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My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

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Re: My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

#41

Post by ASalazarMX »

thatswrong0 wrote: post #27
tonynator wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The competition can run multiple displays. The competition has built in window tiling shortcuts. The competition has built in clipboard history. The competition doesn't open up your music player every time you connect your earbuds. The competition doesn't require carrying around HDMI and ethernet adapters everywhere you go. Apple is garbage, Macbooks are garbage, Windows + WSL beats them for every development task an…

Yeah, that's going to come down to personal preference. I find using a Mac to be a much more productive / enjoyable experience, especially for creative work. There are apps to address all of those software issues (having to install noTunes is kind of annoying for sure). And I will say, I prefer my OS to _not_ jam ads and tracking down my throat. But to each their own.

> especially for creative work

There you go. That has always been their strong point, everything else is secondary, including their own development tools. MacOS Developers have to hoop through multiple hoops periodically, and some will tell you they're very intuitive hoops but you're using them wrong(TM).

Re: My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

#42

Post by bathtub365 »

tonynator wrote: post #21
arresin wrote: post #7

I don’t think it’s that Apple is so good but that the competition is so garbage that it makes anything halfway decent seem amazing.

The competition can run multiple displays. The competition has built in window tiling shortcuts. The competition has built in clipboard history. The competition doesn't open up your music player every time you connect your earbuds. The competition doesn't require carrying around HDMI and ethernet adapters everywhere you go. Apple is garbage, Macbooks are garbage, Windows + WSL beats them for every development task an…

Does any of the competition have a trackpad that compares to those on MacBooks?

Re: My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

#43

Post by jemmyw »

lynndotpy wrote: post #34
FredPret wrote: post #16

Is Gnome on Fedora as polished as he says, or is that just frustration talking?

I've been using MacOS for ~2 years, and GNOME in various forms for ~10 years. I'm even typing this comment from a Mac. For me, the biggest thing is that MacOS has lengthy sigmoidal animations, and no ability to move windows between desktops ("spaces") with a keyboard shortcut. Those animations are a source of constant friction, and the limited multi-desktop functionality makes single and dual monitor setups very frus…

I know your reply will be something along the lines of "shouldn't need to do this" but if you're constantly annoyed by the animations there's a terminal command to change the setting so they run very fast or not at all. I have a script to run after a fresh install of macos that speeds up the animations, fixes keyboard repeat, and a bunch of other tweaks to make it more to my liking.

Re: My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

#44

Post by mcphage »

tonynator wrote: post #21
arresin wrote: post #7

I don’t think it’s that Apple is so good but that the competition is so garbage that it makes anything halfway decent seem amazing.

The competition can run multiple displays. The competition has built in window tiling shortcuts. The competition has built in clipboard history. The competition doesn't open up your music player every time you connect your earbuds. The competition doesn't require carrying around HDMI and ethernet adapters everywhere you go. Apple is garbage, Macbooks are garbage, Windows + WSL beats them for every development task an…

> The competition can run multiple displays.

That’s a fair point, but also a narrow need. If that’s your need, then absolutely, look elsewhere. But the reason that it isn’t a major problem for Apple is that it isn’t a very common need—the laptop’s screen plus one external display is probably what the vast majority of people—even pros—need.

Re: My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

#45

Post by bastard_op »

I recently came across this fact of Apple's display limits after Vision Pro came out. I thought that it would be great for virtual desktop/productivity use, but sadly limited only to a Mac I don't have. I found that the amount of monitors able to be shown was limited to those supported by a mac, to support 2 displays, you needed a Pro, and for 3 a Max. Wait, what?

As someone that has been using 3-6 displays for the past 20 years, I really don't get how or why this is hard for Apple to figure out. They're the only ones that haven't.

While Apple can't figure out how to show more than physical supported displays virtually, 3rd party Vision apps such as Immersed have, making proper apps that can render I think up to 5 displays. Over wifi or even usb-c, it'll never be as good as DisplayPort or other hard-line connection, so compromise is necessary regardless. It is "good enough" for these others like Immersed, and far better than anything Apple is giving.

The only company I hate more than Apple is Meta, but I'll probably buy a $500 Meta Quest 3 + my already suitable PC before I ever do Vision Pro + Mac for some $10k, and get far more functionality (and available apps).

Re: My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

#46

Post by refulgentis »

spacedcowboy wrote: post #35
refulgentis wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

*stares at article* I think Apple may have said something else. *clicks "promised months ago"* " Apple has confirmed to 9to5Mac that a software update for the 14-inch MacBook Pro will gain the ability to drive two external displays with the lid closed. The feature will work identically to how it works with the new M3 MacBook Air."

I mean, those are direct quotes from the current Apple.com website [1] under 'Tech Specs' about halfway down. The same information, in more wordy form is on the overview page (the default page for the MBP) [1]: https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/

Correct

Re: My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

#47

Post by bobsmooth »

ffsm8 wrote: post #36
eganist wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does any of this detract from the absurdity that no MacBook Pro with the mainline M1/M2/M3 chips has been able to natively drive two external screens? Being able to use two external screens is practically an expectation of any laptop at this point. I can understand the OP's point that this is ridiculous.

You're just able to buy a MacBook Pro with a non-pro CPU. This capability is definitely primarily for market segmentation (the power drain isn't a realistic argument in this scenario, as the user will almost always have power available when plugged into a display)

>You're just able to buy a MacBook Pro with a non-pro CPU.

That doesn't strike you as misleading?

Re: My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

#48

Post by lofenfew »

rc5150 wrote: post #9

A) the device in question was provisioned by his employer, so it's not his laptop, ergo, the price is irrelevant. If he's not able to complete his work tasks on the device, then it's on him to communicate with his manager to procure a device that allows him to do so. B) if the device was purchased by him, then the onus is on him to have researched the device's full functionality prior to the spending any amount in an…

What a stupid response. I imagine you were among those who flagged this post as well. "ergo the price is irrelevant" the price is relevant for other people considering purchasing macs. "then the onus is on him to have researched the device's full functionality prior to the spending any amount in any currency" god forbid he help others in their research. "Sounds a bit to me like the author of this blog is feeling a little guilty and self conscious about being apart of this subset of 'non-fine-print-readers'." A subset maybe, but not a proper subset given nobody bar nobody reads every dot of fine print before every purchasing decision. What was the point of this comment?

Re: My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

#49

Post by Brian_K_White »

bathtub365 wrote: post #42
tonynator wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The competition can run multiple displays. The competition has built in window tiling shortcuts. The competition has built in clipboard history. The competition doesn't open up your music player every time you connect your earbuds. The competition doesn't require carrying around HDMI and ethernet adapters everywhere you go. Apple is garbage, Macbooks are garbage, Windows + WSL beats them for every development task an…

Does any of the competition have a trackpad that compares to those on MacBooks?

I hate apple's huge trackpads and lack of buttons. Any competition that isn't trying to clone Apple is doing it better by not having Apple's trackpad.

Re: My $2.2k laptop can't drive two screens

#50

Post by JohnTHaller »

A user can't be blamed too much for assuming a $2k+ laptop with Pro in the name supports multiple external displays. A 2013 MacBook Pro can drive two external displays. But the base M1 and M2 MacBook Pros can not. The base M3 apparently can with specific hookups and a specific connection procedure requiring you to close the MacBook's lid but can't use standard docks with DisplayPort MST like other laptops can.

And I say this as someone who bought and uses a used M1 MacBook Air and knew about the display limitation when I purchased it (and almost went with a used Mac Mini instead due to that limitation).

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