New Air turning out to be a dud

[chikorita157]

There seems to be a growing list of issues with the new Air and I can’t help but think it’s turning out to be a bit of a dud.

So far we’ve got:

• Slower SSD speeds in base model
• Fingerprints everywhere on Midnight colour
• Heat issues with no fan
• Aggressive throttling to manage heat issue
• Anodising on Midnight noticeably chips around the ports

I want to like it but these seem to be quite a few over sights for a mature product. Especially compared with the near universal praise for the Pro it does feel Apple dropped the ball somewhat.

I find it funny how people complain about a laptop that is not aimed to do intensive workloads, especially since the Air does not have a fan. It seems that people like to get outraged over products they won’t buy.

I see it in different way. Apple doesn't have good track record on updating macOS on its Mac. I mean Mac that were produced before 2017 are no longer getting updates. So for folks who brought a MacBook Pro in 2016, you only get 6 years of new macOS and by 2024 there will be no software update at all.

That really means, the Apple Silicon mac you purchase today will be rendered obsolete by 2028, that is way too short for any computer standard. Who know what happen with these computers once Apple cut off software support?

The way I see it is that, Intel Macs are great, because it can run Windows and Linux in general. I get there are Linux distribution, namely Asahi Linux, for M1 macs, but it seems still not completed. When Apple decide to cut off software support, I can run Windows or Linux.

P.S. This by no means saying that people who need the new M2 Macs for actual work or various reason shouldn't be purchase one.

Sure, computers last for a long time, but you can’t use them forever as the lack of software updates, especially security updates. You can go through the hoops to install the newest macOS on unsupported machines, but when something breaks, it will take more troubleshooting to fix them, which isn’t something viable for people who aren’t aren’t tech savvy.

The reason Intel Macs are not being supported as well compared to the past is because Apple wants to ditch Intel as soon as possible. After when the first Intel Macs came out, PowerPC support dropped like a rock after 3 years with Snow Leopard dropping support for the archetecture. We are seeing the same with Intel and probably by 2023-2024, Intel Macs won’t receive any more major OS updates. and be out of support completely by 2026.

Not to mention, the web today is a lot more intensive due to the heavy use of Javascript. Even browsing on the internet on a PowerPC Mac is painfully slow.

Don’t expect Windows to be an option either as Windows 11 doesn’t support any of the Intel Macs since the OS requires TPM support and Microsoft can disable updates even if you bypass the requirements. That is why I don’t advise anyone to buy Intel Macs, unless you need to run Intel-only software in the immediate future.

I’m eventually phasing out the 2018 Macbook Pro, which I barely use anymore since I got my M1 Pro 16” MacBook Pro. Not to mention, after using an Intel Mac, it’s painful to use given that it’s not as responsive and it runs hot. I only kept it so I can manage music on my iPhone as Music.app does not allow one to manage playlists. However, I found a solution to that using third party software, so I don’t need to use the 2018 Macbook Pro for that anymore.

I still expect that Apple will support Apple Silicon macs for a long time since they have full control of the platform.

 

[Foxdog175]

I've asked this loads of times. Apparently I don't have the right to question why someone spends 4x the amount they need to spend to sit there consuming YouTube content. I'm also frequently reminded that its Apple's cheapest laptop and isn't intended for creators and 'serious' users. Whereas as far as i'm concerned the £1249+ price of an M2 MBA should buy me something designed for some pretty serious work, irrespective of whether it's Apple's cheapest machine (M1 Air aside). Certainly a Windows machine in that price territory wouldn't be making any excuses for itself.

I'll make it simple for you: because they can. Nobody has to justify themselves to you or anyone else.

It's like asking why someone needs to buy an expensive car when a cheaper one will get them from point A to point B just as easily.

I happy bought a maxed out M2 air and will be buying a Mac Pro when they're announced to replace my maxed out 2013 Mac Pro.

Your financial questions sound like a personal problem.

 

[Aoligei]

I find it funny how people complain about a laptop that is not aimed to do intensive workloads, especially since the Air does not have a fan. It seems that people like to get outraged over products they won’t buy.


