Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

[yankees60]

While I don’t consider myself a fanboy, I can tell you that I find Macs to be totally reliable. I did return the new one when it ignored my old peripherals, but I’m still using the ten-year-old one.

#1 thing: don’t have to worry about Windows licenses. You just upgrade when a new OS has been around for a bit, and then when the hardware is old enough that you can update no more you just do nothing.

Only sad thing is that my new Dell monitor (that I bought for the new mac) is sitting idle, much like your dream machine down the hall, or wherever it is. I really should buy something to go with it.

Windows licenses have never been an issue for me. And, I've never had an issue with updating because of old hardware.

I bought this computer used in July 2017 with Windows 10 Professional installed. Have never not been able to install anything on it because of the age of its hardware.

Last month I was doing some super intensive computer work that would have taken way too long on this computer so I was using the dream machine for all that work. The computer is under this table, about 1.5 feet from my right leg. One of its monitors is next to the one of three monitors on this computer I am using to do this. It was more productive to have the two computers' monitors side-by-side plus using dropbox to quickly get files between them.

[dualstow]

Windows licenses have never been an issue for me. And, I've never had an issue with updating because of old hardware.

I never ran into any real trouble back when I was running XP. Just annoyances. I remember having to download a lot of stuff that was just built in to the Mac. And since the OS is included, I never had to deal with licenses or certificates again once I made the switch.

My wife also complains about her Windows laptop updating at odd hours, but I imagine when I buy my PC I’ll learn how to adjust that. Then I can show her and I won’t have to hear about it again.

[yankees60]

Windows licenses have never been an issue for me. And, I've never had an issue with updating because of old hardware.

I never ran into any real trouble back when I was running XP. Just annoyances. I remember having to download a lot of stuff that was just built in to the Mac. And since the OS is included, I never had to deal with licenses or certificates again once I made the switch.

My wife also complains about her Windows laptop updating at odd hours, but I imagine when I buy my PC I’ll learn how to adjust that. Then I can show her and I won’t have to hear about it again.

The Windows updates announce themselves by asking if you want to do them now or later. You have a fair amount of control over them as to when they take place.

[Smith1776]

I really think this is Apple's most well-rounded and best overall machine.

Super compact & light, lots of performance, killer battery life, and a price that's very reasonable (by Apple standards).

[Mountaineer]

Happy Victoria Day to all, and especially to Smithers!

[dualstow]

One of the stranger things I saw in the newspaper this week.

IMG_7852.jpeg (64.98 KiB) Viewed 11505 times

[yankees60]

I really think this is Apple's most well-rounded and best overall machine.

Super compact & light, lots of performance, killer battery life, and a price that's very reasonable (by Apple standards).

Seems like you made a wise choice for your criteria.

[Xan]

So they can charge a lot for RAM and storage.

This is much worse now than it used to be: both the storage and RAM are now non-upgradable on Macs. So you must initially buy all the storage and RAM you think you'll ever need on that laptop, which you can only buy from Apple and are tremendously expensive.

They do make a very slick machine! But selling an 8GB laptop in 2024 is not a responsible thing to do, in my opinion. I suppose I'd cut some slack on that to a bargain-basement laptop, but that's not these.

[dualstow]

So they can charge a lot for RAM and storage.

This is much worse now than it used to be: both the storage and RAM are now non-upgradable on Macs. So you must initially buy all the storage and RAM you think you'll ever need …
…

Good point. Yeah, my earlier Mac mini was souped up by a local authorized reseller. They took out the hard drive and replaced it with solid state, and put tons of RAM in it. As far as I know, it still works (can’t find the power cord).
Now that the RAM comes soldered in, Apple put that reseller out of business. It’s gone.
This is one reason I’ll be going the PC route — I’ll be putting it next to my ageing Mac but unlike Vinny I will be using both machines. There will be no velvet rope around the new one.

What can I say. It’s been wonderful being a shareholder.

[yankees60]

So they can charge a lot for RAM and storage.

This is much worse now than it used to be: both the storage and RAM are now non-upgradable on Macs. So you must initially buy all the storage and RAM you think you'll ever need …
…

Good point. Yeah, my earlier Mac mini was souped up by a local authorized reseller. They took out the hard drive and replaced it with solid state, and put tons of RAM in it. As far as I know, it still works (can’t find the power cord).
Now that the RAM comes soldered in, Apple put that reseller out of business. It’s gone.
This is one reason I’ll be going the PC route — I’ll be putting it next to my ageing Mac but unlike Vinny I will be using both machines. There will be no velvet rope around the new one.

What can I say. It’s been wonderful being a shareholder.

No velvet rope around the new one.

It's more a case of remaining loyal to this computer that keeps going 7 years after I bought it used for $500.

Came with i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 1 TB HD, 500 GB SSD.

Video card which supports four monitors (3 currently connected)

Had had almost no issues with it during all those years of use.

[Smith1776]

No velvet rope around my new machine, but I’ll definitely be taking care of it.

