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adrianlondon

macrumors 603
Nov 28, 2013
5,536
8,360
Switzerland
how long is the battery life?
Performance speed + power?
USB-C charging?
Thin-light-portable?
Build quality?
Support?
Warranty?
Accessories?

I just can't think of any reason to switch to a different laptop+CPU (other than the new MacBook Pro M1's).
I feel the same way about my 2020 Intel MBA.

Decibels? You can’t beat 0db.
Oh. Forget what I said above.
 
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BreakYurAnkles

Suspended
Original poster
Oct 17, 2021
508
501
If only Intel thought the same ay as you do.

Also I am glad you see this for the what it is. An entry level notebook.
Mind you M1 is probably the first entry level notebook that does any with most of the usual compromises that other notebooks had to have to be in the ultra portable entry level category. Literally the new standard for what entry level notebooks should be.
intel was/is (currently at least) too greedy and "fat and happy" making mediocre CPU's and high profits + margins.

But I'd have to push back against your statement (respectfully).

intel only specializes in CPU's and not much else. (they don't provide OS's or design/manufacture their own hardware/computers). And they thought they were the best and biggest game in town. and Apple had to sit on the sideline taking table scraps. While intel is designing (or lack of design improvements) most of their CPU's for the majority of computer manufacturers, Apple was designing their own custom ARM processors to work with their OS + hardware to a great degree of detail.

Intel is in a precarious situation because, if they did make a "end all be all" laptop built to their own specifications and works flawlessly with windows (extremely unlikely). Then all other laptop manufacturers would lose marketshare and reputation.

Now that Apple has delivered a revolutionary product at an excellent value proposition (probably the best I've ever encountered for technology). From top to bottom design + hardware + software + manufacturing. We as the general public/consumers benefit. There's really no way intel can do such things and not shoot themselves in the foot in some way shape or form.
 
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dizmonk

macrumors 65816
Nov 26, 2010
1,080
678
I have a 8-8-8 512ssd M1 MB Air.

I definitely understand "dongle-life" I've owned touch-bar MBP's.

After owning this M1 Air for just over a month, I am extremely impressed by its overall package.

When I see deals on other laptops (Apple intel models included) I'm no longer interested in 98-99% of them anymore.

When I see another laptop on the market I ask myself the following questions:

how long is the battery life?
Performance speed + power?
USB-C charging?
Thin-light-portable?
Build quality?
Support?
Warranty?
Accessories?

I just can't think of any reason to switch to a different laptop+CPU (other than the new MacBook Pro M1's). But even then, I ask myself if I *need* the extra power, and my answer is a very easy and simple "No".

I'm becoming really attached to this machine. I'm truly blown away by what Apple has been able to do with hardware+software.

I'm not a gamer (at all) so I don't really care about how it "games". I use my laptop for productivity and web based use 99.99% of the time.
100% agree..
 

BreakYurAnkles

Suspended
Original poster
Oct 17, 2021
508
501
It’s quite the revelation at first. Now? Every other computer feels so…. old?

Apple did good on this one, I think it’s up there with the first iMac, the iPhone, iPod and iPad. It will force every other manufacturer to up their game.

And all of this for $999? It’s such a privilege that for once, the absolute cutting edge in cpu tech is in most peoples grasp.
Yeah, it definitely set the bar HIGH AS F@CK for the CPU industry.

From price to performance value proposition it can't be beat.

(we will have to wait until AMD and intel release their *"NEW"* CPUs this spring into the general public)

Apple definitely sparked something that is catching WILDFIRE in the CPU market. (its now competitive!) and maybe I'll consider going back to windows (probably not) if they can get their Shtuff together.

"when Apple does something like this!?!?! they do it really well! Competition is good! We as consumers benefit from competition!" - Dave2D
 
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Bandaman

Cancelled
Aug 28, 2019
2,005
4,091
Yeah, it definitely set the bar HIGH AS F@CK for the CPU industry.

From price to performance value proposition it can't be beat.

(we will have to wait until AMD and intel release their *"NEW"* CPUs this spring into the general public)

Apple definitely sparked something that is catching WILDFIRE in the CPU market. (its now competitive!) and maybe I'll consider going back to windows (probably not) if they can get their Shtuff together.

"when Apple does something like this!?!?! they do it really well! Competition is good! We as consumers benefit from competition!" - Dave2D
Intel is not even remotely going to compete here in power efficiency to performance. AMD’s new chips, however, are more powerful and more efficient than their last ones now, so they’re the one to keep an eye on. Interested to see how they do with battery life.
 
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staypuftforums

macrumors 6502
Jun 27, 2021
412
855
OMG, I had a Ryzen 4000 series with a D-GPU laptop and that thing was noisy to say the least. battery life sucked, maybe 2.5-4 hours at best! ?

