First steps

Unpacking

When you remove your MacBook Air from its packaging, you should also find:

• A Micro-DVI to VGA Adaptor
• A Micro-DVI to DVI Adaptor
• A Power cord
• A 45W MagSafe Power Adaptor
• Software DVDs

Charging

Pull away the plastic film from the 45W MagSafe Power Adaptor and plug the adaptor into an electric socket. Take the other end of the cable and connect it to the magnetic MagSafe power port on the left hand side of your MacBook Air.

If necessary, extend the MagSafe cable by removing the prongs from the adaptor and inserting the power cord into the socket beneath them. Place the other end of the power cord into the electric socket. To disconnect the MagSafe Power Adaptor from the electricity, first remove the power cord plug from the adaptor.

An amber light on the MagSafe connector shows that the MacBook Air battery is charging. When the battery is fully charged, a green light appears.

Basic features

The basic features of your MacBook Air include:

• (from right to left) a microphone, camera indicator light, iSight camera, and ambient light sensor at the top edge of the screen
• a mono speaker under the keyboard
• a power button near the top right hand corner
• a trackpad and trackpad button below the keyboard
• a sleep indicator light and infrared receiver on the right of the front edge of your MacBook Air
• a built-in battery
• a MagSafe power port on the left-hand side
• a headphone jack, USB 2.0 port, and a Micro-DVI port in a concealed hatch on the right-hand side

Initial set-up

Setup Assistant

Setup Assistant appears on your screen when you first switch on the MacBook Air. Follow the instructions that lead you to the “Do You Already Own a Mac?” screen. You now have a choice between:

• a basic set-up
• a set-up that includes the migration of files from another Mac

Basic set-up

• Choose “Do not transfer my information now”
• Click “Continue”
• Use the prompts to arrange your user account and wireless network

Set-up with file migration from another Mac

• For this you need another Mac with an optical disc drive (see “Optical discs” below)

Customise your MacBook Air

• Click Apple > System Preferences on the Menu Bar at the top of the screen, or click the System Preferences icon on the Dock at the bottom
• Browse and use System Preferences to customise your MacBook Air settings

Using the trackpad

Use the trackpad to:

• scroll
• click
• double-click
• drag
• move the pointer

Control the distance you send the pointer across the screen by the speed of your finger on the trackpad:

• a slow movement of your finger sends the pointer a short distance
• a fast movement sends the pointer a greater distance

If you’re unfamiliar with the trackpad, it’s worth spending time learning its features. These include the following:

• Secondary or right clicking. This enables you to use shortcut menu commands. Place two fingers on the trackpad, then click the trackpad button.
• Two finger scrolling. Scroll up, down or sideways by making these movements with two fingers on the trackpad.

Some trackpad movements apply to specific applications such as iPhoto:

• Two finger pinching. Pinch two fingers together on the trackpad to zoom in or out.
• Two finger rotating. Rotate two fingers on the trackpad to turn images and pages.
• Three finger swiping. This allows you to turn quickly through the pages of a document or through a series of images.

To fine-tune and set trackpad options:

• select Apple > System Preferences
• click Keyboard & Mouse
• click Trackpad

For more details:

• select Help > Mac Help
• click Trackpad

Optical discs

Using an optical disc drive

Your MacBook Air does not have an optical disc drive. To

• install the software that comes with the computer
• load other applications and files from a disc
• migrate files

you must use the optical disc drive on another Mac or PC. Alternatively, use a MacBook Air external SuperDrive (available from http://store.apple.com/uk)

Setting up CD/DVD sharing

The Mac or PC you use for CD/DVD sharing must be on the same wired or wireless network. The Mac must also have the Mac OS X v10.4.10 operating system or later. The PC must have Windows XP or Windows Vista

Your MacBook Air comes with a Mac OS X Install Disc 1. Use this to load the CD/DVD Sharing Setup. This includes:

• CD/DVD Sharing software
• Migration Assistant
• Remote Install Mac OS X

If you’re using a Mac as your other computer, double click “DVD or CD Sharing Setup” when it appears on screen.

If you’re using a PC, click on “DVD or CD Sharing” in the dialogue box that appears on screen.

In both cases, follow the screen instructions.

Migrating files and applications to your MacBook Air from another Mac

• Load the Mac OS X Install Disc 1 as above
• Ensure your MacBook Air and the other Mac are on the same wireless or wired network
• On the MacBook Air, follow the instructions of Setup Assistant as far as the “Do You Already Own a Mac?” screen
• Click “from another Mac”
• Select your wireless network (if you’re working wirelessly) and click “Continue”
• On the screen “Connect To Your Other Mac”, a passcode now appears

Please note: the following steps apply to the other Mac

• In Applications/Utilities, open Migration Assistant and click “Continue”
• Choose “To another Mac” as your migration method and click “Continue”
• Close all other applications, if you have not done so already, and click “Continue”
• Enter the passcode from the MacBook Air screen in the given box
• Click “Continue”
• The migration now starts

During the migration, do not use your other Mac for anything else.

