Another MacBook Air M1 deal. Mindful that:
1. Wireless 1 shipping is slow due to no stock. I haven’t received mine since the last 15% deal. That’s almost a month already.
2. New MacBook is around the corner but more likely to be MacBook Pro M1X.
Wondering the same 256GB a lot of ram
Thanks. Updated :P Wasn’t thinking while typing. 258GB RAM we could create a RAM drive already. lol
A chance to make a comment that will not age well!
256GB of RAM is wayyyyy more RAM than one can ever use up, even for the next 10 years!
Noob question but is this a good first entry laptop? Been using essentialy work laptops (windows) my whole life. Thinking of moving to Mac. Any thoughts?
I made the switch a number of years ago and haven't regretted it at all. I'm waiting to see the specs of the new Macbook's before deciding how best to replace my 2013 Macbook Pro. Can't see myself easily going back to Windows at any time.
2013 Macbook Pro…. that explains it… MPB 2017, dealing with USB-C pain. Got an USB-C monitor and now finding out the Apple and Intel screw up. Jumping into USB-C too early with early gen Thunderbolt 3 chip and subpar GPU.
The touchbar… gosh… and that keyboard… Sure, Apple now fixed most of those issues, but the USB-C mess is still there. There is no way Apple replaced my MPB 2017 so I am stuck with mess.
It's not as good as advertised. I also have a MPB 2015 15 inch. Bluetooth is so flaky I stopped using AirPods 2 with it. How many people know how to copy all the photos out of a Mac to an external HDD? Last time I helped an OZBer with that. Of course, you can stick with iCloud if that's what you prefer.
No issues with my MBP 13 2020 with four TB 3 ports and touchbar, yes it's newer than your 2017, but it's still Intel. I guess an advantage with integrated graphics is less complications than the dGPU approach, even though it's way less powerful. I never use the touch bar and prefer dedicated buttons.
I invested in a good quality (albiet expensive) TB hub from Caldigit and can plug any monitor, including ones through a USB-C adapter.
If you can hold off, the successor doesn't seem that far away, but the M1 has already proved to be a fantastic CPU.
@pull the lever: Because a lot of the issues were fixed in the 2020 version. The Thunderbolt 3 chipset is newer and Intel finally done the right thing and put DP 1.4. Question is, would you now get MPB 13 2020 Intel or you would just go M1?
The difference with MPB 13 2020 vs MPB 13 2017 is that, with the new dongle, you will be quite happy with the DP 1.4 based setup (but if you didn't know or gone cheap way out, you could be stuck with 4K/30Hz). However, once you actually go in depth, you will still find issue. USB-C/alt-mode to HDMI 2.0, are you getting 10-bit (30-bit) with HDR or just 8-bit (no HDR). VRR is most likely out of the window but on a Mac, you cannot be serious about gaming. However, we are still closing a blind eye and expect USB 3.0 ports on the dongle are "great". However, isn't the whole point of TB3 about at least USB 3.1 gen 2 (if not thunderbolt 3)?
And, Apple simply don't sell USB 3.1 gen 2 cables, Apple wants you to go TB3. It's fine for general public, but when you really look at the tech, you just see bandaids everywhere.
You know the MBP is capable of 4K HDR and greater, but the effort to achieve it through dongle (without any issue) is such a pain. So cough up the money and get a more expensive monitor I guess….
Not much of what @netsurfer mentions above applies to the laptop from this deal.
It's a completely different architecture (M1), no touchbar (that's a plus to me and many others) but touch ID (good!), the keyboard is also different to the one in 2015 and 2017 models that were mentioned - it's more like in the 2013 model, which is a plus.
As for connectitivy issues, those can happen to anyone, on a macbook of any vintage, but IMO you're more likely to have such issues on a Windows laptop.
@pizzaguy: When you purchased a new USB-C monitor and it DOES NOT work with MBP 2017 with USB-C connection, then you will not be happy about it. It works fine with MBP 2018 onwards.
Dongles, just because we are Mac users, let's not sugarcoat everything. They are annoying. Cheap ones, let's face it, we all have at least one cheap dongle, has issues. Average speed, some have WiFi interference, heat.
M1 - the USB speed is slightly slower. You pretty much need to get the right dongles AND it's been recommended that you DO NOT use USB-C to DisplayPort dongle for now. Quite a lot of issues.
