5 Months with the fully loaded MacBook Pro M1 Max

[DougFNJ]

I believed for a long time the 2015 MacBook Pro was one of the last greatest MacBook Pros Apple had made. A few upgrades since, and I had always felt something was lacking with the generation after. Then they announced the 14" and 16" versions and I felt they finally listened. I hadn't been excited about a MacBook Pro in years, and I had been hesitant to jump into Apple's Silicon too soon. As I watched reviews and benchmarks on these machines, and then read the real world experiences of so many people being happy with theirs, no recurring issues like stuck keys, or needing to adjust the way I use my machine. I researched the app I regularly use to make sure I could continue to use them on the M1, and almost everything was updated to work with it. I placed my order for a fully loaded 14" M1 Max, 64GB RAM, 8TB Drive in October and received it the end of November. Transferring everything over using Thunderbolt was FAST, and everything was setup within a few hours. The software that was compatible with the M1 was already updated.

When I began working on it, I quickly realized this computer checked every single box that I have been looking for in my MacBook Pro for YEARS. The size is great, the display is incredible. They brought back the SD Card reader which is incredibly helpful, I was REALLY happy they brought MagSafe back as well. HDMI is helpful at work on occasion, not vital, but nice to have. The biggest difference maker though is what's inside. The M1 Max has been so impressive. Right off the bat, no fan, and not a lot of heat generated. I think I heard the fan kick on 1 time since Ive owned it. Everything is fast. I upgraded to faster SD Cards, transfers that took over 10 minutes now take 1-2 minutes. Working with Final Cut Pro has been the experience I have hoped to enjoy for years. no beachballs, no load times, renderings take seconds, and exports are blazing fast. Everything is precisely as everyone said with the processor. No hesitation on anything no matter what I throw at it. The simple programs like Office apps work as they should, Mail, contacts calendar, etc. I use an app called Goodnotes for my iPad Pro. It works with iCloud. Everything I write up on my iPad works seamlessly with my Mac, and it allows me to review and edit my work. PDF Expert used to constantly give me load issues, all fixed, fully compatible, and work amazingly on the new silicon.

So, a few months later, I paid a lot for this machine to be fully loaded, and I have experienced no buyer's remorse at all.

 

[marstan]

You haven't had any trackpad issues like delayed tap to click commands, swipes or speaker popping noises?

 

[BigMcGuire]

I believed for a long time the 2015 MacBook Pro was one of the last greatest MacBook Pros Apple had made. A few upgrades since, and I had always felt something was lacking with the generation after. Then they announced the 14" and 16" versions and I felt they finally listened. I hadn't been excited about a MacBook Pro in years, and I had been hesitant to jump into Apple's Silicon too soon. As I watched reviews and benchmarks on these machines, and then read the real world experiences of so many people being happy with theirs, no recurring issues like stuck keys, or needing to adjust the way I use my machine. I researched the app I regularly use to make sure I could continue to use them on the M1, and almost everything was updated to work with it. I placed my order for a fully loaded 14" M1 Max, 64GB RAM, 8TB Drive in October and received it the end of November. Transferring everything over using Thunderbolt was FAST, and everything was setup within a few hours. The software that was compatible with the M1 was already updated.

When I began working on it, I quickly realized this computer checked every single box that I have been looking for in my MacBook Pro for YEARS. The size is great, the display is incredible. They brought back the SD Card reader which is incredibly helpful, I was REALLY happy they brought MagSafe back as well. HDMI is helpful at work on occasion, not vital, but nice to have. The biggest difference maker though is what's inside. The M1 Max has been so impressive. Right off the bat, no fan, and not a lot of heat generated. I think I heard the fan kick on 1 time since Ive owned it. Everything is fast. I upgraded to faster SD Cards, transfers that took over 10 minutes now take 1-2 minutes. Working with Final Cut Pro has been the experience I have hoped to enjoy for years. no beachballs, no load times, renderings take seconds, and exports are blazing fast. Everything is precisely as everyone said with the processor. No hesitation on anything no matter what I throw at it. The simple programs like Office apps work as they should, Mail, contacts calendar, etc. I use an app called Goodnotes for my iPad Pro. It works with iCloud. Everything I write up on my iPad works seamlessly with my Mac, and it allows me to review and edit my work. PDF Expert used to constantly give me load issues, all fixed, fully compatible, and work amazingly on the new silicon.