Sure, computers last for a long time, but you can’t use them forever as the lack of software updates, especially security updates. You can go through the hoops to install the newest macOS on unsupported machines, but when something breaks, it will take more troubleshooting to fix them, which isn’t something viable for people who aren’t aren’t tech savvy.

The reason Intel Macs are not being supported as well compared to the past is because Apple wants to ditch Intel as soon as possible. After when the first Intel Macs came out, PowerPC support dropped like a rock after 3 years with Snow Leopard dropping support for the archetecture. We are seeing the same with Intel and probably by 2023-2024, Intel Macs won’t receive any more major OS updates. and be out of support completely by 2026.

Not to mention, the web today is a lot more intensive due to the heavy use of Javascript. Even browsing on the internet on a PowerPC Mac is painfully slow.

Don’t expect Windows to be an option either as Windows 11 doesn’t support any of the Intel Macs since the OS requires TPM support and Microsoft can disable updates even if you bypass the requirements. That is why I don’t advise anyone to buy Intel Macs, unless you need to run Intel-only software in the immediate future.

I’m eventually phasing out the 2018 Macbook Pro, which I barely use anymore since I got my M1 Pro 16” MacBook Pro. Not to mention, after using an Intel Mac, it’s painful to use given that it’s not as responsive and it runs hot. I only kept it so I can manage music on my iPhone as Music.app does not allow one to manage playlists. However, I found a solution to that using third party software, so I don’t need to use the 2018 Macbook Pro for that anymore.

I still expect that Apple will support Apple Silicon macs for a long time since they have full control of the platform.

Intel Mac currently is in good position for price side of thing. You can probably get maxed out Intel machine cheaper than Apple Silicon Mac.

I personal won’t purchase any Apple Silicon Mac for few years until I see how support of Apple Silicon Mac comes to be. If there is any indication as software support on iPhone, Apple could stop supporting Apple Silicon for 5-6 years after release, not mention features fragmentation. Frankly, 5-6 years of software support is really not acceptable. Where I ran my Sandy Bridge desktop from 2011 until 2020. I would still use it, if not for broken motherboard.

Frankly, I think the advantage for Intel Mac is ability to run alternative OS natively. And I don’t except Microsoft will stop sending updates to unsupported PC.

As for Intel Mac being running hot, I do think Apple doesn’t do a good job on thermal design. I also see this on Apple Silicon Mac. Someone fan-less design on this MacBook Air, it just seems to me that Apple doesn’t want M2 has its full potential on this machine and purposely designed this machine to differentiate with higher MacBook Pro.

My wife has AMD Ryzen 5 laptop, which runs very cool and Windows is very responsive. And it has good thermal design

 

[Michael Scrip]

Quick question:

5 years ago did people buy the entry-level Macbook Air to do workstation tasks?

It seems there's a lot of discussion today about how the new Macbook Air overheats when you're encoding 8K video and doing 3D modeling for the next Avatar film.

Something something pick the appropriate machine for the job...

🤣

 

[fisherking]

I personal won’t purchase any Apple Silicon Mac for few years until I see how support of Apple Silicon Mac comes to be. If there is any indication as software support on iPhone, Apple could stop supporting Apple Silicon for 5-6 years after release, not mention features fragmentation. Frankly, 5-6 years of software support is really not acceptable.

huh? what? you just made something up, and are now basing your decisions on what you made up. the silicon chip is the new intel, and, like that processor, will have a life determined by apple, technological advancement, and whatever else the future brings. a supposition is not a fact... 🤔

 

[Aoligei]

If Apple says how powerful M2 is and can handle 4K and 8K, then it should be treated as so. Then customer who brought the M2 should except to have this performance.

So answer your question, yes, people should treat this M2 MacBook Air as workstation, when Apple said so.

 

[fisherking]

View attachment 2031753

ha, i thought you were drawing lines OVER that text, not trying to underline it. so, yes. and you can add logic or final cut to the order.

apple expects you might do video editing, for example. so the air will get warm, there will be throttling. no surprises there.

 

[Michael Scrip]

If Apple says how powerful M2 is and can handle 4K and 8K, then it should be treated as so. Then customer who brought the M2 should except to have this performance.

