I think my very first laptop was a PB 180c, purchased refurbished and kept for many, many years. I LOVED that laptop. Of course, if we REALLY want to date ourselves, my first highly portable Apple computer was an Apple ][c that I carried around almost as if it were a laptop, often dragging a 13 inch portable TV along with me to use as a display. *** Geek Central *** 🤪
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Who else prefers the 13" M2 MBA?
- Thread starter The Cockney Rebel
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Funny, I recall an ad for the IIc that had a woman or girl holding it under her arm like a laptop so I don't think you were too far off.
Uhhhh, I saw the 15” in the apple store literally 1 hour ago. It’s a big laptop. Now I’m more inclined to get the 13”. I am trying to think of use cases where the 15” would be better for me but I can’t come up with any. Basically, if you don’t have access to an external monitor and need the bigger screen, then yes. Great, that we have options
Ha ha. I had an Apple II c as well. About 1983. I have a photo prove it. 😊
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Hornby, love the tape deck in the back, too!
Fancy watch — time to photoshop in an Apple Watch!
Those glasses would be fashionable even today!
It's pretty funny all the time we spend pondering laptop sizes these days — 13” vs. 14” vs. 15” — when we were perfectly content with, even amazed by, the low-res, dotty, 9” green Apple IIc monitor!
There's a lesson in there somewhere!
Fancy watch — time to photoshop in an Apple Watch!
Those glasses would be fashionable even today!
It's pretty funny all the time we spend pondering laptop sizes these days — 13” vs. 14” vs. 15” — when we were perfectly content with, even amazed by, the low-res, dotty, 9” green Apple IIc monitor!
There's a lesson in there somewhere!
I thought about it, but I would have to have hands-on at the Apple store to really consider it. I’ve always liked smaller MacBooks. During the Jony Ive phase of Apple, smaller meant a considerably weaker. Now that that’s no longer the case I’m really happy.
I would expect it to be big compared to the 13”. Did you pick it up? I wonder how it feels in the hand. That’s one reason I like the 13” Air over the 14” Pro. By the spec sheet they look very similar in size and weight, but my my hand they feel considerably different.
I think it’s why we appreciate what is available now. Remember exchanging giant floppy discs just to start the computer. It took ages.
I had AppleWorks and it then that first tried using a thing called a “spreadsheet.”
I prefer both, so I have both.
13" M2 Air (24GB/2TB) - my everything 'main' Mac + all music and photos, easily portable, grab and go.
15" M2 Air (16GB/1TB) - my WFH Mac, thinner and lighter (replaces MPB 16"), large display ideal for office work.
13" M2 Air (24GB/2TB) - my everything 'main' Mac + all music and photos, easily portable, grab and go.
15" M2 Air (16GB/1TB) - my WFH Mac, thinner and lighter (replaces MPB 16"), large display ideal for office work.
I had a 13" M1 Air as well, just traded it in for a 16" M2 Pro and so glad I made the switch. I swore I would never get a larger sized laptop but the additional screen real estate and trackpad space will make me never go back down to a 13".
It really comes down to what you use your MacBook Air for. Me? Mine is usually on the bed or moved around the house from time to time but rarely leaves. Plus I use it for TV and YouTube daily so the 15" was a no-brainer for me.
Much bigger footprint but slim and not very much heavier than 13” (which I prefer).
I bought a refurbished M2 13” MBAir a week and a half ago. While I still love using my M1 iPad Pro, I think it’s certainly redundant keeping both around. I’m still sort of debating whether I want to sell the iPad or return the MacBook. The iPad has the nicer screen and speakers, but the MacBook can do so much more for my use cases.
Well, there ARE at least a few things that are unique to the iPad that left me deciding to keep mine (beyond the fact that I'd get virtually nothing in trade on an almost 5-year-old iPad Pro).
First, there's the ability to use the iPad with an Apple Pencil to take notes and draw freehand.
