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Introducing the next generation of Mac

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Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#621
Huh, the Macbook Pro only has the same two thunderbolt/USB ports as the Air? (One of which will be in use by a power adapter if you are plugged in, so you really only have one port).

I was imagining upgrading to the Pro to get more USB ports, but if that's not an option... I can't see why I'd ever pay for a Pro.

I like having more than one USB port so I can copy things from one external HD to another. I guess I'd need a dock for that.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#622
I know that this transition will benefit the real apple users, managers, influencers and cool kids. Obviously I will keep and refurbish my 2013 macbook pro for Linux, will run offline Windows for design (thanks to Affinity) and have fun with Logic on some apple device/computer. Future computing will be fragmented..

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#623

I don't understand the pricing of the MacBook Air vs the 13" Pro. The Air ($1249) vs 13" Pro ($1299), you get: - same CPU - same GPU - same Neural chip - same RAM (8gb) - More storage for the Air (512gb vs 256gb with 13" Pro) - You get Touch Bar with 13" Pro So if you don't care about the Touch Bar, you actually get with the Air: - better specs - smaller device footprint - and $50 cheaper. Am I missing something?

Perhaps this pricing was brought about by the same head injury that caused someone in management to believe 8GB is an adequate base spec for RAM in 2020.

More ram is patch for components that aren’t hyper-optimized to work together. The whole point of what apple is doing with their own silicon is to create that optimization, thus reducing the need for excessive ram.

It’s worked for them for iPad and iPhone. Samsung et all would boast more ram but oddly enough iPhones were and remain faster

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#624
post #59

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.

They kept the touch bar but it seems that they added (back) a physical Esc key, isn't that the most criticized missing key? Which other key do you miss now that Esc is back?

> Which other key do you miss now that Esc is back?

I really need a Forward-Delete key - pressing Cmd+Backspace just doesn't work for me.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#625

I don't understand the pricing of the MacBook Air vs the 13" Pro. The Air ($1249) vs 13" Pro ($1299), you get: - same CPU - same GPU - same Neural chip - same RAM (8gb) - More storage for the Air (512gb vs 256gb with 13" Pro) - You get Touch Bar with 13" Pro So if you don't care about the Touch Bar, you actually get with the Air: - better specs - smaller device footprint - and $50 cheaper. Am I missing something?

Here[1] is an article from The Verge that goes into the full differences with confirmation from Apple. For those too lazy to click through, yes the fan is the biggest difference. Beyond that the screen in the Air is slightly darker, the base model has worse chips due to binning, the battery is smaller, and there is obviously the Touchbar.

[1] - https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/10/21559228/apple-new-macbo...

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#626

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For a $1,000 laptop? I disagree. It’s fine for a $500 one but Apple doesn’t sell those.

That $500 difference goes towards a higher quality product with good support, not necessarily just system specs.

I think what they're saying is that they'd expect a $500 price increase to update specs as well.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#627

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's disappointing. Dual 4k isn't that uncommon. Sounds like their chip isn't quite as powerful as they're leading on?

You run two 4k screens and the laptop screen itself from an existing 13" laptop?

At practically every desk in Silicon Valley for 4+ years, yes. Two 27" 4K Dell UltraSharps and a choice of 13" or 15" Macbook Pro are standard issue for an engineer.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#628
post #580

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Although very slowly, this list of companies providing good Linux-ready laptops is growing. I do wish someone would dare ship something high-end non-amd64 (e.g.: ARM). Kinda like what we're seeing from Apple.

First a high-end ARM chip would have to exist. The 8cx is pretty meh compared to the M1.

Even the M1 isn't appreciably better than an AMD chip, especially not an upcoming 5nm chip.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#629
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They kept the touch bar but it seems that they added (back) a physical Esc key, isn't that the most criticized missing key? Which other key do you miss now that Esc is back?

I'm with you. My work computer has the TouchBar, and my personal computer has the physical keys. While I prefer the physical keys, once you get the TouchBar configured properly (I use MTMR), it's really quite nice. Combined with a physical escape key, it would be ideal. Considering how the people on HN boast so much about being L337 Haxxorz, I'm surprised they don't see the value in a secondary interactive screen tha…

I don't look when I type. The touchbar makes me look down from my screen if I want to interact with it.

Re: Introducing the next generation of Mac

#630

Huh, the Macbook Pro only has the same two thunderbolt/USB ports as the Air? (One of which will be in use by a power adapter if you are plugged in, so you really only have one port). I was imagining upgrading to the Pro to get more USB ports, but if that's not an option... I can't see why I'd ever pay for a Pro. I like having more than one USB port so I can copy things from one external HD to another. I guess I'd nee…

I thought so too, but it seems like the highest end 13" does have 4
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