2020 Air Heatsink Modification Thread

[WickedPorter]

I wonder if thermal pads (as opposed to excessive amounts of thermal paste to fill the void) would work better with the design?

Something like these, cut to size: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UYTTLI4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I had some from a previous project that actually fit (the 1.0mm was perfect, 1.5mm too thick). It didn't work/ran noticeably worse in benchmarks and a lot hotter. So... I wouldn't try this. Repasted with a generous amount of MX-4 and working as expected/back to "normal."

Nick

 

[srkirt]

[QUOTE = "gaanee, publicación: 28386464, miembro: 648458"]
Gracias por compartir la comparación usando bootcamp.
Entonces, hay publicaciones aquí que dicen que reproducir videos de 1080p en Safari no sorprende al ventilador, pero Chrome sí, así que en MacOS, ¿cómo maneja Safari los videos de 1080p que Chrome no puede porque Safari no tiene el códec VP9?
Entonces, la explosión de los ventiladores tiene que ver con el códec y no con la resolución del video y, si es así, ¿cómo se hace de manera diferente en Chrome y Safari?
[/CITAR]
Firefox???

 

[bill-p]

Thanks for sharing comparison using bootcamp.
So there are posts here saying playing 1080p videos in Safari doesn't blast the fan but Chrome does, so in MacOS, how does Safari handle 1080p videos that Chrome can't because Safari doesn't have VP9 codec?
So fan blasting has to do with codec and not the resolution of the video and if that's so then how is it done diferent;y in Chrome and Safari?

In Safari, all videos are served as h.264 or h.265 because it doesn't support VP9.

In Chrome, videos can be either h.264 or h.265 or VP9. If it's VP9, it has to run on the CPU. So... some 1080p videos are h.264, but some are in VP9 when you are running Chrome. Especially on Youtube. It's kind of a lottery what you'll get when you run Chrome. The only way to make sure you only get h.264 videos is to use a browser extension to actively block VP9 videos.

But VP9 is used for a reason, as I mentioned earlier in the thread. It's more efficient to encode in VP9, and also playback quality is quite good.

I won't make sweeping statements about marketshare of the browser, what the general users will do, etc... but the facts are just this:

1. Apple does not support VP9 hardware acceleration. It is a software feature. They are holding it hostage because they don't like Google.

2. Chrome has VP9, Safari doesn't. When you use Chrome, and if the video you watch uses VP9, it will cause the fans to blast and your battery life will tank.

3. A heatsink or more CPU power to the MacBook Air will not help at all with this situation.

 

[gaanee]

How does Safari force all videos as h.264 or h.265 and can we force Chrome to do the same, using which extension? By installing the Chrome extension will the issue of fan blasting while playing YouTube videos be solved?

In Safari, all videos are served as h.264 or h.265 because it doesn't support VP9.

In Chrome, videos can be either h.264 or h.265 or VP9. If it's VP9, it has to run on the CPU. So... some 1080p videos are h.264, but some are in VP9 when you are running Chrome. Especially on Youtube. It's kind of a lottery what you'll get when you run Chrome. The only way to make sure you only get h.264 videos is to use a browser extension to actively block VP9 videos.

But VP9 is used for a reason, as I mentioned earlier in the thread. It's more efficient to encode in VP9, and also playback quality is quite good.

I won't make sweeping statements about marketshare of the browser, what the general users will do, etc... but the facts are just this:

1. Apple does not support VP9 hardware acceleration. It is a software feature. They are holding it hostage because they don't like Google.

2. Chrome has VP9, Safari doesn't. When you use Chrome, and if the video you watch uses VP9, it will cause the fans to blast and your battery life will tank.

3. A heatsink or more CPU power to the MacBook Air will not help at all with this situation.

 

[bill-p]

How does Safari force all videos as h.264 or h.265 and can we force Chrome to do the same, using which extension? By installing the Chrome extension will the issue of fan blasting while playing YouTube videos be solved?

Safari just doesn't support VP9. It's not "forcing". It simply doesn't support anything else.

Youtube and many sites have a h.264/h.265 fallback option just so they'll continue to work with Safari. The quality of h.264 videos are inferior to the VP9 equivalence, though.

