Apple Silicon MacBook Air predictions

[Yebubbleman]

One thing I realized in terms of my own wishlist for the MacBook Air on the other side of the Apple Silicon Transition:

I'm in the market for one last Intel based Mac now. It needs to be Intel for Boot Camp and for x86 Virtualization. Given how few Mac specific software titles of mine survived the transition away from 32-bit Intel code, and given that most of the rest of my computing needs are better served in Windows, I don't need a 16" MacBook Pro. Hell, I ought to not even need the 4-port 13" MacBook Pro. But the 2-port 13" MacBook Pro uses two year old hardware with almost-inadequate cooling and the 2020 MacBook Air uses underpowered current hardware with definitely inadequate cooling, making the 4-port 13" MacBook Pro the goldilocks solution for this Mac that I'm to buy imminently.

In previous years (say, 2011-2015ish), a 13" MacBook Air would've totally fit the bill in ways that the 11" Air and 12" Retina MacBook wouldn't, and in ways that the 2018-2020 can't, and in ways that the 2020 2-port 13" Pro really ought to, but comes just shy of.

I want the Apple Silicon MacBook Air to be that Mac for me on the other side of this transition. I still need a Mac for some things, but the number of which lessens as time goes on. But I shouldn't have to get the higher-end 13" MacBook Pro just because lesser Mac portables either use outdated processors, under-performing processors, insufficient cooling, let alone any combination thereof.

Having a fan means you need vents and the device will trap dust. I regularly clean my old MBP and my desktop. Current Macs are very difficult to clean, I like the idea of having a Mac that doesn't require airflow and cleaning. Just like tablets and phones. It also might make it possible to have a waterproof Mac at some point. Still hard to repair but at least made to last a long time.

I think much of that is environmental, but I see your point. I don't think they'll do it on the onset, but I can't imagine we won't move to fanless MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros (at least low-end MacBook Pros) in the not too distant future.

 

[MysticCow]

I think much of that is environmental, but I see your point. I don't think they'll do it on the onset, but I can't imagine we won't move to fanless MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros (at least low-end MacBook Pros) in the not too distant future.

We may be looking at levels of cooling we haven't seen since the iMac G3 (no fans) due to the low power needs and lower heat temps of an ASMac chip.

All it might need is simply a larger heatsink. Or maybe it will need a fan. We're all dealing with conjecture.