I live in Eastern Europe and I'm not so rich, though I could really use the bigger screen on the 15. I work as a school teacher so I don't really need that much power. The problem is that I sometimes hit yellow pressure on memory, so I wonder if it's a good idea to go for the base model. I don't experience any slowdowns though. I can't go above the base model because of my budget. Do you guys think I should pull the trigger on it? While I go into yellow on RAM sometimes, I don't experience any slowdowns. I need it to last 5 years.
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I am tempted to replace my base M1 air for base 15 inch Air. Will it last for 5 years though?
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Keep what you have! And, stop looking at the memory gauge! 🙈 😁
What matters is what the laptop feels like in use — and you’ve said you feel no lags or slow downs. That’s the real sign right there — and it's a good, positive one.
The M series chips are designed to use all the RAM they can, so you'll sometimes see yellow in the memory gauge. Plus, if they ever run out of RAM, they'll spill the excess to the fast SSD in virtual memory.
As to screen size…. Years ago, I had a 15” MacBook Pro as a teacher and was really worried about downgrading to a 13” MBA — because of the smaller screen size. Turned out not to be an issue. I found its smaller size a delight.
I also found that putting the dock on the right-hand side — and turning on hide-show for it — solved many of the smaller screen issues. I keep key apps in the dock and can easily switch among apps that way or by arranging their windows so one is in the background over to the right where a simple click brings that app to the front.
You can also manage zoom factors for different apps.
Your M1 MBA has all sorts of plusses — no fan, no notch, long battery life, efficiency, great power, and light weight. It's a huge improvement over the 2015 13” MBA that I still use. Your M1 MBA is the perfect laptop for a school teacher, especially if you are taking it to and from school. You can always buy a larger external monitor for home or your teacher's desk for the times you need a larger screen. That would be a lot less expensive than buying an entirely new, larger 15” MacBook Air. (You mentioned budget concerns — that alone suggests sticking with what you have — which is already a great laptop!)
Think of something else, too. If the inevitable or likely happens — the laptop get knocked off or falls off the classroom desk and breaks in some fashion — it's an older, less expensive computer, not your brand new one!
The problem with the M2 base models isn't the 8 GB RAM, but the SSDs being single slot and slower. Most say it doesn't matter. In any case, upgrading the SSD capacity on a new 15” MBA would cost you even more money.
May I ask what the situations are when you feel cramped by the screen? Do they really interfere with getting your work done? There may well be workarounds people can suggest, too!
Your M1 is relatively new. Macs can last 5-7 years, so I'd recommend you wait on replacing it until it's much older — then, the new laptop you get will have even more features and be even better than this year's 15” MBA!
New Apple laptops are always enticing, but we often want them more than actually need them!
What matters is what the laptop feels like in use — and you’ve said you feel no lags or slow downs. That’s the real sign right there — and it's a good, positive one.
The M series chips are designed to use all the RAM they can, so you'll sometimes see yellow in the memory gauge. Plus, if they ever run out of RAM, they'll spill the excess to the fast SSD in virtual memory.
As to screen size…. Years ago, I had a 15” MacBook Pro as a teacher and was really worried about downgrading to a 13” MBA — because of the smaller screen size. Turned out not to be an issue. I found its smaller size a delight.
I also found that putting the dock on the right-hand side — and turning on hide-show for it — solved many of the smaller screen issues. I keep key apps in the dock and can easily switch among apps that way or by arranging their windows so one is in the background over to the right where a simple click brings that app to the front.
You can also manage zoom factors for different apps.
Your M1 MBA has all sorts of plusses — no fan, no notch, long battery life, efficiency, great power, and light weight. It's a huge improvement over the 2015 13” MBA that I still use. Your M1 MBA is the perfect laptop for a school teacher, especially if you are taking it to and from school. You can always buy a larger external monitor for home or your teacher's desk for the times you need a larger screen. That would be a lot less expensive than buying an entirely new, larger 15” MacBook Air. (You mentioned budget concerns — that alone suggests sticking with what you have — which is already a great laptop!)
Think of something else, too. If the inevitable or likely happens — the laptop get knocked off or falls off the classroom desk and breaks in some fashion — it's an older, less expensive computer, not your brand new one!
The problem with the M2 base models isn't the 8 GB RAM, but the SSDs being single slot and slower. Most say it doesn't matter. In any case, upgrading the SSD capacity on a new 15” MBA would cost you even more money.
May I ask what the situations are when you feel cramped by the screen? Do they really interfere with getting your work done? There may well be workarounds people can suggest, too!
Your M1 is relatively new. Macs can last 5-7 years, so I'd recommend you wait on replacing it until it's much older — then, the new laptop you get will have even more features and be even better than this year's 15” MBA!
New Apple laptops are always enticing, but we often want them more than actually need them!
By releasing M3 with 8GB RAM (as your base Air is), Apple has effectively committed macOS to support 8GB Macs through 2028 (5 years).
And even when no new macOS updates are released for your 8GB Air, the computer will certainly continue to function for years.
On my ol' 2011 MacBook Pro - it stopped receiving macOS updates after High Sierra, and I used it without issue right though 3 months ago - when I retired it for my new M2 Air.
And even when no new macOS updates are released for your 8GB Air, the computer will certainly continue to function for years.
On my ol' 2011 MacBook Pro - it stopped receiving macOS updates after High Sierra, and I used it without issue right though 3 months ago - when I retired it for my new M2 Air.
only get it if you want bigger screen and new design and all that like I did
as stated won't solve your memory concerns
as stated won't solve your memory concerns
Well if they have the crazy good sales they have been having here in US then sure otherwise I would just stick with what you have, and regardless I think your M1 would last you 5 years, and the M2 as well, both at the very least. I got my M1 in early 2021 and I don’t plan on upgrading until probably late 2026-2027.
Thanks for the advice. I got a cheap but good AOC 4K monitor and I love it. Yes you're right, I don't need it. Thanks for saying it. It's just Macbooks are so shiny and that midnight colour is so hard to resist. Maybe in a few years.
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