Post AnBJmqDnHHEcGfix5k by mlevison@agilealliance.social
(DIR) More posts by mlevison@agilealliance.social
(DIR) Post #AnBIvKgRnuep6hbz6G by dhry@mastodon.social
2024-10-18T22:48:45Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
God. Never in a MILLION years did I think I'd get to this point. The friend who I got the Macbook from confirmed that it was permanent loan, but I don't think I want to get rid of it after using it for a while. SO I told him I would get my own and then return this to him after transferring the OS and such. FFS. SO!!!!!My wonderful McFriends - which? Air, Pro, M2, M3, 8/16TB? Best pricepoint for value, futureproof? BASIC functionality. No games, no graphic editing. But for a NERD.
(DIR) Post #AnBIvMD680MvqFtZdA by EpiphanicSynchronicity@pkm.social
2024-10-19T02:24:34Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@dhry I’m going to add that the newer the processor you get now (M3 instead of M2, etc.), the longer it’s typically going to get upgrades to the latest version of MacOS, followed by a couple of years of security updates. So paying more for a newer processor is likely (but not guaranteed) to give you a Mac that will last you longer.I returned a 2016 MBP when Apple released the 2017 within the return window, and got an extra year of updates out of it.5/5
(DIR) Post #AnBIvNTRQj2JlEY8kC by dhry@mastodon.social
2024-10-19T07:15:41Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@EpiphanicSynchronicity I KNEW I could count on you for a comprehensive response! Thank you so much for the detailed info. A couple of things - while I did say that the purchase was to be considered "nerd" level, honestly I've been looking at the prices, especially for what should be MINOR bumps up like 256->512gb storage, ram and so on. Briefly: 1) The Macbook will almost always be closed and under an external monitor at home, so built in screen size isn't relevant, 2) I ...1/5
(DIR) Post #AnBIvOPZwZXafXkZMW by dhry@mastodon.social
2024-10-19T07:15:41Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
found this post really interesting with regards to 8gb vs 16gb RAM (https://www.reddit.com/r/macbookair/comments/10h8zs6/buying_air_m2_is_16gb_ram_really_needed_for/j7o56bh/), specifically the part about the system using all available ram by default and "memory pressure" being the more significant measurement, 3) I'll never be doing graphic design, have mass storage needs or any other needs beyond basic businessy stuff, that's what my Windows behemoth is for, 4) speakers don't matter ...2/5
(DIR) Post #AnBIvP6pLm8Spfz6m0 by EpiphanicSynchronicity@pkm.social
2024-10-19T14:34:00Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@dhry 2gb used to be enough, and then 4 was enough…until they weren’t. Even if 8 is (barely) enough *now*, and even if your workload doesn’t change, new versions of the OS and apps will continue to need more and more RAM, as they always have. (Iirc 8gb Macs won’t be able to run the new AI features coming soon in a Sequoia update) 2/
(DIR) Post #AnBIvPiP64C2iDZ7LM by ellane@pkm.social
2024-10-19T18:45:41Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@EpiphanicSynchronicity @dhry I always upgrade to 32 GB RAM when buying a new Mac because of the kinds of files I work with. Some need it, others don’t.
(DIR) Post #AnBIvQB7NJA69H036G by dhry@mastodon.social
2024-10-19T07:15:41Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
as I'll either use it for beeps/dings/reminders or else use headphones if I ever listen to music on it and 5) I was floored to see the more-marginal-than-expected bumps in power of M1 -> M2 -> M3 (https://medium.com/@kellyshephard/m3-vs-m2-vs-m1-the-ultimate-showdown-2f36a340c3c5). This 2020 M1 still upgraded to Sequoia fine, even 4 years after release. And it's very acceptable speed wise. I DO like responsiveness, so the M3 is tempting out of all the spec categories. Next would be ...3/5
(DIR) Post #AnBIvQBpKfjGBTKcCm by EpiphanicSynchronicity@pkm.social
2024-10-19T19:08:18Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@ellane @dhry 16 was enough in my last MacBook, but this time I went with 24 to have the extra headroom for the 5 or 6 years I’ll probably keep the machine. But yeah, if you do heavy design work or work with long, high-res videos you likely need more. And it doesn’t make sense to bump up to a faster processor if you don’t get enough RAM. I’d always choose enough RAM first, then see if there’s room in the budget for a processor upgrade.