So answer your question, yes, people should treat this M2 MacBook Air as workstation, when Apple said so.

Good catch. Thanks!

But it's still a fanless laptop. So if you complain about heat... that's kinda on you, right?

 

[fuchsdh]

Intel Mac currently is in good position for price side of thing. You can probably get maxed out Intel machine cheaper than Apple Silicon Mac.

I personal won’t purchase any Apple Silicon Mac for few years until I see how support of Apple Silicon Mac comes to be. If there is any indication as software support on iPhone, Apple could stop supporting Apple Silicon for 5-6 years after release, not mention features fragmentation. Frankly, 5-6 years of software support is really not acceptable. Where I ran my Sandy Bridge desktop from 2011 until 2020. I would still use it, if not for broken motherboard.

Frankly, I think the advantage for Intel Mac is ability to run alternative OS natively. And I don’t except Microsoft will stop sending updates to unsupported PC.

As for Intel Mac being running hot, I do think Apple doesn’t do a good job on thermal design. I also see this on Apple Silicon Mac. Someone fan-less design on this MacBook Air, it just seems to me that Apple doesn’t want M2 has its full potential on this machine and purposely designed this machine to differentiate with higher MacBook Pro.

My wife has AMD Ryzen 5 laptop, which runs very cool and Windows is very responsive. And it has good thermal design

I mean.... no duh? They're different products. You cannot make the perfect machine for all people, that's why different products and product categories exist. The MacBook Air is for most people who only need bursts of performance. If you're going to be grinding out renders all day, you get a Pro (or a desktop, where thermals and performance will almost always be better, because in 2022 as with every year, you can't change the laws of physics.)

The vast majority of customers buying the MacBook Air care more about it being easy to carry around, or its battery life, or similar, than they do the fact that it slows down 30% with repeated Cinebench torture tests.

 

[Aoligei]

huh? what? you just made something up, and are now basing your decisions on what you made up. the silicon chip is the new intel, and, like that processor, will have a life determined by apple, technological advancement, and whatever else the future brings. a supposition is not a fact... 🤔

History indicate future. Apple never had good track record on updating Mac, that is a fact. Your don’t need look far, any per 2017 Macs are not supported by macOS 13. That is isn’t long.

I am making judgment with Apple’s track history on Mac update. Even if you extend it iPhone update, you can’t expect Apple Silicon Mac support past 7 year mark, which is still low for computer standard.

 

[Aoligei]

I mean.... no duh? They're different products. You cannot make the perfect machine for all people, that's why different products and product categories exist. The MacBook Air is for most people who only need bursts of performance. If you're going to be grinding out renders all day, you get a Pro (or a desktop, where thermals and performance will almost always be better, because in 2022 as with every year, you can't change the laws of physics.)

The vast majority of customers buying the MacBook Air care more about it being easy to carry around, or its battery life, or similar, than they do the fact that it slows down 30% with repeated Cinebench torture tests.

Again, if Apple advertising M2 Air capable for 4K and 8K rendering, its customer can expect to have performance to match. Not some excuse where MacBook Air is not designed to be.

I have never understand why Apple is so obsessed with thin and quite operations to the point it’s design hinders potential performance. It almost to me that Apple is purposely designed this way to upsell its MacBook Pro line.

 

[fisherking]

History indicate future. Apple never had good track record on updating Mac, that is a fact. Your don’t need look far, any per 2017 Macs are not supported by macOS 13. That is isn’t long.

I am making judgment with Apple’s track history on Mac update. Even if you extend it iPhone update, you can’t expect Apple Silicon Mac support past 7 year mark, which is still low for computer standard.

there are 2017 macs that work with ventura. and macs that don't will continue to work on the OS they're on.

your 'fact' is hardly a fact, it's your opinion. and basing the future on the past is pointless; things change...

 

[Michael Scrip]

Again, if Apple advertising M2 Air capable for 4K and 8K rendering, its customer can expect to have performance to match. Not some excuse where MacBook Air is not designed to be.

