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$899 (edu) or $999 is extremely competitive for what you get. Most people buying an entry level computer these days should at least consider stretching to get

$899 (edu) or $999 is extremely competitive for what you get. Most people buying an entry level computer these days should at least consider stretching to get a MBA than the $300-400 shovelware, they’ll get so much use out of it. My wife is still using her 2020 M1 Air and it’s still as snappy as the day we got it, still works for all her use cases. Incredible value.

throwup238 2y ago
That’s a great point, but I think that’s the result of decades of work enabled by premium pricing culminating in their custom silicon (which is itself a product of their ability to command exclusivity with TSMC nodes). The shareholders demand ever constant growth and Apple is moving down market just like everyone else (looking at you, BMW 3 series).
motorest 2y ago
> Most people buying an entry level computer these days should at least consider stretching to get a MBA than the $300-400 shovelware, they’ll get so much use out of it. I don't think that expecting everyone to waste 3x the money to scratch the same itch is an informed take, specially when the $300 shovelware has far better specs in terms of RAM and by far HD. Nowadays you can even get better performing miniPCs for half the price than your MacBook Air M3, such as any of the systems packing a AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS. I think some people look at the shiny computers and don't look past that.
- chipotle_coyote 2y ago
  And comparing a miniPC to a laptop is an informed take?
- cpursley 2y ago
  Specs don’t actually mean anything. Jobs was right. People just want their shit to work.
  - pjmlp 2y ago
    Pity that isn't how macOS has been lately.
    - cpursley 2y ago
      vs what?
- wtallis 2y ago
  > Nowadays you can even get better performing miniPCs for half the price than your MacBook Air M3 This is a stupid comparison: even a Mac mini pretty much fulfills this, since the M4 is a step up from the M3 and the actively-cooled mini can sustain higher performance than the passively-cooled MacBook Air, and at about half the price of an M3 MacBook Air.
- indemnity 2y ago
  Like others pointed out, if we're comparing like for like, the Mac Mini is in that "mini PC" price range, and again is very competitive.
WillPostForFood 2y ago
While they are still in stock, 13" M2 Macbook Air w/16GB RAM and 256GB SSD are only $799 at Best Buy & Amazon right now.
krisgenre 2y ago
My wife is still using her 2020 M1 Air and it’s still as snappy as the day we got it, still works for all her use cases. Ah! my early 2015 13" Macbook pro died only few weeks back. I don't think any other laptop will last nearly 10 years (TBF I did replace the battery and speakers for $280 in 2020 though)
- TsiCClawOfLight 2y ago
  Still using the T450s I got in 2015, so technically the ThinkPad won :D JK, that's a very respectable life span!
- dgan 2y ago
  I am using my HP Omen from 2016, which is still my main laptop. I gotit for 600 I think? I also upgraded Ram and SSD. The hinges on the lid broke the plastic case, and i am not replacing the dead battery, but it definitely works
- yieldcrv 2y ago
  My M1 Max with 8TB is going strong 4 years in and a pleasure to work with I am sad that the resale value didn't hold as much as people claim Apple products do, but that’s because of the overpriced storage mostly Looks like I can get $2500 vs the $7600 I paid for it So rolling over into a newer maxed out model isnt so easily rationalized
jdeibele 2y ago
Walmart is selling the 8GB M1 for $629. It presumably won’t ever get Apple Intelligence but it’s a great starter if money is tight. I’d be tempted to buy a used machine with more RAM because I’ve had really good experiences with used electronics like laptops or phones. BTW I have Apple Intelligence turned off but I’m not prepared to say it won’t ever be useful for anybody.

throwup238 2y ago

That’s a great point, but I think that’s the result of decades of work enabled by premium pricing culminating in their custom silicon (which is itself a product of their ability to command exclusivity with TSMC nodes). The shareholders demand ever constant growth and Apple is moving down market just like everyone else (looking at you, BMW 3 series).

motorest 2y ago

> Most people buying an entry level computer these days should at least consider stretching to get a MBA than the $300-400 shovelware, they’ll get so much use out of it. I don't think that expecting everyone to waste 3x the money to scratch the same itch is an informed take, specially when the $300 shovelware has far better specs in terms of RAM and by far HD. Nowadays you can even get better performing miniPCs for half the price than your MacBook Air M3, such as any of the systems packing a AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS. I think some people look at the shiny computers and don't look past that.

chipotle_coyote 2y ago
And comparing a miniPC to a laptop is an informed take?
cpursley 2y ago
Specs don’t actually mean anything. Jobs was right. People just want their shit to work.
- pjmlp 2y ago
  Pity that isn't how macOS has been lately.
  - cpursley 2y ago
    vs what?
wtallis 2y ago
> Nowadays you can even get better performing miniPCs for half the price than your MacBook Air M3 This is a stupid comparison: even a Mac mini pretty much fulfills this, since the M4 is a step up from the M3 and the actively-cooled mini can sustain higher performance than the passively-cooled MacBook Air, and at about half the price of an M3 MacBook Air.
indemnity 2y ago
Like others pointed out, if we're comparing like for like, the Mac Mini is in that "mini PC" price range, and again is very competitive.

WillPostForFood 2y ago

While they are still in stock, 13" M2 Macbook Air w/16GB RAM and 256GB SSD are only $799 at Best Buy & Amazon right now.

krisgenre 2y ago

My wife is still using her 2020 M1 Air and it’s still as snappy as the day we got it, still works for all her use cases. Ah! my early 2015 13" Macbook pro died only few weeks back. I don't think any other laptop will last nearly 10 years (TBF I did replace the battery and speakers for $280 in 2020 though)

TsiCClawOfLight 2y ago
Still using the T450s I got in 2015, so technically the ThinkPad won :D JK, that's a very respectable life span!
dgan 2y ago
I am using my HP Omen from 2016, which is still my main laptop. I gotit for 600 I think? I also upgraded Ram and SSD. The hinges on the lid broke the plastic case, and i am not replacing the dead battery, but it definitely works
yieldcrv 2y ago
My M1 Max with 8TB is going strong 4 years in and a pleasure to work with I am sad that the resale value didn't hold as much as people claim Apple products do, but that’s because of the overpriced storage mostly Looks like I can get $2500 vs the $7600 I paid for it So rolling over into a newer maxed out model isnt so easily rationalized

jdeibele 2y ago

Walmart is selling the 8GB M1 for $629. It presumably won’t ever get Apple Intelligence but it’s a great starter if money is tight. I’d be tempted to buy a used machine with more RAM because I’ve had really good experiences with used electronics like laptops or phones. BTW I have Apple Intelligence turned off but I’m not prepared to say it won’t ever be useful for anybody.