2019 max'd out 15" a workstation now?

[collin_]

I would say so. With these 8-core CPUs I think this is the first generation that could be referred to as such.

 

[bill-p]

Im just having a hard time not believing its all a bunch of hype that was started my engineers who do not know much about computers.

No reason why a Vega 20 with 16GB RAM and an 8-core i9 cant plow through large Solidworks assemblies or run lengthy simulations.

And hell, if someone wants to raise the throttling issue then every laptop throttles, even the all mighty P52 with its genius single heat pipe design.

Just frustrated as I have gone back and forth buying and returning machines because of what I read on the internet...when I should be looking at specs and using my common sense.

Cuz you got the Thinkpad P52.

"Workstation" laptop should be this:
https://www8.hp.com/us/en/workstations/Zbook-17.html

Good luck trying to thermal-throttle that.

Honestly, though, I get your confusion. I just started a new job and when I went in for work and found that on my desk, my jaw dropped at the specs and size (and I didn't even bother lifting the thing up cuz I KNEW).

Youtube has done a good job selling consumer-grade laptops marketed as "workstations". But... really, there are true workstation laptops for engineering work that can do whatever you throw at them, and more.

P.S.: also, yeah, it's a 17-inch screen! Shame on you, Apple.

 

[collin_]

Apple MacBook Pro:

Xeon processors - No
ECC RAM - No
128GB RAM capable - No
NVIDIA Quadro or AMD FirePro graphics - No
100% Adobe RGB screens - No
User replaceable components e.g. RAM, battery, keyboard, fans, HDDs, optical drives, GPU - No
Military specification testing and pass results for drops, shock, dust, temperature, water etc - No
Enterprise level security - No
Software certification guaranteed - No
Standard business-class warranty with 3-year on-site technical support - No
Tested for 24/7 on time with 100% max CPU workload - No
230W power supplies - No

Some of these qualifications seem kind of arbitrary. What does "enterprise level security" even mean?

 

[bill-p]

Some of these qualifications seem kind of arbitrary. What does "enterprise level security" even mean?

Well, the one thing you pointed out is actually pretty specific:
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7795297

If I have to describe it in short, basically, what it means is that if a device is handed to you and it belongs to the company (i.e.: work-issued), then they can make sure that without express permission from the IT department, you cannot use or access data on said device.

On that note, though, you may be glad to know that Apple does actually have some robust security measures built into MacOS, some of which you are already using by default even in a non-corporate environment.

https://www.apple.com/business/resources/docs/macOS_Security_Overview.pdf

So it's not true that MacBooks do not count as workstations in that sense. They are just not as performant as other same-ish grade workstations.