Apple M1 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air - 3 Things To Know

On 10 November 2020, Apple announced three new product updates... The MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro, and the Mac Mini.

The Mac mini is a desktop Apple computer without a screen, keyboard and mouse. So let's talk about laptops.

Here are the three things I know about the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro... That will help me decide whether I should get one as a YouTube vlogger.

Thing #1 - The M1 Processor

• The two new MacBooks are now powered by Apple's processor or CPU. 
• They call it the M1 which is more than just a CPU but also includes the GPU and the RAM. 
• Currently, there is only one processor, so I don't have to worry about choosing Intel i7 or i5. 

Thing #2 - The MacOS Big Sur

• The MacBook can now wake up instantly from sleep just like our iPhones and iPads...which I don't understand because that's how my MacBook Pro 2013 works.
• With the new M1 processor and the new Mac OS Big Sur, the MacBook can now run apps from iPhone and iPad. Yay, I can now play PUBG mobile on the Mac... Oh, wait there is no touch screen.
• The M1 processor is so powerful that I can edit full-resolution 4K videos without any drop frames with Final Cut Pro X on the MacBook Air... oh wait does that mean I don't need the MacBook Pro anymore.

Thing #3 - MacBook Air versus MacBook Pro

• The new 13-in MacBook Air is lightweight, has long battery life, and is quiet because it does not have a fan... Which is exactly the kind of laptop I am looking for.
• The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is more powerful. It can edit 8K full resolution videos on DaVinci Resolve without drop frames... Which I don't need because I don't edit 8K videos nor do I have a camera that shoots 8K.
• The new 13-inch MacBook Pro also has the touch bar and a studio-quality microphone... Which I won't use if I want to record studio-quality sounds because it records the fan noise and even if I use noise reduction, My voice will sound bad.

The choice is clear. 

If I'm a pro, making videos for clients, I will get the MacBook Pro or even wait for the bigger version.

If I'm a YouTube vlogger, making my videos from anywhere and everywhere I travel, then it's time to buy the new MacBook Air.

One more thing...

The new MacBook s now come with improved webcams with features like noise reduction, better automatic white balance, face detection, and higher dynamic range... But wait... is it as good as your iPhone? No, the resolution is still at the low 720p.

Question: Are you a Mac or Windows user?

- Adrian's Journal

Watch my live video... https://www.facebook.com/VideoLane/videos/366080677995109/

PS:

Watch the Apple "One More Thing"  event on 10 November 2020.

https://youtu.be/5AwdkGKmZ0I

Here are my notes:

1. Apple created a new processor for their Macbook laptops - it's called the M1 and it combines the CPU, GPU and RAM into one. A little bit like the Intel chip (which they are replacing) with integrated graphics processor but with the RAM built-in. Is it powerful enough to edit my videos smoothly? I ask because I know the Intel integrated GPU is not ideal.
2. The Mac with Big Sur MacOS and M1 chip can now wake up instantly from sleep just like the iPhone and iPad - actually, I've been doing that with my MacBook Pro without any issues by just closing the lid.
3. We can now run iPhone apps on the Mac. Now I imagine myself playing PUBG mobile on the MacBook. Oh, wait there is no touch screen.
4. Macbook Air with M1 - The most popular 13-in Apple laptop with high-resolution retina display. For the first time, the MacBook Air can edit 4K videos in ProRes resolution without dropped frames with the Final Cut Pro X. So do I still need a MacBook Pro to edit my videos?
5. The MacBook Air webcam - it now has noise reduction, better auto white balance, and higher dynamic range. What's the resolution? Is it 1080p? Can it match the iPhone?
6. No fan in the MacBook air - that means now I can record videos with the built-in microphone without capturing the fan noise which is what annoys me on my current MacBook Pro.
7. The new MacBook Air starts at US$999.
8. The Mac Mini with Mac OS Big Sur and M1 - it's a tiny desktop computer without a monitor, without a keyboard and a mouse. I don't understand this one because they say it is as powerful as a desktop PC at a price starting from US$699... But what about the Mac Pro?
9. The new 13-in MacBook Pro with M1 - if the new MacBook Air with M1 is now so powerful, what's so great about the new MacBook Pro? It can playback 8k full resolution video in DaVinci Resolve without any dropped frame. Cool, but I'm not doing 8K videos yet. It has studio-quality microphones. Oh oh, this is exactly what I need which may not exist on the MacBook Air. The price starts at $1,299.
10. The three new Macs are available for purchase from today.
11. macOS Big Sur is available from 12 November 2020.

- Adrian's Journal