Base MBA M1 that I picked up two weeks ago and has been a dramatic upgrade from the 2012 HP G6 that I was previously using. It's been really nice to have since we're not traveling to see family this year.
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Who’s getting an M1 for Christmas?
- Thread starter The Cockney Rebel
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Already got mine and I love it, super fast, amazing battery life, excellent compatibility, no problems with the touch bar, bright display and great audio. If you are still on a 2015 or earlier model and you contemplating if its worth the upgrade, I can safely say it is. 2016 owners could justify the upgrade too, but you could probably squeeze a couple more years out of your model.
I can only imagine what the first generation 16 inch with M Series is gonna be like, not to mention rev C models.
Very impressed!
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I can only imagine what the first generation 16 inch with M Series is gonna be like, not to mention rev C models.
Very impressed!
PowerBook G3 to M1 MacBook Pro - We sure have come a long way!
I have to admit, this something I have been looking forward to comparing. Although they are not technically equals since the Wallstreet predates OS 10.0 by a few years, its a G3 that's a supported model. But when some of us complain about the constant progress of innovation, we have a lot to be...
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I was bored at looking at my 2015. I saw an open box for $1100 at a local Best Buy. It was the m1 with 512GB SSD and 8GB of RAM. I bit the bullet.
The first few days were amazing until I realized how much I depended on Intel.
I ended up staying with it and adjusted. Pro Tools works and UAD drivers work for it. So I'm good to go.
The first few days were amazing until I realized how much I depended on Intel.
I ended up staying with it and adjusted. Pro Tools works and UAD drivers work for it. So I'm good to go.
Neat! I still have my 2011 MBA but upgraded to an Intel MBP a few months ago (4GB ram, i7). The MBA chugs a bit now but works for basic things like browsing and some office docs. Fan goes off quite easily though. Glad I upgraded but don’t want to get rid of the 11”. I really like the portable size, still getting used to the 13”.
Well after all of my excitement about the M1, I’m quite impressed by what I’ve seen so far. My big problem is deciding what to try next, so many things I want to play with to see how they’ve improved over my (now sitting on the bedroom floor) iMac.
Xcode compiling is a big improvement over the iMac. But what to play with next? Too many choices
Xcode compiling is a big improvement over the iMac. But what to play with next? Too many choices
Games. 😀Well after all of my excitement about the M1, I’m quite impressed by what I’ve seen so far. My big problem is deciding what to try next, so many things I want to play with to see how they’ve improved over my (now sitting on the bedroom floor) iMac.
Xcode compiling is a big improvement over the iMac. But what to play with next? Too many choices
Well there is that. I use GeForce Now for the bulk of, what little gaming I do on a computer, though that was partly due to the iMac being a bit pants. After trying out some benchmarks though, maybe it’s time to give installs another go.
I appreciate you’ve done lots of research and watched various videos already, but I’m interested in knowing if you felt that it has matched the level of hype? I find with most things, the hype and online frenzy is always bigger and better than the actual thing. With the M1, there was a lot of hype and very positive early impressions...I can imagine how some people may have felt underwhelmed when they got it.Well after all of my excitement about the M1, I’m quite impressed by what I’ve seen so far. My big problem is deciding what to try next, so many things I want to play with to see how they’ve improved over my (now sitting on the bedroom floor) iMac.
Xcode compiling is a big improvement over the iMac. But what to play with next? Too many choices
Which year/model is your iMac?
Edit: let us know how you get on with the gaming side of things.
Nope, if I'm absolutely honest, it hasn't matched my expectations. It has blown them out of the water and made what I thought would just maybe be possible, look like a complete underestimation of the capabilities.
I was genuinely expecting to be a bit disappointed with certain things, as you mention yourself, I'm the sort of nutter who researches everything to death before making a decision - just so I know what will suit me, and what will disappoint the least - because no matter what you read, or see online, it's never the same as putting it through its paces by yourself.
