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Introducing the next generation of Mac

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Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#151

Post by KMnO4 »

tiffanyh wrote: post #143

No FaceID, interesting. I've said this in another thread and thought they might use FaceID as a "Pro" only feature like they do on the iPads but nope, they also released an updated 13" MacBook Pro without FaceID.

As much as Apple touts features as "incredible innovations", I think a lot of them are just engineering solutions.

I see FaceID as the compromise of increasing screen size to fill all the real estate on the iPhone. The Macbooks have tons of room for extra sensors on the keyboard part but not a lot can be put on the screen.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#153

Post by entropea »

davio wrote: post #38
redm wrote: post #27

What I can't find is how many external monitors can be supported on the M1 chip? I don't see any detailed specs. Al they say about the M1 specs are: "The Apple M1 chip is the first system on a chip (SoC) for Mac. Packed with an astonishing 16 billion transistors, it integrates the CPU, GPU, I/O, and every other significant component and controller onto a single tiny chip. Designed by Apple, M1 brings incredible perfo…

From MacBook Pro tech specs: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and: One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz Thunderbolt 3 digital video output Native DisplayPort output over USB-C VGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately)

Am I reading right that it only supports one display output? I may be reading that incorrectly....

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#154

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

brundolf wrote: post #142
geoffeg wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing that since the RAM is now on the SOC instead of on separate chips creating models with more RAM becomes more difficult not only from a space constraint on the die but a cost to manufacture more variants?

This is a good point and begs an interesting question: will they continue using the same ARM chip across the whole line when the 16" MBP and the other iMacs make the switch, and if so, will all Macs of the same generation always have the same amount of RAM? Or will they branch the chips (M2 and M2S, or something)? Is RAM becoming less relevant when you have smart integration of software and hardware components, to a…

> Is RAM becoming less relevant when you have smart integration of software and hardware components, to a point where stratification is no longer necessary in most cases?

If they intend these things to run software development, audio/video editing, CAD, or any other resource-intensive workloads, there will absolutely be demand for more.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#155

Post by jonplackett »

Lots I'm impressed with but... it's a shame to see they've cut the storage capacity in half!

Finally with the last update of Macbook Pro they ditched the ridiculous 256gb SSD and went 512/1tb in the 2 pre-built models.

Now we're back to 256/512. The impressively low starting price is hiding behind this and the halving of default RAM too.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#156

Post by wintermutestwin »

api wrote: post #8
SamuelAdams wrote: post #6

Super interesting how they kept the touchbar on the Macbook Pro keyboard but not on the Air. As a software developer, I'm going to be more likely to buy an Air just due to the keyboard.

Has anyone ever seen anyone use the Touch Bar? Like really use it?

Like most oldsters, I have presbyopia, which is exacerbated in low light. When I need to turn up the brightness of my monitor, I can actually see the "button" on a touchbar. On all my non-touchbar laptops, I randomly press F keys and hope for the best or pull out my phone for a flashlight.

Yes, I miss the physical esc, but F-keys are usually SW configurable and I can configure splat-1-10. That said, I am not a frequent programmer...

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#157

Post by OJFord »

AnonHP wrote: post #140

Apple mentioned in the event that these Macs will have hardware verified secure boot. Since I’m not very knowledgeable in this area, can someone explain (or even try to guess) what this would/could mean for running Linux on these? I use Macs way beyond Apple’s support timeframe with OS X/macOS, and Linux is the one that runs on some of the older Macs and provides adequate security and security related software update…

I don't know the answer^, but how old is your current old Mac hardware? I don't know about the desktops, but Macbooks from 2016 are not well supported hardware-wise in Linux - things like no WiFi even. There was a good GitHub repo tracking it for up to I think the first touchbar Pro, and basically it was dismal then and only got worse (according to repo owner who consequently stopped bothering iirc).

So.. depending what you want to do on these older machines, my point is that this may be the least of your worries.

^(though I think it's fine, because it's the reverse that would be a problem? Bad news for 'hackintosh' if all supported versions of macOS can expect secure boot hardware, I think)

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#158

Post by stjo »

AnonHP wrote: post #140

Apple mentioned in the event that these Macs will have hardware verified secure boot. Since I’m not very knowledgeable in this area, can someone explain (or even try to guess) what this would/could mean for running Linux on these? I use Macs way beyond Apple’s support timeframe with OS X/macOS, and Linux is the one that runs on some of the older Macs and provides adequate security and security related software update…

IIRC at WWC Apple said it would still be possible to boot unsigned OS, but it would show some kind of warning.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#159

Post by Eric_WVGG »

api wrote: post #8
SamuelAdams wrote: post #6

Super interesting how they kept the touchbar on the Macbook Pro keyboard but not on the Air. As a software developer, I'm going to be more likely to buy an Air just due to the keyboard.

Has anyone ever seen anyone use the Touch Bar? Like really use it?

I love the Touch Bar. All those cmd-opt-shift bizarro keyboard shortcuts, I have mapped to custom buttons across lots of apps. A couple popup apps on globally-available buttons. Even a swiping gesture while on iTerm to fly through command history.

It's great if you take the time to actually customize it.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#160

Post by entropea »

Dirlewanger wrote: post #152
SamuelAdams wrote: post #6

Super interesting how they kept the touchbar on the Macbook Pro keyboard but not on the Air. As a software developer, I'm going to be more likely to buy an Air just due to the keyboard.

[deleted]

I am also not a fan of the keyboard or touch bar, but especially the touch bar. It's a cool idea and I can see useful functions, but not pushed up against a place where you're typing. I am constantly bringing up Siri or changing volume when hitting numbers, -= or delete from a finger swiping across the touch bar accidentally. There used to be a tactile force needed to activate F key functions, but now there's just a capacitive touch bar.
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