Starting my Journey to learn Swift.

[goneeuro02]

Hi everyone.

I have looked at different posts on what is better and wanted to try a poll. I am going to start teaching myself Swift and need a new computer as my old MacBook Air is from 2010. I am looking at either a new Air or upgrading to the Pro. What are your thoughts on using it to compile code and hook to an external 49" Dell monitor. Here are the spec of each laptop. They are really close in price so I am having a hard time decideing. They are within $50 of each other.

If you are a developer and can give insight as to way you voted one way or the other, I would apreciate it.

MacBook Air - Space Gray

• Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU, 8‑core GPU, and 16‑core Neural Engine
• 16GB unified memory
• 512GB SSD storage
  

13‑inch MacBook Pro - Space Gray

• Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU, 8‑core GPU, and 16‑core Neural Engine
• 16GB unified memory
• 256GB SSD storage

 

[Hunter5117]

Sorry, I voted before I checked the specs you are looking at. I am not currently an active developer although I was not that long ago. iCloud works good to lessen the amount of local storage that you need. Current devs have reported that they are good with the M1 MBA so if you are just starting out I can only imagine that you will be OK as well.

I just personally prefer the 13" MBP. I like the knowledge that I have the active cooling as a fall back if it is ever needed.

If you are stuck at one or the other of the two listed, I guess I would change my vote to the MBA just for the extra storage.

 

[leman]

Frankly, it doesn't matter. Get whatever you like better. Air has a bigger SSD, the Pro will have longer battery life and better sustained performance if you need to push it for whatever reason.

 

[mi7chy]

I'd take more storage on the MBA over the minor benefits of MBP.

 

[Krevnik]

Software development is pretty bursty as a workload. Light load when writing code, heavy load when compiling (and running depending on the kind of app).

I did spend a few days on a M1 MBA before returning it. I actually really liked the M1, and the passive cooling was just fine for the couple of 4 hour sessions I did with it. It is honestly a great little machine if you don‘t mind the limitations of only one external display (without using DisplayLink), and the screen size. I was getting well over 10 hours of battery life in Xcode workflows with projects that aren’t heavy CPU users when running.

Why did I return it and wait? The screen. It was hard adjusting to a 13” display for me after being on 15-17” displays for the last 10-15 years. But beyond that, I think it’s literally one of the best “thin and light” laptops I’ve ever had the pleasure of using, and is a great choice.

That said, I will point out that Xcode isn’t exactly a spring chicken. It’s easy for it to absolutely devour disk space over time. My work machine has a 512GB SSD, and we frequently are running with around 150-200GB free. A 256GB SSD is doable, but will require more management to keep it fitting. If you intend to deliver shipping code and maintaining it on this thing, the SSD could be pretty important here.

 

[Toutou]

I voted for the Air, because for me it is already the perfect dev machine and the 13" Pro is just marginally more powerful in sustained loads, it has a Touch Bar (discontinued) and a slightly brighter display, which doesn't matter to me as I also use a huge monitor.

 

[wyrdness]

If you're compiling huge software projects then the pro might just have the edge. Since you're learning, that's not going to be an issue. So I'd take the extra storage of the Air, which is a tangible benefit.

 

[goneeuro02]

This is all good info, thank you. I do have a multi monitor setup at home that I was wanted to hook up to but will most likely upgrade to a single larger in the near future. If I spent the extra money to upgrade the SSD to 512 on the Pro, does that sway anyones desicions? I do live in Florida and work outside in the sun a lot so the slightly brighter screen will be helpful. To whoever metioned that above, thank you. I didnt even take that into consideration till you mentioned it.

I apreciate everyones input on this.

 

[Internaut]

This is all good info, thank you. I do have a multi monitor setup at home that I was wanted to hook up to but will most likely upgrade to a single larger in the near future. If I spent the extra money to upgrade the SSD to 512 on the Pro, does that sway anyones desicions? I do live in Florida and work outside in the sun a lot so the slightly brighter screen will be helpful. To whoever metioned that above, thank you. I didnt even take that into consideration till you mentioned it.

I apreciate everyones input on this.

Once you go 16/512 with the 13" Pro you start pushing (uncomfortably, I think) towards the base cost of the 14" model. I'd vote for the Air. You've correctly identified needing both more RAM and SSD (Xcode is, I understand, something of a hog) and by far the worst the Air will do for you is thermally throttle you a little if you end up working professionally on big projects.

 

[goneeuro02]

Once you go 16/512 with the 13" Pro you start pushing (uncomfortably, I think) towards the base cost of the 14" model. I'd vote for the Air. You've correctly identified needing both more RAM and SSD (Xcode is, I understand, something of a hog) and by far the worst the Air will do for you is thermally throttle you a little if you end up working professionally on big projects.

I am reading more and thinking maybe doing the Air for learning and then getting a beefed up Mini for a desk setup next year. I am just starting out and for the next six months at least is just teaching myself xCode and Swift. After all your comments, I am leaning towards the Air as well. I can put the savings towards something like the 14in in the future or just getting a Mini next year when they hopefully get upgraded.

 

[Hunter5117]

If I spent the extra money to upgrade the SSD to 512 on the Pro, does that sway anyones desicions?

I have a 8/512 13" M1 MBP and it is possibly the best laptop I have ever had and that is saying a lot. Of course, I do like the touch bar so that sways my opinion. Despite having the availability of the active fan cooling, mine has never come on other than when I forced it on to see how it sounded. I don't do a lot of heavy lifting with it, but I have run some geospatial (GIS) analytics on it and got the temps up over 100F but the fans never spun.

However, as mentioned, when you get closer to a maxed-out setup the price gets right up there with a 14" MBP with the amazing screen, extra ports, etc.

 

[Donsell]

If you can go for that entry-level MB Pro 14". You'd certainly get by with the Air, but you'll be happier longer with the PB Pro.

 

[goneeuro02]

Pulled the trigger. Bought the MBP 13 M1 16GB 512GB. Never thought to look at Apples Refurbs. Got it for $1439 instead of $1699. So ended up being worth it to step up to the MBP. Thanks for all the insight on which way to go with this. Now to dig in and figure out how to hook it up to my two monitors at home. Really want a single connection to charge and run the displays. They are nothing fancy, just 27in 1080 Dell Monitors.