Download today’s show here! 
MC20180816.mp3 [40.5 01:16:16 64kbps]
A podcast about all things Macintosh. For Mac geeks, by Mac geeks. Episode 668. On this episode I’m joined by my good friend Allison Sheridan from the Nosillacast Podcast. In this weeks news we look at: Group FaceTime out, for now. Is Apple gonna make a car? Apple Pencil support for 2018 iPhones. AirPods Wireless Charging Case. AirPower Mat. New MacBooks and MacBook Airs. Then Allison and I talk about Siri, HomePods, and Home Automation. Allison’s mind mapping obsession and some of her productivity tips. Can an AC battery charge your MacBook Pro? How automation and help most of us.
Special thanks to our sponsor:
Jamf – Jamf Now
Shownotes in: HTML
Subscribe to the Podcast Feed or Get the MP3 or Enhanced AAC
Did Allison really say buying a MacBook Air is “idiotic”? I have a 2017 Air that I purchased on sale for a little over $800 to replace my 2012 MacBook Pro whose battery was failing and love it. When Apple can offer me a 13″ MacBook with a sub $1,000 price point with a keyboard and battery life equal to my Air, then perhaps I’ll “move on”. Not everyone requires or can afford a pro level $1,300 laptop. The vast majority of us regular consumers don’t edit video or audio and are quite happy to have a machine that allows us to edit text, consume media and browse the web while enjoying the benefits of macOS and not stretching our wallets. Yes, the baseline MacBook exists but it’s also a bit underpowered compared even to the Air’s aging Broadwell chipset and costs a good bit more for a smaller screen, shorter battery life and fewer ports. My Air runs High Sierra quite smoothly and I expect it will continue to do so on future versions for quite some time given Apple’s track record of support longevity. I guess I just don’t understand what seems to be a widespread attitude of dismissal toward this venerable old machine among the majority of Apple pundits and podcasters. As far as I’m concerned it still occupies a valuable place in the world at this point in time, even with it’s older architecture. I do sincerely hope that Apple soon updates or replaces the line but at the same time I don’t at all feel as though I’ve been deprived of anything by purchasing an Air as it suits my needs perfectly. I have zero regrets. Thanks for your show and keep up the great work!