Just bought a 15” MBA - need advice about accessories

[OldCorpse]

Some time ago, I asked for advice on this forum about whether I should buy the 15” M2 now or wait for the M3. Thank you everyone for helping me decide!

So I just bought directly from Apple online: 15” MBA M2 16/1 STARLIGHT, and it should arrive in 4 hours or so. I paid a bit below $1,400 including all the taxes (I’m in LA CA), because I had a bunch of giftcards from trading in my 13” MBP M1 and iPad Air 3.

Now my question is what else should I get for best utility. I mostly do word processing and web surfing research, plus streaming and yt videos (95% of my use), with very minimal photo/video editing and data crunching. I don’t think I need a monitor and if my needs change I can always get one later. So far:

1)I have not gotten AC. Should I?
2)I bought the famous polishing cloth for $19, just because I appreciate the fabulous absurdity of some Apple accessories
3)Bought the Apple Magic Mouse
4)Bought 1 Samsung T7 1 TB Shield SSD, 1 Crucial X9 1TB Portable SSD, 1 Crucial X9 2TB Portable SSD
5)1 Baseus USB mini retractable USB C to USB C charging cable, 1 Baseus regular USB C to C 100W charging cable
6)Lacdo sleeve case

I know I should get a hub - I already have a random no name one left after my M1 MBP and a bunch of cables, but recommendations are always welcome.

What else do you recommend or find useful? Thanks!

 

[StoneJack]

Ugreen and wiwu hubs are good. I use them a lot

 

[Bigwaff]

1)I have not gotten AC. Should I?

Highly recommend. If any component fails, it is a motherboard replacement, which is $$$ if out-of-warranty repair. You have 60 days from purchase date to enroll in AppleCare+.

 

[Arctic Moose]

If any component fails, it is a motherboard replacement, which is $$$ if out-of-warranty repair.

I’ve had probably 40 Macs over the last 30 years, and the only component failure I’ve ever had was the butterfly keyboard, which of course didn’t require AC.

The one time I did get AC the laptop was stolen, so of course I regret paying for it.

 

[Bigwaff]

I’ve had probably 40 Macs over the last 30 years, and the only component failure I’ve ever had was the butterfly keyboard, which of course didn’t require AC.

The one time I did get AC the laptop was stolen, so of course I regret paying for it.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[mpetrides]

I buy AppleCare for any device I own that has a screen because screen replacements are outrageously expensive.

I dropped my iPad mini 6/256 GB WiFi-only on a tile floor and shattered the screen. Was prepared to shell out $600+ for a replacement, then checked and found I had purchased AppleCare for the mini. Instead of paying for a new mini, I ended up sending the broken one back to Apple and getting a brand new (not refurbished) iPad mini in return. All it cost was $50. That one repair paid for many years of Apple Care on all my devices.

In addition to that Klutz Moment, I also had a 24 inch iMac that died slightly more than a year from when I purchased it. It required a screen replacement which was covered by AppleCare (without any cost, if memory serves, because it was a manufacturing flaw not an accidental damage incident).

After these two incidents, I feel quite vindicated in paying for AppleCare and paying to keep AppleCare on all my devices with screens so long as I own them. YMMV

 

[OldCorpse]

I buy AppleCare for any device I own that has a screen because screen replacements are outrageously expensive.

I dropped my iPad mini 6/256 GB WiFi-only on a tile floor and shattered the screen. Was prepared to shell out $600+ for a replacement, then checked and found I had purchased AppleCare for the mini. Instead of paying for a new mini, I ended up sending the broken one back to Apple and getting a brand new (not refurbished) iPad mini in return. All it cost was $50. That one repair paid for many years of Apple Care on all my devices.

In addition to that Klutz Moment, I also had a 24 inch iMac that died slightly more than a year from when I purchased it. It required a screen replacement which was covered by AppleCare (without any cost, if memory serves, because it was a manufacturing flaw not an accidental damage incident).

After these two incidents, I feel quite vindicated in paying for AppleCare and paying to keep AppleCare on all my devices with screens so long as I own them. YMMV

Thanks, folks! I went ahead and bought AC from Apple ($229) and they're processing it right now, so I guess I'm covered. I'm too lazy to check, but I *think* my Visa covers an extra year beyond the manufacturer/seller's warranty so theoretically I should be covered for the next 4 years or so. Of course, by then Apple will be selling a very compelling new MBA with an M8 and I'll be forced to buy it or be left feeling like I'm on a horse and buggy while a Ferrari passes me by.

Any other accessories? I bought a couple experimental ones that I am not sure about, I guess we'll see - I bought very thin keyboard and trackpad skins on Amazon, should arrive in a few days; my idea here is that it'll prevent some problems I had in the past (lettering rubbing off of keys, shiny areas developing on the trackpad, dirt, dust and liquids getting into the keyboard etc.). I'm hoping the typing experience is not going to be too affected, because that would be a deal-breaker (the vast majority of my use case is word-processing, so typing experience is super important to me).