But if you can't avoid using Chrome, just install h264ify. That should fix it for Youtube. Other sites... well, you have less luck.

 

[gaanee]

Thanks a bunch for the info!

Safari just doesn't support VP9. It's not "forcing". It simply doesn't support anything else.

Youtube and many sites have a h.264/h.265 fallback option just so they'll continue to work with Safari. The quality of h.264 videos are inferior to the VP9 equivalence, though.

But if you can't avoid using Chrome, just install h264ify. That should fix it for Youtube. Other sites... well, you have less luck.

 

[Bolanders]

The volume of threads on this exact topic, here and on reddit, would indicate otherwise.

Watching Youtube or doing a video chat with family are tasks that any basic laptop should be able to handle without issues. When those basic (absolutely non-pro) tasks stress the system and create a lot of heat, that's a problem. Period.

Paying $1200+ on a laptop and receiving a machine that gets very hot/loud with those basic tasks is something people are allowed to be frustrated about.

Yet you seem to not get that there are likely thousands, if not tens of thousands who are happy and never post a thing.

I can watch YouTube and video chat without issues.

 

[raymanh]

No the analogy is fine. You are making a conspiracy where one does not exist. The average non-Pro user is absolutely happy with this.

Design is spot on. Sorry you don't get that.

1. These car analogies are not useful. If you knew anything about cars, a normal road car like an Accord can be taken on the track and thrashed without much problem. It's cooling would be fine. I've done this many a time. Not sure how that's analogous to the new Air, it's kind of the opposite.

2. Yes I'm sure the average non-Pro user is happy, in the same way that the average user of any product is likely satisfied with it. But is that supposed to be measure of the success of a product? This forum doesn't represent the average user. The average user does not frequent a forum about their laptop. The user's here actually care about specs and design and clearly, given this thread has gone on for 31 pages, there's a large proportion of dissatisfied users.

Leading to 3. The design is "spot on". Yes it is, if you mean it was intentionally restricted to prevent canibalizing Pro sales, if reaching 100°C regularly is OK for you, if having a loud fan is not bothersome. There's a few people here who keep repeating this rhetoric that it's perfectly designed thermally. Perhaps they're more interested in the financial success of Apple, more interested in product marketing or more interested in product segmentation. I'm sure there are forums for that, this isn't one however.

 

[Bolanders]

1. These car analogies are not useful. If you knew anything about cars, a normal road car like an Accord can be taken on the track and thrashed without much problem. It's cooling would be fine. I've done this many a time. Not sure how that's analogous to the new Air, it's kind of the opposite.

2. Yes I'm sure the average non-Pro user is happy, in the same way that the average user of any product is likely satisfied with it. But is that supposed to be measure of the success of a product? This forum doesn't represent the average user. The average user does not frequent a forum about their laptop. The user's here actually care about specs and design and clearly, given this thread has gone on for 31 pages, there's a large proportion of dissatisfied users.

Leading to 3. The design is "spot on". Yes it is, if you mean it was intentionally restricted to prevent canibalizing Pro sales, if reaching 100°C regularly is OK for you, if having a loud fan is not bothersome. There's a few people here who keep repeating this rhetoric that it's perfectly designed thermally. Perhaps they're more interested in the financial success of Apple, more interested in product marketing or more interested in product segmentation. I'm sure there are forums for that, this isn't one however.

1. I was talking about actual racing, like Nascar. No it would not be fine. It is still a fine car. In other words the wrong tool for that type of race.

2. Yes a non-Pro product is aiming to please the non-Pro user. These computers are made for the masses so they are aimed to please the masses as far as non-Pro users go. I am an average user and I frequent this forum about my laptop so you are wrong there also. There is far more satisfied users here as well.

3. It was designed to allow for your average non-Pro user to achieve their workload on a daily basis which it does. If your needs are above a non-Pro level, thus reaching a Pro level they have this laptop called a MacBook Pro.

 

[RiaKoobcam]

1. I was talking about actual racing, like Nascar. No it would not be fine. It is still a fine car. In other words the wrong tool for that type of race.

2. Yes a non-Pro product is aiming to please the non-Pro user. These computers are made for the masses so they are aimed to please the masses as far as non-Pro users go. I am an average user and I frequent this forum about my laptop so you are wrong there also. There is far more satisfied users here as well.