Loading other data

Using your wireless connection, you can download many applications from the Internet.

To load applications from a DVD or CD:

• set up CD/DVD sharing (see (b) above) and follow the instructions in (e) below, or
• connect a MacBook Air SuperDrive to the USB port, insert the disc, and follow the onscreen instructions

Sharing discs

You can share a CD or DVD on a Mac or PC with your MacBook Air.

Please note: you may not be able to share films and games because they are copy-protected.

• Follow the procedure given in "Setting up CD/DVD sharing"
• Ensure your MacBook Air and the other computer are on the same network

If your other computer is a Mac:

• select Apple > System Preferences
• choose “Sharing”
• select “DVD or CD Sharing”

If your other computer is a PC:

• choose the “DVD or CD Sharing” panel
• click “Enable DVD or CD Sharing”

Now continue on the other Mac or the PC as follows:

• place a CD or DVD in the optical disc drive (on the MacBook Air, the disc will appear in the Finder sidebar under “Devices”)
• click “Accept” when prompted to do so on the other Mac or PC
• the disc will then become available to your MacBook Air

Sleep mode and shutting your MacBook Air down

Sleep mode

To use the sleep mode on your MacBook Air for short periods of inactivity, take one of the following actions:

• close your display
• select Apple > Sleep on the Menu Bar
• select Apple > System Preferences, then Energy Saver, and set the sleep timer
• press your power button and select Sleep from the dialogue box

Please note: do not move your MacBook Air until the sleep indicator light begins to pulse, otherwise you risk damaging your hard disc.

To wake your MacBook Air from sleep mode:

• open the closed display, or
• press the power button or any key of the keyboard if the display is open

Shutting the MacBook Air down

• Select Apple > Shut Down from the Menu Bar, or
• Press the power button and select Shut Down in the dialogue box

Quick Mac OS X guide

Operating system

Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard is the operating system of your MacBook Air. It controls your files, applications and connected devices. It works in a comparable way to Windows.

Basic controls

The basic controls are your keyboard and trackpad. If you’re more used to Windows, you’ll find that you’ll need to use the keyboard and trackpad fewer times to achieve similar results.

Central features

The icons, layouts and navigation of the MacBook Air screens are straightforward. Along with the windows, menus, folders and shortcuts, are four central features that help you work quickly and simply:

• Desktop
• Dock
• Finder
• Menu bar

Desktop

Desktop is the screen you start with each time you use your MacBook Air. Use it to store such things as files, folders and pictures.

The first icon you’ll see on Desktop is the Macintosh HD (hard drive). When you use other functions of your MacBook Air, further HD icons appear. Double-click an icon to view its files and applications.

Please note the following:

• - When you connect a peripheral device to your MacBook Air, an icon appears on the Desktop
• - If you have different users for your MacBook Air, Mac OS X gives each one a Desktop
• - Desktop always lies behind the applications that you run

Dock

The Dock is a row of icons along the bottom of your screen. Click on these icons to access your folders, applications and windows.

Note that when a window appears, it has three coloured buttons in the top left corner:

• - Red closes the window
• - Yellow minimises the window to the Dock
• - Green maximises and minimises the size of the window

Finder

The Finder is an icon on the far left of the Dock. Use it to navigate and manage your MacBook Air’s folders, files and applications.

Menu Bar

The Mac OS X Menu Bar is a single line at the top of the screen.

Use the Menu Bar to:

• - view recent work
• - view and change settings and applications
• - close applications
• - interact with a programme
• - log in
• - log out
• - start the sleep mode
• - begin restart
• - switch off your MacBook Air

The Menu Bar changes to match the application you’re using.

Connectivity

Your MacBook Air has a headphone jack, USB 2.0 port, and a Micro-DVI port concealed in a hatch on the right-hand side. You also receive a Micro-DVI to VGA adaptor and a Micro-DVI to DVI adaptor with your MacBook Air. Use the ports and adaptors to connect a range of peripheral devices such as printers, cameras and hard drives. Alternatively use the Bluetooth® wireless connection.

Battery power

You can run your MacBook Air directly from an electricity supply by using the 45W MagSafe Power Adaptor. Alternatively use the built-in battery.

The time between battery charges varies according to the applications you use and the drain on power caused by peripheral devices. If you don’t need a wireless connection, you can turn off AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth® to help extend the battery’s charge.

Connect the MagSafe Power Adaptor once the battery begins to run low. The adaptor works when the MacBook Air is on, in sleep mode, or off. To recharge your MacBook Air as quickly as possible, however, turn the computer off or put it in sleep mode.

The amber light on the MagSafe Power Adaptor tells you that you must charge the battery. The green light indicates that charging is complete. The battery icon in the Menu Bar shows you the battery charge level.

Please note: you cannot change your MacBook Air battery yourself. Only an Apple authorised dealer can replace it.

For further user information, see Apple’s video tutorials.

Also available with a student discount / as a refurbished product ...