(DIR) Post #AnBIvQh1SggNkDvWpU by ellane@pkm.social
2024-10-19T20:03:14Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@EpiphanicSynchronicity @dhry Yeah well I also work with Affinity Publisher documents that contain thousands of anchors and hyperlinks, and those are impossible to work with unless your RAM is up there. Before upgrading my machine I had to wait over a minute between each and every change made to the file. It was unworkable.Unless your needs are graphic or video / audio intensive, you can get by with a lot less. When I used iMacs I'd buy 3rd party RAM and install it myself.
(DIR) Post #AnBIvR8JpCW76shKNM by EpiphanicSynchronicity@pkm.social
2024-10-19T20:43:18Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@ellane @dhry I miss the days of user upgradable Macs. I remember replacing 4 gb RAM AND a 500 gb HDD with 16 gb RAM and a 500 gb SSD in a 2011 MBP for between $80 and $90 US. And I had to buy the full 16 gb to replace the SIMMs. Now Apple charges $200 for every 8 gb jump.
(DIR) Post #AnBIvRYuELmgRL8Yoi by dhry@mastodon.social
2024-10-19T07:15:42Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
storage. RAM last. I'm kinda circling around M3/8gb/512Gb 13", 256gb at a pinch, maybe refurbed. But the last real problem for me is that this is a ~thousand buck SECONDARY device. Apple's gonna Apple, but I sure don't need to be happy about the damn premium I'm forced to pay just to be a smoking-jacket-wearing member of the Apple glitterati. If this weren't ALL coming off credit card rewards points the conversation wouldn't even be happeni(claps hand over mouth)(looks left and right ...4/5
(DIR) Post #AnBIvRtSzuENT6kyrg by dhry@mastodon.social
2024-10-19T21:08:02Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@EpiphanicSynchronicity @ellane Memory (regular DIMMS that is) is still cheap. But Apple has everyone hostage. I’m weighing the obvious complete rorting of my bank account with the idea that “you can’t take it with you”. 💸
(DIR) Post #AnBIvSQR1KbP7MBJFg by mlevison@agilealliance.social
2024-10-19T22:14:09Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@ellane @EpiphanicSynchronicity @dhry I’ve been down this path recently. I had a 1st generation 13” M1 MBP. I had to upgrade because I ran out of SSD. With my new machine I went for 4TB, with the plan that this one lasts 5 years. RAM do you video work? Will you want to run open source local LLMs. 24GB is the bare minimum and also the max for Air. I went for 64GB
(DIR) Post #AnBIvStVHFr2ZVmWYq by dhry@mastodon.social
2024-10-19T23:10:14Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mlevison @ellane @EpiphanicSynchronicity Mark, full disclosure, I'm 100% a Windows guy. Every power-user thing that I need to do is done on my 64Gb, 16-core Windows PC (87Tb of storage, RTX3080 card, twin 4K monitors, yada yada). I'm using Mac lately for some *basic* purposes like native messages, reminders and notes apps which just sync better with my phone. No power-user stuff planned at all.But for a nerd like me, plans don't always go according to plan..
(DIR) Post #AnBIvT9oIctlO5PXyi by dhry@mastodon.social
2024-10-19T07:15:42Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
furtively) 5/5
(DIR) Post #AnBIvTbocVIemwVud6 by mlevison@agilealliance.social
2024-10-20T00:28:35Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@dhry @ellane @EpiphanicSynchronicity Be careful, I was a Windows developer. Then I started using a Mac. The number of programs like Alfred, Keyboard Maestro etc that make my life easier won out.
(DIR) Post #AnBIvUACYeo0VabNE8 by dhry@mastodon.social
2024-10-20T00:29:43Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mlevison @ellane @EpiphanicSynchronicity No, Dhry. No.
(DIR) Post #AnBIvUpK5lhOZ7qDK4 by mlevison@agilealliance.social
2024-10-20T00:47:07Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@ellane @dhry @EpiphanicSynchronicity try the MacOS lifestyle. Borrow a computer for a few weeks. Pay for Setapp (many apps, one subscription). Then if a switch is a good idea you will know and buy a beefy machine. Only thing MacOS really fails at: gaming
(DIR) Post #AnBIvVMe5sM0ETQpGK by verita84_automata@poster.place
2024-10-20T00:50:13.787511Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mlevison @ellane and MacOs likes to fuck you over in 6 years and won't let you download apps from their store anymore and will stop giving you updates for your OS
(DIR) Post #AnBJmqDnHHEcGfix5k by mlevison@agilealliance.social
2024-10-20T00:58:46Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@ellane @verita84_automata I don’t use vulgar language to a stranger. Perhaps you would return the favour.
(DIR) Post #AnBJmrQwlrLm1ksyES by verita84_automata@poster.place
2024-10-20T00:59:58.082745Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mlevison @ellane