Undecided on returning the 2020 MBA

[harambe4ever]

I have had the 2020 MBA for about a week now. It's a good machine. The keyboard, sound, build quality, so on are all top notch.

The main things concerning me are:
1. The webcam is horrendous.
2. The thermal issues are overstated but real (currently have Safari and Excel running, CPU at 75 degrees and the computer feels warmer than it should be).
3. No right-sided thunderbolt ports for charging - super annoying in certain situations.
4. New MBP coming out hopefully soon?

Anybody else with me? I'm sure this machine will work for my purposes but I'm trying to figure out what's "best". This is for work, some light image stuff involved, but mostly web browsing and word processing. I wish we had a more concrete date on when the new MBP is coming out.

 

[ascender]

The webcam sucks on all Mac laptops so that’s an easy one.

Are the fans on or does the laptop just feel uncomfortably hot?

The lack of ports on the right is a bit annoying - I know it’s a minor thing but it bugged me way more than it should. I’ve no idea why Apple don’t put one on each side.

The MBP should be out soon, but I think ive been saying that to myself for what feels like about a year now. It will be more expensive than the Air though.

It sounds like you’re looking for a reason to return it, so that usually means you’re not happy with it, so I’d return it assuming you’re happy to pay more for the Pro.

 

[chrfr]

I have had the 2020 MBA for about a week now. It's a good machine. The keyboard, sound, build quality, so on are all top notch.

The main things concerning me are:
1. The webcam is horrendous.
2. The thermal issues are overstated but real (currently have Safari and Excel running, CPU at 75 degrees and the computer feels warmer than it should be).
3. No right-sided thunderbolt ports for charging - super annoying in certain situations.
4. New MBP coming out hopefully soon?

Anybody else with me? I'm sure this machine will work for my purposes but I'm trying to figure out what's "best". This is for work, some light image stuff involved, but mostly web browsing and word processing. I wish we had a more concrete date on when the new MBP is coming out.

1. Apple has never shipped a good webcam in a Mac. That's unlikely to be different in any new Pro that ships this year.
2. "Feels warmer than it should be" is not a valid means of measurement.
3. Yes, 2 ports can be limiting.
4. Probably some time this year.
The Air is totally adequate for the use you describe; a Pro would likely cost significantly more than the Air does. If you have a computer you can use until whenever a new Pro ships, it'd make sense to return the Air until you can see the Pro.

 

[0128672]

I totally understand that "it's a fine machine, but ..." feeling, and being between product releases. Depending on where you purchased it, you may have an extended return period, during which maybe the smaller MBP will be announced. For example, Best Buy is offering until May 31 for any non-cellular purchases made between 3/1 and 5/17. If you bought it from Apple, do you have another machine option until the MPB is announced? If you don't mind the size of the 16" MBP, there are sometimes decent refurb deals saving generally ~$350 (https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/16-inch-macbook-pro). I'll be curious to find out what you decide to do.

 

[KPOM]

I have had the 2020 MBA for about a week now. It's a good machine. The keyboard, sound, build quality, so on are all top notch.

The main things concerning me are:
1. The webcam is horrendous.
2. The thermal issues are overstated but real (currently have Safari and Excel running, CPU at 75 degrees and the computer feels warmer than it should be).
3. No right-sided thunderbolt ports for charging - super annoying in certain situations.
4. New MBP coming out hopefully soon?

Anybody else with me? I'm sure this machine will work for my purposes but I'm trying to figure out what's "best". This is for work, some light image stuff involved, but mostly web browsing and word processing. I wish we had a more concrete date on when the new MBP is coming out.

The rumor is sometime in May or early June for the 14” MacBook Pro. Note that for the current model, only the pricier 28W models have 4 TB3 ports. The base models have 2 TB3 ports. However, they all have better thermals than the Air.

 

[Dhonk]

The rumor is sometime in May or early June for the 14” MacBook Pro. Note that for the current model, only the pricier 28W models have 4 TB3 ports. The base models have 2 TB3 ports. However, they all have better thermals than the Air.

