Contemplating cancelling my M1 MBP for the same MBA config ...

[Six0Four]

I've had both. Macbook Air speakers are very good. I got used to the 13.3" display and besides it's easier to hook up to my monitor and use as a desktop. I've also never needed to use full brightness indoors.

Only thing i liked better on the 16 was the screen size but then i realized that so many people get work and stuff done on 10" ipads and even phones so a 13.3" doesn't really seem small anymore.

 

[wrsni]

I went base Pro, seemed like a no-brainer to be honest.

Better mics in the Pro were one factor relevant to present as I'm doing music show podcasts for a local charity radio station during December and the mics have proved to be excellent.

Also love the Touch Bar and wouldn't like to be without it already.

Then add in all the other stuff you get with the Pro and it was a pretty simple decision.

 

[badsimian]

I have gone for a 16GB/512GB Air rather than the Pro. I dislike the Touch Bar, I had the updated one on the 16" and it still isn't as good as having actual function keys. My usage is unlikely to be affected by having a fan or not, I am actually sitting here typing having to put a video through handbrake and something else in iMovie. If it takes a few seconds longer due to not having a fan I don't care. To me, having a fan means something else to break later on hence less reliable.
But mostly I just don't want to put that much money into a machine right now as I am probably really going to want the redesign with mini LED screen when it comes so the less I lose on resale the happier I will be.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I've just got my 8GB RAM M1 MacBook Pro. I'm a bit confused re the 8 vs 16 RAM? For me, I don't do any photo editing or gaming so 8GB should be enough shouldn't it? All working fine at the moment but future proofing? I'm not so sure?

As for the Touch Bar. I love it!

 

[James_C]

I've just got my 8GB RAM M1 MacBook Pro. I'm a bit confused re the 8 vs 16 RAM? For me, I don't do any photo editing or gaming so 8GB should be enough shouldn't it?

You should be fine with 8GB. Unless you are video editing in 4k or above, or similar memory intensive projects.

 

[spiderman0616]

You should be fine with 8GB. Unless you are video editing in 4k or above, or similar memory intensive projects.

I think you could even do 4K video editing. Even the base model M1 Air only seems to lose frames here and there when you start getting into things like 8K shot on RED cameras or something like that. I'm sure there's a lot of gray area there, but I've been impressed by what I've seen YouTubers doing with it. Won't be able to test it out for myself until Monday, unfortunately.

 

[Tenkaykev]

I've had a MBP for the last six years and have to set that I definitely find the MacBook Air form factor much nicer to type on. Moreover, all the MBPs I've had started creaking slightly if you slightly pressed on the area where your palms would typically rest. No creaking whatsoever with the MacBook Air.

On top of all that, I love the fact that my laptop no longer has a touch bar.

I suppose for those who prefer the ergonomics of the Air but want the performance of the Pro there’s the option of purchasing the Pro and taking a belt sander to the sharp edge. ?

 

[Tenkaykev]

I suppose for those who prefer the ergonomics of the Air but want the performance of the Pro there’s the option of purchasing the Pro and taking a belt sander to the sharp edge. ?

On a less flippant note, I’ve been impressed with the thoroughness of the comparison tests on the “max Tech” YouTube channel.

 

[deeddawg]

I suppose for those who prefer the ergonomics of the Air but want the performance of the Pro there’s the option of purchasing the Pro and taking a belt sander to the sharp edge. ?

No "sharp edge" on my M1 MBP13 nor was there one on my 2018 MBP15 or my early-2020 MBA.

Pre-2016 MBPs did have a bit of an bite though.

 

[Moosebear]

Just got my Pro today, with 1 TB drive and 8GB ram. Coming from a 2013 MBPro, no surprise that this is a far more refined and mature machine on so many levels. I imagine that if Apple does come out with some newly designed laptop in 2021, it likely won't benefit from the hundreds of incremental refinements in the MacBook Pro.

And the M1itself. Just blazing and effecient. Computing has changed again, thanks to Apple. They will probably now become the predominent computer brand.