Is it on?

[lordthistle]

After some years with Win-based PCs, I came back to the Apple world with a MacBook Air M1.

This notebook, as you know, has neither a led indicator, that is on when the Mac is not off or sleeping, nor a fan.

Frankly, I fail in understanding the logic under some Apple decisions so I came here to ask:

1. How can I know if it is on or off? No led, no fan...

2. This would not be an issue if touching the keyboard would not turn on the Mac. I could press a key and check whether or not the screen lights up. But Apple decided that a key press is enough to turn on the Mac.

3. Sometimes, when I am on battery, I turn off the Mac and connect the power cable: does this action turn on the Mac? It seems to do so when the lid is open, but I am not sure what happens when the lid is closed. Sometimes it seems it stays off, sometimes it seems that it starts up again.

4. From what I read, it seems there are no ways to change this behaviour with Apple silicob. Specifically: prevent the MacBook from starting up when a key is pressed. Do you confirm?

 

[JPack]

In short, Apple wants the Mac to be instant on, available for hot standby similar to iPhone.

 

[Algr]

I think Apple wants to make it not matter to the user if the Mac is on or not. If it turns on in your bag, it will use minimal power, and then turn off again in 15 minutes.

I wonder if those portable cell phone chargers are good for macs?

 

[quarkysg]

3. Sometimes, when I am on battery, I turn off the Mac and connect the power cable: does this action turn on the Mac? It seems to do so when the lid is open, but I am not sure what happens when the lid is closed. Sometimes it seems it stays off, sometimes it seems that it starts up again.

Are you sure your MacBook Air is not in sleep mode instead of shutdown mode when you connected a powered power cable? AFAIK Macs that are shut-down should not turn on by itself unless it is configured to turn on automatically when power is turned-on, i.e. to work around a power failure.

 

[Andeddu]

I am a new M1 MBA owner myself and I view the computer as a gloried iPad Pro as the M1 chip is not dissimilar to the chipsets we find in our phones. It is designed for power efficiency and instant startup which separates these Apple Silicone machines from previous Intel based ones.

 

[kitKAC]

1. How can I know if it is on or off? No led, no fan...

Perhaps try and remember what state you left the machine in?

2. This would not be an issue if touching the keyboard would not turn on the Mac. I could press a key and check whether or not the screen lights up. But Apple decided that a key press is enough to turn on the Mac.

As someone that does IT support, plenty of people don't realise the Touch ID button is also the Power Button. The machine starting up automatically/via keyboard press works better for most people.

3. Sometimes, when I am on battery, I turn off the Mac and connect the power cable: does this action turn on the Mac? It seems to do so when the lid is open, but I am not sure what happens when the lid is closed. Sometimes it seems it stays off, sometimes it seems that it starts up again.

With the lid closed, connecting the charger doesn't start the machine.

4. From what I read, it seems there are no ways to change this behaviour with Apple silicob. Specifically: prevent the MacBook from starting up when a key is pressed. Do you confirm?

It can't be changed.

 

[kitKAC]

AFAIK Macs that are shut-down should not turn on by itself unless it is configured to turn on automatically when power is turned-on, i.e. to work around a power failure.

I'd imagine that's only for Macs without batteries?

 

[quarkysg]

I'd imagine that's only for Macs without batteries?

Probably. Wonder what happens when the battery goes flat tho. It’s the same as power going out.