Typing on my M1 air right now and its cool to the touch :cool:

Barely gets warm when connected to a 24" 1080p monitor at 240hz.

This thing is truly amazing.
Isn’t text extremely blurry at that resolution?
 

JouniS

macrumors 6502a
Nov 22, 2020
638
399
I have an M1 MBA that I use for software testing. The keyboard is good and the laptop is powerful enough, but the display is too small for extended use without an external monitor. When I need a mobile computer, I still prefer my old MBP 2017. Despite all the deficiencies of the touchbar models, larger display makes it a better laptop than the MBA.

A 16" MBA with an HDMI port would be pretty close to an ideal laptop.
 

BreakYurAnkles

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Original poster
Oct 17, 2021
508
501
Isn’t text extremely blurry at that resolution?
depends on how far you sit from you monitor. I'm about 2 feet (24 inches) away from mine and its clear.

But I am contemplating getting a 28" 4k monitor for more screen real estate.
 
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BreakYurAnkles

Suspended
Original poster
Oct 17, 2021
508
501
Intel is not even remotely going to compete here in power efficiency to performance. AMD’s new chips, however, are more powerful and more efficient than their last ones now, so they’re the one to keep an eye on. Interested to see how they do with battery life.
Give it a few years to get the competition in a new territory. I agree, intel should adapt or die.

AMD is making the right moves with engineering+design. They are working with TSMC for mfg. 5nm chips. They are also playing around with ARM designs for CPUs and GPU like Apple has done with M1.

If I were a betting man, I'd take AMD (vs intel)

AMD vs. Apple (why not both?)
 
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Bandaman

Cancelled
Aug 28, 2019
2,005
4,091
Give it a few years to get the competition in a new territory. I agree, intel should adapt or die.

AMD is making the right moves with engineering+design. They are working with TSMC for mfg. 5nm chips. They are also playing around with ARM designs for CPUs and GPU like has has done with M1.

If I were a betting man, I'd take AMD (vs intel)

AMD vs. Apple (why not both?)
Intel is definitely making powerhouses, but those powerhouses are also power hungry, which is fine for desktops, but definitely not for laptops. The only reason Intel is even making good CPUs again is because Apple and AMD have lit a fire under them. Competition is a wonderful thing. I'm rooting for everyone. The result is cool things for us.
 

pshufd

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2013
10,149
14,574
New Hampshire
I have a 8-8-8 512ssd M1 MB Air.

I definitely understand "dongle-life" I've owned touch-bar MBP's.

After owning this M1 Air for just over a month, I am extremely impressed by its overall package.

When I see deals on other laptops (Apple intel models included) I'm no longer interested in 98-99% of them anymore.

When I see another laptop on the market I ask myself the following questions:

how long is the battery life?
Performance speed + power?
USB-C charging?
Thin-light-portable?
Build quality?
Support?
Warranty?
Accessories?

I just can't think of any reason to switch to a different laptop+CPU (other than the new MacBook Pro M1's). But even then, I ask myself if I *need* the extra power, and my answer is a very easy and simple "No".

I'm becoming really attached to this machine. I'm truly blown away by what Apple has been able to do with hardware+software.

I'm not a gamer (at all) so I don't really care about how it "games". I use my laptop for productivity and web based use 99.99% of the time.

One that I'd add is service. Can you bring it to a local store and replace the battery or do a repair? It's not something you want to do or something you do frequently but the ability to do so is worth something.

My daughter has the M1 MBA and loves it. She told me that she was on an Acela train and that MacBook Airs were all over the place.

I have the 2021 MacBook Pro and I really love MagSafe as I use mine in the dark and the ability to connect to the charger in the dark is nice. The LED is nice to see the status too.
 

ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
12,638
Indonesia
A cool, fanless, long battery life, and still thin-n-light laptop is basically what I want for my next laptop. Too bad Apple didn't bother selling 16GB RAM models in my country.
 

spiderman0616

Suspended
Aug 1, 2010
5,670
7,499
Intel is not even remotely going to compete here in power efficiency to performance. AMD’s new chips, however, are more powerful and more efficient than their last ones now, so they’re the one to keep an eye on. Interested to see how they do with battery life.
AMD seems to thrive in these situations--I think they'll come up with some good stuff.
 
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ikir

macrumors 68020
Sep 26, 2007
2,176
2,366
I have a 8-8-8 512ssd M1 MB Air.

I definitely understand "dongle-life" I've owned touch-bar MBP's.

After owning this M1 Air for just over a month, I am extremely impressed by its overall package.

When I see deals on other laptops (Apple intel models included) I'm no longer interested in 98-99% of them anymore.

When I see another laptop on the market I ask myself the following questions:

how long is the battery life?
Performance speed + power?
USB-C charging?
Thin-light-portable?
Build quality?
Support?
Warranty?
Accessories?