Apple advertises various hardware encoders and decoders because they are now built into the M-series processor. And those encoders and decoders do provide some assistance in those tasks. But nowhere do they say the Macbook Air is the "best" at 4K and 8K editing.

The fact remains that the Macbook Air is still the entry-level fanless Macintosh laptop and you might be better off getting a different higher-specced laptop to meet your exact performance needs.

Yes... you can edit 4K and 8K video on the new M2 Macbook Air. And it's much better than editing on a 2018 Macbook Air, for instance.

But personally I wouldn't choose a Macbook Air if that was to be its primary function. Apple offers other models more suitable and more performant for that. See below.

I have never understand why Apple is so obsessed with thin and quite operations to the point it’s design hinders potential performance. It almost to me that Apple is purposely designed this way to upsell its MacBook Pro line.

Bingo!

 

[Aoligei]

there are 2017 macs that work with ventura. and macs that don't will continue to work on the OS they're on.

your 'fact' is hardly a fact, it's your opinion. and basing the future on the past is pointless; things change...

Anything before High Serria doesn’t work anymore. Try to use El Captain to browse modern website, you will get all kinds of certification error. Good lucky finding software support. Major software, including Office 365, Adobe, DaVinc Resolve, doesn’t support anything before Catalina. This also include bunch of Apple Software.

When Ventura hit. Expect major web browser, software developers drop anything older than Catalina. This is the cold truth, when Apple leave certain Mac behind, it will be just as useful as toy computer sold in ToysRS.

When you look at PowerPC Mac, when Apple drops PowerPC, there are only handful Linux distribution support PowerPC. If you try to run MacOS Leopard on any PowerPC, good luck.

I will be very pessimistic about Apple Silicon support until Apple prove me wrong. This would be for few years.

 

[canadianpj]

There seems to be a growing list of issues with the new Air and I can’t help but think it’s turning out to be a bit of a dud.

So far we’ve got:

• Slower SSD speeds in base model
• Fingerprints everywhere on Midnight colour
• Heat issues with no fan
• Aggressive throttling to manage heat issue
• Anodising on Midnight noticeably chips around the ports

I want to like it but these seem to be quite a few over sights for a mature product. Especially compared with the near universal praise for the Pro it does feel Apple dropped the ball somewhat.

A dud... to you. Please don't speak for anyone else.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I've asked this loads of times. Apparently I don't have the right to question why someone spends 4x the amount they need to spend to sit there consuming YouTube content. I'm also frequently reminded that its Apple's cheapest laptop and isn't intended for creators and 'serious' users. Whereas as far as i'm concerned the £1249+ price of an M2 MBA should buy me something designed for some pretty serious work, irrespective of whether it's Apple's cheapest machine (M1 Air aside). Certainly a Windows machine in that price territory wouldn't be making any excuses for itself.

And, ironically, not something we had to worry about with the M1 MBA--which could literally do anything for anyone. The only drawback was it might be slightly heat throttled (8% slower than the pro) and might take longer due to fewer cores/RAM over the 14" and 16".

I am getting really tired of these, "well it's the wussiest laptop, so you shouldn't be able to do x,y, and definitely not z with it." YES I SHOULD BE ABLE TO. It's freaking $200 more than the M1 which can DO ALL THE THINGS...

 

[canadianpj]

And, ironically, not something we had to worry about with the M1 MBA--which could literally do anything for anyone. The only drawback was it might be slightly heat throttled (8% slower than the pro) and might take longer due to fewer cores/RAM over the 14" and 16".

I am getting really tired of these, "well it's the wussiest laptop, so you shouldn't be able to do x,y, and definitely not z with it." YES I SHOULD BE ABLE TO. It's freaking $200 more than the M1 which can DO ALL THE THINGS...

Agreed.

This whole Macbook Air launch reminds me why I have frequently in the past taken long breaks from these forums. All of this manufactured outrage is truly bizarre.

If you don't like the Macbook Air (for real reasons or following the crowd) then don't buy it. Problem solved. It's not a massive scandal, it's nothing significant at all. It's just not for you. Move on.

"But the SSD is benchmarked slower" - Neat. So what? Have you spoken to an average user and seen if they even noticed?