3. It was designed to allow for your average non-Pro user to achieve their workload on a daily basis which it does. If your needs are above a non-Pro level, thus reaching a Pro level they have this laptop called a MacBook Pro.

You're making absolute statements about subjective things. I'm hesitant to engage with you as you seem to be pretty entrenched and not open to alternative viewpoints, but, lets take point 3.

I am your average non-Pro user, and I wanted the 2020 i5 to achieve my workload on a daily basis. You contend it does, I contend that it didn't. The battery didn't last long enough compared to the 2019 model, it was much hotter, and much louder. The heat was uncomfortable and the loudness interfered with video calls.

That is the subjective reality of my experience with the Macbook Air 2020 i5. It's arguing in bad faith to make sweeping, true/false statements when your sample size - just like mine - is your own personal experience.

Again - this is a consumer product. Apple's metric of success is 'are we selling enough of these to make money?' Probably, yeah. For the user, their metric of satisfaction is gonna be all over the place. You seem to be satisfied (if you do own a 2020 air, I can't remember). I wasn't, so I returned it. Many other people haven't been - why do you think this thread is so long? Why do you think there are so many posts on Reddit about it?

It doesn't all come down to MaxTech's bull**** video. I saw the bull**** video, decided to make up my own mind, and bought the i5. I'm not like him - I'm not yelling 'LITERALLY UNUSABLE, IT'LL BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN'.

But I am NOT a Pro user by any stretch, and the i5 struggled to maintain an acceptable internal/external temperature (for me) and fan noise limit (for me) when directly compared to the previous year's model. There's a middle ground here - it's possible to admit that something isn't terrible, but also isn't amazing and without fault.

Some people might not care about the issues I encountered with my i5, but those people are very welcome to hang on to their laptop. I returned mine, because owning a product and being satisfied with it are subjective things, not absolute like Newton's laws as we undertand them.

If you're going to keep posting here, I'd ask you to consider why so many people are coming here for advice, answers, and information. I would like you to consider that maybe their experience of using the 2020 Macbook Air hasn't been satisfactory for them, and maybe they don't feel like they got what they paid for. I am certainly one of those people.

 

[Bolanders]

You're making absolute statements about subjective things. I'm hesitant to engage with you as you seem to be pretty entrenched and not open to alternative viewpoints, but, lets take point 3.

I am your average non-Pro user, and I wanted the 2020 i5 to achieve my workload on a daily basis. You contend it does, I contend that it didn't. The battery didn't last long enough compared to the 2019 model, it was much hotter, and much louder. The heat was uncomfortable and the loudness interfered with video calls.

That is the subjective reality of my experience with the Macbook Air 2020 i5. It's arguing in bad faith to make sweeping, true/false statements when your sample size - just like mine - is your own personal experience.

Again - this is a consumer product. Apple's metric of success is 'are we selling enough of these to make money?' Probably, yeah. For the user, their metric of satisfaction is gonna be all over the place. You seem to be satisfied (if you do own a 2020 air, I can't remember). I wasn't, so I returned it. Many other people haven't been - why do you think this thread is so long? Why do you think there are so many posts on Reddit about it?

It doesn't all come down to MaxTech's ******** video. I saw the ******** video, decided to make up my own mind, and bought the i5. I am NOT a Pro user by any stretch, and the i5 struggled to maintain an acceptable internal/external temperature (for me) and fan noise limit (for me) when directly compared to the previous year's model.

Some people might not care, but those people are very welcome to hang on to their laptop. I returned mine, because owning a product and being satisfied with it are subjective things, not the laws of physics.

If you're going to keep posting here, I'd ask you to consider why so many people are coming here for advice, answers, and information. I would like you to consider that maybe their experience of using the 2020 Macbook Air hasn't been satisfactory for them, and maybe they don't feel like they got what they paid for. I am certainly one of those people.

Then you are not the average non-Pro user. You might think you are but apparently you need a pro level machine. My wife, multiple co workers, kids, me, wife's friends, etc would all be average non-Pro users and this computer would be perfect for their workload. I 100% believe that this computer is not the right fit for you.

Funny thing is not one of us that is happy with this computer thinks that you or anyone else should be happy with it and find it acceptable for you. You somehow are so myopic that you think because it doesn't fit your workload it doesn't fit anyones.

