Erm, I think 13” may be a bit too small for me ...

[The Cockney Rebel]

I have always had 13" laptops, and that screen size has been great for me. Especially with Retina.

But my new Air *does* feel tiny! The slimmed down bezels, the taper, and the lower-travel keyboard make it feel a lot smaller than my old laptop with my hands on the keyboard. It's definitely a lot lighter.

Not sure I how I feel about it yet lol! :-D

How long have you had it for?

 

[consumeritis]

How long have you had it for?

About a week, but it's still has that new-car aura where I'm a bit over-careful with it. So I haven't had enough time to get really used to it I don't think.

It's a great laptop, insanely fast, nice screen, great build quality, but it really was a surprise to me how tiny it felt. The USB cable almost feels like enough to unbalance it!

I'm guessing the shape of the Pro and the bigger battery might give it a bit of extra solidity when compared to the Air?

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

About a week, but it's still has that new-car aura where I'm a bit over-careful with it. So I haven't had enough time to get really used to it I don't think.

It's a great laptop, insanely fast, nice screen, great build quality, but it really was a surprise to me how tiny it felt. The USB cable almost feels like enough to unbalance it!

I'm guessing the shape of the Pro and the bigger battery might give it a bit of extra solidity when compared to the Air?

I can hold mine one handed and there's no flex.

Feels like a Millwall brick .

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

If you are learning to code, get an external monitor. You will need to be able to see documentation and/or video tutorials and the IDE at the same time. 15" or even 16" is too small for this. Get a separate monitor and use the big one for coding, and the laptop screen for video or documentation.

I intend to use my iPad Pro to watch tutorials, and then code on my MBP.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

This size is definitely growing on me.

It started to get better once I'd changed the display settings, so I highly advise anyone with an M1 MacBook to do the same.

 

[jerryk]

I intend to use my iPad Pro to watch tutorials, and then code on my MBP.

Thanks for the advice.

Sounds like a good combo. Have fun!

Are you going to use SideCar?

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Sounds like a good combo. Have fun!

Are you going to use SideCar?

Thanks, buddy.

Don't think I'll use Sidecar. I'll just use Udemy, YouTube etc for the instructional videos on my iPad, and use Xcode on my MBP to code.

I must say, though, it's all very daunting (learning to code.)

 

[anubis1980]

I was really impressed with sidecar, so smooth. I went from a 2015 MBP to this screen size and I was worried I would hate the MBA, but the screen size is perfect. Im an old fart now and my eyes aren't good, but my 2018 iPad Pro feels a lot smaller than this laptop screen , even though its not much smaller.

I prefer this screen size which I never thought I'd say.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I was really impressed with sidecar, so smooth. I went from a 2015 MBP to this screen size and I was worried I would hate the MBA, but the screen size is perfect. Im an old fart now and my eyes aren't good, but my 2018 iPad Pro feels a lot smaller than this laptop screen , even though its not much smaller.

I prefer this screen size which I never thought I'd say.

I’m assuming your 2015 MBP was 15”?

Im pleased you’re enjoying your new MBA. I’ll play around with mine some more and then make the decision to keep it or not.

Do you still own, and use your old MBP? If so, is it not strange switching between the two?

Any tips for a newcomer to the M1 MacBook?

 

[tdbrown75]

My M1 MBP was delivered yesterday, to my nan’s place, so I’ll be unboxing it today.

However, I popped into the Apple Store to buy a USB-C to USB cable and I had a moment to play around, very briefly with a 13” MBP.

It’s so small!

I’m coming from a 24” iMac, so that’s probably why.

No pun intended, but do you think the 13” will grow on me?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

For me, even a 16" is too small for any real productivity tasks. When working, I often need many windows with excel workbooks, powerpoint presentations, and other information displayed at once.

Other times (like now) I'm perfectly happy with the laptop display, as I sit on my couch drinking coffee and reading MacRumors, checking email, etc. I'm also hooked on portability, I can use this thing all over the house.

I have tried many combinations including an iMac and an iPad, and an iMac and a MacBook. I finally settled on a single, large screen MacBook with an external display. I simply go to my desk when I need to do real work.

I opted for a 32" 4K Dell monitor. I'd prefer the Apple version, but for what I do it's overkill. I use one single USB-C capable of charging at 90W, and I use the monitor as a hub for my Logitech receiver, webcam, and audio. Perfect!

Anyway not sure if that's helpful for you in your situation. Every different combination I tried had some kind of compromise. Maybe someday I'll have an M series 16" MacBook with a pro Apple display, which would be perfect.