I just can't think of any reason to switch to a different laptop+CPU (other than the new MacBook Pro M1's). But even then, I ask myself if I *need* the extra power, and my answer is a very easy and simple "No".

I'm becoming really attached to this machine. I'm truly blown away by what Apple has been able to do with hardware+software.

I'm not a gamer (at all) so I don't really care about how it "games". I use my laptop for productivity and web based use 99.99% of the time.
So great at many levels, and even great for casual gaming!
 

alphasports

macrumors regular
Dec 12, 2019
172
148
I'm a PC guy by necessity but I bought a base model M1 MBA for misc usage and love it, it's just so easy to use, batt lasts forever, trackpad is awesome, and with almost everything on the cloud with either MS or Google there are simply no cross-platform issues at all.

That plus it costs less than many iphones...which is a real head-scratcher to me.
 

BreakYurAnkles

Suspended
Original poster
Oct 17, 2021
508
501
A 16" MBA with an HDMI port would be pretty close to an ideal laptop.
a 15"-16" MBA with same (or better) performance of my current m1 13" air?????

Apple, please just go ahead and take my money. o_O:cool:;)

I'll also need 16gb, and 1-2TB SSD while I'm at it. yeah, just go ahead and "super-size" my order. ?
 
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robco74

macrumors 6502a
Nov 22, 2020
509
944
Well, the iPhone may be more tricky to assemble. And of course, Qualcomm licensing...
 

Phil77354

macrumors 68000
Jun 22, 2014
1,927
2,036
Pacific Northwest, U.S.
Purchased 8-8-16 1TB Air in mid-Nov and haven't really challenged it much yet but am impressed by responsiveness and battery life. Spec is beyond what I really require but wanted to have a laptop that would be sufficient for anything I throw at it for the next few years.

I'll have to check out the other threads here, want to get a skin for it and will need to do some looking around to find one that looks nice.
 

BreakYurAnkles

Suspended
Original poster
Oct 17, 2021
508
501
Purchased 8-8-16 1TB Air in mid-Nov and haven't really challenged it much yet but am impressed by responsiveness and battery life. Spec is beyond what I really require but wanted to have a laptop that would be sufficient for anything I throw at it for the next few years.

I'll have to check out the other threads here, want to get a skin for it and will need to do some looking around to find one that looks nice.
I vinyl wrapped mine.

4 reasons:

1. If you get a protective case, the lid cover makes it heavy for the screen hinge and it wobbles/makes the screen hinge *feel* loose

2. my plastic case cracked

3. I got a smokin' deal on my rose gold M1 and don't really like the flashy color. (beggars can't be choosers)

4. vinyl wrap and a razor blade are a lot cheaper than pre-cut skins. plus you have a lot more designs to choose from.
 
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Stevenyo

macrumors 6502
Oct 2, 2020
310
478
I have a 8-8-8 512ssd M1 MB Air.

I definitely understand "dongle-life" I've owned touch-bar MBP's.

After owning this M1 Air for just over a month, I am extremely impressed by its overall package.

When I see deals on other laptops (Apple intel models included) I'm no longer interested in 98-99% of them anymore.

When I see another laptop on the market I ask myself the following questions:

how long is the battery life?
Performance speed + power?
USB-C charging?
Thin-light-portable?
Build quality?
Support?
Warranty?
Accessories?

I just can't think of any reason to switch to a different laptop+CPU (other than the new MacBook Pro M1's). But even then, I ask myself if I *need* the extra power, and my answer is a very easy and simple "No".

I'm becoming really attached to this machine. I'm truly blown away by what Apple has been able to do with hardware+software.

I'm not a gamer (at all) so I don't really care about how it "games". I use my laptop for productivity and web based use 99.99% of the time.
It's an insane machine. Over a year old and still feels like it's from the future. I used an m1 air for a few months before the M1Max came out and honestly, the Air is a better machine for the vast majority of use cases. I'm happy with my 16" M1Max (love the screen, and I specced this one to finally replace a 2013 15" with no GPU and heavily upgraded OpenCore 2009 MacPro), but it's not on another planet from its competitors like the M1 air is.

I've seen the M1 air as low as $750. With mulitple day battery life. 8 core power. stupid fast browsing and day to day computing. Can charge from a phone charger (seriously, I charged mine with a 15-20w usb charger in a pinch sometimes). Silent. Bulletproof. There is nothing else that comes even close to competing with the M1 Air, it's so good that it makes every Pre-2023 at least sub $2000 laptop obsolete before release.
 

kanki1985

macrumors regular
Oct 8, 2013
147
535
After my M1 Macbook Air, I am planning to sell my 2018 i7 MBP and get a M1Pro MBP..
This processor is a game changer and Kudos to Apple for going this route..
 
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