If anyone tried to say that this machine would be perfect for you I would absolutely disagree with them since you have tried it and it did not work for you.

You can think you are not a pro user but by definition if a non pro machine does not work for you and a Pro machine does then you are a Pro candidate and it is not arguable. Sorry.

When did I or anyone else say that this machine was perfect for you or some other poster after they said it wasn't? We didn't.

Irony is that you think I (or people who are happy) don't have an open mind (open to alternative viewpoints). It is the opposite. When you go around spouting that this machine is flawed or doesn't work correctly you are wrong. It does for many (most) that have it. It doesn't for everyone and not one of us has said any differently.

Yes I have a 2020. I consume video, music, excel, word, powerpoint, edit pdfs, light photo editing, outlook, mail, zoom, terms, messages, VPN, safari, chrome and a couple proprietary work related apps. All with no heat issues and minimal to no fan. Fan does come on (inaudible) with zoom and teams.

Currently doing excel, word, outlook, mail, and some PDF editing, and of course safari as I type this. 50 degrees, 0 RPMs

 

[raymanh]

1. I was talking about actual racing, like Nascar. No it would not be fine. It is still a fine car. In other words the wrong tool for that type of race.

2. Yes a non-Pro product is aiming to please the non-Pro user. These computers are made for the masses so they are aimed to please the masses as far as non-Pro users go. I am an average user and I frequent this forum about my laptop so you are wrong there also. There is far more satisfied users here as well.

3. It was designed to allow for your average non-Pro user to achieve their workload on a daily basis which it does. If your needs are above a non-Pro level, thus reaching a Pro level they have this laptop called a MacBook Pro.

1. So you're 'analogy' was just about the right tool for the job? Nothing deeper? Nice analogy!

2. "Made for the masses". You must be joking? It's a $1000 laptop (and more expensive outside the US). Side note, if you frequent this forum, then you are not the average user. Otherwise, you're saying more than 50% of the Air owners globally visit this forum or other tech forums on a frequent basis. Really think that?

3. There's a difference between saying the design is "spot on" and then saying it allows the user to achieve their workload. Yes it achieves your average users workload, but as I said the CPU throttles at 100°C regularly and the fans are loud, louder than before. In what world is that "spot on".

 

[Bolanders]

1. So you're 'analogy' was just about the right tool for the job? Nothing deeper? Nice analogy!

2. "Made for the masses". You must be joking? It's a $1000 laptop (and more expensive outside the US). Side note, if you frequent this forum, then you are not the average user. Otherwise, you're saying more than 50% of the Air owners globally visit this forum or other tech forums on a frequent basis. Really think that?

3. There's a difference between saying the design is "spot on" and then saying it allows the user to achieve their workload. Yes it achieves your average users workload, but as I said the CPU throttles at 100°C regularly and the fans are loud, louder than before. In what world is that "spot on".

1. It was pointing out that depending on the context of how something is used doesn't; mean it is the right tool for the job. For Pro level type work a non-Pro laptop is a bad fit.

2. I am an average user who happens to be interested in this stuff. If I showed you and told you what I did you would laugh if I claimed to be a Pro level user. I am not. This is made for the masses. Apple sells to the masses. Period. Look at their revenue if you think differently. No 50% of users don't frequent this forum.

3. Mine does not throttle at 100 degrees with the fans on unless I want to make it do that meaning my workload does not make it do that. Therefore the design for my average usage is spot on. My wife drives slow and her car with minimal HP and 0-60 times is perfectly designed for her. My car has 470hp and I like to drive faster. Her car does not appeal to me but I don't think it is flawed. it is not the right car for me.

 

[RiaKoobcam]

Then you are not the average non-Pro user. You might think you are but apparently you need a pro level machine. My wife, multiple co workers, kids, me, wife's friends, etc would all be average non-Pro users and this computer would be perfect for their workload. I 100% believe that this computer is not the right fit for you.

Funny thing is not one of us that is happy with this computer thinks that you or anyone else should be happy with it and find it acceptable for you. You somehow are so myopic that you think because it doesn't fit your workload it doesn't fit anyones.

If anyone tried to say that this machine would be perfect for you I would absolutely disagree with them since you have tried it and it did not work for you.

