4 ms·

No magsafe seems like a bad idea given the target demographic.

ehutch79 8mo ago
Right? also, where's the thunderbolt ports? and it needs about another inch? maybe half inch on the screen. And really, 16gb is the new minimum. There's a whole bunch of acceleration and co processing features in the m series missing from the a series, so they really should put an m5 in there instead... Seriously though. Every feature someone says is missing and should have been added would be another $100 on the cost. This is already likely a low margin product meant of someone who's only using a browser and maybe a few apps.
whalesalad 8mo ago
Honestly I am still wondering why tf they brought magsafe back. I thought Apple had turned the corner on proprietary connectors. I charge my M2 air with a usb-c cable.
- jamesgeck0 8mo ago
  It's less stress on a frequently used port. I've got an early M1 MacBook Air where the USB-C port I always used for charging is starting to get flaky, presumably because it's been used so much and because of the weight of the cord + dongle hanging off the side of the machine.
  - SXX 8mo ago
    Replacement port for M1 Air can be bought for around $10 off Amazon and installation take like 10 minutes for total newbie like me. All you need is right screwdriver. Just look for a2337 usb-c port replacement.
- cillian64 8mo ago
  Two advantages for me: It's nice that you don't break the connector if you trip over the cable or put the laptop down on a soft surface, and it's nice being able to charge while still using both USB-C ports (although I guess 3x USB-C would also solve that). I don't really see any downside to a proprietary connector if you also have the option to charge over USB-C as well.
  - bubblewand 8mo ago
    MagSafe’s great because nobody in your house will run off with your cable to charge their phone or tablet or Switch controller or whatever.
    - NetMageSCW 8mo ago
      Every time that happens buy two more cables. It will stop happening.
  - apparent 8mo ago
    I wonder how people would feel about: MagSafe + 2 USB C, all on the left vs 3 USB C, 2 on one side and 1 on the other I don't care much about MagSafe, but it is sometimes annoying to have to plug everything on the left. If given the option, I might pick the extra USB (which could also be used for data/monitor/etc. when not being used for charging, of course.
- quesera 8mo ago
  I can't understand why they ever moved away from it. Magsafe on laptops is so much better than any other option: zero force "insertion", convenient breakaway if tripped over causing no damage to either side. Magsafe is fantastic.
  - swiftcoder 8mo ago
    If only we could get a MagSafe data cable! I'd kill for a MagSafe equivalent of a thunderbolt dock
- testing22321 8mo ago
  The day I tripped over the cord and smashed my netbook I suddenly appreciated MagSafe a lot more.
- projektfu 8mo ago
  My wife does, too, but only because the dog ate the magsafe.
- zardo 8mo ago
  It's a big selling point for the slice of laptop buyers that are replacing a machine they just broke by tripping over the power cord.
  - NetMageSCW 8mo ago
    I just never run a power cord where it can be tripped over.
- tverbeure 8mo ago
  They brought it back because it's a fantastic feature for clumsy people like me.
- mikestew 8mo ago
  Says the person who has apparently never had a dog or a kid get tangled in the power cable and destroyed the port, or pulled the laptop off the table. I charge my M2 air with a usb-c cable. Soooo, continue to charge the M5 Air with a USB-C cable? What's your objection here?
apparent 8mo ago
Not if their goal is to make money on repairs/upgrades! Kidding aside, I think this is one of their key differentiators from the MBA line. It's partly the MagSafe itself, and partly that you have an extra USB port open even when charging.

Right? also, where's the thunderbolt ports? and it needs about another inch? maybe half inch on the screen. And really, 16gb is the new minimum. There's a whole bunch of acceleration and co processing features in the m series missing from the a series, so they really should put an m5 in there instead... Seriously though. Every feature someone says is missing and should have been added would be another $100 on the cost. This is already likely a low margin product meant of someone who's only using a browser and maybe a few apps.

whalesalad 8mo ago

Honestly I am still wondering why tf they brought magsafe back. I thought Apple had turned the corner on proprietary connectors. I charge my M2 air with a usb-c cable.

jamesgeck0 8mo ago
It's less stress on a frequently used port. I've got an early M1 MacBook Air where the USB-C port I always used for charging is starting to get flaky, presumably because it's been used so much and because of the weight of the cord + dongle hanging off the side of the machine.
- SXX 8mo ago
  Replacement port for M1 Air can be bought for around $10 off Amazon and installation take like 10 minutes for total newbie like me. All you need is right screwdriver. Just look for a2337 usb-c port replacement.
cillian64 8mo ago
Two advantages for me: It's nice that you don't break the connector if you trip over the cable or put the laptop down on a soft surface, and it's nice being able to charge while still using both USB-C ports (although I guess 3x USB-C would also solve that). I don't really see any downside to a proprietary connector if you also have the option to charge over USB-C as well.
- bubblewand 8mo ago
  MagSafe’s great because nobody in your house will run off with your cable to charge their phone or tablet or Switch controller or whatever.
  - NetMageSCW 8mo ago
    Every time that happens buy two more cables. It will stop happening.
- apparent 8mo ago
  I wonder how people would feel about: MagSafe + 2 USB C, all on the left vs 3 USB C, 2 on one side and 1 on the other I don't care much about MagSafe, but it is sometimes annoying to have to plug everything on the left. If given the option, I might pick the extra USB (which could also be used for data/monitor/etc. when not being used for charging, of course.
quesera 8mo ago
I can't understand why they ever moved away from it. Magsafe on laptops is so much better than any other option: zero force "insertion", convenient breakaway if tripped over causing no damage to either side. Magsafe is fantastic.
- swiftcoder 8mo ago
  If only we could get a MagSafe data cable! I'd kill for a MagSafe equivalent of a thunderbolt dock
testing22321 8mo ago
The day I tripped over the cord and smashed my netbook I suddenly appreciated MagSafe a lot more.
projektfu 8mo ago
My wife does, too, but only because the dog ate the magsafe.
zardo 8mo ago
It's a big selling point for the slice of laptop buyers that are replacing a machine they just broke by tripping over the power cord.
- NetMageSCW 8mo ago
  I just never run a power cord where it can be tripped over.
tverbeure 8mo ago
They brought it back because it's a fantastic feature for clumsy people like me.
mikestew 8mo ago
Says the person who has apparently never had a dog or a kid get tangled in the power cable and destroyed the port, or pulled the laptop off the table. I charge my M2 air with a usb-c cable. Soooo, continue to charge the M5 Air with a USB-C cable? What's your objection here?

apparent 8mo ago

Not if their goal is to make money on repairs/upgrades! Kidding aside, I think this is one of their key differentiators from the MBA line. It's partly the MagSafe itself, and partly that you have an extra USB port open even when charging.