New MacBook Pros will be way more expensive (will likely start at $2500). These little M1 MacAirs are BEASTS. I have set up quite a few for family and friends in the last few months, and they do everyday tasks (internet/email/photos etc) basically instantly. They can handle 4K footage and highres RAW photos really well too. Put them in a dock running a large 4K monitor with a mouse and keyboard and they work just like a super fast desktop.
I am using a top spec i9 16" MacBook Pro with 64GB RAM from 2019 (cost me $7k) and it doesn't really feel any faster than the $1300 base spec M1 Airs with 8GB RAM (I am not joking). The only time my laptop is slightly faster is editing lots of 4K video, and even then its close. Under heavy load my laptop runs out of battery in 3-4 hours, the little Airs are still going at end of the day.
I know the M1 MBAs are quite good for general usage and fast. When a relative wanted a Mac right away, that was the one I recommend (though the relative did upgrade the RAM and SSD). So, if you need a laptop now, then sure, M1 is the one to go.
I am not sure about it's such a great choice in the long run. Mainly because it's the first gen of Apple Silicon. I mentioned MBP 2017 as it certainly has quite a few issues. We do know some issues with M1, which we expect Apple to address. Assuming Apple address most of them, will you still be happy with M1?
Sure, for most people, external display is not a big deal and most people don't care about 4K HDR for monitors. If they want 4K HDR, they probably get a good TV, which beats most 4K displays anyway.
As an Apple user, I am just tired of needing 2 sets of dongles depending on which MBP / MBA I am using. Apple released 2 versions of the dongles. I am just concerned that jumping into M1 will lead to the same issue down the track.
It's really mostly because of the CPU, fast and uses very little power. App compatibility is improving though Rosetta 2 has done a good job so far.
For general use, it is really good. For photo and video work, other than plugins, it's quite pleasant. Dev work, it is not quite there yet… but will improve down the track.
Known issues with M1: The I/O, USB 3 gen 1/2 speed is a notch slower than usual. 2 USB-C ports only and only 1 external display allowed via Alt-mode. If you want multiple external displays, you have to use DisplayLink…. which isn't ideal. It's something most Mac users previously moved away from, but now with M1, as a workaround, people are accepting it.
People are expecting some of those issues to be fixed in M1X or M2. However, with PC has nothing equivalent in terms of processing power and power efficiency in the mobile space to challenge it and Intel still milking customers for mobile CPUs, M1 is quite attractive.
I wouldn't expect Macbook Air to be updated with a new processor this year (but hell knows).
I had a Samsung T7 (very fast USB-C drive) going full speed (like on a MBP16) a MBA M1.
I don't think not being able to connect more than one external display to such an entry-level machine is a deal breaker to many.
If you use one USB-C port on your T7, you will only have 1 port left. So, if an external monitor is required and you don't want to go dongle, you will need a USB-C monitor.
If you want to go external monitor with M1 using a dongle, currently, the safer way is to use a dongle with HDMI (rather than DisplayPort). I guess you can go with the Apple official one for ~$99. Then, get a decent HDMI 2.0a cable (might want to get HDMI 2.1 cable to be safe).
That's why I question Apple's decision. Given M1 is so powerful, why choke the I/O space. It's nuts to ask customers to buy Thunderbolt docks. Even so, we know those docks would have to offer external displays to justify the price, which will still lower the USB port speed.
Let's see what M1X brings, clearly Apple cannot expect 2 ports only on 14 or 15 inch MBPs being acceptable.
It’s easy to learn MacOS. This MacBook Air seems like an entry level MacBook, but the M1 performance is definitely not an entry level. If you wanna move to Mac environment, MBA M1 is a good entry point. I wouldn’t recommend if this were Intel chip from previous models.
A very good entry level laptop.
For the price it’s a great bargain
Just got my 80yo MIL one
Just ordered the 16GB CTO one. My 8GB Mac Mini chokes with a few apps open and too many Safari tabs open. So, if you have a similar workflow, 16GB RAM is recommended…
8GB Mac Mini M1? So don't get 8GB M1s?
It depends on your workflow. I tend to have lots of browser tabs open and I can just as easily choke 8GB Intel Macs, Windows or Linux. It's not the CPU as I have a 2014 15" MacBook Pro with 16 GB RAM, and that never misses a beat.
Yeah, but the 16GB models - no special discount deals….
@pizzaguy: I am comparing RAM only. You need enough to keep everything you have open in RAM, or apps will swap to disk and you PC will choke, no matter the CPU. My Windows PC has 64GB RAM:-) Good for Virtual Machines.
