• MacBook Air or Pro?

    From Ant@21:1/5 to All on Tue Dec 15 19:53:12 2020
    XPost: comp.sys.mac.system, comp.sys.mac.systems

    Hello.

    My elder client wants to replace his 13.3" mid-2012 (9,2; MD102ll/A) and 15" 2008 (A1260 model) MacBook Pros with a new MacBook before this crazy year ends since they are very old, slow, etc.

    His new MacBook's requirements:

    * 1 TB of internal SSD space (biggest is better)

    * 13" size for easy light traveling around the world when it's safe again. 16" is way too big he says since he complains his old 15" is too big and heavy.

    * Many old external USB(2-3) hardwares like hubs, printers, disc burner, mouses, iDevices, HDDs, etc. Adapters and hubs are needed since the new MacBooks don't have any old USB ports. Any recommendations on this.

    * Display out with VGA, DVI, & HDMI with mostly HDTVs (4K too when needed) and computer monitors. Is there a combined SINGLE cable adapter with splitters instead of having to use separate cables and adapters which is annoying?

    * Educational prices (USC.edu) if possible since the regular prices are already expensive enough.

    It will be mainly be used for work, home, and entertainment: Office (will have to replace his 32-bit Mac Office 2011), internet, meetings, presentations, videos, audios, photographs, gaming (e.g., Steam), virtual machines (VMs), etc.

    Would https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air/space-gray-apple-m1-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-512gb (2 TB of SSD + 16 GB of RAM) be OK for his needs at $1,869? Or does he need to go with Pro like https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/
    buy-mac/macbook-pro/13-inch-space-gray-apple-m1-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-512gb?part=MYD92LL/A (2 TB SSD + 16 GB of RAM) for $2,119? Apple doesn't seem to have many options like in previous years?

    Also, where's the best place to buy/order it? Apple's web site, retail stores (are Apple stores open to go in to look, try, etc. these days? Costco? Best Buy?), etc.? I see none of the retail stores have bigger sizes of RAM and SSD sizes so
    customizations are required.

    Thank you for reading and hopefully answering soon. :)
    --
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  • From Lewis@21:1/5 to Ant on Wed Dec 16 02:15:22 2020
    XPost: comp.sys.mac.system, comp.sys.mac.systems

    In message <mdmdnVFZRbEV9UTCnZ2dnUU7-UPNnZ2d@earthlink.com> Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote:
    * Display out with VGA, DVI, & HDMI with mostly HDTVs (4K too when
    needed) and computer monitors. Is there a combined SINGLE cable
    adapter with splitters instead of having to use separate cables and
    adapters which is annoying?

    You are not going to find VGA out without stringing dongles together.
    Your best options are USB-C -> Display Port (or USB-C if you can find
    monitors with it). Get rid of any VGA crap.

    * Educational prices (USC.edu) if possible since the regular prices
    are already expensive enough.

    The MBA is absurdly cheap for what it is.

    It will be mainly be used for work, home, and entertainment: Office
    (will have to replace his 32-bit Mac Office 2011), internet, meetings, presentations, videos, audios, photographs, gaming (e.g., Steam),
    virtual machines (VMs), etc.

    Would https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air/space-gray-apple-m1-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-512gb
    (2 TB of SSD + 16 GB of RAM) be OK for his needs at $1,869? Or does he

    2TB is a lot more expensive than 1TB. I would buy the 1TB (oh wait, I
    did). Save the money and buy a good TB3 Dock (or USB4 one if they are available) for $200-250 and if you need more USB-A ports, a decent USB
    dock ($40).

    https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/13-inch-space-gray-apple-m1-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-512gb?part=MYD92LL/A

    There is very little difference between the machines. The MBP has a
    *very* slightly better screen, a touchbar, and a fan so it gets slightly
    better performance on long tasks. Like editing multiple 4K streams. The
    SoCs in the machines are identical. Doesn't sound like he will notice
    any performance difference between the two.

    Also, where's the best place to buy/order it? Apple's web site, retail

    Apple site. Most anyone else will only carry one or two configs and no
    one is likely to carry 1 TB model, much less a 2TB one.

