New Mac Talk

[TDub]

What’s CPU and GPU? Or SSD?

Excellent question. I assume this is some sort of hieroglyphics, cattle brand or a new language? I have no idea what any of that means. I'll see myself out of this particular thread now....

[twocoach]

Oh!

thanks CnB for helping me find this thread.

Is there any reason I’d need anything more than an Air?

What’s CPU and GPU? Or SSD? And memory and storage and other metrics?

CPU is your processor, the brains of the computer. The better the CPU, the faster it can process data. GPU is the graphics processor. The bigger the number the better it can process and display complicated videos and games. SSD is solid state drive, a type of hard drive, which is basically your computers filing cabinet. SSD drives use a much faster type of memory storage than the old school hard drives so you can access your stored data much quicker.

[pdub]

And for some information about the new Apple chip that's in the computers suggested here:

https://www.macrumors.com/guide/m1/

CnB is right. No need to get the amped up Macbook Pro ( of course I buy before they come out with an even MORE POWERFUL VERSION ) unless, well, you're a 'pro'.

If you're after a mac laptop, get the 13 inch air, lowest GPU spec and upgrade the SSD storage to 512 GB for another 200 bucks.

1,199 total price tag.

[ousdahl]

yea I’m a pro.

As in, professional message border.

Have you seen my work on the satellite thread?

[pdub]

Went with the 13 inch macbook pro upgraded to 16 GB/1 TB.

Excited to fire up AE, PS, AI, PR all at once to see if she can handle it.

This turned out to be 1899.
The new 14 inch has a base cost of 1999 ( 16 is 2499! ) with the same memory and less storage -- but, and here's the big but, a stronger GPU, which is a bummer for me for any future video editing, rendering and modeling.
Still happy with the purchase - the smaller size doesn't matter when hooked up to external monitor.

[CrimsonNBlue]

I bet you can get a great price on a trade in to upgrade to M1Pro or M1X.

All M1's have great resell value and are breaking sales records.

[pdub]

I've thought about it - but this sucker is running fast so far.
I have every single Adobe program I use open along with probably 10 other programs with no delay. No spin wheel. No nothin.
And all the installs, file transfer, setup is like moving into a new house.

Render times are noticeably faster ( could always be much faster though - but likely if I get really into that work - i'll be lugging my Alienware out of the basement and manually upgrading it ).

I'll probably wait a year and see if they upgrade the Mac mini.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Good call on the mini. It just seems that the cost to upgrade is very small right now and it MIGHT buy a handful of more years.

Not true for Air owners.

[pdub]

I don't expect Apple will rest on their laurels.
The new M2+ chip will be out in 2022 and we'll all be regretting buying the M1 pros.

[ousdahl]

OK last question I think.

Is 8gb of memory and 256gb of SSD enough? What would 512 gain me?

The air has 256 or 512 SSD, i might upgrade that much.

16gb of memory only comes in the nicer Pros, so almost twice as much cost.

The info I’m finding about 16gb mostly just refers to gamers, but gaming doesn’t apply to me, I’ve actually been with a woman before.

What else would I be likely to do, for which I might notice 8gb is not enough?

[Cascadia]

I’d go with more than 8gb of memory. 256 is fine unless your storing a bunch of HD photo/video

[kubowler99]

I don't expect Apple will rest on their laurels.
The new M2+ chip will be out in 2022 and we'll all be regretting buying the M1 pros.

Will it be in the macbooks in 2022 though? I'd guess that's a 2023 refresh

[pdub]

They upgraded the M1 chip to the M1pro within 1 year.
Whatever they call the next chip, they'll probably put in the macbooks.

Ousdahl I'm pretty confident there's no need for you to go for more than 8GB of memory.
If you're, for example, using Quickbooks, Excel, Google Slides, and have 30 tabs open over three windows in chrome -- you'll be covered with 8 GB.
You'd need 16 for heavy gaming or intensive programs ( like video editing ).

As far as storage, if you are working on a computer now, just check to see how much storage you've taken up. If it's over 100 GB, then maybe you'll want to upgrade to 512.

[jfish26]

I got a new computer from work for the first time in four years, and it's the bizarre reality of corporate IT: this new one (Dell Latitude 7320) is substantially better than what it replaced, while also being literally years behind tech now available at comparable cost.

[jhawks99]

I got mine replaced a couple months ago. While it has more memory and a faster processor, the keyboard sucks and they have refused to load software that I regularly used. I'd take my old one back in a second.

[ousdahl]

99’s bummed his new computer doesn’t have spider solitaire

[Deleted User 89]

I got mine replaced a couple months ago. While it has more memory and a faster processor, the keyboard sucks and they have refused to load software that I regularly used. I'd take my old one back in a second.

i’ve run into the same bs with my company not being willing to provide me the software i use

they live what i put together i my personal laptop, with the Adobe suite, but aren’t willing to foot the bill to get me access on my work machine

the absolute worst though, is having to generate a ticket and go through IT for every little update

[TDub]

they got rid of spider solitaire?

[jhawks99]

No games on our work laptops. Never has been.

[ousdahl]

If you don’t have games you could always just open the calculator app and input “5318008” then turn the screen outside down.

You’re welcome.