I have both a snap-on hardshell case in addition to a sleeve I carry it in during transport.

[Hal]

Congratulations on your new laptop Smithy.

Here's a fun program to run on it -> https://transceive.app

Since you studied engineering, you will probably get an exemption on the licensing requirements.

[dualstow]

No velvet rope around the new one.

It's more a case of remaining loyal to this computer that keeps going 7 years after I bought it used for $500.

Came with i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 1 TB HD, 500 GB SSD.

Video card which supports four monitors (3 currently connected)

Had had almost no issues with it during all those years of use.

I hear that. I sometimes feel mild pangs of guilt when I’m on a new computer and the old one isn’t broken.

[Mountaineer]

FWIW - My 2018 MacBook Pro 15" laptop is still going strong - 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD. The only thing I don't like much is the keyboard compared to my old 2009 MacBook Pro.

[dualstow]

Different arrangement of special keys?

[yankees60]

No velvet rope around the new one.

It's more a case of remaining loyal to this computer that keeps going 7 years after I bought it used for $500.

Came with i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 1 TB HD, 500 GB SSD.

Video card which supports four monitors (3 currently connected)

Had had almost no issues with it during all those years of use.

I hear that. I sometimes feel mild pangs of guilt when I’m on a new computer and the old one isn’t broken.

The other issue I'm remembered that still needs to be resolved before I can completely switch to the other computer is getting QuickBooks successfully installed on it.

When I'm using it is integral with an extensive use of an Excel file. It's optimal to have both Excel and QuickBooks working on the same computer, which is the case with this old one I am still using.

[yankees60]

FWIW - My 2018 MacBook Pro 15" laptop is still going strong - 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD. The only thing I don't like much is the keyboard compared to my old 2009 MacBook Pro.

Can you disclose the price? That's seems like it would have been a super expensive laptop.

Do you use a larger external monitor with it?

I routinely use two 27" monitors side-by-side with the resolution turned up as high as possible and with my Excel view set as low as possible so I can see the maximum amounts of the Excel worksheets I am looking at. But it is still not enough for me to be looking at.

[Smith1776]

Congratulations on your new laptop Smithy.

Here's a fun program to run on it -> https://transceive.app

Since you studied engineering, you will probably get an exemption on the licensing requirements.

Thanks, Hal!

[Smith1776]

With this dock I'm able to get an extra 2 external monitors out of any MacBook, over and above what the stated number of maximum externals monitors is.

www.amazon.ca/Plugable-Display-DisplayP ... 08B6CZ29Q/

If you combine this with Airplay you can add one more on top of that number!

[Mountaineer]

FWIW - My 2018 MacBook Pro 15" laptop is still going strong - 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD. The only thing I don't like much is the keyboard compared to my old 2009 MacBook Pro.

Can you disclose the price? That's seems like it would have been a super expensive laptop.

Do you use a larger external monitor with it?

I routinely use two 27" monitors side-by-side with the resolution turned up as high as possible and with my Excel view set as low as possible so I can see the maximum amounts of the Excel worksheets I am looking at. But it is still not enough for me to be looking at.

I don’t remember exactly the price. Probably something north of $2k. I tend to buy top of the line stuff and keep for a long time. If I find my purchase info I’ll let you know. I use no external monitors.

[yankees60]

FWIW - My 2018 MacBook Pro 15" laptop is still going strong - 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD. The only thing I don't like much is the keyboard compared to my old 2009 MacBook Pro.

Can you disclose the price? That's seems like it would have been a super expensive laptop.

Do you use a larger external monitor with it?

I routinely use two 27" monitors side-by-side with the resolution turned up as high as possible and with my Excel view set as low as possible so I can see the maximum amounts of the Excel worksheets I am looking at. But it is still not enough for me to be looking at.

I don’t remember exactly the price. Probably something north of $2k. I tend to buy top of the line stuff and keep for a long time. If I find my purchase info I’ll let you know. I use no external monitors.

That's close enough. That is about what I paid for my custom computer with all high quality, robust parts that is to last me a long, long time. Way overbuilt for today but to still be enough for tomorrow.

[Smith1776]

I'm of a slightly different ilk.

Lately I've been partial to buying mid-ranged machines and upgrading relatively frequently rather than buying high-end machines meant to last a very long time. Different strokes.

[yankees60]

I'm of a slightly different ilk.

Lately I've been partial to buying mid-ranged machines and upgrading relatively frequently rather than buying high-end machines meant to last a very long time. Different strokes.

I had mine custom made and did not want to have to do anything to it for the future. This present computer I'm using for 7 years has had no internal upgrades to it.

Bought it for $500 used and that's all I've spent on it.

[Smith1776]

Bought it for $500 used and that's all I've spent on it.

I miss the PC space. Maybe I should build my self another desktop.

[dualstow]

Bought it for $500 used and that's all I've spent on it.

I miss the PC space. Maybe I should build my self another desktop.

What does the lady use?