M1 MB Pro (2021 - new) US$1760 - Good Purchase or Not?

[Buadhai]

I've never bought a laptop for myself, but my family seems to own a handful. I generally prefer a desktop machine because of the larger display and keyboard (my current favorite is a Logitech K120). Unfortunately, as I age, I find the amount of time I can sit at a desk without back pain is quite limited. On the other hand, I can sit cross legged on the floor in front of a laptop all day without pain.

So, I'm thinking of buying one for myself.

Currently I use two:

• At my condo I keep an old 2010 MacBook; the white bodied one that weighs about three kilos. I upgraded it to 8GB of RAM and a decent 512 GB SSD (WD Blue?) and a new battery. (It pains me to recall how easy it was to do the upgrades all by myself.) Although this machine is capable enough to do everything I want to do, the screen resolution is poor and the backlight is failing, so it's not much fun to use.
  
  
• At home I have a 2010 MBA that has just 2GB or RAM and what seems to be a very slow SSD. It works, but has seen much better days.

I have considered buying either a M2 MBA (16/512) or M2 MB Pro (16/512).

And then I ran across a YouTube video where the presenter was touting the older (2021?) M1 MB Pro. Probably all I need and maybe more than I need.

Searching around I found an Apple reseller who has the M1 MB Pro (16/512) for 58K Thai Baht or about US$1760 (new). That's a lot less than either M2 MacBook.

I can't help but thinking that I'm missing something here. Anything I should keep in mind?

 

[davidlv]

I've never bought a laptop for myself, but my family seems to own a handful. I generally prefer a desktop machine because of the larger display and keyboard (my current favorite is a Logitech K120). Unfortunately, as I age, I find the amount of time I can sit at a desk without back pain is quite limited. On the other hand, I can sit cross legged on the floor in front of a laptop all day without pain.

So, I'm thinking of buying one for myself.

Currently I use two:

• At my condo I keep an old 2010 MacBook; the white bodied one that weighs about three kilos. I upgraded it to 8GB of RAM and a decent 512 GB SSD (WD Blue?) and a new battery. (It pains me to recall how easy it was to do the upgrades all by myself.) Although this machine is capable enough to do everything I want to do, the screen resolution is poor and the backlight is failing, so it's not much fun to use.
  
  
• At home I have a 2010 MBA that has just 2GB or RAM and what seems to be a very slow SSD. It works, but has seen much better days.

I have considered buying either a M2 MBA (16/512) or M2 MB Pro (16/512).

And then I ran across a YouTube video where the presenter was touting the older (2021?) M1 MB Pro. Probably all I need and maybe more than I need.

Searching around I found an Apple reseller who has the M1 MB Pro (16/512) for 58K Thai Baht or about US$1760 (new). That's a lot less than either M2 MacBook.

I can't help but thinking that I'm missing something here. Anything I should keep in mind?

I can't help with your decision, but I have a rather new M2 MBA 8,8,16,1TB that is absolutely the best computer I have ever owned. Good screen, great keyboard, and the M2 chip will spoil you for anything less. The whole computer makes work fly, never keeps you waiting for anything. I am sure the MBP M2 is the same or maybe the screen is even a little better. But it is heavier and costs more. The M1 MBP may have a less capable on board camera, so if you need to do Zoom meetings, get the M2 Air or M2 MBP, with the improved camera.
In terms of speed, the M1 chip is really quite enough for almost anything.

 

[Buadhai]

The M1 MBP may have a less capable on board camera, so if you need to do Zoom meetings, get the M2 Air or M2 MBP, with the improved camera.
In terms of speed, the M1 chip is really quite enough for almost anything.

Thanks. I never use the camera; I'm sort of averse to video calls and meetings. And, I think you're right about the M1 chip being more than capable.

In terms of cost the M2 MBA (16/512) costs about US$100 more than the M1 MB Pro (16/512).