Impatiently Waiting for 15in MBA

[RavingMac]

I long ago reached the point that new hardware greatly exceeded my computational requirements, and form, function and cost mattered more than speed.
To that end the MBA is almost the perfect Laptop . . . except these aging eyes don’t like small displays. I thought about going with the 16in MB Pro, but it really is overkill for my needs. It also grates to pay well north of $2000 just to get a bigger screen.

So I am waiting . . . . .. Just not patiently

 

[Randy B. Singer]

...the MBA is almost the perfect Laptop . . . except these aging eyes don’t like small displays. ...

So I am waiting . . . . .. Just not patiently

You might want to keep tabs on this Web page. It keeps track of all of the developments with the MBA, including rumors, and time between refreshes (so that you can guess when the next refresh might come.):

MacRumors Buyer's Guide: Know When to Buy iPhone, Mac, iPad

This page provides a product summary for each Apple model. The intent is to provide our best recommendations regarding current product cycles, and to provide a summary of currently available rumors for each model. This page is based on rumors and speculation and we provide no guarantee to its...

buyersguide.macrumors.com

Here are the latest rumors about a 15-inch MBA:

15-Inch MacBook Air Rumored for 2023, But New 12-Inch MacBook Now Unlikely

Apple plans to release a larger 15-inch MacBook Air in 2023, but a previously rumored 12-inch MacBook with Apple silicon is no longer expected to...

www.macrumors.com

My personal feeling is that if you need a new Mac NOW, you should purchase one that comes closest to meeting your needs NOW. There will always be rumors of upcoming models, and you have no idea if they will materialize or when. The exception might be if there is a major Apple announcement event scheduled for very soon. It might be worth waiting to see what they announce.

 

[RavingMac]

Thanks, Randy.
I’ve got an M1 13in MBA and a still functional 2012 15in MBP, so I don’t actually need a new laptop, just would appreciate the lighter weight and greater screen area of an upscaled MBA.
If the 16in MBP was lighter or cheaper I would probably go for it, but it isn’t enough of an improvement right now to make me open my wallet. OTA my credit card is on standby should the rumored 15in MBA ever become a reality

 

[Randy B. Singer]

... just would appreciate the lighter weight and greater screen area of an upscaled MBA.

I know what you mean. I have a fleet of now very old MBA's, and yet I'm still amazed by how light and competent they are. They are almost like a miracle.

When I got my first MBA, I would bring it home from work and attach it to a desktop monitor, mouse and keyboard and use it as a desktop machine. It was plenty powerful for that task too. However, in time, I got a 27-inch iMac for home use.

I do hope that Apple brings back the 27-inch iMac. That was an ideal home setup. However, at this point I'm thinking that I will go for an M3 mini or Studio when they are released, and pair that with a 43-inch Samsung monitor for my next home computer. That setup should preclude any problems with my eyesight cropping up.

 

[MacInWin]

Thanks, Randy.
I’ve got an M1 13in MBA and a still functional 2012 15in MBP, so I don’t actually need a new laptop, just would appreciate the lighter weight and greater screen area of an upscaled MBA.
If the 16in MBP was lighter or cheaper I would probably go for it, but it isn’t enough of an improvement right now to make me open my wallet. OTA my credit card is on standby should the rumored 15in MBA ever become a reality

The MBP 16" Mx is exactly the same dimensions as the 15in MBP you have. What makes that possible is that the bezels of the screen are really thin on the new MBP. I had a 15" before I got the 16" and put them on top of one another to compare. Exactly the same. So a 16" may be worth looking at.

 

[RavingMac]

I know what you mean. I have a fleet of now very old MBA's, and yet I'm still amazed by how light and competent they are. They are almost like a miracle.

When I got my first MBA, I would bring it home from work and attach it to a desktop monitor, mouse and keyboard and use it as a desktop machine. It was plenty powerful for that task too. However, in time, I got a 27-inch iMac for home use.

I do hope that Apple brings back the 27-inch iMac. That was an ideal home setup. However, at this point I'm thinking that I will go for an M3 mini or Studio when they are released, and pair that with a 43-inch Samsung monitor for my next home computer. That setup should preclude any problems with my eyesight cropping up.

