[_5vzs]

tldr; I got a Macbook Pro M1 for $975 in mint-condition at a Best Buy and already put the return label on it.

While Geekbench showed great results, actual usage of the machine and headaches ensued were contrasting.

To put it bluntly - M1 machines are currently unstable. There are numerous Bluetooth issues [1], formatting issues [2], Wifi 6 issues [3], VPN issues [4], firewall issues [5], and shocking security issues in general with Big Sur and Apple's silicon [6].

I'm a power user and this is way too experimental for actual use. At the least get the 16 GB variant if you want to get anything done and not experience freeze/lockup (but for that much money you're better off with Librem 14" or System76 w/AMD Threadripper).

[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/kpu2hy/mouse_lag_when_...

[2]: https://mrmacintosh.com/reinstalling-big-sur-on-apple-silico...

[3]: https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/jy3yc7/is_anyone_else_...

[4]: https://mullvad.net/en/blog/2020/11/16/big-no-big-sur-mullva...

[5]: https://github.com/objective-see/LuLu/issues/208

[6]: https://sneak.berlin/20201204/on-trusting-macintosh-hardware...

[masswerk]

To be fair, none of these issues seem to be related to the M1 hardware, but to some issues and choices made with Big Sur.

[wayneftw]

Yeah, that's the OS that you have to run on the laptop in question is it not?

So to actually be fair any criticism of the OS certainly applies to "the laptop", which would be a brick without the OS.

[DennisAleynikov]

its very frustrating trying to battle the people who

a) have never used an arm laptop b) think legacy apps run well c) think benchmarks are cool

its beyond impossible to dissuade someone from making the mistake of buying apples first gen chromebook without properly researching what they did to neuter macos to accomplish this.

basically every other reply here is too busy not realising A and singing praises to C

[masswerk]

Actually, I do own a MBA/M1 and it is certainly not similar to a Chromebook. (It just happened that the energy management of my old MBA became bricked by an OS update, so I had to jump the train for a first generation device, against all considerations.) Hardware-wise, I'm positively surprised.

Regarding the real issue, Big Sur, it's in its infancy and you can't fall back to OSX, which might be the real show stopper for some. Personally, I've been using Apple systems for 30 years now, and I've always been disappointed by every major revision since Snow Leopard. However, Big Sur, against all odds, isn't actually as bad as I expected (being the zoo of micro modes that it is). Some stability and maintenance issues are to be expected from a brand new OS, and Big Sur isn't the Black Swan invalidating the general advice to never aspire to early adopting an entirely new platform, if your primary goal is stability. I would certainly advice against an upgrade at this early stage for a production machine, if you can do with a previous revision. That said, my personal verdict on Big Sur is still pending. Let's see…

And, I can't see where any of the changes, which are related to the issues listed above, are related to the M1 architecture. Rather, you may point at the T2, which isn't exactly new, but has been gaining some in importance, and the general perspective on OS security, as exhibited by Big Sur.

PS: Some real criticism of the hardware (however, not related to the M1 architecture): Lack of ports (my old MBA had USB on either side and a card reader in about the same form factor!), no MagSafe, somewhat hollow audio (probably related to repurposing the old shell, now using space formerly occupied by fans as overly bass heavy resonance chambers.) An overall more flimsy feel of the shell and keyboard (again, as compared to an older predecessor.)

PPS: This is my 3rd ARM device and it certainly is a game changer.

[nojito]

I find comments like these more telling of flawed workflows and not of the device.

For comparison's sake, we just rolled out ~100 of these in my department and the reception has been nothing less than stellar.

[niftylettuce]

Did you view the links? There are core problems with Bluetooth, Wifi 6, and security of the device (not workflow).

I don't think my workflow is flawed, here's what it produces: https://github.com/niftylettuce

[nojito]

But who's correct?

My sample size of 100+ or yours of 1?

[wayneftw]

But do you have any evidence?

The other guy provided evidence.

[bgorman]

I have a MacBook Air 2020 (Intel).

After upgrading to Big Sur, I have experiences a general degradation of performance, graphical glitches and serious Bluetooth problems (failing to connect to Apple mouse and keyboard).

The fundamental problem seems to be that with proprietary consumer hardware/software- only the initial version is reviewed and after that the vendor can push software full of bugs with no consequences.

[thejellypen]

I returned mine too

[_huayra_]

"You're just using it wrong" /s

https://www.wired.com/2010/06/iphone-4-holding-it-wrong/