I bought a 16" Pro thinking I would need it and realized I never do anything other than simple photo/video editing, occasional VM usage and browsing the internet. Returned it and used the $1000~ savings to book a vacation to the Caribbean instead.

I had fallen for the future proof fallacy when even than, the savings could have been used to buy another new MacBook Air in 3-4 years which would be newer than whatever ‘future proofing’ I can do now. I would rather buy a new and updated MacBook Air every 4 years with the savings than budget for a Pro model every 7-9 years.

I noticed no difference between using the Pro and Air at all, at least not worth $1000. This sub convinced me that the Air is what 99% of the population would need and is very powerful as is!

  • itsnamgyu@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    And the air will be much easier for you to carry on your vacation (if you’re planning on bringing it)

  • nano_705@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Since you got the Air, have you done any video editing? Recently I was about to get a Pro as well but decided to go with the Air because the Pro was out of stock where I live and I didn’t wanna wait. Plus, I think can save a bit of money because I may not be able to fully use it.

    • Fortis_Animus@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      How is that “super random” when he talks about the vacation in the post? Super random would be asking him about his dick size.

  • saywmc@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I think about this a lot. And I’ll still be thinking about it till I die.

  • Ralph_Twinbees@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    There is a difference between future-proofing for 200 dollars and an upgrade creep for 1000 dollars (no judgment here).

    I hope you’ll enjoy your vacation!

  • ndy007@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Good decision. If i have the budget, MBA M2 15 for work and iPad Pro for media consumption.

  • fledermaus9871@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I think about this whenever I’m buying a new piece of tech–whether to spend more to future proof and have it last or to spend less and shorten the life span. I’ve generally opted for the latter.

    • deefop@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Because most people conflate “buying a more powerful computer” with “future proofing”, which is wrong.

      I future proofed when I built my desktop in 2017. We knew am4 was going to be supported for several more cpu architectural generations, so I knew that I’d have an easy upgrade path ahead of me, for cheap. And I did. I went from a 1600x to a 5700x, and from an rx 480 to an rx 6700xt. I fully intend to get another couple years out of this pc, and it’s looking like I’ll be able to get possibly a full decade of useful life out of it. That’s future proofing, and pretty cost effective.

      On the other hand, had I bought the best available at the time, which was Intel 8th Gen coffee lake, it would feel so much more outdated and I’d already be in need of another upgrade.

      In any case, I’m not sure there’s any such thing as a future proofed MacBook. Aren’t they pretty limited in terms of upgrade options?

      They last a long time because the build quality has been excellent, historically, and also because 99% of the user base never runs an application heavier than a web browser. But then, my decade old windows laptop is also fine for web browsing.

  • patch1103@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Dang it, now you’ve got me seriously reconsidering my 16-inch MBP purchase. It arrives on Wednesday. I’ll be deliberating this until then.

    • chris_gilluly@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Nahh the 16-inch MacBook Pro is an amazing machine, the Air is a thermal throttling mess and the Pro is just way better in every single way.

  • rombopterix@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Like someone said in an exactly same post two weeks ago, why dont u return the macbook too and buy a window laptop and book another flight? 😂

  • SpaceBoJangles@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I think the main thing is that you don’t need the RAM and the screen. Those MacBooks are for people who run serious video editing setups (as you admitted to realizing) and who would see a benefit from color correction on the display with HDR content. I assume you do none of this, so good on you for saving the money and enjoying it in a way that makes you feel better.

  • argothewise@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    This is what a realistic post by a regular average consumer looks like rather than redditors like us who can be out of touch with the general public. 99% of people with an M2 Air outside of Reddit love their laptop and leave glowing reviews about it and are satisfied with it.

    • MountainWonder5081@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Depends where u buy it from. Most retailers give u a certain amount of days to return full refund back even after opened. Like Best Buy, Amazon, etc. Ebay is a different story.

  • Top-Garlic-3856@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    i totally agree with you… for basic usage base model 15 macbook air is fine without paying much more.