The M1 MacBook Air is a fantastic computer at an excellent price when you consider its power and battery life. Apple tends to provide major OS releases to its computers for 6-7 years. Considering that the M1 MacBook Air has been out for 3 years now and is still for sale, what are the implications for someone if they bought an M1 MacBook Air today? Will they only get 3-4 years of major OS releases?
If that’s the case, is there an argument to be made to just pay a little extra and get the M2 MacBook Air so as to get a couple more years of major IS releases?
I think the conundrum on my mind is the OS updates. Are they necessary? Not really as long as I still receive security updates. Having said that, my thinking is being shaped by my experience with my old MacBook Pro. I kept it for 11 years, and at times it was frustrating to not receive updates. If I kept a new M1 MBA for 7 to 8 years, I would be in a similar boat: 4-5 years of not receiving major OS releases.
Part of the reason I’m dwelling on the major OS releases is because of the interoperability of iPhones and iPads with Macs. I’ve come to appreciate that and, without major OS releases, that benefit gets eroded. Of course, there are many other factors other than that to consider, hence this overall question about value of an M1 MBA!