 

[turbineseaplane]

I am getting really tired of these, "well it's the wussiest laptop, so you shouldn't be able to do x,y, and definitely not z with it." YES I SHOULD BE ABLE TO. It's freaking $200 more than the M1 which can DO ALL THE THINGS...

Spot on -- I 100% agree with you

The excuse making on behalf of Apple for the M2 shortcomings is really disappointing

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Agreed.

This whole Macbook Air launch reminds me why I have frequently in the past taken long breaks from these forums. All of this manufactured outrage is truly bizarre.

If you don't like the Macbook Air (for real reasons or following the crowd) then don't buy it. Problem solved. It's not a massive scandal, it's nothing significant at all. It's just not for you. Move on.

"But the SSD is benchmarked slower" - Neat. So what? Have you spoken to an average user and seen if they even noticed?

If the throttling issues are legit, it is a disappointment for the M2 simply because the M1 didn't do that. That makes the M2 something I would indeed move on from---right back to the M1 (which in full disclosure what I bought recently (16/512).

The M1 didn't require ANY compromises or moving on.

 

[Aoligei]

Agreed.

This whole Macbook Air launch reminds me why I have frequently in the past taken long breaks from these forums. All of this manufactured outrage is truly bizarre.

If you don't like the Macbook Air (for real reasons or following the crowd) then don't buy it. Problem solved. It's not a massive scandal, it's nothing significant at all. It's just not for you. Move on.

"But the SSD is benchmarked slower" - Neat. So what? Have you spoken to an average user and seen if they even noticed?

It is scandals in my book. Apple should not put slower SSD in a machine that cost $200 more than M1 MacBook Air.

Average users able to notice is irrelevant in this discussion, it is Apple who has put slower SSD in more expensive machine that should outrage people. This SHOULD not happen.

 

[fisherking]

Anything before High Serria doesn’t work anymore. Try to use El Captain to browse modern website, you will get all kinds of certification error. Good lucky finding software support. Major software, including Office 365, Adobe, DaVinc Resolve, doesn’t support anything before Catalina. This also include bunch of Apple Software.

When Ventura hit. Expect major web browser, software developers drop anything older than Catalina. This is the cold truth, when Apple leave certain Mac behind, it will be just as useful as toy computer sold in ToysRS.

When you look at PowerPC Mac, when Apple drops PowerPC, there are only handful Linux distribution support PowerPC. If you try to run MacOS Leopard on any PowerPC, good luck.

I will be very pessimistic about Apple Silicon support until Apple prove me wrong. This would be for few years.

now you're talking about the older OSes. el capitan is 7 years ago. again, things change.

am not sure what your point is, or why anyone would try to run anything on a power pc mac. and i don't understand why you're 'pessimistic about Apple Silicon'... it is the current and (near) future chip for apple computers. if you use a mac, that's where things are, and will be.

 

[LeeW]

If the throttling issues are legit, it is a disappointment for the M2 simply because the M1 didn't do that.

The M1 absolutely does throttle though. Depends on what you are doing of course. I have the M2 arriving shortly and will find out for myself the differences but I don't expect the M2 to be any different in terms of throttling vs M1.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

The M1 absolutely does throttle though. Depends on what you are doing of course. I have the M2 arriving shortly and will find out for myself the differences but I don't expect the M2 to be any different in terms of throttling vs M1.

Right, at a whopping 8% compared to the M1 MBA.

 

[fisherking]

Right, at a whopping 8% compared to the M1 MBA.

what's the comparison? (i mean, what's the number for the M1 air?) hard to tell if you're saying it's better or worse...

 

[canadianpj]

If the throttling issues are legit, it is a disappointment for the M2 simply because the M1 didn't do that. That makes the M2 something I would indeed move on from---right back to the M1 (which in full disclosure what I bought recently (16/512).

The M1 didn't require ANY compromises or moving on.

Okay. Sure.

Well just don't buy one, not that I get the impression you were going to anyway so why do you care?

I'll enjoy my machine, I have zero doubts it can do 100% of what I need. About 2-3 hours into playing World of Warcraft at top specs I don't I'll notice a thing and even do something else on the other monitor.