Reasons why I should buy an Air

[eltoslightfoot]

Exactly my point. If I was the op I’d totally buy one because it’s totally worth it in the short term, but I’d give it a second thought if longevity (5-7 years) was a priority.

Not exactly my point. My point was that a fanless awesome top-of-the-line experience from the lowest leve macbook air should easily get you five years. But even if it doesn't, it was a great experience right now. No second thoughts for the long term.

 

[tis]

Exactly my point. If I was the op I’d totally buy one because it’s totally worth it in the short term, but I’d give it a second thought if longevity (5-7 years) was a priority.

You’ve now stated twice that longevity will be an issue, but refuse to provide any rational example as to why. There is absolutely nothing to suggest an M1 Mac will somehow become outdated any faster than its substantially slower Intel competition. The performance gains actually suggest the opposite.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

Exactly my point. If I was the op I’d totally buy one because it’s totally worth it in the short term, but I’d give it a second thought if longevity (5-7 years) was a priority.

but why? What exactly are you worried will happen to an M1 Mac in five years that wouldn’t happen to an Intel Mac?

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

M1 Mac Users Report Excessive SSD Wear

lol.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

M1 Mac Users Report Excessive SSD Wear

lol.

From the article linked in the article you cited:

Martin described this as "still way too fast, but not as bad as we previously thought". Martin further notes that the problem isn't exclusive to the M1 Mac, and that some Intel users have also been seeing strange readings. Most recently, Dan Seifert on Twitter:

LOL.

From the forum thread on LTT that was linked in the article linked in the article you cited:

To be honest, for one of your other points now gone, SMART data is known to be unreliable and even more so with SSD. A lot of SSD firmware don't count data written in an actually standard logical way so if you read it with a generic SMART reader it's going to be wrong. I only read drive wear using the vendor provided tools, at least that is slightly trustworthy.

Edited to add: Look, I am not saying this is NOT an issue. It very well may be. I just want to know why we jump to the worst possible conclusion instead of, I don't know, waiting to see if this is an actual issue. Most likely S.M.A.R.T. isn't reporting the SSD data correctly. Which has been somewhat of an issue with hackintoshes--as well as intel Macs. Why would it suddenly be 100% right for M1 Macs?

Edited to also add: Applecare+ just became a little more necessary--just in case.

 

[Spudlicious]

Hi!

I have been using a Macbook Pro 2014 as my main device since I bought it. It still works, but the battery isnt what it has been, and I am tempted by the new M1 Macs.

That said I have just started a new job, where I have been given a decent (not great) PC. This means that I am trying to convince my self why I need the work PC and a Mac for personal use.

A Windows PC pretty much does all I need, though I much prefer Mac OS! All my stuff is in Icloud too, and I use IOS.

Help! Give me some great reasons why I should spend my cash on an Air!

Because you know it makes sense. Never mind the work PC, you could be fired tomorrow. You need a computer at home and the M1 Air is just superb, you'll wonder how you lived with that old 2014 lunker for so long. Treat yourself, don't cheat yourself, you won't be here for ever.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

From the article linked in the article you cited:




LOL.

From the forum thread on LTT that was linked in the article linked in the article you cited:


Edited to add: Look, I am not saying this is NOT an issue. It very well may be. I just want to know why we jump to the worst possible conclusion instead of, I don't know, waiting to see if this is an actual issue. Most likely S.M.A.R.T. isn't reporting the SSD data correctly. Which has been somewhat of an issue with hackintoshes--as well as intel Macs. Why would it suddenly be 100% right for M1 Macs?

Edited to also add: Applecare+ just became a little more necessary--just in case.

Yeah you're right, I just found it funny that the day after I said "what are you worried about", a story about a potential thing to be worried about emerges.

 

[tis]

...........

Edited to also add: Applecare+ just became a little more necessary--just in case.

I wouldn't say that's the case either. Even if there were a problem (which I doubt exists), the drive still most likely wouldn't fail within your AppleCare warranty.

Apple has been using SSD drives in their computers going back to what; 2012? Now they all of the sudden have a major usage issue? What about iPhones and iPads? Why don't they have an issue with it then? I highly doubt a problem exists.

 

[Bazza1]

I wouldn't say that's the case either. Even if there were a problem (which I doubt exists), the drive still most likely wouldn't fail within your AppleCare warranty.

Apple has been using SSD drives in their computers going back to what; 2012? Now they all of the sudden have a major usage issue? What about iPhones and iPads? Why don't they have an issue with it then? I highly doubt a problem exists.

Murphy's Law suggests nothing truly substantially breaks during warranty. The day after, on the other hand...

That said, I had a 2011 Air 11" for 7 years with no issues - certainly nothing to do with the SSD. I eventually traded it in for a 13" Air. 3 years and counting there with nothing I've noticed - though frankly, I don't go looking, either.
But this uptick in reported issues sounds more software-based that hardware, so ya gotta wonder what the boffins at Apple have screwed up in the OS to make this an issue. Reports of this on being a big deal on Intel Mac SSDs prior to Big Sur?