I have my M1 Mini hooked to a 48in LG OLED Tv and it is stunning. Tv is on an articulated wall mount so I have maximum flexibility to get the viewing perspective just right. Can’t recommend it more highly.
If I still did Autocad or was a Gamer there might be some downsides, but for my uses, Photography, writing, spreadsheets, and surfing the web . . . plus watching the occasional movie, it’s hard to beat.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I have my M1 Mini hooked to a 48in LG OLED Tv and it is stunning. Tv is on an articulated wall mount so I have maximum flexibility to get the viewing perspective just right. Can’t recommend it more highly.
If I still did Autocad or was a Gamer there might be some downsides, but for my uses, Photography, writing, spreadsheets, and surfing the web . . . plus watching the occasional movie, it’s hard to beat.

Yes, I got the idea from my son, who has a 43-inch Samsung TV/monitor. He is a programmer, so it is extremely useful for him to be able to have four pages open all at the same time, with a good amount of desktop still visible to use. 43-inches was the best size for his purposes.

We did a lot of research to find the perfect Samsung TV/monitor that would be idea for use as a computer monitor. Not all televisions, even 4K televisions, have the specs to work really well with a computer.

LG OLED monitors, of course, are stunning. LG is the premier source for OLED monitors. LG and Samsung have sued the **** out of each other over stealing each other's OLED technology. LOL. My son has a home theater with a huge LG OLED monitor. I'd rather see a movie in his home theater than in a movie theater.

 

[RavingMac]

Costco had 48in LG OLED on sale before Christmas last year and I grabbed one. I think it was $300 off. LOTR trilogy is absolutely gorgeous on it!

 

[Slydude]

I was looking at getting a new TV about the time the LG OLEDs were just starting to appear. Unfortunately, those units were out of my budget. We ended up with one of their mid-level models (non-OLED) and it's great.

SWMBO would like me to get rid of my monitor and use the TV as a monitor. I don't think that will happen though for two reasons:
1. When I move the computer screen onto most TVs the text of man UI elements is too small. I've worn glasses since I was a kid and it has gotten a bit worse as I've gotten older.
2. I often have the TV on while watching/listening to a program while working at the computer. I think that would be dead awkward without a computer monitor attached.

 

[RavingMac]

I was looking at getting a new TV about the time the LG OLEDs were just starting to appear. Unfortunately, those units were out of my budget. We ended up with one of their mid-level models (non-OLED) and it's great.

SWMBO would like me to get rid of my monitor and use the TV as a monitor. I don't think that will happen though for two reasons:
1. When I move the computer screen onto most TVs the text of man UI elements is too small. I've worn glasses since I was a kid and it has gotten a bit worse as I've gotten older.
2. I often have the TV on while watching/listening to a program while working at the computer. I think that would be dead awkward without a computer monitor attached.

I have worn glasses since I was 5 and can barely count my fingers without them (a slight exaggeration).
A good 4K TV works quite well as a monitor, though getting the right balance of resolution so the Menus and drop downs are readable can be challenging. I used a 40in Samsung for several years, but ran in at 2560x1440 even though it was cable of full 4K.
Going up to the 48in let’s me run higher resolution while still being able to read the Menus.
Too bad we don’t live closer. I still have the 40in Samsung my LG OLED replaced. You would be more than welcome to it.

EDIT: to me, the “using the TV as a monitor” as distinct from my monitor is also a TV, doesn’t work. And that’s because of viewing distance. To function as a typical home entertainment device my 48in LG OLED would be 5 to 8 feet (or further) away to give a decent viewing angle for multiple people. In my setup I’m about 3 feet away from the screen, give or take a foot.

 

[Slydude]

My LG is a 55" model from 2018 capable of up to 4K. SWMBO was hoping I could have one window open part of the screen with YouTube TV and the other with whatever computer window I need open. She was hoping it would allow me to get rid of the computer monitor.

I haven't tried it but I just don't think a would like that setup.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

So I am waiting . . . . .. Just not patiently

You might enjoy this article:

Why the 15-inch MacBook Air will be Apple's perfect laptop

 

[RavingMac]

Thanks . . . I think.
Now I’m even more impatient

 

[ScaryFatKidGT]

Probably wont happen, I’d grab a 14” Pro, with the base M1 Pro chip they have like 14 hours of battery .

I think it would serve your wants/needs well.

 

[RavingMac]

Well, I got a 15in MBA last month on sale at Best Buy, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD. Wasn’t exactly what I would have specified if I ordered from Apple, but it was the closest config they had to what I wanted.
Even with my veteran discount the Apple Store version was ~$90 more, so I went for it. Have to say I am delighted! More than enough power and light as a feather (an exaggeration). It lives in a cradle next to my recliner now