With news of new M series Macs on the horizon, do you have buyer’s remorse?

[eltoslightfoot]

A very good observation.

Although I think the MBP is better than the MBA .

It really depends on what you are looking for. I like the smaller trackpad, and I adore that it doesn't cut into my wrists. Finally, the lack of a fan entirely should increase longevity slightly.

That said, you really can't go wrong with either...So good!

 

[darngooddesign]

It really depends on what you are looking for. I like the smaller trackpad, and I adore that it doesn't cut into my wrists. Finally, the lack of a fan entirely should increase longevity slightly.

I also prefer the Air for the reasons you mentioned, but fan longevity really isn't an issue. Fans last a really long time and they are cheap and easy to replace; once a year just remove the bottom panel and blow any collected dust away.

 

[rui no onna]

I also prefer the Air for the reasons you mentioned, but fan longevity really isn't an issue. Fans last a really long time and they are cheap and easy to replace; once a year just remove the bottom panel and blow any collected dust away.

Ugh, no thanks. I'll be very happy to skip that with the Air.

 

[deeddawg]

It really depends on what you are looking for. I like the smaller trackpad, and I adore that it doesn't cut into my wrists. Finally, the lack of a fan entirely should increase longevity slightly.

That said, you really can't go wrong with either...So good!

Great example of personal situations / preferences differing.

I haven't ever had an issue with the edges of the M1 MBP, and I like the larger trackpad.

Point being - those considering between MBA and MBP may wish to do their best to try them in person, and ensure they buy from somewhere with a generous return policy.

 

[darngooddesign]

Ugh, no thanks. I'll be very happy to skip that with the Air.

Thats fine, removing eight screws and blowing on the fan can be a daunting challenge. (I kid)

I have a six year old MBP and its fans are fine despite my hardly ever blowing the dust away. That computer idled with the fans spinning while the Pro won't even turn them on until you are doing something demanding so fan longevity is even less of an issue with the M1.

 

[deeddawg]

Ugh, no thanks. I'll be very happy to skip that with the Air.

Haven't ever had a need to do that with any mac I've owned.

Kinda amusing how deep into the weeds people are digging to justify their choices...

Guess I've missed all the fan failure or dusty fan reports from the various prior models? Maybe someone can point out the #DustGate and #FanGate threads in the MBP / MBA forums?

 

[darngooddesign]

Haven't ever had a need to do that with any mac I've owned.

Kinda amusing how deep into the weeds people are digging to justify their choices...

Perhaps someone can point out all the supposed fan failure or dusty fan reports from the various prior models?

You just don't live in an old, very dusty house with a big pack of dogs. I've never had to replace a fan due to failure, but I have had to remove them while replacing a screen, which is how I know its an easy task, and also blow the dust/dog hair out.

 

[Never mind]

Haven't ever had a need to do that with any mac I've owned.

Kinda amusing how deep into the weeds people are digging to justify their choices...

Guess I've missed all the fan failure or dusty fan reports from the various prior models? Maybe someone can point out the #DustGate and #FanGate threads in the MBP / MBA forums?

Yes. I'll check now. Be back with the DustGate and FanGate thread in a few years, if ever. ?

 

[darngooddesign]

Yes. I'll check now. Be back with the DustGate and FanGate thread in a few years, if ever. ?

Two threads...ugh...can't we just consolidate under DustyFanGate?

 

[Spudlicious]

With a new redesign and more ports, not to mention faster performance, do you wish you’d have waited?

Myself, I’ll buy a 16” MBP, and leave my 13” 16 512 at my nan’s place, where I stay at weekends.

What’s your story? What do you intend to do?

When do you reckon the new MBPs will launch?

A new Mac in the hand is worth two in the bush, especially when the bush is an unknown distance away... and at 73 waiting for anything never seems a good idea! Definitely some M2 or M1.5 Macs will be with us in 2021 but I shan't be surprised if Apple gets a full year out of the M1 MBA and base MBP models, why not? What they ask for a muscular and fully-loaded AS MBP will interest but not tempt me. I've bought my last computer now, but I have thought that a few times.

 

[deeddawg]

You just don't live in an old, very dusty house with a big pack of dogs. I've never had to replace a fan due to failure, but I have had to remove them while replacing a screen, which is how I know its an easy task, and also blow the dust/dog hair out.

That's certainly a boundary case -- I'm in a 40 year old house, had two large dogs for 10+ years, just one old girl now.

I do change furnace filter every 8-12 weeks.

Twenty years ago I did need to blow out my desktop tower every couple years, but it also sat on the floor with multiple fans blowing ~16hrs/day.

In any event, fan cleaning isn't (IMHO) something that should be a concern for the majority of folks, especially given how little the M1 MBP even seems to spin its fan, and actual fan failure is an even less likely event (again IMHO).

 

[rui no onna]

Haven't ever had a need to do that with any mac I've owned.

Kinda amusing how deep into the weeds people are digging to justify their choices...

