My Problem with the M1
By: Paul Alvarez
Tags: Technology, Apple, Mac, Gadgets, Windows 10

My Problem with the M1

It feels familiar to deciding on a Mac verus iPad.

Update: If you do need Windows running on a Mac, this problem is still true. As explained in my review of the MacBook Air I found a solution to remote into my Windows machine at work without needing Windows at all, so my specific problem is no more. The M1 (and iPad) just got that much better for me.

After Apple’s announcement I was heart-set on purchasing a MacBook Air, that is the MacBook Air with the Intel processor. Costco has a sale on an Intel i5 version, with 8 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD, and I decided this was the perfect machine for me.

Not only was it on sale but I already came to the conclusion, based off me starting from scratch and rethinking my setup, that the MacBook Air would be the computer for me going forward.

I will give a more in-depth of why I am choosing the MacBook Air in its own review but the problem I am facing now is if I should actually go with the M1 version of the MacBook Air and not the Intel.

The reason you would choose Intel is because of the ability to run Windows, either through Bootcamp or Parallels, on a Mac. Now with the M1, it may be possible to run an app like Parallels that runs an ARM version of Windows 10 in the future, but who knows when that will happen.

The question for me was: is running Windows 10 on my Mac really that important?

My work provides a Windows 10 laptop for me to use while at home or out of town if I need to get work done remotely. When I am on vacation or traveling for work, though, only having to carry one machine around with me is preferred. So if I can just take my personal machine and use it for work when I need, is ideal.

Having the ability to remote into work from my personal machine is a bonus, and have loved that possibility on Macs since I got my first MacBook. With the M1 currently not having the ability to run Windows 10, I figured I should snap up an Intel version of the MacBook Air while I can, until I watched and listened to all the reviews of the M1.

The fact that these machines are completely silent makes me remember the 2015 MacBook, with the single USB-C port, and how much I loved that machine. That MacBook may be coming back but regardless the fact that the new MacBook Air has this is a pretty sweet upgrade.

Then with everyone talking about the insane performance and superb battery life I started to question my choice in going with Intel. Also, as someone who is picky about my display, the better P3 Wide Color Gamut on the MacBook Air also intrigued me.

So, should I go with the future of MacBooks and get something that will provide the convenience of more power and battery life for the future? Or do I stick with something that I know and will provide me the ability to remote into work when I need — allowing me to have a more minimal carry while traveling?

This whole situation sounds exactly like my decision on choosing between the iPad Pro and Mac. Whether it is the iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air when trying to decide between an iPad and one of Apple’s macOS machines there are sacrifices that you have to make and feel that is resurfacing between the M1 MacBook Air and Intel MacBook Air.

The main reason why it was difficult for me to go iPad Pro-only was losing macOS and the ability to run Windows if I needed. So, when traveling, it required me to take both my work laptop and iPad if I wanted my personal machine with me.

Now, with COVID and thinking this through more, I am not only not traveling at all but the only reason why I like to use a MacBook to remote into work is because I hate my work laptop. It is not like I get that much of a better experience working from my MacBook, work is work.

So, the whole reason for me to get an Intel Mac is starting to not be as important anymore. Getting a little more philosophical about this situation, I really should be keeping work and personal hobbies separate. Having separate machines for this should be seen as a plus not a negative.

Intel MacBook Air

Since writing this post on my Intel MacBook Air, the fans have not come once. When setting up the MacBook Air and running Chrome for a couple of hours though, I thought that the computer might take off. Not having to worry about that but have even more performance just seems magical, and it why I think the M1 is the direction I will go.

Going with the M1 will provide a computer that is future proof. Not only is it going to work for me for years but I will also feel like I am living in the future. I am sure Windows 10 will come eventually, Parallels has already said the new version for M1 is in development, and not being able to work from the MacBook Air is not the end of the world.

Does it feel like I am choosing an iPad over a Mac? Kind of. Especially since I will also be able to use many iOS and iPadOS apps on the MacBook Air with the M1 chip.

With no fan, double the battery life, and who knows how much more performance, choosing the M1 over the Intel just makes sense financially and practically since I am planning on using this laptop as my main machine for a long time. I am looking forward to being a part of the future and can’t wait to see if it lives up to all the hype.