Also swapped to Kailh GM8.0 on main buttons + added spacer to reduce pre-travel, loving it! tl;dr need Windows/Mac OS, Thinkpad has good keyboard, many ports, easy to upgrade everything, is usually even lighter than Macbooks and second hand used models can be found for decent prices. I'd want use Linux but Adobe CC has locked in me into Windows/Mac. I found Thinkpads to feel most sturdy, use good materials (alu, magnesium, and such) and lightweight (X1 Carbon and T/"s" models of T series come at around 1-1-1.3kg), easy to repair if needed with all the manuals provided by Lenovo. Keyboard is also the best among the laptops. Still doesn't compare with custom mechanical one, but it doesn't feel like you're hitting flat surface with 1mm travel and no tactile feedback (looking at MBP 16 from 2021). Thinkpads have 1.8mm travel, rather crisp tactile feedback and soft yet not mushy bottom out. Trackpad is decent too, X1 series have glass ones but they fit other series too, so you can have glass trackpad on any Thinkpad for 25€, it's an easy swap. Trackpoint is strange, but it's sometimes very convenient. It is also easier to select text with it than with trackpad. Ports. HDMI, 2xUSB, 2xType C, and usually - SD/MicroSD reader and RJ45 as well as 4G capabilities is really nice, such variety in thin and light laptop is really appreciated. Type C charging is included too, you can get MagSafe-style port adapters if you want. And price. Macbooks in my country begin from 900€ (for simple M1 Air) with second hand ones being highly overpriced. Meanwhile used Thinkpads have somewhat decent prices. I'm eyeing Thinkpad T480s with i7 8650U + 16GB + 512GB + 4G ready, comes at around 600€ and for ~100€ I can get 400nits Low Power screen swap :D How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the "Mid-2013," "Early 2014" and "Early 2015" and "2017" MacBook Air models? Is it even possible? Note that EveryMac.com provides storage upgrade instructions for earlier MacBook Air models -- the original, "Late 2008," and "Mid-2009," "Late 2010 and "Mid-2011," and "Mid-2012" lines, too. By default, the "Mid-2013," "Early 2014," and "Early 2015" and "2017" MacBook Air models all shipped with 128 GB or 256 GB of SSD storage. Some configurations could be upgraded to 512 GB of SSD storage at the time of purchase for an extra US$300, but Apple does not intend for one to upgrade the SSD module after purchase. Nevertheless, the SSD is a removable module and it is quite possible for a technical user to upgrade the SSD himself or herself.  Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Left - 11" MacBook Air, Right - 13" MacBook Air) Identification Help As these MacBook Air models share Model Numbers with other lines, so this identifier is not suitable for the purpose of upgrading the SSD. However, these models can be readily identified externally via EMC Number and in software by Model Identifier. To locate the model identifier in software, select "About This Mac" under the Apple Menu on your computer and click the "More Info..." button. If the iMac is running OS X 10.7 "Lion" or later, you will need to click the "System Report" button after clicking "More Info..." as well. As always, EveryMac.com has carefully hand documented each EMC number and model identifier for your convenience. The identifiers for each of these MacBook Air models follow:
SSD Storage Details As first reported by AnandTech, the "Mid-2013" MacBook Air models all use a PCIe-based SSD rather than a SATA-connected one like earlier SSD-equipped MacBook Air models. The "Early 2014" MacBook Air models are practically identical to their predecessors and use the exact same internal storage. More specifically, AnandTech shared that the SSD in these lines use a custom Apple design with a "PCIe 2.0 x2 interface, capable of a theoretical maximum of 1 GB/s in each direction." The 11-Inch "Early 2015" MacBook Air models (MacBookAir7,1) also use the same PCIe 2.0 x2 interface, but as documented by site sponsor OWC, the 13-Inch "Early 2015" and "2017" models (MacBookAir7,2), on the other hand, have a faster PCIe 2.0 x4 interface and provide significantly faster drive speeds as a result. Storage Installation Instructions Apple has used less common "Pentalobe" or "Five Point Torx" screws to make access more difficult, but with the correct screwdriver, upgrading the SSD is a straightforward procedure. Site sponsor Other World Computing has helpful videos that covers upgrading the storage in these models, too: 11-Inch MacBook Air (Mid-2013 - Early 2015) 13-Inch MacBook Air (Mid-2013 - 2017) This video covers how to install the original PCIe SSD from your MacBook Air in OWC's convenient "Envoy Pro" external case to repurpose it as an external drive: By watching the videos for the MacBook Air above, you should be able to determine if you feel comfortable performing this upgrade yourself or if you would instead prefer to hire a professional. SSD Purchase Options In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells compatible SSDs as well as other upgrades for MacBook Air models. In the UK and Ireland, site sponsor Flexx sells MacBook Air compatible SSDs with free shipping. The company provides flat rate shipping to France, Germany, and Switzerland and inexpensive shipping for all of Europe, too. In France, site sponsor MacWay sells MacBook Air compatible SSDs with fast shipping, free returns, and more. In Australia, site sponsors Macfixit and Upgradeable sell MacBook Air compatible SSDs with fast shipping, a money-back guarantee and more. In New Zealand, site sponsor Upgradeable New Zealand sells MacBook Air SSDs with fast delivery to all corners of the country, precise compatibility, a lifetime warranty, and a money-back guarantee. Also see:
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