You can think you are not a pro user but by definition if a non pro machine does not work for you and a Pro machine does then you are a Pro candidate and it is not arguable. Sorry.

When did I or anyone else say that this machine was perfect for you or some other poster after they said it wasn't? We didn't.

Irony is that you think I (or people who are happy) don't have an open mind (open to alternative viewpoints). It is the opposite. When you go around spouting that this machine is flawed or doesn't work correctly you are wrong. It does for many (most) that have it. It doesn't for everyone and not one of us has said any differently.

Yes I have a 2020. I consume video, music, excel, word, powerpoint, edit pdfs, light photo editing, outlook, mail, zoom, terms, messages, VPN. All with no heat issues and minimal to no fan. Fan does come on (inaudible) with zoom and teams.

Again, I was hesitant to engage with you because you were pretty dug in on this. I'm not spouting that the machine is broken, fundamentally unusable, whatever. If you read my post, I wrote:

There's a middle ground here - it's possible to admit that something isn't terrible, but also isn't amazing and without fault.

Some people might not care about the issues I encountered with my i5, but those people are very welcome to hang on to their laptop.

My experience just doesn't marry up with yours. The things you're experiencing aren't the same for everyone that uses this computer. Maybe most people are super satisified, like you, and haven't encountered issues.

Search for '2019 Macbook Air overheating' or '2019 Macbook Air heatsink' or '2019 Macbook Air why is it so loud?' (or replace 2019 with 2013, 2015, etc) and you just won't find the volume of users with issues as you do with 2020's model. Make of that what you will, but again - just because something is fine for you, doesn't mean that's a universal truth. Just because something sucks for me, doesn't mean other people won't be completely comfortable with it and not notice it at all.

Satisfication. With. A. Consumer. Purchase. Is. Subjective. It is not an absolute. You can't tell people who've had issues with their 2020 Airs, 'well, I haven't, so you SHOULDN'T'. It's like me telling you 'When Harry Met Sally is my favourite film, so if you don't like it, you're not WATCHING IT RIGHT.' It's up to the viewer to decide.

You seem to be really struggling with these analogies so maybe that's not helpful, but if you can't even acknowledge that people are allowed to say 'I spent a lot of money on this, it's not what I was expecting and I'm not happy with it'... I don't know what to tell you man.

It's great that your wife, friend, coworkers, kids and entire village are happy with their Macbook Air 2020s (they all have them?!). If you want to get technical, that's a logical fallacy called Argumentum Ad Populum - 'Most people think this, so you are wrong!'

The people you listed are not me, and they aren't the people coming to this thread saying 'mine's getting really hot, what's going on here?' or 'Meh, I'm returning it, it's not for me.' I don't know why this upsets you so much. If you don't have anything constructive to add, why cause yourself the aggravation?

 

[Bolanders]

Again, I was hesitant to engage with you because you were pretty dug in on this. I'm not spouting that the machine is broken, fundamentally unusable, whatever. If you read my post, I wrote:



My experience just doesn't marry up with yours. The things you're experiencing aren't the same for everyone that uses this computer. Maybe most people are super satisified, like you, and haven't encountered issues.

But search for '2019 Macbook Air overheating' or '2019 Macbook Air heatsink' or '2019 Macbook Air why is it so loud?' (or replace 2019 with 2013, 2015, etc) and you just won't find the volume of users with issues as you do with 2020's model. Make of that what you will, but again - just because something is fine for you, doesn't mean that's a universal truth. Just because something sucks for me, doesn't mean other people won't be completely comfortable with it and not notice it at all.

Satisfication. With. A. Consumer. Purchase. Is. Subjective. It is not an absolute. You can't tell people who've had issues with their 2020 Airs, 'well, I haven't, so you SHOULDN'T'. It's like me telling you 'When Harry Met Sally is my favourite film, so if you don't like it, you're not WATCHING IT RIGHT.' It's up to the viewer to decide.

You seem to be really struggling with these analogies so maybe that's not helpful, but if you can't even acknowledge that people are allowed to say 'I spent a lot of money on this, it's not what I was expecting and I'm not happy with it'... I don't know what to tell you man.

