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MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

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Re: MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

#891

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To reiterate your point about RAM for anyone wondering: don’t get the 8gb version! I’ve run 3 Apple Silicon Macs in different configs since 2020. Real-world performance on a range of different workloads is substantially worse than the 16gb version. Don’t even think about having more than one user logged in!

Don’t even think about having more than one user logged in! I currently have an 8GB M1 running with four users logged in. Three users are iTunes media servers, and the fourth is a regular user. No heavy computing tasks, obviously, but it's absolutely possible to have more than one user logged in.

I'd imagine it's relatively easy for the OS to just swap out the memory from the inactive user. Unless they're actually running a task in the background, but how often does that happen?

Re: MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

#892
post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, the year over year improvements were 90% just the tsmc node changes. But the ridiculous (and IMO amazing) performance per watt is a mix of iOS/macOS and their chip design. Those efficiency cores are unmatched, paired with the right scheduling from the OS. The M2 is underwhelming as its the same 5nm as the M1 was. But rumors say the M2 pro and max are on the 3nm node. And it took so long for the release, as 3nm w…

In the beginning I thought the “performance per watt” thing was just folks who want Apple to be better clinging to a stat that made it look like that was the case. But in late 2021 I was long overdue for an upgrade, so I got an M1 Max MacBook Pro and holy hell, now I get it. The battery lasts stupid long. Like, the fact that I can bring this thing on a plane or train without worrying if they’ll have working electric…

> underclocks from ~4.4GHz to ~1.5-2.5GHz when on battery (seemingly no way to disable this)

digression: I believe there's no way to disable that because the laptop's battery is physically incapable of reliably supplying the necessary amperage at those higher clock rates. It's an 80 watt-hour battery for a laptop that needs a 200W+ power adapter. The battery can't drain that fast even if it wanted to.

Re: MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

#893
post #315

Whilst I am utterly impressed with my M1 Pro; they are comparing to the "fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro" which is 4 years old when Intel was struggling anyway. Not at all representative of what they could have done with the latest Intel or AMD silicon.

They comparison exists because the majority of buyers will probably have an Intel-based Macbook Pro. From a marketing perspective, it is more useful to focus on how much faster it is than that product than it would be to focus on how much faster it is than some-very-specific Windows laptop, or an M1 Pro.

Re: MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

#894
post #852

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an alternative to this, you can grab a thunderbolt dock. You can input 2/3 monitors into this, and all your other peripherals - then one cable into your macbook. My Caldigit TS4 charges my macbook at 90W, has 2 x 27" monitors running at 120hz (i could go higher but i can't perceive the difference so i'll save the bandwidth), has 2 external drives and can read my SD card to import photos. The thing has so many port…

Maybe I'm being a bit sensitive to price, but $400 seems pretty expensive. Do you know of any cheaper alternatives?

I use a thinkpad USB-C dock on my M1 Max MBP. My only complaint is that the displays do not work with FileVault. Apparently the driver will not load until the boot volume is decrypted.

It would be nice if apple made a good, trusted docking station that just works with their laptops.

Re: MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

#895

My new setup as of November is an M2 Air (16GB /1 TB) and an base model M1 Studio. I really couldn't be happier. I run a small WFH / Music Production / Photography studio in my basement and I really wanted an always-on always connected computer, for which the Studio has been perfect. The M2 Air is pretty close to a perfect laptop. My complaints (low audio volume, slighty cramped screen) are absolutely dwarfed by the…

I’d be so up for a 16 inch ‘air’. I so love my M1 Pro Max MacBook, but Christ it’s heavy. It’s heavier, and I think thicker, than my 2012 MacBook Pro. Now I expected it to be heavier, but was expecting it to drop back maybe one iteration to MacBook 2014 kind of heft. But we’re a full decade back of beefiness. I need a big screen though so it’s the only option. Unless they make a nice thin 16 inch air. I am pretty con…

I checked because I was curious:

2012 15in [1]:

- Height: 0.95 inch (2.41 cm)

- Weight: 5.6 pounds (2.56 kg)

2023 16in M2 [2]:

- Height 0.66 inch (1.68 cm)

- Weight (M2 Pro): 4.7 pounds (2.15 kg)

- Weight (M2 Max): 4.8 pounds (2.16 kg)

[1]: https://support.apple.com/kb/SP694?locale=en_US

[2]: https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-14-and-16/specs/

Re: MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

#896
post #719

My new setup as of November is an M2 Air (16GB /1 TB) and an base model M1 Studio. I really couldn't be happier. I run a small WFH / Music Production / Photography studio in my basement and I really wanted an always-on always connected computer, for which the Studio has been perfect. The M2 Air is pretty close to a perfect laptop. My complaints (low audio volume, slighty cramped screen) are absolutely dwarfed by the…

I am as happy with my 13” M1 mbp 2020 as you with your. My only gripe is that the screen is too small and more importantly after two years I went from a stellar 21h battery life to 13h for lightweight work and it now also seems to drain on sleep. And it seems to lose charge quicker under load. The battery capacity is still reported as 91%of spec which does not explain this behaviour. I hope yours holds up better.

I recently noticed a decline in battery on my M1. It is ridiculous to complain about 10h battery life but the decline was noticeable. I fixed it by:

1) Turn off siri suggestions & privacy and all the app watching it does. System Settings -> Siri & Spotlight -> Siri Suggestions & Privacy. It turned it off for every app.

2) Turn off siri all together. System Settings -> Siri & Spotlight -> Ask Siri Toggle

3) Turn off Spotlight for everything you do not need. System Settings -> Siri & Spotlight -> Search Results check boxes

4) Turn off login items. System Settings -> Login items. Remove what you do not need from the list.

5) Turn off run in background items. System Settings -> Login items -> Allow in background

6) Remove items from ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ that you do not need. I had an old docker vnet item that wasn't needed.

Other than #6, you can do the first 5 things on all of your Apple devices and it makes a big difference in battery life. I just did the same steps with my phone and ipad.

I hope this helps your battery life a little bit.

Re: MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

#897

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"that will not get old very soon" No idea how you can write that with straight fingers.

I was using a 2013 air up until two months ago

I still use a 2012 air. It has been demoted in the food chain (so no longer main laptop), but it’s mind blowing how well it still works for basic browsing. Maybe time I replace with a 14” MBP. If that one lasts another 11 years I’m happy.

Re: MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

#898
post #761

The biggest issue I have with macbooks is that they are ridiculously expensive. They are intended to be portable devices but bringing them anywhere outside my apartment or office is just a huge risk.

Renters insurance is cheap piece of mind for stuff like laptops, or bikes you lock up publicly. Regular backups of course too.

Last time I was looking into this (Lemonade) any expensive electronics had to be covered separately by the $, at additional cost.

Re: MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

#899
post #820

My new setup as of November is an M2 Air (16GB /1 TB) and an base model M1 Studio. I really couldn't be happier. I run a small WFH / Music Production / Photography studio in my basement and I really wanted an always-on always connected computer, for which the Studio has been perfect. The M2 Air is pretty close to a perfect laptop. My complaints (low audio volume, slighty cramped screen) are absolutely dwarfed by the…

> I'm 40+ and keeping extra pounds off my lower back matters for me. I find that, while more difficult, removing excess poundage from my waistline has a lot more impact on that ... :(

I'm not overweight, but good advice in general!

Re: MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max

#900

What the hay, only 32 gb ram max and 1tb SSD max. I'm over both for last 2-3 years on my 2019 Intel with 64/2. The 2tb was critical for a project in 2021.

where are you seeing 1TB max?

Their website for the new ones... Aah you can configure after the first page... Nm thanks for pushing
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