APPLE Airport Extreme Card and Bluetooth Upgrade Kit M9870Z/A

by Apple

Product Details

• Item Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00081A2UO
• Item model number: M9870ZA
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,124 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 4, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Apple's AirPort Extreme wireless networking products lets you surf the Internet from almost anywhere in your home or business, and enables schools to provide Internet access to multiple students without installing expensive cabling.*

Since AirPort Extreme is based on a new wireless technology called 802.11g, it's a snap to exchange files or play multiplayer games at data rates up to 54 megabits per second (Mbps).** The Airport Extreme Card and Bluetooth Upgrade Kit allows your Mac mini to communicate with local AirPort Extreme networks or other Wi-Fi certified 802.11b or 802.11g networks, including earlier versions of Apple's AirPort Base Station. AirPort Extreme-enabled computers that join an AirPort or other 802.11b wireless network can achieve data rates up to 11 Mbps--the maximum allowed by 802.11b. For higher data rates, you need both the AirPort Extreme Card installed in an AirPort Extreme-ready computer and an AirPort Extreme Base Station. AirPort Extreme provides a range up to 50 feet at 54 Mbps and up to 150 feet at 11 Mbps for AirPort Extreme-enabled computers.

With an AirPort Extreme-enabled PowerBook G4, you're ready to start enjoying the benefits of wireless networking--not just at home, but also at cafes, hotels, airports, and other businesses and public buildings around the world that have implemented 802.11b "hot spots." ***

To get the full speed benefits of the 802.11g-based AirPort Extreme Card in your Mac mini, you'll want to use it with an AirPort Extreme Base Station. But since the AirPort Extreme Card is compatible with 802.11b, you can use any AirPort Base Station or other Wi-Fi certified 802.11b access point without any hassles; you don't need to change any hardware or software settings. Everything is automatic.

To create your own wireless network in your home or business, just add an AirPort Extreme Base Station. This will allow you to communicate between AirPort-enabled computers, AirPort Extreme-enabled computers, Windows PCs with Wi-Fi certified 802.11b cards, and the AirPort Extreme Base Station and share access to the Internet, without wires.

Bluetooth technology enables short-range wireless data connectivity between computers and Bluetooth enabled devices. Personal digital assistants, cellular phones, and other devices can connect wirelessly with your Mac mini. In a nutshell, Bluetooth unplugs your digital peripherals and makes cable clutter a thing of the past.

Bluetooth is an open specification for wireless data transmission that operates on the globally available 2.4GHz radio frequency. Bluetooth devices can communicate with each other within a 30-foot range.

Product Description

Customize your Mac mini with an internal Bluetooth module for wireless access to printers, cell phones, PDAs, input devices and other peripherals Two 80-mm wide-range speakers and One 130-mm bass driver Unit Dimensions - Height - 6.6 inches (167.6 mm) x Width - 17.0 inches (431.8 mm) x Depth (including grille) - 6.9 inches (175.3 mm) / Unit Weight (without batteries) - 14.5 pounds (6.6 kg) / Weight (with batteries) - 16.7 pounds (7.6 kg)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars works great, but not for consumers to install!, September 29, 2005

By 

Shelley Gammon "Geek" (Kaufman, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: APPLE Airport Extreme Card and Bluetooth Upgrade Kit M9870Z/A (Electronics)

The Mac Mini is not intended to be opened by the consumer - only by an authorized Apple Repair Specialist. You need a special tool to open the Mac Mini and installing the BlueTooth module is tricky and can break fairly easily during install. The Apple Store will install this for free - but if you try installing it yourself and it breaks the card and/or the attachment points on the motherboard, guess who just ate some parts and money? You did! Let Apple or an authorized specialist do this so if they make a boo-boo, you're covered. I'm really at a loss as to why this module is even available on Amazon when you can't even buy it via Apple's site unless you're an authorized repair specialist. When you buy these at the Apple Store, it's with the service - they ring it up and take your Mac Mini to the back to install it - it's never just sold over the counter as a part for the consumer.

For non-Mac Mini owners, this item will NOT work with any other Mac made - period. This upgrade kit was made especially for the Mac Mini. This will not work in any Airport card slot (original model or Extreme). PERIOD. The module works like a charm, but why it's even available for sale here is beyond me.

Please note, the photo they have above is NOT a photo of the upgrade kit for the mini. It is a totally different form factor. I have uploaded a photo of the actual kit. It does not simply pop in like the airport extreme card pictured above - it is a kit with several small pieces and screws that takes about 30 minutes for an experienced installer to complete from beginning to end.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DO NOT BUY FOR A LATE MAC G5 DUAL/QUAD OR MAC PRO!, January 30, 2007

By 

Jer (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: APPLE Airport Extreme Card and Bluetooth Upgrade Kit M9870Z/A (Electronics)

The previous review is absolutely accurate! If you have a Power Mac G5 from October 2005 on (Duals and Quad), you need the "Apple Wireless Upgrade Kit for Power Mac G5 Dual or Power Mac G5 Quad MA252G/A"

It is a two-piece solution, with a combo AirportExtreme/Bluetooth card mounted on a "runway card" that fits into the logic board slot. Plugging in a regular Airport Extreme card like the one on this page will do nothing, even though it fits perfectly.

Amazon sometimes has the MA252G/A in stock. There are a few vendors who have them available, should you want to install this yourself. BTW, Apple claims it is NOT a Do-It-Yourself install, so make sure you're technically inclined.

Above all, have fun.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for GENERAL consumers, February 13, 2006

By 

M. Biel "dethfactor" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: APPLE Airport Extreme Card and Bluetooth Upgrade Kit M9870Z/A (Electronics)

I'd only recommend you buying this if you're more DIY/techie and'd like to take the time and effort to pry your mini open to see its guts and put this in. There are numerous detailed installation guides and even a few videos online to get you through the 'cracking the case' scenario and I definately suggest getting some putty knives over the other strange techniques online.