So, a few months later, I paid a lot for this machine to be fully loaded, and I have experienced no buyer's remorse at all.

I recently got my dream MBP. Up until now I've always gotten mid-range 13' MBPs. Splurged on an almost maxed out 16' MBP and absolutely loving it. These laptops are absolutely astounding. I look forward to at least the next 5 years with this thing!

 

[cp1160]

I bought a slightly more modest machine, only a 2 TB machine, but otherwise similar. No remorse whatsoever. Still setting a few things up, but have Parallels running Windows ARM. Yesterday I used it to complete a massive Excel Pivot Table and Advance Filter operation that no other Mac I had, including a very high end Intel 16" with 64 GB memory would not complete. The M1 Max sliced through it like butter. Bravo.

Only potential nit I have is the when a M1-based system has an internal SSD failure you cannot boot from an external drive. Having recovered from a few mishaps in the past, I find this limitation a bit worrisome. Hope nothing comes of it, but I have had 3 drives in MacBook Pros fail over the years, so it happens.

 

[spiderman0616]

When I received my new work computer via FedEx a few weeks ago, I was extremely surprised to find out it was a brand new 16" MacBook Pro. I was literally jumping up and down because I could not wait to take a look at that new screen, hear the new speakers, etc. But even already being an M1 MacBook Air owner, my next thought was "I bet battery life will suck because this screen is so big."

I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong. This thing has battery life to spare. It is large and heavy and not super pleasant to carry around in a laptop bag, which is why I think my portable machine will remain a smaller MacBook or iPad. That's really my only gripe though, and I've certainly owned thicker, heavier laptops before and it was no major hardship. The power you're toting along with it almost negates the weight.

The design I wasn't crazy about at first, but I have grown to appreciate it. The machine itself may be heavier, but that weight doesn't feel uncomfortable in the end because there aren't sharp edges. It also seems to be more solid and precise and doesn't have any "give" either in the lid or on the bottom.

It's really kind of nice. I used to have to decide between my M1 MacBook Air and my Intel 15" MacBook Pro from work, which ran very loud, hot, and slow. Now it's just a choice between which M1 machine I need for what tasks. Apple Silicon is so much fun so far.

 

[cp1160]

I bought a slightly more modest machine, only a 2 TB machine, but otherwise similar. No remorse whatsoever. Still setting a few things up, but have Parallels running Windows ARM. Yesterday I used it to complete a massive Excel Pivot Table and Advance Filter operation that no other Mac I had, including a very high end Intel 16" with 64 GB memory would not complete. The M1 Max sliced through it like butter. Bravo.

Only potential nit I have is the when a M1-based system has an internal SSD failure you cannot boot from an external drive. Having recovered from a few mishaps in the past, I find this limitation a bit worrisome. Hope nothing comes of it, but I have had 3 drives in MacBook Pros fail over the years, so it happens.

Oh....and the keyboard. Back to a good keyboard. No more cursing at the Touchbar when my finger brushes the virtual Escape key (versus the later replaced physical key).

Its a good keyboard. Good....just not quite the incredible keyboard my MacBook Pro 17, which is still working, had. That was the pinnacle of keyboards IMHO. My 15" Retina was good, this one is good. The 17" was just better.

 

[spiderman0616]

Oh....and the keyboard. Back to a good keyboard. No more cursing at the Touchbar when my finger brushes the virtual Escape key (versus the later replaced physical key).

Its a good keyboard. Good....just not quite the incredible keyboard my MacBook Pro 17, which is still working, had. That was the pinnacle of keyboards IMHO. My 15" Retina was good, this one is good. The 17" was just better.

I feel like we've gotten back to good keyboards again on all Apple devices for sure. I will say, out of the three modern varieties I've owned, I still think my 16" MBP keyboard is the one I like least. It just feels less solid to type on than my MacBook Air or even the iPad Magic Keyboard. That's not to say it's a bad keyboard--it's finally a good keyboard again. It's just my least favorite of the ones I've tried lately. I do really dig the look of the black keyboard inlay to match the keys though. Very slick.

Anyway, I'm a pretty quick typist and am very glad the butterfly switches are gone. Please please please burn those with fire and never speak of them again.