Actually - how much better is the M2MBA than the M1MBA?

[Bazza1]

Agree. My mid-2009 MBP ... was plenty usable for about 10 years and is still in top physical condition. I'll aim to get 10 years out of the M2 MBA.

...which would now appear to be about 5 years longer than Apple has intentions of supporting the product, as far as the OS is concerned. Again, the hardware outlasts the products Apple provides.

Meanwhile, the M1 is now coming up to 2 years old, so maybe those users have got 3 years left before Apple makes them incompatible with whatever OS they release. They may toss a bone afterwards of a couple of security or Safari updates to those who have 'only' got a M1, but they'll certainly be encouraging developers to support their current - not 'old' - devices.

The upshot is it may encourage users (especially with the price hikes) to say 'Screw it', stick with the OS that came with the machine and find 3rd Party products that continue to work as advertised. 'Plenty usable for about 10 years', is a compelling argument.

As noted elsewhere on this thread - Macs are not iPhones. Users shouldn't feel obliged to keep 'upgrading' every couple of years to keep up with the whims of Apple. It kinda reminds me of that era of Windows machines where you really needed to update every 18 months or so to keep up with the OS versions and their hardware demands.

But Apple long ago lost the right to make fun of the corporate behaviour and needs of Microsoft.

 

[HDFan]

when I pick up the M2 MBA next month.

Possibly only if you are lucky. That's when they will start taking orders. Shanghai, after improving and lifting restrictions, has ordered new testing for all residents. Availability when orders start depends upon how many they can produce until then and what happens in Shanghai.

Beijing Warns of 'Explosive' COVID Outbreak, Shanghai Conducts Mass Testing

US News is a recognized leader in college, grad school, hospital, mutual fund, and car rankings. Track elected officials, research health conditions, and find news you can use in politics, business, health, and education.

www.usnews.com

 

[Chateaunole-du-Pape]

...which would now appear to be about 5 years longer than Apple has intentions of supporting the product, as far as the OS is concerned. Again, the hardware outlasts the products Apple provides.

Meanwhile, the M1 is now coming up to 2 years old, so maybe those users have got 3 years left before Apple makes them incompatible with whatever OS they release. They may toss a bone afterwards of a couple of security or Safari updates to those who have 'only' got a M1, but they'll certainly be encouraging developers to support their current - not 'old' - devices.

The upshot is it may encourage users (especially with the price hikes) to say 'Screw it', stick with the OS that came with the machine and find 3rd Party products that continue to work as advertised. 'Plenty usable for about 10 years', is a compelling argument.

As noted elsewhere on this thread - Macs are not iPhones. Users shouldn't feel obliged to keep 'upgrading' every couple of years to keep up with the whims of Apple. It kinda reminds me of that era of Windows machines where you really needed to update every 18 months or so to keep up with the OS versions and their hardware demands.

But Apple long ago lost the right to make fun of the corporate behaviour and needs of Microsoft.

The mid-2012 MBA can still run Catalina and thus was receiving the latest OS until age 8 (Catalina's successor, Big Sur, was released in Nov-20), and continues to receive security updates at age 10. If that's the schedule going forward, that works for me.

 

[Chateaunole-du-Pape]

Possibly only if you are lucky. That's when they will start taking orders. Shanghai, after improving and lifting restrictions, has ordered new testing for all residents. Availability when orders start depends upon how many they can produce until then and what happens in Shanghai.

Beijing Warns of 'Explosive' COVID Outbreak, Shanghai Conducts Mass Testing

US News is a recognized leader in college, grad school, hospital, mutual fund, and car rankings. Track elected officials, research health conditions, and find news you can use in politics, business, health, and education.

www.usnews.com

Yes, admittedly, it might be longer; working in global logistics, I'm intimately familiar with the supply chain issues at hand.

I am just glad to know it's been announced and will be coming. Even if I'm looking at another 2-3 month wait, I know what will be offered and that it meets my requirements.

 

[jav6454]

Agree. People hang on to their Macs for a long time and always have. They're built to last, and have never needed yearly replacing. I saw one on a work trip the other day that was missing all four feet on the bottom and looked like it had been through a war. The guy was still happily using it, no problem.

I plan on keeping my M1 Pro 14" for at least 4 years if not longer. I know it will be considered "slow" by then, but I doubt I'll notice.

Exactly. I don't understand why people want to treat the Mac as an accessory purchase when it is not. In the end, it helps Apple and hurts those upgrading every year.