Interesting. BB used to carry more models. Not sure what changed there. Apple definitely sells 16 GB/1TB models in their stores and usually the wait time for shipping is 1-2 days depending on stock.I must be blind, or they offer additional configs in store vs. what they sell online. Only seeing the same 2 models on BB's website as compared to Apple:
macbook air - Best Buy
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M1 MBA owners with 8Gb... any regrets not getting 16?
- Thread starter radamo
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I don't regret it per se, but since I started using my MacBook Air at work, I have seen the memory pressure run up and the available memory slip below 1GB. For everything else I do, 8GB has been ample. I got a good deal on the base model MBA and probably would do the same thing again, if presented with the same options, but my goal for my next apple silicon Mac will be starting with more RAM.
I debated 8 vs 16 for a while and almost went with 8. I now have the 16 and memory pressure is almost constantly in the yellow. Chrome is such a hog.
Chrome has way too many default features I use that can't be replaced with extensions.
I checked Activity Monitor while working this evening and noticed 12GB of swap being used. So if you plan on keeping this laptop for a few years and use RAM hungry applications like me, I think 16GB is the way to go. Performance was still solid, maybe a little lag opening multiple TIFF files in Photoshop at one time, but nothing that annoyed me.
So far I’m really impressed with the snappy and silent M1 Air and the excellent battery life it offers. Early verdict is it’s the best laptop I’ve used.
So far I’m really impressed with the snappy and silent M1 Air and the excellent battery life it offers. Early verdict is it’s the best laptop I’ve used.
16GB user here.
I´m using always 11 to 13 mb of ram (Activity Monitor says).
Apps always open
I understand that with the 8GB version I would be a little compromise or maybe the OS would use more caché memory? With 8GB I should close apps that I´m not using, is another option.
IMO, if you can, go with 16 (at least for working on Adobe apps).
I´m using always 11 to 13 mb of ram (Activity Monitor says).
Apps always open
- Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, XD.
- Chrome.
- Dropbox (uses 1.2 gb of ram!)
I understand that with the 8GB version I would be a little compromise or maybe the OS would use more caché memory? With 8GB I should close apps that I´m not using, is another option.
IMO, if you can, go with 16 (at least for working on Adobe apps).
It is more complicated. The system use ram to optimize performance. So it will fill available ram with stuff you might need, because it is a lot cheaper/faster to access ram, than ssd. That is why Apple invented memory pressure as a simple measure for how challenged the system is on memory.
NB. Also 16GB user myself
I would have preferred the Pro but I have an intense dislike for the touch bar... Always found it way too annoying and slow. Congrats on the purchases.
I have a intense dislike for fan noise, but since people say they never hear the fan start and I am curious about touch bar I kind of regret a little not going pro, since in my configuration (8/8 16GB 1TB) the price difference is relatively minor.
Now's the time to try it as the rumors I've seen say that Apple is getting rid of the Touchbar with the MBP release. Back in 2016 or 17 I thought it was an interesting idea and I gave it a try. I quickly learned that I hated it and it made my working more difficult.
As I have both the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air M1, one with (Pro) and the other without the TouchBar (Air), I feel indifferent between both methods of input. I am so used to the TouchBar that I unconsciously look for it on the MacBook Air. It sort of like takes a little getting used to when using the MacBook Air.
I feel like the touch bar is sort of like the cherry on the sundae.
Do I need the cherry? No.
Will really complain it if it's there? No. Will I even it eat if it is there? Probably not.
But it still doesn't really bother me whether it's there or not.
Just like the touch bar. It's really a non-issue.
Do I need the cherry? No.
Will really complain it if it's there? No. Will I even it eat if it is there? Probably not.
But it still doesn't really bother me whether it's there or not.
Just like the touch bar. It's really a non-issue.
Back in the day, when they released it, I thought it was a desperate move to be different and ''innovative", while not making real touch-screen support (to spare iPad) like the rest of the industry. I also feared Apple would go full touch, with butterfly keyboard just being a step on the way. That is also why bying the Air was a no brainer for me at order time.
I is only because of all those love/hate touchbar threads and that I have been dabling with xcode, which has a virtual touchbar, that I have become courius.
I read about better contrast on pro and air besides the brightness difference, and I wasn't really happy with contrast of my display. I have since discovered that true-tone was at fault and the display actually is not bad at all, with true tone off.
I think you're right about contrast with the True Tone off. True Tone was probably a great idea in theory.
I bought the base MBA through Costco. If they would have offered a 16GB model I would have got that, but overall I'm really happy with it as is. Costco was offering it for $899 (and have offered it for $849 at times since including right now) and then also I get cash back through both Costco and my Costco Citi card. Plus they double the warranty and the card doubles that. So vs getting the 16GB version through Apple direct it really is more like $380 less plus getting a 4 year warranty and a longer return policy.
It truly is a wonderful machine and I never stop being impressed with how silent/fast/cool it is and how long the battery lasts. My biggest complaint isn't about the 8GB of RAM, it is only being able to drive one external monitor (natively) and the 16GB version would not have made any difference with that.
It truly is a wonderful machine and I never stop being impressed with how silent/fast/cool it is and how long the battery lasts. My biggest complaint isn't about the 8GB of RAM, it is only being able to drive one external monitor (natively) and the 16GB version would not have made any difference with that.
Actually I think the Adobe RGB (1998) or General RGB-profile color profiles are even better, than the default. The General RGB-profile though a bit too much contrast.
I suggest not looking at Activity Monitor
Paging is not the end of the world, especially with the super fast SSDs they use these days. Back in hard drive times, it was the kiss of death but nowadays you just don't take anywhere near the performance hit to swap things in and out of RAM.
I literally don't notice when it swaps to the SSD. The SSDs Apple are using nowadays are extremely fast.