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I wouldn't say that's the case either. Even if there were a problem (which I doubt exists), the drive still most likely wouldn't fail within your AppleCare warranty.

Apple has been using SSD drives in their computers going back to what; 2012? Now they all of the sudden have a major usage issue? What about iPhones and iPads? Why don't they have an issue with it then? I highly doubt a problem exists.

Agreed...still, I guess time will tell.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Yeah you're right, I just found it funny that the day after I said "what are you worried about", a story about a potential thing to be worried about emerges.

It IS funny! I just hope when it is all said and done the joke isn't on us M1 owners.

 

[Isamilis]

Hi!

I have been using a Macbook Pro 2014 as my main device since I bought it. It still works, but the battery isnt what it has been, and I am tempted by the new M1 Macs.

That said I have just started a new job, where I have been given a decent (not great) PC. This means that I am trying to convince my self why I need the work PC and a Mac for personal use.

A Windows PC pretty much does all I need, though I much prefer Mac OS! All my stuff is in Icloud too, and I use IOS.

Help! Give me some great reasons why I should spend my cash on an Air!

I would wait for a while, just to check the new M1 has been really stable. Issues here.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

I wouldn't say that's the case either. Even if there were a problem (which I doubt exists), the drive still most likely wouldn't fail within your AppleCare warranty.

Apple has been using SSD drives in their computers going back to what; 2012? Now they all of the sudden have a major usage issue? What about iPhones and iPads? Why don't they have an issue with it then? I highly doubt a problem exists.

If there is a problem here it’s a software one with the OS writing too much data to the ssd. If there’s a bug causing that, it doesn’t really matter how long the company has been putting ssd drives in its machines

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I would wait for a while, just to check the new M1 has been really stable. Issues here.

Did you see the set of posts literally above yours?

 

[eltoslightfoot]

If there is a problem here it’s a software one with the OS writing too much data to the ssd. If there’s a bug causing that, it doesn’t really matter how long the company has been putting ssd drives in its machines

Or it is a problem in the reporting code within S.M.A.R.T. tools--could be either at this point. I know my hard drive doesn't seem like it is going nuts...

 

[tis]

If there is a problem here it’s a software one with the OS writing too much data to the ssd. If there’s a bug causing that, it doesn’t really matter how long the company has been putting ssd drives in its machines

I’m not worried. I guarantee my hard drive won’t fail before I sell the computer. My late 2013 MBP is still running strong over 7 years in. Imagine being worried about something in your life, because some guy on Twitter posted something that no one can verify as being an actual issue.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

I’m not worried. I guarantee my hard drive won’t fail before I sell the computer. My late 2013 MBP is still running strong over 7 years in. Imagine being worried about something in your life, because some guy on Twitter posted something that no one can verify as being an actual issue.

Sure. I only recently sold my 2013 MBA which was working fine apart from the battery which was knackered.
Again though, not really the point. What happened with past architecture isn't a guide to what will happen with the current one. It's perfectly possible, if not probable, that there is a software flaw in the M1 Macs that is causing them to write too much data to the drives. It might not be likely but my point is that this is precisely the kind of thing people would flag as a potential issue when saying "maybe just wait for 2nd gen if you can."

I'm not really paying it much attention personally, planning on ordering an M1 MBA this week.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Sure. I only recently sold my 2013 MBA which was working fine apart from the battery which was knackered.
Again though, not really the point. What happened with past architecture isn't a guide to what will happen with the current one. It's perfectly possible, if not probable, that there is a software flaw in the M1 Macs that is causing them to write too much data to the drives. It might not be likely but my point is that this is precisely the kind of thing people would flag as a potential issue when saying "maybe just wait for 2nd gen if you can."

I'm not really paying it much attention personally, planning on ordering an M1 MBA this week.

Also keep in mind it is happening on intel macs as well supposedly according to the LTT.com forum post that started all this.

 

[Ricardo28]

Hi!

I have been using a Macbook Pro 2014 as my main device since I bought it. It still works, but the battery isnt what it has been, and I am tempted by the new M1 Macs.

That said I have just started a new job, where I have been given a decent (not great) PC. This means that I am trying to convince my self why I need the work PC and a Mac for personal use.

A Windows PC pretty much does all I need, though I much prefer Mac OS! All my stuff is in Icloud too, and I use IOS.

Help! Give me some great reasons why I should spend my cash on an Air!

 

[Ricardo28]

I bought the new Mac Air with M1 chip last November to replace my 2015 Air. It is a great fast laptop, and the finger print key is a real time saver!

 

[tis]

Sure. I only recently sold my 2013 MBA which was working fine apart from the battery which was knackered.
Again though, not really the point. What happened with past architecture isn't a guide to what will happen with the current one. It's perfectly possible, if not probable, that there is a software flaw in the M1 Macs that is causing them to write too much data to the drives. It might not be likely but my point is that this is precisely the kind of thing people would flag as a potential issue when saying "maybe just wait for 2nd gen if you can."

I'm not really paying it much attention personally, planning on ordering an M1 MBA this week.

Stop saying it’s an M1 Mac issue. If an issue exists, it effects all MacBooks using Big Sur.