[twobitshifter]

That’s all well and good, but you didn’t consider the processor performance, which is where the FW13 falls behind.

fw13 - https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/15773121

MacBook Air - https://browser.geekbench.com/macs/macbook-air-15-inch-2025

There is a gulf between the two and that’s what is sacrificed on the FW13. I m not saying someone can’t decide to prioritize modularity, storage, and repairability over performance, but there is a ‘price’ to making that choice.

[makeitdouble]

This is a more comparable benchmark (it's the current FW13): https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/15769561

The MBA has about a 20% better score on the single thread perf benchmark. It's better, but is it that significant ?

Especially as it has no active cooling. By the time thermal throttling kicks in the FW13 will keep chugging along. The MBP solves that issue, albeit at significantly higher price range.

Then again, the amount of RAM the FW13 can take will also help in many cases.

[dangus]

Right, I was going to bring up real world over geekbench.

For example, in the real world, you’ve gotta run most PC games using CrossOver on Mac with significant performance implications or have them not work at all, where modern Linux/x86 is nearly fully PC game compatible, and the AMD integrated graphics are much more game-optimized than Apple’s.

The arbitrary spec limits on Apple systems also get in your way. Want 4TB of storage? Want more than 32GB of RAM? You have to upgrade to a MacBook Pro even if you don’t want all the other features and expense of the Pro model.

Is all you want a USB-C port on the right side or an SD card reader? Pony up the extra $600 for the 14” MacBook Pro.

[dangus]

A Dodge Neon SRT4 is faster than a lot of BMWs but it doesn’t make it a better car to live with.

This is Apple’s price anchor in action. The base price is essentially not the real price. Anyone who can use the capability of their chips to their fullest will need more RAM and storage. Even casual users will find 256GB tight sometimes. Goodbye, “Optimize storage.”

In practical use, there really isn’t anything my system can’t do that a MacBook Air can besides battery stamina. Since moving to Linux/x86 gaming has become way easier (goodbye CrossOver). Programming and containerization is way better on Linux, and I finally have the RAM for it.

I acknowledge Apple’s lead in their chips but that’s only one component of the experience, and it’s not so far ahead that it’s a major detriment to choose something else.

[coldpie]

I don't want to use macOS. (And no, I'm not going to tinker with a brand new Linux port on unsupported hardware.)