    --
    "Are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
    Pinky: (talking to his reflection in the mirror) Pinky, are you
    pondering what I'm pondering?
Pinky's Reflection: Why, yes,
    Pinky! Yes, I am! But where would you get a chicken, 20 yards of
    spandex and smelling salts at this hour?

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  • From Ant@21:1/5 to Lewis on Wed Dec 16 14:55:33 2020
    XPost: comp.sys.mac.system, comp.sys.mac.systems

    In comp.sys.mac.system Lewis <g.kreme@kreme.dont-email.me> wrote:
    * Educational prices (USC.edu) if possible since the regular prices
    are already expensive enough.

    The MBA is absurdly cheap for what it is.

    It looks like no MBAs since it uses ARM. My elder client uses VMs and
    that is going to be a problem according to Redditors since ARM is very
    new for now. Also, they have less USB-C ports compared to Intel ones.


    It will be mainly be used for work, home, and entertainment: Office
    (will have to replace his 32-bit Mac Office 2011), internet, meetings, presentations, videos, audios, photographs, gaming (e.g., Steam),
    virtual machines (VMs), etc.

    Would https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air/space-gray-apple-m1-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-512gb
    (2 TB of SSD + 16 GB of RAM) be OK for his needs at $1,869? Or does he

    2TB is a lot more expensive than 1TB. I would buy the 1TB (oh wait, I
    did). Save the money and buy a good TB3 Dock (or USB4 one if they are available) for $200-250 and if you need more USB-A ports, a decent USB
    dock ($40).

    He doesn't want to carry the extra storage with him everywhere.


    https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/13-inch-space-gray-apple-m1-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-512gb?part=MYD92LL/A

    There is very little difference between the machines. The MBP has a
    *very* slightly better screen, a touchbar, and a fan so it gets slightly better performance on long tasks. Like editing multiple 4K streams. The
    SoCs in the machines are identical. Doesn't sound like he will notice
    any performance difference between the two.

    Currently, we're aiming for the older Intel CPU (i5 or i7) with 1 TB, 16
    GB of RAM, & Intel Iris Plus (https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/13-inch-space-gray-2.0ghz-intel-core-i5-quad-core-processor-with-intel-iris-plus-graphics-1tb)
    instead of the brand new ARM due him using VMs.


    Also, where's the best place to buy/order it? Apple's web site, retail

    Apple site. Most anyone else will only carry one or two configs and no
    one is likely to carry 1 TB model, much less a 2TB one.

    It looks like custom orders won't arrive until 2021. I even saw far as February. Wow!
    --
    Life's so loco! ..!.. *isms, sins, hates, (d)evil, z, tiredness, my old body, (sick/ill)ness (e.g., COVID-19 & SARS-CoV-2), deaths (RIP), interruptions, issues, conflicts, obstacles, stresses, fires, out(r)ages, dramas, unlucky #4, 2020, greeds, bugs (e.
    g., crashes & female mosquitoes), etc. D: Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
    Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
    /\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
    / /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
    | |o o| |
    \ _ /
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  • From Lewis@21:1/5 to Ant on Wed Dec 16 22:53:46 2020
    XPost: comp.sys.mac.system, comp.sys.mac.systems

    In message <EPedncyyGPHY6UfCnZ2dnUU7-L3NnZ2d@earthlink.com> Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote:
    In comp.sys.mac.system Lewis <g.kreme@kreme.dont-email.me> wrote:
    * Educational prices (USC.edu) if possible since the regular prices
    are already expensive enough.

    The MBA is absurdly cheap for what it is.

    It looks like no MBAs since it uses ARM. My elder client uses VMs and
    that is going to be a problem according to Redditors since ARM is very
    new for now. Also, they have less USB-C ports compared to Intel ones.

    You should have mentioned that a lot more explicitly. And also not
    SPECIFICALLY linked to an M1 Macs.

    I have no advice for you then other than strongly reconsider buying dead technology.

    https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/13-inch-space-gray-apple-m1-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-8-core-gpu-512gb?part=MYD92LL/A

    --
    This wasn't a proper land. The sky was blue, not flaming with all the
    colours of the aurora. And time was passing. To a creature not
    born subject to time, it was a sensation not unakin to falling.
    --Lords and Ladies

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