Don't forget, the Air has taken a while to catch up to initial orders. Even if the MBP is released May 15, you may not have the device until mid-to-late June. If you want a device now, it's either this MBA or last year's MBP.

 

[mcpix]

I was getting tired of waiting for the new MBP and briefly considered the 2020 MBA. I love the size and portability, but I think the thermal issues would be a deal breaker for me. Hopefully we get the new MBP sometime in May. If you've got any doubts, I think you should return it.

 

[KPOM]

Don't forget, the Air has taken a while to catch up to initial orders. Even if the MBP is released May 15, you may not have the device until mid-to-late June. If you want a device now, it's either this MBA or last year's MBP.

Agreed, but someone looking to replace an existing PC or Mac might be willing to wait a few weeks or even until mid-June.

 

[harambe4ever]

Thanks everyone.

"'Feels warmer than it should be' is not a valid means of measurement." - What? I'm not sure if there is a more valid means of measurement in terms of what actually matters, customer satisfaction, instead of a number in Celsius.

Anyway, I do have a desktop PC. I can use this for work temporarily, but it would be inconvenient to me to use this long-term. I could live with it for a couple of months though.

I am leaning towards returning it and setting a hard date, maybe WWDC, to wait for the MBP. And if the new MBP is not out by then, get an Air again. Unfortunately, the 16" MBP is too beefy for what I need and I cannot under any circumstances go back to the old god-awful keyboard on the current 13" MBP.

 

[KPOM]

Thanks everyone.

"'Feels warmer than it should be' is not a valid means of measurement." - What? I'm not sure if there is a more valid means of measurement in terms of what actually matters, customer satisfaction, instead of a number in Celsius.

Anyway, I do have a desktop PC. I can use this for work temporarily, but it would be inconvenient to me to use this long-term. I could live with it for a couple of months though.

I am leaning towards returning it and setting a hard date, maybe WWDC, to wait for the MBP. And if the new MBP is not out by then, get an Air again. Unfortunately, the 16" MBP is too beefy for what I need and I cannot under any circumstances go back to the old god-awful keyboard on the current 13" MBP.

Sounds like a plan. I think we’ll see the 14” MBP by WWDC.
It’s interesting about the heat. I haven’t noticed my i7 being too hot. I have an i5 on order arriving this week (as I might as well save $150 if I can) and will see if I notice a difference.

 

[joeybuckets]

I had an I3 (base model) returned it a week ago and ordered the i5, my thinking is for 100 bucks its a no brainer upgrade for a quadcore chip, Plus i realized I get the education discount cause my wife is a teacher. Just need an extra computer in the home for the kids. With the distance learning etc etc. I am currently using a MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015).

 

[AndyDandy1]

I totally understand that "it's a fine machine, but ..." feeling, and being between product releases. Depending on where you purchased it, you may have an extended return period, during which maybe the smaller MBP will be announced. For example, Best Buy is offering until May 31 for any non-cellular purchases made between 3/1 and 5/17. If you bought it from Apple, do you have another machine option until the MPB is announced? If you don't mind the size of the 16" MBP, there are sometimes decent refurb deals saving generally ~$350 (https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/16-inch-macbook-pro). I'll be curious to find out what you decide to do.

I'm waiting 10 days for Best Buy to issue a refund for something and they told me to wait 21 till it's issued. They fired 51K workers. Avoid them at all costs.

 

[edubfromktown]

I've had no thermal issues with a 2020 Air i7/16/512 after a week of banging away on it.

I've done four installs from scratch to test various things, ripped 18,000+ RAW images over to it for photo app testing, done regular work stuff (Docker, Office 2016, Opera browsing, terminal/ssh fun stuff, video meetings, etc.).

Overall I am quite happy with it. The 13" MPB's are dense/heavy by comparison and I suspect the same will be true of the 14". Portability and lower cost are higher on my list than raw sustained power.

 

[deeddawg]

I realized I get the education discount cause my wife is a teacher.

For folks info - some university campus stores allow alumni to order computers at the education prices, and seem to have an even lower AppleCare+ price of $183 vs $229 via Apple online education store