not have an onboard Ethernet port. However it is possible to connect to wired Ethernet networks with an adapter.
Photo Credit: USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet Adapters -- SIIG (Left), Kanex (Right)
Apple offered an external Apple 10/100Base-T Ethernet USB adapter as an US$29 option for the "original" and "NVIDIA/Late 2008" models. For the "Mid-2009" models, Apple provided the external Ethernet adapter free of charge. For the "Late 2010" models and "Mid-2011" models, Apple again provided it as a US$29 option.
For the "Mid-2012" and subsequent pre-Retina MacBook Air models -- which have USB 3.0 ports -- Apple offered an optional Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter for US$29.
For "Mid-2012" and later pre-Retina MacBook Air models, you might alternately like to consider the Macally 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Gigabit Ethernet Adapter which includes a Gigabit Ethernet adapter and three USB 3.0 ports.
Photo Credit: Macally (USB 3.0 Hub with Gigabit Ethernet Adapter)
Please note that USB 3.0 hubs essentially require OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion" or later versions of OS X (and have been reported to be flaky running OS X 10.7 "Lion", although they are formally supported by this version of OS X, too).
Apple Authorized site sponsor Adorama sells both the Apple USB 10/100Base-T Ethernet adapter (MC704LL/A) and the Apple Thunderbolt-to-Gigabit Ethernet adapter (MD463LL/A). Site sponsor OWC sells third-party USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet adapters like those shown above and the Macally 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, also.
Is an external modem available for the MacBook Air?
Apple used to offer an external Apple USB Modem (56.6k v.92) for US$49 (MA034Z/A), but it no longer does. Just like all the other Intel-based Macs, Apple does not offer an internal modem with the MacBook Air, either. Third-party USB modems designed for travel were available subsequently, but they are few and far between these days, even on the used market.
Photo Credit: USB Modems -- StarTech (Left), Zoom Telephonics (Right)
Third-party modems are compatible with MacBook Air models running Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" or Mac OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard". OS X 10.7 "Lion" and later versions of the operating system do not support modems at all.
Is the "MagSafe" power connector that shipped with MacBook Air models also compatible with the MacBook and MacBook Pro?
No. The "MagSafe" or "MagSafe 2" power connector that shipped with each MacBook Air model only provides 45-watts of power, and as such, cannot power a MacBook or MacBook Pro model, which all require more power.
Additionally, the "MagSafe" power connector for the original, "Late 2008" and "Mid-2009" MacBook Air models is rotated 90-degrees to save space. A "regular" MacBook "MagSafe" power connector will provide power to these earlier MacBook Air models, but it won't fit when the MacBook Air sits on a flat surface. On the other hand, a regular MacBook "MagSafe" power connector can provide power to the "Late 2010" and "Mid-2011" MacBook Air models.
The "Mid-2012" and subsequent MacBook Air models have a "MagSafe 2" power adapter and can be powered by its own power adapter or the "MagSafe 2" power connector from a Retina Display MacBook Pro.
The MagSafe 2 power connector is not backwards compatible with earlier power adapters, but an earlier MagSafe power adapter can be used to charge a MagSafe 2-equipped MacBook Air with the Apple MagSafe-to-MagSafe 2 converter from Apple or site sponsor Adorama (MD504LL/A).
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