I think for Face ID they have to change the design because the lid is too thin for that technology as of now?!
Some members here mentioned that before.
("Normally" Apple doesn't change the design for spec updates.)
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5 Things You Need to Know About M2 Pro and M2 Max
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I think for Face ID they have to change the design because the lid is too thin for that technology as of now?!
Some members here mentioned that before.
("Normally" Apple doesn't change the design for spec updates.)
The M2 has the same media engine which was in the M1-Pro so I think the upgrade will help you a lot despite the numbers not indicating that much of a difference. You can always try and return out if toys don't think the upgrade is much.
the m naming convention reminds me of the bmw car series - one of mr jobs prefered lease vehicle brands
USB4 can actually support DisplayPort 2.0/2.1 as an Alt Mode, not least because DisplayPort 2.0 is implemented using the same physical layer as Thunderbolt 3 (which USB4 is also based on).
TB3 supports 40 Gbps bi-directional, so 40Gbps up + 40Gbps down, as it supports 4 lanes of 20Gbps. DisplayPort repurposes the "down" lanes into "up" lanes, thereby giving you 80Gbps uni-directional bandwidth.
So while the USB4/Thunderbolt 4 ports might technically not work as DisplayPort 2.0/2.1 ports right now, I wouldn't be entirely surprised if it's possible for Apple to do a firmware update and have them work as such.
Well there is also the problem of automatically authenticating everything just by sitting in front of your laptop. Unless you wanted to acknowledge the action by pressing a button which... why not just make that button touch id.
When I see stuff like 96GB of RAM, part of me yearns for such a machine.
And then I remember that I'm a dirty pleb who has zero use case for anything more than 16GB currently, and even that is a bit of a stretch.
And then I remember that I'm a dirty pleb who has zero use case for anything more than 16GB currently, and even that is a bit of a stretch.
Right. The Mac mini with M2 Pro supports 3 external displays.
Honestly looking for advice here, I’m coming from a mid-2015 MBP, but am a pretty casual user. I don’t do video editing or photo processing or anything, but I run multiple monitors so the Pro seems like the only viable option. Is the min-spec M2 Pro going to last me a while, or should I upgrade the processor or RAM? Is the min-spec secretly an underpowered laptop?
Honestly if you are a casual user with a 2015 MBP the M2 Air with 16GB and 512GB storage is a sweet spot. It's about $1600. If you don't need a laptop, the M2 mini value is insane. Would also get similar specs as a minimum viable rule.
-d
M2 Mac mini simultaneously supports up to two displays (one display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt or 4K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI).
M2 Pro Mac mini simultaneously supports up to three displays (two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI). Source: Apple
The article here written on Wednesday January 18, 2023 3:16 am PST I believe incorrectly states "Mac mini models configured with M2 Pro support up to two external displays."
M2 Pro Mac mini simultaneously supports up to three displays (two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI). Source: Apple
The article here written on Wednesday January 18, 2023 3:16 am PST I believe incorrectly states "Mac mini models configured with M2 Pro support up to two external displays."
The M2 Mini supports two external displays while the M2 Pro Mini supports three, they both are top performers in CPU & GPU against any laptop or desktop in its price range, of your managing along with a 2015 Intel Mac, the M2 Pro would last you just as long IMHO.
I had both a 2015 and a 2018 MBP and appreciated them both at the time. I now have an M2 MacBook Air (8 CPU / 10 GPU / 24 GB RAM / 1 TB) which I love. It's way more powerful than my MBPs and lighter to boot. As suggested by dugbug a moment ago, I think an Air would be great for you too. Get the highest spec one you can budget for because that will last you the longest, especially if you want to keep it for another 7 or 8 years like your current MBP.
The only thing to watch out for is that the MacBook Air is only going to support one external display (up to 6K resolution at 60Hz). If you need more than that, you're going to have to jump up to a MBP.
Regarding your question about "Is the min-spec [M2 MacBook Pro] secretly an underpowered laptop?" I would say absolutely not, especially relative to your current 2015 MBP. Just be sure you always get minimum 16GB RAM and probably twice as much storage as you are using now if you want another eight years of useage out of it.
Agreed. I think the 2012-2015 retina model nailed the right balance between performance and thickness which we haven't seen since. The current incarnation of Apple's leadership is less balanced towards design and more towards function, hence I'd expect the current design to stay, unfortunately.
Have you used a laptop with a white or silver keyboard? Very hard to see the letters on the keyboard if the keyboard is backlit and the letters are white or grey. White letters on a black keyboard is the best bet.
See note about multiple monitors. If the Air could support it I’d buy it in a second, but my desk has two external displays.
That would mean you would have to up to the M2 pro base model for $2K. My son upgraded from an intel air to the M1 pro base and loves it.
-d
The 2019 16 inch MacBook Pro was still a pro but not nearly as bulky imo. I really liked that form factor. I'd prefer that one over the newer design.
Here’s another take on it: if, as you stated, you have just two external displays, not very demanding tasks, and are being served at the moment by a 2015 MBP, why not go with the base M2 Mini?
At $599 ($499 edu) it’s the greatest value, seems it will give you an incredible perf upgrade and will tick all the boxes you mentioned.
Then, in 3 years, you upgrade to the then say M4 Mini. Instead of spending 1K+ today you would spend half of that and perhaps upgrade not once every 8 years but every 4, thus keeping your model supported with the latest OS and receiving things like the latest WiFi, Bluetooth and HDMI specs with it.
I have a friend doing heavy video editing on a base M1 and the thing flies compared to her previous Intel MBP. So don’t think it’s slow just because it’s the base model with 8GB RAM. For your use case it might be more than plenty.
At $599 ($499 edu) it’s the greatest value, seems it will give you an incredible perf upgrade and will tick all the boxes you mentioned.
Then, in 3 years, you upgrade to the then say M4 Mini. Instead of spending 1K+ today you would spend half of that and perhaps upgrade not once every 8 years but every 4, thus keeping your model supported with the latest OS and receiving things like the latest WiFi, Bluetooth and HDMI specs with it.
I have a friend doing heavy video editing on a base M1 and the thing flies compared to her previous Intel MBP. So don’t think it’s slow just because it’s the base model with 8GB RAM. For your use case it might be more than plenty.
No, I have nothing against the black keys, what I meant was the black surface around/behind it. I prefer the old design where it was simply space gray/silver.
This is Apple - what better excuse for getting people to buy the next MacBook Pro it now supports DP2.1!
My MBP 16" M1 Pro/32GB/1TB arrived yesterday after waiting a month. Of course, Apple had to announce the new laptops on the same day! At least, I get some consolation that the new laptops are not available to order through my university's ICT services and the new prices would mean sticking to 16GB instead of upgrading to 32GB. Plus, Apple decided to stop offering standard AppleCare with the M2 laptops (they offer AppleCare+ to consumers, but as a public university we are not allowed to buy it)!
It's not an issue in real use with iPhone / iPads, why would it be an issue for a laptop ?
If the software is properly built around the feature it should be good.
I can understand your view, but there was also complaints that it was too slim to be able to handle the heat generated by the components. It seems Apple has been thinking about this in the current design of the 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pro.
Yes, I was correcting a mistake in the original post and forgot to add ‘M2 Pro’ part.