Thanks to Facebook I was able to establish the fact that it is one year ago that I started to use my Macbook Air with the M2 processor, with 8GB of Memory, 256GB of hard drive storage, with built in Liquid Retina Display and a the size of that being 13.6 inches. The price I paid was approximately £1,200:00 with the later addition of the "magic mouse`'.
When I purchased this, I also purchased a book on the operating system which was called Ventura at the time of purchase, as I was used to using Windows from Microsoft and thought it was a completely different operating system and I needed to learn all about it. While the book did help and was worthwhile getting, I personally found the help from Apple was great and very clear and understandable once you were connected to the internet to get to the Apple site,
Returning to Macbook Air, it is very light weight and that is very noticeable compared to other lap tops that are available. The design of the keyboard, while slightly different to a Window Laptop is very, very good and within days I found that I really didn't have to look to find the keys that I wanted to use. The touch pad which is in the centre of the laptop below the keyboard, I really like for its size and I found it easy to use and very responsive. I do not use it that much at all as I like using a mouse. I like the power connection which comes supplied along with a wall plug as it just clicks into place and disconnects easily. The Macbook uses USB C (I think) which means if you have an older type of USB connector you will have to purchase and adaptor, just be aware not to buy a cheap one as my personal experience it they aren't that good. The adaptor I I purchased also has an SD and micro SD slot which are good to have as the Macbook doesn't have any of these slots. There is a headphone port, it is not something I have had to use so I can not comment on that. The display is just great and you do not realise that you may have a smaller screen than perhaps you were used to having before. If you use it just on the battery, then you should get a bout 8 hours before you need to plug in again, depending upon what applications you are using. I have only once used this on battery and that was what I was able to get as I was just writing a document at the time and had no other applications opened.
Connecting to the internet was very easy, all I had to do was to enter my password etc for my connection and it was done and I have never had a problem with it since and have not had to change anything. Connecting to my printer was very easy, all I had to do was turn it for it be found, which I didn't know until I wanted to print out a letter and thought I might have to set it as I had done previously on Windows. Bluetooth connections are equally as easy to do, with a none Apple mobile phone, you just need to have both bluetooth connections open and accept the connection between the two. I did purchase another mouse before I purchased the "magic mouse" and while that connected via bluetooth without problems it was not as easy as the "magic mouse" which the Macbook recognised and connected to without me having to do anything.
When considering updates, my experience is that it best to set these to automatic so as you don't miss any that might be important. There is an option for you to install over night or right away, I have always done them right away and the most time that it took them to complete was approximately half an hour. I have never had any problems with them at all.
Solving problems is very easy, unlike the Windows experiences I have had in the past. It is just a few steps during the start up and it these are soon resolved.
If like me you had things on your Windows system that you wanted/needed, this is easy to do via file transfer which tells you what to do. I have never had any problems with the applications I used on Windows getting them to work on either Ventura, or Sonoma. I understand that some might have had, it has not been my experience.
Log on is again easy as it just requires your password and then you are ready to go. I have liked the ability to use biometrics for other passwords I use because it is easier than having to remember them all. I also like the fact that while the passwords are used mainly on the internet, they are not stored there!
CONCLUSION
My personal experience of using the Macbook Air for over the year now daily, has been without hesitation very positive. I would go as far to say that it has been the very best laptop or desktop computer that I have ever used. I really have not had to change anything or remove things that I don't use or need unlike the experiences I have had in the past. The hardware really is "user-friendly" and has been thought about making it that way by Apple and that really is to their credit.
Hardware is only part of the whole and it is the operating system that completes it. Once you get used to where things are and it makes sense where they are and they don't get in your way it is a so easy and and I stress this fact easy to use and to navigate around that you don't really have to thing about. This is the only time I have not wanted or needed to make any changes in the way things are and I have kept with the browser (Safari) because it just works.
VALUE FOR MONEY
Would I state that this was value for money? Well depending upon how you quantify value, if it is in terms of you could pay less for a Windows laptop and perhaps get better specifications for the price paid then the answer might be different. However, if you quantify value with "user- experience" then it is excellent value for money and the conclusion must be, do we just want a thing that just works and have to use or do we want something that we love to use. I would suggest the latter.
My year of using the Macbook Air M2 has been great and for me it has been the best hardware and software combination I have had in nearly 30 years of using things.
Would I recommend it Macbooks to others, yes and everyone I know who has had one would do so as well.