My monitor, if interested: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HDBD9CM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Good luck with your new Mac!

Tim

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

For me, even a 16" is too small for any real productivity tasks. When working, I often need many windows with excel workbooks, powerpoint presentations, and other information displayed at once.

Other times (like now) I'm perfectly happy with the laptop display, as I sit on my couch drinking coffee and reading MacRumors, checking email, etc. I'm also hooked on portability, I can use this thing all over the house.

I have tried many combinations including an iMac and an iPad, and an iMac and a MacBook. I finally settled on a single, large screen MacBook with an external display. I simply go to my desk when I need to do real work.

I opted for a 32" 4K Dell monitor. I'd prefer the Apple version, but for what I do it's overkill. I use one single USB-C capable of charging at 90W, and I use the monitor as a hub for my Logitech receiver, webcam, and audio. Perfect!

Anyway not sure if that's helpful for you in your situation. Every different combination I tried had some kind of compromise. Maybe someday I'll have an M series 16" MacBook with a pro Apple display, which would be perfect.

My monitor, if interested: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HDBD9CM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Good luck with your new Mac!

Tim

Thanks for that, Tim.

Really appreciate the informative response.

So are you saying that basically if you never needed a setup for work, you'd be perfectly happy with the 13" form factor?

Thanks again.

 

[tdbrown75]

Thanks for that, Tim.

Really appreciate the informative response.

So are you saying that basically if you never needed a setup for work, you'd be perfectly happy with the 13" form factor?

Thanks again.

Yes. I never opt to sit at my desk unless I'm needing to work (or charge).

Tim

 

[anubis1980]

I’m assuming your 2015 MBP was 15”?

Im pleased you’re enjoying your new MBA. I’ll play around with mine some more and then make the decision to keep it or not.

Do you still own, and use your old MBP? If so, is it not strange switching between the two?

Any tips for a newcomer to the M1 MacBook?

yes sorry 15"

no I was lucky and managed to sell it for £800 the day after I got my M1, wasn't going to keep it as the prices were going to drop massively. As for tips, just make sure all the apps you use, if there are Apple Silicon versions, use them.

I forgot this, and a lot of my apps I have been using are intel versions. It is kind of frustrating that there isn't a warning or the apps I use haven't said there are AS versions available do you want to download.

Apart from that, I'm not a heavy Mac user like I am with windows at work so I'm pretty useless at the ins and outs of it haha.

 

[vocalnick]

My use case calls for a chiefly docked/external monitor solution, but with the ability to grab the whole system and take it with me I need to.

Dropping from 27” down to 13” when I have to travel is definitely a compromise. But frankly that’s also the case dropping to 16”, and the weight/form factor advantages of the smaller unit are significant when I’m on the move.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

My M1 MBP was delivered yesterday, to my nan’s place... It’s so small!... I’m coming from a 24” iMac, so that’s probably why... No pun intended, but do you think the 13” will grow on me?

Not sure what size your nan is (or her house), but the 13" is ideal for general productivity when away from a desktop. Simply; if you tend to work in an office or with a desktop setup for most of the day, the 13" size will let you stay in the loop away from there.

Personally, I would only go for the 16" if I needed to work away from a desk throughout most of the day, or if I was using it as a primary machine for producing creative content.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Not sure what size your nan is (or her house), but the 13" is ideal for general productivity when away from a desktop. Simply; if you tend to work in an office or with a desktop setup for most of the day, the 13" size will let you stay in the loop away from there.

Personally, I would only go for the 16" if I needed to work away from a desk throughout most of the day, or if I was using it as a primary machine for producing creative content.

I would use it at my flat, under normal circumstances, so would be at my desk in my bedroom or on my lap in the living room.

I'm a bit reluctant to returning this MBP because it is faultless. I'm considering keeping it until the bigger models are released then buy one of them.

When I buy one of the bigger laptops (16") I'll have that for at my flat, then leave this one at my nan's.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

yes sorry 15"

no I was lucky and managed to sell it for £800 the day after I got my M1, wasn't going to keep it as the prices were going to drop massively. As for tips, just make sure all the apps you use, if there are Apple Silicon versions, use them.

I forgot this, and a lot of my apps I have been using are intel versions. It is kind of frustrating that there isn't a warning or the apps I use haven't said there are AS versions available do you want to download.

Apart from that, I'm not a heavy Mac user like I am with windows at work so I'm pretty useless at the ins and outs of it haha.

Thanks for the advice.

How is your experience, going from 15" to 13"?

Are you finding the screen comfortable to use?

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I would use it at my flat, under normal circumstances, so would be at my desk in my bedroom or on my lap in the living room.