@pizzaguy: I've been doing some research. RAM is RAM, there is only so much a CPU can do. If you want to do some serious work, 16GB RAM is needed.
I was hoping Apple is able to do something unreal, but deep down I know technically that's not possible.
@netsurfer: The good thing with M1s is that the RAM, CPU and Graphics are all on the same chip, so they can communicate much faster than normal. So, there is some magic going on, sort of. Still doesn't help if you run out of RAM though.
@mostlygordon: @netsurfer, I disagree here.
I have an older MBP with 16 GB ram, but some old i7. It chokes bad, because it can't process it all too often.
You don't compare "RAM only", ie. you don't take a phone and compare its memory to a laptop. You don't take a 2010 laptop and compare it to a 2021 one based on their memory only.
Chokes with a few apps open? Are you talking about an M1 MacMini? I have never experienced significant slowdowns even with a LOT of apps open, let alone it "choking". If you are talking about the old intel MacMini then yes 100% agree 8GB of ram was not enough. The new M1s are system on chip with unified memory, so nothing like the way 8GM of ram worked in the older machines.
I have an M1 MacMini. Like I said, depends on your workflow.
Your experience does not seem to match what others (and myself) are experiencing, nor what reviewers are saying:
https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/18/opinion-is-the-base-macbook-a…
"In one experiment I did yesterday, I tried to push it to the absolute limits to see at what point it would slow down. So I opened up 12 apps at once. No sign of slowing down. Added 2 x86 apps emulated with Rosetta 2. No sign of slowing. Added an app running full screen to see if it would drop frames switching between screens. Nope. Added a Safari window with 24 tabs. Nothing. So I added six Safari windows, each playing videos at 2160p, Spotify in the background, and tried to take a screenshot. Only then did the computer finally grind a halt."
https://theusefultech.com/blog/2020/11/19/m1-mac-mini-perfor…
"even with almost 90% of the RAM capacity being occupied, the M1 Mac mini did not seem to slow down even slightly, and the memory management is genuinely fascinating."
https://www.lifewire.com/how-8gb-ram-overperforms-in-m1-macs…
"That’s Lightroom using over 8GB RAM, when the computer only has 8GB. Note the size of the "swap." An extra 9GB! And yet Lightroom remained completely responsive, with zero slowdown. What you don’t see here is that I also had a bunch of other apps running, some doing their own intensive tasks."
@dtpearson: I guess they don't run Parallels Desktop, Homebrew, Compilers etc. Would hate to only be able to give my VMs 4GB RAM… I read these same comments when I cheaped out on my 8GB M1 Mini, worst mistake I have made. Having said all that, no complaints about my 8GB iPad Pro.
Anyway if 8GB works for you, all the better for your wallet ;-)
@mostlygordon: Says "depends on your workflow" in the context of consumer-level computer performance and fires up multiiple virtual machines, development environments and what else, 8K footage editing, to prove that M1 sometimes chokes? :D
Yeah, for all your VMs, 8GB RAM might be a tad too little.
@pizzaguy: Pretty much moot at this point. I know my 8GB M1 Mini chokes a few times a week, therefore I know I need 16GB RAM. Found this video a few days back which explains this quite well. In short, if you run external monitors, if you are a power user, or if you are just not sure, get 16GB RAM. You can't upgrade it later!
Can get the discount from any other seller on eBay.
Mobicity have it in stock, and same price.
If you shop at WW you're better off getting 3x $500 Apple GC tomorrow for $225 bonus WW rewards, then buying it from the Apple Store and not having to wait for delivery.
That's a great idea!
can you please explain what this Woolworths deal is?
I believe it's finished now but it has been on twice recently.
If you purchase a Apple GC you additionally get 15% of the face value "back" as WW rewards.
The benefit of Apple GC is that you can order hardware from the Apple Store using your AppleID balance.
Plus you get a cute Apple sticker.
I have spoken on the phone with Apple who advised that they can accept Apple gift cards but with a maximum transaction of 8 cards,which would mean (8 x $500) $4000 maximum.Just in case anyone is planning to do this.
You can add as many Apple GC to your AppleID balance as you wish, up to a max of $9999 credit.
Then you can order something online to be picked up in store or free delivery.
![[eBay Plus, Afterpay] MacBook Air M1 with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD $1274 Delivered @ Wireless 1 eBay](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/73/650973.jpg?h=5ca57c71)
That’s 8GB ram and 256GB ssd storage mate, not 256GB ram. 👍