I never said my experience was the same as everyone else. Not once. I claimed that the machine is designed for people like myself and that it fits the mold perfectly. It does.

Find me one area where I said "You shouldn't have issues". Never happened and never would. Not once did I say anyone should be happy with it. Just telling you what many others have said here which is that they are having no issues and are happy with it. The fact that you and other claim it is a faulty design when it works and has worked with thousands of other people is just plain wrong.

I am not struggling with anything and the fact you think I am is laughable. Again if you actually read what I write it has been that it works flawlessly for many many people.

I will wait for you to quote any post where I said what you supposedly said I did. We both know you won't because it never happened. Please also tell me once where I said you (or anyone) should be satisfied. Again you won't because it never happened

 

[KrinklesMontgomery]

I never said my experience was the same as everyone else. Not once. I claimed that the machine is designed for people like myself and that it fits the mold perfectly. It does.

Find me one area where I said "You shouldn't have issues". Never happened and never would. Not once did I say anyone should be happy with it. Just telling you what many others have said here which is that they are having no issues and are happy with it. The fact that you and other claim it is a faulty design when it works and has worked with thousands of other people is just plain wrong.

I am not struggling with anything and the fact you think I am is laughable. Again if you actually read what I write it has been that it works flawlessly for many many people.

You're 100% right about the fact that if something doesn't work for someone's workflow, then that doesn't necessarily mean that it's flawed. But the opposite is also true, just because the device happens to work for you doesn't mean that the design isn't flawed.

In my case I was replacing an 8GB 2014 MBA with the 2020 base model, the 2014 handled the same workload 15 degrees cooler and with better battery life. I'm returning it.

 

[Bolanders]

You're 100% right about the fact that if something doesn't work for someone's workflow, then that doesn't necessarily mean that it's flawed. But the opposite is also true, just because the device happens to work for you doesn't mean that the design isn't flawed.

In my case I was replacing an 8GB 2014 MBA with the 2020 base model, the 2014 handled the same workload 15 degrees cooler and with better battery life. I'm returning it.

If a design is flawed then it would not work for anyone. As I and many many others have pointed out the design is exactly what Apple wanted it to be and is able to get much of your non-pro masses through their workload.

You absolutely should return it if it is not the right product for you.

My wife's car does not work for me. Its design is not flawed. If I had her car I would return it or sell it. My car does work for me.

ETA: Now been working this machine for about an hour. 51 degrees, 0 RPMs

 

[raymanh]

1. It was pointing out that depending on the context of how something is used doesn't; mean it is the right tool for the job. For Pro level type work a non-Pro laptop is a bad fit.

2. I am an average user who happens to be interested in this stuff. If I showed you and told you what I did you would laugh if I claimed to be a Pro level user. I am not. This is made for the masses. Apple sells to the masses. Period. Look at their revenue if you think differently. No 50% of users don't frequent this forum.

3. Mine does not throttle at 100 degrees with the fans on unless I want to make it do that meaning my workload does not make it do that. Therefore the design for my average usage is spot on. My wife drives slow and her car with minimal HP and 0-60 times is perfectly designed for her. My car has 470hp and I like to drive faster. Her car does not appeal to me but I don't think it is flawed. it is not the right car for me.

1. Yep there we go, didn't require an analogy. Just say 'right tool for the job'.

2. You're getting confused. By average user, I'm talking about the average Air user, not that all Air owners are average users hence they don't need the Pro. "No 50% of users don't frequent this forum." - Yes I agree, that is what i said, what's your point here. Revenue is volume AND price. Macs are expensive, that's why their revenue is so high. So this doesn't show it's made for the masses.

3. Yours is a single case. I've read and seen many instances unlike yours in general reviews, not on these forums (which is biased towards problems). Again, pointless car analogy.

 

[RiaKoobcam]

I never said my experience was the same as everyone else. Not once. I claimed that the machine is designed for people like myself and that it fits the mold perfectly. It does.

Find me one area where I said "You shouldn't have issues". Never happened and never would. Not once did I say anyone should be happy with it. Just telling you what many others have said here which is that they are having no issues and are happy with it. The fact that you and other claim it is a faulty design when it works and has worked with thousands of other people is just plain wrong.

I am not struggling with anything and the fact you think I am is laughable. Again if you actually read what I write it has been that it works flawlessly for many many people.

