MacBook Air with M5 • Hacker News Board

Re: MacBook Air with M5

#61

Post by TingPing » Tue, Mar 03, 2026, 3:54 PM UTC

saghm wrote: post #37

honeycrispy wrote: post #19

I wish they would provide Linux support. I can't stand OSX.

It seems like there are a decent number of people finding Asahi stable enough for regular use: https://www.reddit.com/r/AsahiLinux/comments/1quko4w/how_via... I imagine there are still some rough edges (and it seems like distro choices are probably a bit lacking at the moment if you prefer something outside of a few specific mainstream options) but given how niche ARM support was before the first M1 machines, the pro…

Asahi is great on earlier models but it will certainly not support the M5 before its already multiple models behind.

Re: MacBook Air with M5

#62

Post by zeusly » Tue, Mar 03, 2026, 3:55 PM UTC

thesimp wrote: post #56

In NL I can buy a base Macbook Air with 16G memory and 512G SSD voor 1199,- inc tax. I just looked up my M1 receipt: in 2020 I bought a Macbook Air M1 with 16G memory and 512G SSD for 1399,- inc tax. I did not expect the price for a base machine to go down in 2026.

That was not a base machine in 2020

Re: MacBook Air with M5

#63

Post by csomar » Tue, Mar 03, 2026, 3:56 PM UTC

julianozen wrote: post #26

css_apologist wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

why?

I just do a lot of remote work and I rely on my phone which drains its battery and I’d love if I could just open my laptop and work

Buy one of those data hotspots? Then you don’t drain your phone or your laptop; plus can connect your laptop and phone to it.

Re: MacBook Air with M5

#64

Post by zeusly » Tue, Mar 03, 2026, 3:56 PM UTC

donkyrf wrote: post #41

mg wrote: post #14

The one thing that interests me most when it comes to laptops these days is weight. So I jumped right into the tech specs section and looked it up. Since this is the "Air" laptop of the company that is popular for thin and lightweight devices, my hopes were high. But ... The 13 inch version is heavier than a ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Which has a 14 inch screen and can run Linux.

If anybody else wondered about figures: 13.6 inch 2560x1664 screen, 1.23kg (13" Mac) 14.0 inch 1920x1200 screen, 0.98kg (14" Thinkpad)

It comes with a 2880 x 1800 OLED

Re: MacBook Air with M5

#65

Post by omnimus » Tue, Mar 03, 2026, 3:57 PM UTC

thesimp wrote: post #56

In NL I can buy a base Macbook Air with 16G memory and 512G SSD voor 1199,- inc tax. I just looked up my M1 receipt: in 2020 I bought a Macbook Air M1 with 16G memory and 512G SSD for 1399,- inc tax. I did not expect the price for a base machine to go down in 2026.

The base M1 was 256gb 8gb ram for 999usd. Thats why yours was 1399eur.

Each Air generations gets slight upgrade and also now got 100usd price increase.

Re: MacBook Air with M5

#66

Post by zeusly » Tue, Mar 03, 2026, 3:57 PM UTC

open-sesame wrote: post #48

mg wrote: post #14

The one thing that interests me most when it comes to laptops these days is weight. So I jumped right into the tech specs section and looked it up. Since this is the "Air" laptop of the company that is popular for thin and lightweight devices, my hopes were high. But ... The 13 inch version is heavier than a ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Which has a 14 inch screen and can run Linux.

But then you'd have to have a plasticky thinkpad with half the screen resolution...

It comes with a 2880 x 1800 120Hz OLED

Re: MacBook Air with M5

#67

Post by bengale » Tue, Mar 03, 2026, 3:58 PM UTC

The base Macbook Air continues to be an absolutely great deal.

Re: MacBook Air with M5

#68

Post by gozzoo » Tue, Mar 03, 2026, 4:00 PM UTC

actionfromafar wrote: post #46

gozzoo wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has always been like this. Apple's signature for their laptops is their aluminium body and people seem to like it.

I like the touchpad. Is there any competitor which is as good and exact? I noticed in Linux, it's not as exact.

I have Lenovo laptop with quite mediocre touchpad. I got used to use gestures instead of clicking and it works great for me.

Re: MacBook Air with M5

#69

Post by joe_mamba » Tue, Mar 03, 2026, 4:01 PM UTC

tiffanyh wrote: post #59

I'm not sure why the negative tone in this thread. The MBA is an amazing value, and appears to have only gotten slightly cheaper . This is a solid product, that continually receives incremental improvements and delivered at a lower price point (when spec'd out).

>I'm not sure why the negative tone in this thread.

Which negative tone? 90% the mainline comments I see are positive.

Re: MacBook Air with M5

#70

Post by elxr » Tue, Mar 03, 2026, 4:02 PM UTC

open-sesame wrote: post #48

mg wrote: post #14

The one thing that interests me most when it comes to laptops these days is weight. So I jumped right into the tech specs section and looked it up. Since this is the "Air" laptop of the company that is popular for thin and lightweight devices, my hopes were high. But ... The 13 inch version is heavier than a ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Which has a 14 inch screen and can run Linux.

But then you'd have to have a plasticky thinkpad with half the screen resolution...

[flagged]