I've never really bothered opening the laptops up. Just used canned air through the vents. Still annoying though. I often need 3 cans in rotation to get most of the dust out. I've recently had to fix two desktops at work whose insides were like deserts. Ugh.

One of the reasons I got the M1 MBA is so dust inside the laptop is never an issue. I deal with that at work often enough. I'd prefer to avoid it at home. I'd rather have M1 throttling than a fan. Honestly, throttling is probably irrelevant with my light workload.

 

[JeepGuy]

You just don't live in an old, very dusty house with a big pack of dogs. I've never had to replace a fan due to failure, but I have had to remove them while replacing a screen, which is how I know its an easy task, and also blow the dust/dog hair out.

I live in a very old (1849), with 3 Akita's I've never had a problem with my macs so far, and the amount of hair from those 3 is impressive.

 

[darngooddesign]

I live in a very old (1849), with 3 Akita's I've never had a problem with my macs so far, and the amount of hair from those 3 is impressive.

So you know my pain. LOL

As I said, I haven't had a fan fail, but I have noticed lint and crap in my fan when I had it apart to replace the screen. The takeaway is that fan longevity really shouldn't be a factor in which 'Book you buy.

 

[JeepGuy]

So you know my pain. LOL

As I said, I haven't had a fan fail, but I have noticed lint and crap in my fan when I had it apart to replace the screen.

I believe you, I had to take apart my Zbook g4 to add more ram, and there was quite a bit in there, maybe it's time to do a little maintenance on my older macsbooks.

 

[darngooddesign]

I believe you, I had to take apart my Zbook g4 to add more ram, and there was quite a bit in there, maybe it's time to do a little maintenance on my older macsbooks.

It's never good waiting for your engine to seize before changing your oil and filter.

 

[rui no onna]

It's never good waiting for your engine to seize before changing your oil and filter.

Exactly why I prefer fanless. I normally don't clean out fans until the PC's choking. ?

 

[alexjholland]

No. Whatever Apple release next will then be replaced by another faster, better machine soon after.

I think we're in a sprint of fast releases now.

None of us have a clue how their lineup will work regarding high-end models and graphics cards.

I'll wait for 18-24 months when there's a clear picture of their lineup and (probably) a slowdown in how quickly they add /improve hardware capabilities, then tradeup to a 16@.

 

[Apple_Robert]

As I see it, the MBA M1 is "best of" before an update comes and then you do not know how Apple has designed the new computer.

The MBA lacks a fan that collects dust in the computer and can break. It is also completely silent. It has an improved screen. Unfortunately "only" 720p 2020 with improved software. In 2020, the MBA should have 1080p!

Finally, Apple has left the Butterfly keyboard, which has been the biggest design mistake, but still Apple has updated it 3 times before admitting that they would have scrapped the solution earlier. MBA M1 has even better battery life.

If you buy an MBA, you get the "best of" before the update of the MBA comes. Then you do not know if Apple comes up with new design mistakes or if new components can create problems.

I contend that 1080p on such a small screen really doesn't matter. If we were talking about a larger iMac screen, (or monitor) I would agree with you. As is, I see no point in demanding from Apple that which really can’t be properly utilized by the average human eyes.

I get tech nerds want to keep seeing improvement in specs regardless but, the point is I don't think you can rightfully categorize the display as lacking (in not so many words).

 

[StarkInc]

I contend that 1080p on such a small screen really doesn't matter. If we were talking about a larger iMac screen, (or monitor) I would agree with you. As is, I see no point in demanding from Apple that which really can be properly utilized by the average human eyes.

I get tech nerds want to keep seeing improvement in specs regardless but, the point is I don't think you can rightfully categorize the display as lacking (in not so many words).

Sorry if I was vague.

I meant the webcam when I wrote about 720p. I think webcam 2020 should have 1080p but now we'm talking about Apple so I'm not surprised.

 

[BootLoxes]

Nope. My M1 Air is awesome. Though I realized that I do prefer desktops so I will eventually get a Mini after 2-3 years

 

[kitenski]

I'm assuming new design/new features = higher prices than these first M1 Macs, so I'm fine with my decision.

 

[Never mind]

OK,OK. After reading about the upcoming 14 inch and maybe some more additional ports, I returned my 13 inch MacBook Pro back to Apple. Hope the new one does come out sometime in March or April, but who knows. I can wait, but I didn’t want to go to the resell route after the new one comes out When rumors suggest it will come out in a few months. Hope the rumor mill is correct on this. ?

Also more time for Big Sur to mature and apps that are native.

 

[ECJ]

Sold my 2009 Mac Pro and 16 MBP to pickup the M1 MBP and Mini. I'm good with these purchase for awhile. I'm tired of chasing after that new Mac smell. These current M1 devices handle my workflow without a hiccup.

 

[Fred Zed]

The way I see it is, if I want to wet my feet with the new M1 experience I’d probably go for the base M1 Air with 512GB storage. That way I have less to lose resale value should I want to upgrade to the next best thing when they come out. In essence pay less lose less come sale or trade.