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This is how opinions differ. IMO plastic is better than aluminium. It is robust (if done right), lighter and doesn't have good thermal conductivity (which makes
by luke5441 8mo ago
This is how opinions differ. IMO plastic is better than aluminium. It is robust (if done right), lighter and doesn't have good thermal conductivity (which makes laptop usage possible, MacBooks can be uncomfortable for lap usage if too hot).
The metal is more "luxury", though.
- swiftcoder 8mo ago> MacBooks can be uncomfortable for lap usage if too hot This was definitely the case in the Intel era, but I can't say I've had this problem since the move to Apple silicon
- luke5441 8mo agoI have an Air. Maybe active cooling prevents it from getting too hot. With the Air, the metal body is kind of the heatsink. I can configure my Snapdragon plastic laptop such that the fan doesn't turn on, so the body being metal isn't a requirement for not turning on the fan...
- p_ing 8mo agoIf the body was a heatsink, it would be extremely hot to the touch. https://hothardware.com/news/make-your-m1-macbook-air-perform-like-macbook-pro https://hothardware.com/news/make-your-m1-macbook-air-perfor...
- nandomrumber 8mo agoFrom your link: Essentially the bottom cover of the MacBook Air becomes one large heatsink Anyway, the author claims: you are the type that likes to work with the MacBook Air on your lap it will be quite a bit more toasty than before. Does toasty mean extremely hot? The Apple M4 CPU is, if I recall correctly, capable of converting 20 watts of electrical energy in to heat, at full throttle. Is that likely to bring the back plate or a MBA above 45 degrees? You’re probably right, with sustained workloads it could. Everything’s a trade off.
- necovek 8mo agoIn a Notebookcheck test, they got the bottom plate up to 43C, and top plate near the screen up to 45C: https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-passively-cooled-M4-SoC-makes-the-competition-look-old-Apple-MacBook-Air-13-M4-base-model-review.1002534.0.html#c13214514 https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-passively-cooled-M4-SoC-ma...
- caycep 8mo agohence the Neo and the iPhone chip!
- xnx 8mo ago> MacBooks can be uncomfortable for lap usage if too hot). My body is the heatsink
- arbirk 8mo agoAlso for males it is natural birth control. Can be a plus depending on your situation
- kokanee 8mo agoYOU GUYS IT HAS A HEADPHONE JACK
- joecool1029 8mo agoMakes me wonder if this is an ADA requirement for education devices. (assistive listening devices)
- jkestner 8mo agoNot even ADA - kids all get headphones to listen to education materials. Wired headphones are way, way easier to manage.
- monocularvision 8mo agoThere’s also plenty of room for it which is why it continues to appear on all MacBooks.
- zer0zzz 7mo agoIt's almost as if they weren't lying when they said dropping it in the phone was a waterproofing measure. I guess people aren't dropping their laptops in pools all the time.
- joemi 8mo agoDon't all macbooks have one?
- satvikpendem 8mo agoThis isn't news, all MacBooks have one.
- whateverboat 8mo agoPlastic is better if done right. I do not know a single manufacturer today which does plastic right.
- binkHN 8mo ago> plastic is better than aluminium. It is robust (if done right), lighter and doesn't have good thermal conductivity (which makes laptop usage possible Yep. I miss my plastic phones too.
- pbreit 8mo agoI'd go further and suggest that metal is a lousy substance for laptop enclosures.
- brailsafe 7mo agoI think the 14" and Air might get a little warmer, but I can't recall a time I've felt heat from my 16" M4 Pro, fan sound is rare. On my 13" Intel, it was comically easy to cook my balls and the fans were at max constantly