I'm a bit reluctant to returning this MBP because it is faultless. I'm considering keeping it until the bigger models are released then buy one of them.

When I buy one of the bigger laptops (16") I'll have that for at my flat, then leave this one at my nan's.

Problem solved, then? You said yourself it's faultless so stick with it.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Problem solved, then? You said yourself it's faultless so stick with it.

I think I will, bud.

Thanks for replying so swiftly.

By the way, what M1 did you get?

 

[anubis1980]

Thanks for the advice.

How is your experience, going from 15" to 13"?

Are you finding the screen comfortable to use?

yes I find it is actually a nicer experience. I think the fact I sit with it on the sofa on my lap makes it better. my old one was huge and cumbersome, this is perfect. Better than my iPad Pro 11 as its bigger. I shocked myself tbh I always went for the bigger screen as my eyes are bad but this one is the perfect size for me. I had my old MBP maxed out brightness wise, I have to have this down at 50% as its so bright.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

yes I find it is actually a nicer experience. I think the fact I sit with it on the sofa on my lap makes it better. my old one was huge and cumbersome, this is perfect. Better than my iPad Pro 11 as its bigger. I shocked myself tbh I always went for the bigger screen as my eyes are bad but this one is the perfect size for me. I had my old MBP maxed out brightness wise, I have to have this down at 50% as its so bright.

Thanks for getting back to me.

Try this: Go into the display settings on your settings app, then change the setting to scaled, and use the second "block" in. I did that and everything is so much more readable. No need to strain your eyes at all to read text.

Additionally, go into Mail's settings and you can increase the font sizes for the different panes. I did this and Mail is now much easier on the eyes.

I know what you mean about the laptop being comfortable on the lap. I haven't had a chance to try it out at my desk as eyes, because I'm at my nan's place, but I'll be back home tomorrow so I'll set it up properly.

Try those settings that I recommended and let me know what you think.

Take care ...

 

[TrueBlou]

My M1 MBP was delivered yesterday, to my nan’s place, so I’ll be unboxing it today.

However, I popped into the Apple Store to buy a USB-C to USB cable and I had a moment to play around, very briefly with a 13” MBP.

It’s so small!

I’m coming from a 24” iMac, so that’s probably why.

No pun intended, but do you think the 13” will grow on me?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Definitely a huge difference when you’re coming from a larger screen. Even going to a 15” MacBook was a shock to the system, from my 27” iMac, but to be expected.

Ultimately, you get used to the size after a period of adjustment. Whether that screen size suits you for everything (or anything) is a different matter. You can change the resolution to get more on the screen of course, if you’ve got eyes like a hawk

Personally, I already know I’ll be able to cope with a 13” the majority of the time, coming from a 27” again. I know I’ll adjust to it. But I also know, there are absolutely going to be times when a larger screen with a higher resolution will be required. So I’ve already purchased a TB3 hub and a new 28” 4K screen in preparation....

..... the only annoying bit now is having to wait almost 2 weeks before I get my Air.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Definitely a huge difference when you’re coming from a larger screen. Even going to a 15” MacBook was a shock to the system, from my 27” iMac, but to be expected.

Ultimately, you get used to the size after a period of adjustment. Whether that screen size suits you for everything (or anything) is a different matter. You can change the resolution to get more on the screen of course, if you’ve got eyes like a hawk

Personally, I already know I’ll be able to cope with a 13” the majority of the time, coming from a 27” again. I know I’ll adjust to it. But I also know, there are absolutely going to be times when a larger screen with a higher resolution will be required. So I’ve already purchased a TB3 hub and a new 28” 4K screen in preparation....

..... the only annoying bit now is having to wait almost 2 weeks before I get my Air.

Appreciate the response.

I don't really want to get an external monitor, as the reason for me not going for another iMac (apart from M1) is that I want my system to be completely portable.

The screen size is growing on me, as I made an adjustment in the display settings: I set the screen to scaled, and now everything is not so tiiiiiiiiiiiiiny. I'd give that a go when you get yours, if I were you. It really makes a lot of difference.

 

[TrueBlou]

Appreciate the response.

I don't really want to get an external monitor, as the reason for me not going for another iMac (apart from M1) is that I want my system to be completely portable.

The screen size is growing on me, as I made an adjustment in the display settings: I set the screen to scaled, and now everything is not so tiiiiiiiiiiiiiny. I'd give that a go when you get yours, if I were you. It really makes a lot of difference.

Probably better than nose prints on the screen

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Probably better than nose prints on the screen

HaHa!