Old is new again

Two weeks ago I bought a computer for the first time since 2016. This is a device that I dreamed about since 2011, and it wasn’t until now that I pulled the trigger.

What is it?

An 11.6” MacBook Air from 2015. The most basic model, with a dual-core Intel processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD drive. 

But, why?

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that this decision was driven a bit by nostalgia. 

Back when I was digital teching and traveling non-stop, I always wanted to bring a personal computer with me, but never could spare the space to bring on my chunky MacBook Pro while working for other photographers. I had eyed the 11” MacBook Air forever, but could never justify the cost. Finally using that luxury computer all these years later is pretty cool.

But there is more to it than that.

I’ve sung the praises of the iPad Pro for years now. It still has more than enough horsepower for my usual photo and audio editing workflows, and the touch interface remains perfect for tools like Ferrite, Lightroom, and Affinity Photo. But even though the Magic Keyboard is a shockingly good typing experience, the keys are a bit cramped for prolonged use. Then there is iPadOS. For my writing use case, editing remains a chore, rapidly copying and pasting text from web browsers and writing apps is not nearly as seamless as it could be. 

Enter the diminutive Air. With a full-sized and genuinely good keyboard, the form factor is perfect for extended writing sessions.

The aged processor, in my case, is as much a feature as a drawback. I don’t have the temptation to open a dozen browser windows, and simply focus on the task at hand. 4 gigabytes of RAM proves enough for a handful of writing apps, email, and some tunes playing, but little else. 

The latest and greatest MacBooks were tempting. The new M1 chip Macs look amazing. But, those MacBooks all share the same fundamental flaw as the 6-year-old Air. They only natively support a single external display. Maybe this will change with the next chip, but the only reason for me to invest in a splashy new laptop would be if I could use it as a full desktop replacement, and I rely on a two-monitor setup for both my day job and while doing any serious multimedia work. 

Considering that, I looked around for the best value for my wants.: A great keyboard, the ability to run Apple-specific applications, and easy cross-device syncing. I preferably wanted to run the latest OS, Big Sur, to increase the chances that Apple and app-specific syncing across devices would be available for at least a few more years. 

This edition of the MacBook Air checked all of the boxes. Sure, I wish the battery life was a little bit better (still hitting about six hours with my writing and email use case) and a crisper screen would be nice. A small part of me misses the fancy new compatibility features, like Universal Control and Sidecar, but honestly, they weren’t need-to-haves.

Better still, I was able to pick up a refurbished computer for $200 in good condition. Considering the current trade-in value for this model at Apple is $190, the risk feels limited, even if I decide to go in a different direction in the future. 

As of now, I’m thrilled with the Air, and it fits my current needs incredibly well. If I do succumb to an Apple Silicon computer, I would go for the Mac Mini. As it is the only current model with support for two external displays, and the combined cost of both it and the refurbished Air would be the same as getting the lowest specced M1 MacBook Air new. 

Influenced: Roav Sunglasses in Review

Like many, I’m a sucker for targeted advertisements. This is the first (and possibly only) in a series of online item reviews that were influenced directly by online marketing channels. Each item was purchased without prior experience or exposure.

Channel: Instagram Ad

Product: Roav Sunglasses

Overall Satisfaction: 5/5

I lose sunglasses. For years my primary source of eye protection were knockoff-style Wayfarers either picked up at a convenience store or as swag from a tech office I photographed. One of two things happened to each of these glasses.

1. They didn’t fit and were discarded in favor of squinting in the sun.

2. They were comfortable enough but broke or were lost near immediately.

When I began to adopt a more buy-it-for-life mentality, I settled on a pair of the ubiquitous Ray-Ban Wayfarers. However, from experience I knew that if they weren’t small enough to fit in my pocket, I would absolutely leave them behind on a photo set or in a restaurant. So these weren’t any Ray-Bans, but a foldable pair that sat snug in a 2x2x1.5” case. I thought these were the endgame. They looked okay, and if I ditched the carry case I could drop them into my pant’s pocket when walking around town. Then Instagram prodded me with Roav’s targeted ads. These frames purported to collapse no thicker or wider than a pair of credit cards. Not only were they advertised as pocketable, but durable and fashionable as well. The tagline at the time was “Most Packable Sunglasses Ever.” I was sold.

My pair of Roav Baltos have traveled with me daily since the end of March, and have yet to fail. The all-stainless construction is wafer-thin, which raised durability concerns. But they have held up well for six months. The Baltos fit my face better than the folding Wayfarers, and because they are so compact, they actually go with me everywhere. The included rubberized case ensures they are not scratched in my pocket, and I wear them every day I have contacts in.

That said, a few things to note. By design the Roavs don’t have the thicker frame construction of traditional sunglasses, so they do have a unique look that may not appeal to all. More important, this design doesn’t allow the glasses to wrap around your face, so light can still slip through the tops and the sides of the frame. These are simply minor caveats from me, but could be a deal-breaker for someone else.

In this instance, Instagram’s targeted campaign definitely converted me, and this item has added small but consistent value to my life.