My iMac is a Late 2015 27" i5 Retina 5K, 1TB SSD, 32GB RAM, can't remember what graphics card I got in it, its already been thrown to the scrap heap
So I was expecting a decent jump in performance with the M1 considering the age of the iMac, but not what I actually got.
I decided on my quest of what to try next, to do what I thought should bring the M1 to its knees and show me its limitations, after all, this made my iMac crumble like badly made shortbread.
Fusion 360. I have some models in that which made my iMac completely unusable - to the point that even if I just wanted to change a position, I would enter new coordinates, then bugger off for 15 minutes or so while it did it. Even on friends newer iMacs, which are considerably more powerful than mine, one model in particular can turn them into beach balling slideshows.
So, I opened that up on the MBA M1 and, well, nothing, no disaster, no slowdown, I can throw the model around the screen and it all happens in real-time. I've literally never seen that before.
After picking myself up off the floor. I opened up another project, then another, then another. With four projects open, I clearly wasn't pushing it enough. So, I duplicated the most complex model, and again, and again, and again, and again, and then I gave up.
I cannot believe, well I can, I've just seen it - though I don't know how it's doing it - how powerful this tiny, fan-less, ARM, 8GB.... 8GB I haven't had an 8GB machine in god knows how many years, I've certainly never had one that can perform these kinds of miracles.
It didn't even get warm, at all, its utter insanity. Even the battery only dropped by 2% during that workout, or, what I thought would be a workout. My wife's 2020 MBA (Intel) blows through it's battery if you ask it to do anything remotely demanding.
There is of course, a lot of testing still to be done, I'm not about to render final judgement from basically 2 main tests. But if this wee bugger can cope with video/photo/vector editing anything like it has Xcode and Fusion 360, I am going to be one happy chappie. That's the bulk of my workload, other than writing, and that I can do on a BBC Micro, so I'm not overly concerned about the MBA managing it 🤣
Oh, and I forgot to mention, that Fusion is running under Rosetta.
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My word, hah. Although this doesn’t fit a use case for me, that’s quite the result you’ve got there...I’m assuming this is the very base MBA with 7 cores?Nope, if I'm absolutely honest, it hasn't matched my expectations. It has blown them out of the water and made what I thought would just maybe be possible, look like a complete underestimation of the capabilities.
I was genuinely expecting to be a bit disappointed with certain things, as you mention yourself, I'm the sort of nutter who researches everything to death before making a decision - just so I know what will suit me, and what will disappoint the least - because no matter what you read, or see online, it's never the same as putting it through its paces by yourself.
My iMac is a Late 2015 27" i5 Retina 5K, 1TB SSD, 32GB RAM, can't remember what graphics card I got in it, its already been thrown to the scrap heap
So I was expecting a decent jump in performance with the M1 considering the age of the iMac, but not what I actually got.
I decided on my quest of what to try next, to do what I thought should bring the M1 to its knees and show me its limitations, after all, this made my iMac crumble like badly made shortbread.
Fusion 360. I have some models in that which made my iMac completely unusable - to the point that even if I just wanted to change a position, I would enter new coordinates, then bugger off for 15 minutes or so while it did it. Even on friends newer iMacs, which are considerably more powerful than mine, one model in particular can turn them into beach balling slideshows.
So, I opened that up on the MBA M1 and, well, nothing, no disaster, no slowdown, I can throw the model around the screen and it all happens in real-time. I've literally never seen that before.
After picking myself up off the floor. I opened up another project, then another, then another. With four projects open, I clearly wasn't pushing it enough. So, I duplicated the most complex model, and again, and again, and again, and again, and then I gave up.
I cannot believe, well I can, I've just seen it - though I don't know how it's doing it - how powerful this tiny, fan-less, ARM, 8GB.... 8GB I haven't had an 8GB machine in god knows how many years, I've certainly never had one that can perform these kinds of miracles.
It didn't even get warm, at all, its utter insanity. Even the battery only dropped by 2% during that workout, or, what I thought would be a workout. My wife's 2020 MBA (Intel) blows through it's battery if you ask it to do anything remotely demanding.
