My First 24 Hours with the MacBook Air M1 (2020)

This morning, as I sip my coffee and glance at the sleek, silent machine on my desk, I’m still processing how I ended up here. For years, I’ve been a dedicated PC user—relying on machines that were powerful, adaptable, and familiar. Macs? I dismissed them as overpriced status symbols for the Apple faithful. Yet here I am, typing away on a MacBook Air. And surprisingly… I’m not hating it.

The Reluctant Switch: A Client's Unusual Request

The story of how I ended up with this MacBook Air is an interesting one. I’ve been using PCs since the early '90s, never once feeling the need to switch. So when one of my long-time freelancing clients discovered I was using Windows, he made it clear that he wasn’t a fan. He insisted on working only with people who used Macs—no exceptions. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around this requirement. It struck me as a form of “technological racism,” if that’s even a thing. Why do we need to be Mac buddies? I couldn’t find the logic behind it. But when someone offers to buy you a Mac, well, huwag kang tatanggi sa grasya.

I was ready to decline, sticking to my familiar setup, when he added, almost casually, “I’ll send you the money to get a second-hand MacBook Air. It’s yours, for free, as long as you use it for my projects.” That was his only condition. The only logical reason I could come up with is that he’s a die-hard Apple fan who wanted to ensure his freelancer was aligned with his ecosystem. Perhaps he thought this was an investment for a long-term business partnership. I’d be boasting if I said, “he found a good freelancer,” but maybe he did.

Faced with a free MacBook and a unique chance to try something new, I agreed. I found myself on Facebook Marketplace, browsing listings until I came across this brand-new, unopened MacBook Air M1 from 2020. The white box was still sealed in the brown shipping box. I broke its cherry, peeling back the packaging for the very first time. Suddenly, the unfamiliar world of Mac was staring back at me, waiting to be explored.

My Opinions About Apple Products: Misconceptions and Surprises

I’ve always had strong opinions about Apple products. To me, their real purpose seemed to be to show people you could afford one. I joked that iPhones were too basic—only the uninitiated would choose them. And when it came to the Mac ecosystem, I saw it as restrictive and limiting. There was always more I could do on Windows. I loved the freedom of customizing my PC setup, tweaking software, and diving into hardware configurations. It felt like Apple’s walled garden was designed to limit users instead of giving them control.

My wife, daughter, and I have a running joke about MacBooks: we say they’re the go-to rain shield for students from Ateneo (no offense to Ateneans). Last night, as I sat with my new MacBook Air, my daughter quipped, “So, Dad, looks like you’ve got your own head shield for when it rains now.” We all had a good laugh—it seems I’ve officially joined the ranks.

But as I started using this MacBook, I found some of these assumptions challenged. The integration of features, the smoothness of the experience, and the efficiency of the system made me pause and reconsider my stance. It wasn’t what I expected, but I was starting to see the appeal.

The Search for the Right Mac

I must have talked to 30 people on Facebook Marketplace, selling everything from MacBook Pros to MacBook Airs, even the earlier models. It was during this short hunt that I finally learned what M1, M2, M3, and now the M4 chips were all about. Before this, I had no idea Apple had transitioned away from Intel chips, which explained why the older Macs needed fans. The Apple Silicon era was completely new to me, and I quickly realized the M1 was a significant step up from anything I’d considered before.

First Impressions: Unboxing and the Setup

Unboxing the MacBook Air felt almost ceremonial. The slim, feather-light design was striking, and the aluminum unibody felt solid yet delicate in my hands. I could see why people rave about the build quality. But as someone who judges a machine by performance, I wasn’t ready to be swayed by aesthetics alone.

Specs and Power: The M1 Chip Experience

The M1 chip had been hyped up everywhere I looked, and after just a few hours of use, I understood why. This machine is incredibly fast and responsive. Apps open instantly, and even with several tabs and programs running, it doesn’t stutter. For a writer like me, who often juggles multiple browser tabs and writing tools, it feels like a perfect fit.

What surprised me the most? It’s completely silent. There’s no fan. I kept expecting to hear the faint hum of a fan spinning up during heavy tasks, but it never happened. The MacBook Air stays cool and quiet, even after hours of continuous use—a welcome change from the constant hum of my PC’s cooling system.

Discovering the Trackpad: Gestures I Never Knew I Needed

One of the biggest surprises was how intuitive and versatile the trackpad is. I had never experienced anything like the three-finger and four-finger gestures on a laptop before. The three-finger swipe up for Mission Control felt magical, like a window into all my open apps. Swiping left and right with two fingers for quick navigation through web pages became second nature within hours. The fluidity of these gestures makes everything feel seamless and connected in a way I didn’t expect. It’s a small feature, but it’s one that’s made a significant impact on how I interact with the laptop.

Fingerprint Scanner: A Touch of Convenience

I was also pleasantly surprised by the fingerprint scanner. Setting it up was simple, and now I find myself unlocking the laptop with just a light touch. It’s a small, convenient feature that adds an extra layer of ease to the experience. As someone who’s used to typing in passwords, this was a welcome change that I didn’t know I needed.

A Late Appreciation for a Four-Year-Old Technology

I realize I’m late to the party, singing praises for a piece of tech that’s already four years old. The MacBook Air M1 was groundbreaking when it first came out, and it’s taken me this long to fully appreciate it. Better late than never, as they say, and here I am, genuinely impressed by what this machine can still do, even with newer models like the M2, M3, and M4 now available.

A Thank You to My Australian Client

I also want to take a moment to express my gratitude to the client who made this switch possible. He’s based in Australia and was generous enough to send me the funds for this MacBook Air, making this entire experience possible. I asked for his permission to mention him in this blog, but he politely declined. Even so, I owe him a heartfelt thank you—this MacBook has already changed how I work, and I wouldn’t have experienced it without his nudge.

First Impressions Verdict: Did It Win Me Over?

In just 24 hours, the MacBook Air M1 has made a strong first impression. For writing and freelancing, it’s been a reliable, silent companion that has exceeded my expectations. I never thought I’d be this impressed by a Mac, but here we are.

So here I am, coffee in hand, warming up to a MacBook in a way I never expected. It’s been a surprising 24 hours, and I’m curious to see where this new partnership goes. For now, though, I’m just enjoying the ride.