Second, there's the whole tablet thing--there ARE times when it's simply nicer to hold a tablet instead of a screen and hinged keyboard. With respect to the latter, I'm currently using my 12.9 inch iPad Pro as a screen on which to watch media, including iFit videos, while exercising on my exercise bike. There's no way a laptop would be stable resting on the stand that sits atop the handlebars on the bike.
Bottom line, while there IS a fair amount of redundancy inherent in having both a 13 inch MBA and a similarly sized iPad Pro, there are also some uniquely different functions that might well justify keeping both.
A few years ago I tried to replace the MacBook with an iPad 12.9". After a few months, I realized it was impossible. Eventually I replaced the 12.9" with an 11" for leisure and pen use and bought a MacBook for work.
My main computer is a 27" iMac. My laptop is only for travel so I have the more portable 13" MBA and will never replace it with a 15". As a former 12" Macbook owner, I feel that the 13" MBA is actually too big and heavy. I would not hesitate at all to replace my 13" with a new 12" Macbook if they released one with Apple Silicon and a better keyboard. That would be an instant buy.
I never understood the whole 'iPad Pro instead of MacBook' thing. I see them as two totally different devices that serve different purposes. For me, the iPad is like an assistant to an actual Mac, or a bigger device to do iPhone things. Grab it, consume media, email, text, take notes, then pick up where you left off when you're back to a Mac.
Also, I've not crunched the exact numbers and dimensions, but I don't think you're saving much money, weight or bulk going with a 12.9" iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard Case over a much more capable and versatile 13" MacBook Air (if you can only have one over the other).
Also, I've not crunched the exact numbers and dimensions, but I don't think you're saving much money, weight or bulk going with a 12.9" iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard Case over a much more capable and versatile 13" MacBook Air (if you can only have one over the other).
team 13" here. It just feels more intimate using it. I've always had the larger 15/16 MacBook Pros because they had the better specs for my main use - video editing. Stupidly when the M1 Max etc MacBook pros came out I ordered the 16 because I thought I wanted the screen size. Its a great laptop and I use it a lot but last year I got promoted in my travel camp job where I needed to take a laptop with me and after the second week of lugging it around I got tired of it. I ordered the 13" and I basically use it every day and my 16" is used when I need the heavy lifting power.
My 13" has edited videos, documents and managed live streams with thousands of viewers and it just keeps plugging away.
My 13" has edited videos, documents and managed live streams with thousands of viewers and it just keeps plugging away.
Yeah, you make some great points! I use my exercise bike every morning before work, but it's one of those bike desks - which hold the MacBook just fine. However, both my treadmill and Bowflex have tablet holders. It'd make the most sense for me to downsize to the 11" Pro or even iPad mini, but I already have an iPad with sized accessories (Magic Keyboard and VESA magnetic mount), why go through that extra work to replace everything?
Might be an idea to treat the iPad as a tablet and accessory to the Mac again, instead of using it with the Magic Keyboard 90% of the time. It's kind of weird that it went from my most used device when I had just my iPhone 12 mini and it, to my least used device after getting this MacBook and the iPhone 14 Pro. It's just kind of in that weird middle zone where it's much more convenient to use my iPhone, or if I need something bigger, the MacBook is usually the better option.
And it is every bit as wonderful as I was expecting it to be!
Except 14 pro is same price when you upgrade gimped ssd and ram for the air.I just came from the 12" MacBook, so the 13 for me is great! Really liking it so far! But I am glad it is finally available in 15" option. Should the need ever arise for me to need a larger screen, I'm glad the option is there in a non "Pro" form (and non "Pro" price
I ordered a 13" MacBook Air (M2, 16gb), which should arrive on July 5th. 95% of the time, I'll use it at home, connected to my 28" 4K monitor. I'm hoping that the small size will make it easier to carry around when I'm out. I have no problem with the 12.9" screen on my iPad Pro, with Magic Keyboard, so I'm hoping for a similar experience with my MacBook Air.