mpw_amherst

I am torn now. I'm a writer and been been waiting for this upgrade for a while to finally move on from my Macbook 12" (love the form factor, can't live with the keyboard). However, there are two things that give me pause and make me wonder if I should opt for the M1: 1) I had hoped the new M2 would match the Macbook weight, but it is still over 1kg and only marginally lighter than the M1 Air, and 2) I'd not thought of it before, but commenters mention the wedge design as much easier for typing. I have arthritis in my hands so am mindful of such things. I recall back in c2010 or so when I had a chunky Macbook Pro that the flat-edged base was less comfortable to type on and angling the hands than an Air or the Macbook. I wonder whether the height, or lift, of the M2 base is so slight as to be negligible or whether the M1 Air might still offer a more comfortable experience? Either way, I need to upgrade and will try them out in store. But interested in your thoughts.

repressthis said:

Wonder if the full range of iMac color options were ever on the table for the new Air? Maybe it all had to be scaled down when faced with a failure of supply chain with China’s zero tolerance lockdown policy? I think I would have rather enjoyed what we saw in mockups. 

Agreed. I was hoping for a yellow Air next to my blue iMac. I find the colours on Apple devices hit and miss and inconsistent. I can understand them wanting to launch new colours and variations but the shades across, arguably similarly marketed segments, are wildly different - say iMac, iPad Air, iPhone 13. If you wanted devices all in matching blue you'd not get it but very different palettes and effects; if you wanted to mix and match different colours then one would be a pastel shade, another a dark, almost muddy colour and then the last more a primary shade. At the least I'd like some colour consistency across lines: bright primary/pastel shades - consumer device; darker, more muted colours for Pro. But it's just not uniform like that.

I'm really looking forward to this revision. The thing that I most hope, and that isn't always mentioned as a definite for this release, is a focus on weight. I still have my 12" Macbook, which is my favourite form factor Mac laptop I've ever had. I find the m3 limiting on occasions but have held off repeatedly buying an Air because even the small weight increase is noticeable if you're lugging it around everywhere - about an additional 25%. If they could keep it at 1kg or below but with all the rest I will be buying. Also, I'd never been much troubled by the butterfly keyboard issues in my first 12" Macbook but my current machine has just comeback from having its 3rd keyboard replacement. I will look forward to seeing the back of that.

rob53 said:

mpw_amherst said:

Anyone else seeing it as macOS Monterey 12.0.1 in system prefs?

Nothing wrong with that, just means it added a last minute patch.

I know that just wasn’t in the report and wanted to be sure I was getting the final RC after turning off beta downloads rather than an issue meaning I was seeing the first public beta of 12.0.1

Anyone else seeing it as macOS Monterey 12.0.1 in system prefs?