I will wait for you to quote any post where I said what you supposedly said I did. We both know you won't because it never happened. Please also tell me once where I said you (or anyone) should be satisfied. Again you won't because it never happened

I don't want to. I don't want to argue, this is an internet forum. There are no winners from arguments here - I come here to read people's experiences and discuss tech, not try to win debate points. I'm out.

 

[Bolanders]

1. Yep there we go, didn't require an analogy. Just say 'right tool for the job'.

2. You're getting confused. By average user, I'm talking about the average Air user, not that all Air owners are average users hence they don't need the Pro. "No 50% of users don't frequent this forum." - Yes I agree, that is what i said, what's your point here. Revenue is volume AND price. Macs are expensive, that's why their revenue is so high. So this doesn't show it's made for the masses.

3. Yours is a single case. I've read and seen many instances unlike yours in general reviews, not on these forums (which is biased towards problems). Again, pointless car analogy.

Apple phones and computers are made for the masses. BMWs are made for the masses. Both are expensive but they are what they are. You don't make massive amounts of revenue without appealing to the masses. Apple sold 2.8 million laptops. Hint: That is for the masses.

Not pointless analogy. Of course you think it is pointless because it proves your point wrong.

 

[KrinklesMontgomery]

If a design is flawed then it would not work for anyone. As I and many many others have pointed out the design is exactly what Apple wanted it to be and is able to get much of your non-pro masses through their workload.

You absolutely should return it if it is not the right product for you.

My wife's car does not work for me. Its design is not flawed. If I had her car I would return it or sell it. My car does work for me.

ETA: Now been working this machine for about an hour. 51 degrees, 0 RPMs

I dunno, I would say there have been plenty of flawed Apple designs (butterfly keys, staingate, etc) that also just happen to work for a lot of people.

I'm glad it works for you though, I guess I just didn't realize I've been a Pro user this whole time after using a non-Pro Macbook Air for the last 6 years LMAO

 

[Bolanders]

I dunno, I would say there have been plenty of flawed Apple designs (butterfly keys, staingate, etc) that also just happen to work for a lot of people.

I'm glad it works for you though, I guess I just didn't realize I've been a Pro user this whole time after using a non-Pro macbook for the last 6 years LMAO

Fair enough. You are right on the Apple Designs you mentioned. If a non-Pro machine does not work for you today then you need something better, thus you need a Pro machine.

All many of us have said is that there are many this non-Pro machine works for, meaning the design is fine. Nothing more.

 

[KPOM]

In Chrome, you need to run an extension that will call for h.264 videos on Youtube. That will prevent VP9 from engaging and killing your battery life.

No, your average user won't know that... and so they'll use Chrome as if they don't know better and the new MacBook Air will blast its fan like crazy. You can thank Apple for this.

Just for comparison's sake, my 16" MacBook Pro... under Bootcamp, actually is completely quiet playing 4K60 videos in Chrome, versus the fans getting slightly loud (about 3500RPM) when playing the same videos in Chrome under Mac OS.

Or just use Safari which plays the content optimized for the Mac. Chrome is really bad on all platforms, particularly the Mac.
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I dunno, I would say there have been plenty of flawed Apple designs (butterfly keys, staingate, etc) that also just happen to work for a lot of people.

I'm glad it works for you though, I guess I just didn't realize I've been a Pro user this whole time after using a non-Pro Macbook Air for the last 6 years LMAO

Perhaps I have a different view since I was a big fan of the 12” MacBook. I never expected that to be a MacBook Pro, nor did I expect the MacBook Air to be a Pro either.

 

[esphil]

If you look at the reviews of the i3/i5 model on Amazon/Best Buy they are all pretty positive reviews with hardly any complaints about performance or heat. This Air seems to work well for the average user.

 

[KrinklesMontgomery]

Perhaps I have a different view since I was a big fan of the 12” MacBook. I never expected that to be a MacBook Pro, nor did I expect the MacBook Air to be a Pro either.

I didn't expect the 2020 MBA to perform at "Pro" levels (whatever that means, seems arbitrary), I was just hoping it would perform around the same if not better than my machine from the same product line that's over a half decade old but unfortunately it just doesn't. Too bad.