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Vacation tomorrow should I take my MacBook?

S

ShayCormac

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 29, 2022
8
29
Hi All,

Really silly question but at the start of the year I purchased my first MacBook and I absolutely love it. I am shocked at how quick it is and the battery life and I take really good care of it. I am now going on holiday tomorrow (I normally take my laptops with me) and in debate whether to take it along with me or to take my old laptop (bigger and heavier)? I have a case for my MacBook but I am nervous that taking it with me as I do not want the the performance or battery to drop as it has remained as good as it was out of the box so far.

Can anyone advise if I am being over the top here or is it sensible to leave the device at home to keep it's performance?

Thanks!
 
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It's a laptop, designed to be mobile. Mine's been across the globe a few times the last 13 years. So there's only really physical damage to worry about. Well, that and moving from air conditioned airport straight to a highly humid climate outside. This can actually trigger the moisture strips inside.
 
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Alpha Centauri said:
It's a laptop, designed to be mobile. Mine's been across the globe a few times the last 13 years. So there's only really physical damage to worry about. Well, that and moving from air conditioned airport straight to a highly humid climate outside. This can actually trigger the moisture strips inside.
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That last point you made is an example of why I am debating not to take it. I am going to a hot country, how likely is this to happen to a MBA?
Thanks
 
ShayCormac said:
That last point you made is an example of why I am debating not to take it. I am going to a hot country, how likely is this to happen to a MBA?
Thanks
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Hot is ok. Was more so the extremes of AC airports to extremely high humid environments that can become a problem (from experience). i.e. Singapore, TelAviv, etc.
Depending where you're travelling to I would perhaps also consider theft in your decision making.
 
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I took my old MacBook Pro around a fairly hot and humid country for a month. Mostly kept it in my air conditioned hotel, but occasionally had it in my backpack with me when I didn't feel as safe leaving it behind. Never had any issues with it.

However, I bought a used cheap Chromebook precisely for travels so as to not risk my now much more expensive and nicer 14" MacBook Pro getting damaged or stolen.
 
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I've taken mine all over (USA, Oz, Europe), I have a soft sleeve for it and keep it with me in my cabin bag (which has a tablet / laptop pocket in it) when travelling and the safety deposit box (it fits perfectly) when in the hotel and off out & about and not needing it.

If you can do your stuff on an iPad it might be a better option as its a bit less weight for you to carry about. It's all about individual use / need.
 
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Rapp said:
I've taken mine all over (USA, Oz, Europe), I have a soft sleeve for it and keep it with me in my cabin bag (which has a tablet / laptop pocket in it) when travelling and the safety deposit box (it fits perfectly) when in the hotel and off out & about and not needing it.

If you can do your stuff on an iPad it might be a better option as its a bit less weight for you to carry about. It's all about individual use / need.
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Thanks for your response!
That is awesome you have been all over with it did you notice any performance or battery drop from these trips? I also have a soft sleeve for mine but I do not have a iPad. To be honest I would just take my old laptop but because its big and clunky it makes more sense to take the air because it is so small and light (which is practical for travelling). My individual use/need is just for entertainment purposes as and when.
 
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izzy0242mr said:
I took my old MacBook Pro around a fairly hot and humid country for a month. Mostly kept it in my air conditioned hotel, but occasionally had it in my backpack with me when I didn't feel as safe leaving it behind. Never had any issues with it.

However, I bought a used cheap Chromebook precisely for travels so as to not risk my now much more expensive and nicer 14" MacBook Pro getting damaged or stolen.
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That's awesome! So no issues with battery or performance?

Smart move on the Chromebook they are really light, would you ever take your make abroad or not?
 
I traveled with both an Intel MBP and an M1 MBA. From a fairly cool country to a fairly warm country. The laptops were better at coping with the high temperatures than I was :p
Also no issues with battery whatsoever. They were great before and during travel and are great still - especially the MBA’s.
 
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ShayCormac said:
That's awesome! So no issues with battery or performance?

Smart move on the Chromebook they are really light, would you ever take your make abroad or not?
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Nope, never had issues with battery or performance afterwards that were unusual. Obviously, I had issues eventually because the computer by now is like over a decade old LOL, but it continued to work like a champ during and through school and work on regular workloads.

I don't think I'd take my current Mac abroad unless it was a work related trip. I'm going on some pleasure trips later this year and really won't need to do any serious work. If I was going for longer, or for more work reasons, or honestly even if I was just going to be stationary a lot of the vacation, I'd probably take my Mac. I'm less keen on taking it when I won't have much work to do and I'll be on the go a lot of the time. If I'd have a lot of hotel time and needed to be working, I'd bring the Mac.
 
ShayCormac said:
Hi All,

Really silly question but at the start of the year I purchased my first MacBook and I absolutely love it. I am shocked at how quick it is and the battery life and I take really good care of it. I am now going on holiday tomorrow (I normally take my laptops with me) and in debate whether to take it along with me or to take my old laptop (bigger and heavier)? I have a case for my MacBook but I am nervous that taking it with me as I do not want the the performance or battery to drop as it has remained as good as it was out of the box so far.

Can anyone advise if I am being over the top here or is it sensible to leave the device at home to keep it's performance?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Do you have an iPad?
 
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ShayCormac said:
Thanks for your response!
That is awesome you have been all over with it did you notice any performance or battery drop from these trips? I also have a soft sleeve for mine but I do not have a iPad. To be honest I would just take my old laptop but because its big and clunky it makes more sense to take the air because it is so small and light (which is practical for travelling). My individual use/need is just for entertainment purposes as and when.
Click to expand...
No issues at all, I used mine for similar stuff to you as well as editing a few simple holiday videos and booking trips etc.
 
It should be fine in a good protective laptop bag. Personally, I don’t take a laptop on vacation anymore. I just want to relax. Having no carry on luggage also makes boarding and departing a plane much nicer. It’s amazing how relaxing it is. Also a leg room bonus.
 
ShayCormac said:
I was thinking due to the heat, going through the x-ray machines, flying etc.?

Again could just be paranoia haha I have no factual basis for any of this :D
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X-ray machines do not cause any harm to electrical components, in my job we often use xray machines to check different possible problems in solder joints for equipment that goes on satellites so that also i guess rules out flying being issues. Heat could technically like lower battery life, but I am talking prolonged use of heat much like how you notice your phone getting hot depending what you are doing and your battery suffers a bit. Your device battery health overall will be fine.
 
Being on the go is what laptops (including your MacBook) are built for! Every computer manufacturer torture tests their devices during their R&D process, likely in ways more extreme then your device would see in a lifetime of travel. Drop tests, bake tests, freeze tests, physical shock tests, water spill tests are all a normal part of laptop design that computers undergo before a new model is ever released to the public. If you want to take it with you, go ahead and enjoy it (and your trip)!
 
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