I’m running Dorico 5 on a 2017 MacBook Air, with 8G RAM. Everything runs fine, but the machine is getting old, and a few odd things (not Dorico related) are popping up, so this would be a good time to upgrade.
I’m looking at keeping it in the MB Air line, so am looking at the M4 (10 Core) and 16 G RAM. I don’t run any resource-heavy libraries, just NotePerformer and the Halion that comes with Dorico. I assume the new machine would be up to the task (and D 6), but thought I’d check. Any thoughts? Am I missing something?
If you find an MBA with M4 well discounted, sure, go for it, but with the M5 MBP just announced, it is a matter of months before the MBA with M5 is released too.
If you need a replacement now, perhaps the new MBP would be a better deal because of the larger SSD and the vastly superior screen and sound system. For portability, of course the MBA is preferable.
Since you survived with 8GB RAM, 16GB will be great.
Let us know if you have any more doubts or questions.
I have 16GB of RAM here in my Mac Mini M4. Starting a project with BFD Drums and Halion, with some Abbey Road plugins, and I only have 3GB RAM left over. My screen is 3140-1440 21/9 60hz, so not demanding.
My view is that 24GB RAM is now the bare minimum.
The MacBook Air M4 is cheap, and a great option. It’ll be even cheaper come February 2026. Just bear in mind that if connecting it to a couple of high-res screens, then core temperatures will rise to the point of thermal throttling on demanding projects, since there is no onboard fan for cooling.
But as a standalone computer solution, the Air is a superb thing, if using the laptop screen.
Coming from an i7, that M4 chip will give you a noticeable wow-factor for sure.
I hadn’t factored the strain on an external monitor, which I do use. It’s not high end - it’s also 8 years old. I’d only use one screen, and as it is for editing - no need to run high res graphics - but this is very helpful info. Much appreciated!
Do you need portability? Will you ever use the Air’s screen?
If not, then a Mac Mini M4 base model, with 24GB RAM, and a 512Gb internal drive - this is available at $700 used. Don’t worry about fan noise - you’ll never hear it, even on your desktop. Mine is silent.
Great thing about the Air though is that you can play in bed or on the bus, using Apple audio and a pair of headphones. Then hook it up to your main rig at home for all the bells and whistles.
I can agree with you there. In my ignorance, I would be flapping if I was using 26GB of my available 32GB!
One point though. If someone has specced a Mac Air with upgraded RAM and SSD, there’s a little part of me that thinks they might respectfully just have taken more care of it, than someone who just grabbed a base model and wrung it’s neck. Worth some thought perhaps?
I do like the portability. When I’m in “Dorico-Mode”, I use an external monitor, but for a lot of other day-to-day stuff, I use the MBA alone (hey, those crossword puzzles don’t solve themselves!). Very helpful!
Worth waiting now until January at least, or when the M5 Air finally drops.
Then you can read users performance comments, and decide whether slightly cooler running and 20% extra overhead is worth the extra, to get an M5 Air at list price.
But the current M4 Air with more RAM and a bigger SSD will blow your socks off, compared to what you had before, and you could have that now, if you can find an immaculate bargain with full Apple Care.
