Instead of pushing users upmarket, Apple created arguably the best laptop for most people at a relatively accessible price.
As the resident IT guy in my social bubble, I often get asked, «What laptop should I buy?». While my answer has always been Apple’s MacBook Air due to its trifecta of portability, performance, and price, and my «clients» have always been satisfied with the recommendation, I’ve recently been met with more rebuttal.
«That display is too small,» I’m often told. «The same laptop, but larger, would be perfect.» But that’s the problem.
For the longest time, Apple’s MacBook lineup was in a bit of disarray. Choosing the right model primarily boiled down to budget and display preference, but if you wanted a larger screen, you’d have to pay up for a Pro model, even if the extra power and ports were unnecessary. For most user applications, it’s overkill.
Some key omissions mean it’s not the laptop for me, but it’s easily my new «would recommend» option for everyone else.
The design of the new MacBook is sleek and modern, with elements like flat edges, the camera notch, and MagSafe charging that have trickled down from Apple’s higher-end laptops. What wasn’t carried over was the extra ports and slots for HDMI and SD cards.
Comparing the port selection between the 15-inch MacBook Air (left) and the 16-inch MacBook Pro (right).
I get it: This is a MacBook Air, not a MacBook Pro.