There is of course, a lot of testing still to be done, I'm not about to render final judgement from basically 2 main tests. But if this wee bugger can cope with video/photo/vector editing anything like it has Xcode and Fusion 360, I am going to be one happy chappie. That's the bulk of my workload, other than writing, and that I can do on a BBC Micro, so I'm not overly concerned about the MBA managing it 🤣
Oh, and I forgot to mention, that Fusion is running under Rosetta.
It’s the 512GB, so it has 8 cores. Though how much of a difference that one extra core really makes I don’t know. I doubt it’s a massive leap over the 7 core.
It’s been surprising me at every turn so far, I’m just trying to decide what to throw at it next. Probably the Dolphin emulator. Not something I’d ordinarily be fussed with - I still have all of my old consoles.
But I’ve seen some videos on YouTube running GameCube games at 4K 60fps, the notion of which on the M1 through Rosetta just doesn’t feel right somehow. I have to see it with my own eyes
Let us know how you get on. I’ve got it installed on my iPad and MBP, it’s an older version of Dolphin on the latter. I still have the console too, recently modded with an optical disc emulator and using it with a Carby HDMI adapter. Done wonders for load times and connecting it to a modern TV, but there’s something about improving the resolution that’s very appealing.It’s the 512GB, so it has 8 cores. Though how much of a difference that one extra core really makes I don’t know. I doubt it’s a massive leap over the 7 core.
It’s been surprising me at every turn so far, I’m just trying to decide what to throw at it next. Probably the Dolphin emulator. Not something I’d ordinarily be fussed with - I still have all of my old consoles.
But I’ve seen some videos on YouTube running GameCube games at 4K 60fps, the notion of which on the M1 through Rosetta just doesn’t feel right somehow. I have to see it with my own eyes
I haven't pulled the trigger on an M1 machine yet. Probably because I have a 2020 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 256gb of storage and a Magic Keyboard in addition to my 2019 27-inch iMac with an i5 9600K, 64gb of RAM and 1tb SSD. I really don't need another machine right now.
But, frankly, the iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard is quite a bit heavier than a MacBook Air and I really wouldn't mind having an M1 Mac to play with. It might even make better sense for travel than the iPad. I'm tempted to pick up a base Air or maybe even upgrade to 16gb of RAM.
Any thoughts?
But, frankly, the iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard is quite a bit heavier than a MacBook Air and I really wouldn't mind having an M1 Mac to play with. It might even make better sense for travel than the iPad. I'm tempted to pick up a base Air or maybe even upgrade to 16gb of RAM.
Any thoughts?
You will not regret. I too have the iPad Pro 12.9 2020 with Magic Keyboard, really nice and I use it quite a bit...but many times when using the IPad i come across somethings that I can only do on the Mac....having the ability to drag your Mac to the couch after a few hours of back to back meetings so you can do some run the engine work is awesome...
I'm surprised there is no stock locally or on Apple at the moment. I had no idea it was going to be this tough getting the Air. My wife and I were discussing how old my Mac's were and decided to look into a M1 Air. Best Buy had one store with stock and I was going to pick it up today but all sold out now. I was expecting some hesitation due to the new chip but wow, guess all those positive YouTube reviews got to everyone! 🤣
I'll just wait now. I was hoping to get it all setup during the holidays with no distractions.
I'll just wait now. I was hoping to get it all setup during the holidays with no distractions.
So far I’ve only tried Burnout 2, it was quite good to start off. But with a couple of tweaks it was running silky smooth at 4K.
Not the most demanding of games on the Cube, but once it was running at 4K, I got distracted and played it for a while
Even so, that it was running at 4K under Rosetta 2 still impressed me. I’ll have to try some others out when I get the time. I’m sure the wife’s glaring at me in a, weren’t you supposed to be doing the spare room, kind of way
Picked up a base M1 MBP .. it.is.amazing! ( especially coming from a late 2013 13” )
Now, that said, cant help but wonder what if I had gotten the M1 MBA instead ?
This computer isn’t my main / go-to for my primary use case but mostly MS Office, basic coding, some 4K editing, browsing, media, and such..
