Using Ethernet on the MacBook Air

MacBook Air is one of the few mainstream laptop computers that doesn't have an Ethernet port. Adding built-in Ethernet to the Air would have made the device thicker, something Apple obviously wanted to avoid. Ethernet, however, remains a prevalent connection method for LANs, and for some, not being able to link a computer to a wired network can be a major limitation.

To enable MacBook Air for Ethernet networking, you will need a USB-to-Ethernet adapter that plugs into its USB port and converts it for use as Ethernet connector. The Apple USB Ethernet Adapter is designed specifically for the Air. Third-party alternatives also exist. Setup for these products should be straightforward.

→ See also - Do USB to Ethernet Adapters Exist for Broadband Modems?

Apple USB Ethernet Adapter (for MacBook Air) - Photo courtesy Apple.com