For example, the iOS video editor LumaFusion works well and costs a fraction of FCP X. The iOS apps that are available on macOS work pretty well. The not-so-good newsĭespite all the goodness of the MacBook Air, there are issues. I'll have another money-saving tip in a future piece.
Final cut pro x mac mini 2012 pro#
Considering that the 13" MacBook Pro performance is essentially identical, and its other specs - 20 percent brighter screen, slightly better mics, 12 percent faster graphics, another couple of hours of battery life (with 4 oz (110gm) more weight), the Touch Bar - it isn't worth the 20- 30-percent cost uplift to me. If you're using the MacBook Air to make money, then splurge on 16GB.Įveryone else, save your pennies. I interpret this casual test to mean that for other than all-day, heads-down Pro users, 8GB of RAM is plenty. I killed a few unused apps and all was good. Safari and Firefox each with a dozen tabs open, Mail, Messages, Preview, Calendar, one or more Notes apps, Scrivener, and Final Cut Pro, and utilities including Copyclip, iStat Menus, Magnet, Default Folder, Typinator, Thesaurus, and a VPN.Īlso: Best iPad: Which model should you buy?Īfter several hours of adding load I started seeing beach balls. One day I wanted to see what it would take to overwhelm 8GB of RAM, so I left every app, window, and tab open all day. However, the excellent performance of the 4GB iPad Pro gave me the confidence to buy the 8GB MacBook Air. No regrets with 8GB memoryĪpple charges an exorbitant $25/GB for RAM.
I do miss Face ID, but thanks to the Air's Touch ID and Watch unlocking, not much. None of these are deal killers for me, but they might be for you.
No snapping off the tablet from the keyboard. Excellent I/O options with Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4.īut depending on how you prefer to work there are some real deficits. Performance and battery life was great, no fan noise, and it ran almost every app I needed.īut the MacBook Air does all that and more, in a lighter and less costly package. I had a 64GB 12.9" iPad Pro with Magic keyboard as my mobile workstation for over a year. If you spend hours daily banging away at a keyboard, you'll want to consider these favored models. Most ZDNet writers prefer this notebook above all others Before you buy the new M1 MacBook Air, here's what I would have wanted to know. The price/performance of Apple Silicon is excellent, but it's not all unicorns and rainbows. M1 MacBook Air review: After a year of use, here's what I wish I'd known If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. ZDNet's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
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