Debating if I should pick up the MBA ( with 512 SSD or 16 GB ) for $100 less!
The major differences between the two that I’ve read :
1. Slightly lower brightness (404 nits vs 504 on the Pro )
2. Better speakers on the Pro ( not sure by how much )
3. One less GPU core ( I don’t game on my laptop )
4. No touch bar on the Air ( eh )
5. Slightly better battery in the Pro and a larger charging brick
6. Slightly larger track pad on the Pro ( but the Airs’ is more ... sturdy when depressed? )
Anything else I missed ?
Wonder if it’s better ( bang for buck ) to keep the base Pro vs getting an upgraded Air ( 2x RAM or Storage ) ?
Of all the differences I gathered from reading online, the only one that would concern me is the screen brightness discrepancy between the Pro and Air..
Would love to hear any recommendations, suggestions, et al from you guys 🙂
Now, that said, cant help but wonder what if I had gotten the M1 MBA instead ?
This computer isn’t my main / go-to for my primary use case but mostly MS Office, basic coding, some 4K editing, browsing, media, and such..
Debating if I should pick up the MBA ( with 512 SSD or 16 GB ) for $100 less!
The major differences between the two that I’ve read :
1. Slightly lower brightness (404 nits vs 504 on the Pro )
2. Better speakers on the Pro ( not sure by how much )
3. One less GPU core ( I don’t game on my laptop )
4. No touch bar on the Air ( eh )
5. Slightly better battery in the Pro and a larger charging brick
6. Slightly larger track pad on the Pro ( but the Airs’ is more ... sturdy when depressed? )
Anything else I missed ?
Wonder if it’s better ( bang for buck ) to keep the base Pro vs getting an upgraded Air ( 2x RAM or Storage ) ?
Of all the differences I gathered from reading online, the only one that would concern me is the screen brightness discrepancy between the Pro and Air..
Would love to hear any recommendations, suggestions, et al from you guys 🙂
Hah. You have good taste in games. I was unpacking some boxes (after moving maybe more than a year beforehand) in the spring during lockdown and took a picture of my modest GC collection (attached). You can see Burnout 2 is part of it. I was gutted when Criterion wasn't bringing 3 to GameCube, but ended up spending many hours on it via the original Xbox. Between 2 on GC and 3 on Xbox, my friends and I clocked up hundreds of hours on this series.So far I’ve only tried Burnout 2, it was quite good to start off. But with a couple of tweaks it was running silky smooth at 4K.
Not the most demanding of games on the Cube, but once it was running at 4K, I got distracted and played it for a while
Even so, that it was running at 4K under Rosetta 2 still impressed me. I’ll have to try some others out when I get the time. I’m sure the wife’s glaring at me in a, weren’t you supposed to be doing the spare room, kind of way
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I know that feeling, I dread to think how many hours we sunk into those games. I could've probably done half the tracks in B3 blindfolded back then
Some classics in your collection there, no Wave Race though? Tut tut I figured I'd throw something which I usually find a more difficult game to emulate at the MBA. Gamecube again, F-Zero GX, Sand Ocean track with 29 opponents, still at 4K and that's where we hit problems. No more solid 60fps, with that combo, it was dipping down to 55fps at some points. But I mean c'mon, it's still running under Rosetta, so I'm still bloody impressed.
I don’t have personal experience with an m1, but I can pass on what I’ve found during my many many hours of research lol.
The brightness difference is more of a factor if you’re using it outdoors as you shouldn’t ever need to max out either one of them indoors. Most other laptops barely go over 300. But the pro does have a slightly better contrast ratio.
Speakers are more subjective, both are better than almost any laptop out there but the pro has more depth to the sound
The gpu difference is only there if you stick with the 256 base mode, if you’re going to the 512/8 model, it’s also the 8 core gpu.
Touch Bar is a personal preference, same with the track pad. Some complain the larger trackpad on the pro actually gets in the way sometimes when typing.
I think if you’re planning to keep this long term, I would go for the better memory/storage specs.