Advice On My New Macbook Pro!

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

I have been rocking on a Mid-2015 15" rMBP since they came out for the last 11 years. It still works OK for most of the time except some issues & I felt the need to upgrade before things get more expensive due to the RAM situation. I kind of wanted a new unit after 11 years!

It is running Monterey very far behind from Tahoe.

I just got a 16" M5 Pro & as I am in England, it did not come with a charger in the box (Apple seems to always screw us Brits!). The official Apple one is a whopping £169 ($230!) so looking for other options more reasonable but reliable & that will not destroy my MBP. I will stay away from the cheaper options on Amazon that are $30-$40 & I hear that Anker & U-Green are good options.

What would be the best way to charge - MagSafe or USB? What type of charger - wall plug type or something else? If anyone can recommend the best options I would be grateful as the choices are bewildering. I guess I need one that is rated at least 140Watts - any issues if I get a higher capacity - 160/200 watts etc & one that has multiple ports?

I have just set up the M5-Pro & would like to know the best way to transfer all my data from my Monterey rMBP to the Tahoe M5-Pro? I hear a clean install is best which I presume I have already fresh from Apple but I know there are probably a bunch of corrupt files & some things not right on my rMBP that I prefer not to to be transferred on to the new unit.

I have Super-Duper which can clone my rMBP Drive but it will also clone any issues as well so not so sure about using it & also, some things are never ever the same with it. I am kind of concerned about the OS's being so different from each other & the time difference between them that might cause issues.

I read somewhere that the faster way to transfer data between the two units would be a Thunderbolt 5 Cable but for some reason, only the Apple one will work fastest or best?

Can I still do wireless back ups via Time Machine to Time Capsules with the M5-Pro MBP?

Many Thanks All!

 

[Bigwaff]

What would be the best way to charge - MagSafe or USB?

Doesn’t matter. No “best” way.

What type of charger - wall plug type or something else?

Wall plug as I don’t think there is “something else”… as in?

I guess I need one that is rated at least 140Watts - any issues if I get a higher capacity - 160/200 watts etc & one that has multiple ports?

You don’t “need”. Even 60W charger will charge MBP, just slower.

would like to know the best way to transfer all my data from my Monterey rMBP to the Tahoe M5-Pro?

“Best way” depends on what you want to transfer. Just data files? Copy to external drive. Applications, etc? Migration Assistant will work, although with such a large gap between macOS versions, your applications are probably not compatible with Tahoe.

I read somewhere that the faster way to transfer data between the two units would be a Thunderbolt 5 Cable but for some reason, only the Apple one will work fastest or best?

“Fastest” will be limited to speed of the 2015 MBP so it don’t matter what cable you use.

Can I still do wireless back ups via Time Machine to Time Capsules with the M5-Pro MBP?

Probably, but you don’t want to. Time Capsules have been deprecated and will no longer work with macOS 27 released this fall.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

What would be the best way to charge - MagSafe or USB? What type of charger - wall plug type or something else? If anyone can recommend the best options I would be grateful as the choices are bewildering. I guess I need one that is rated at least 140Watts - any issues if I get a higher capacity - 160/200 watts etc & one that has multiple ports?

@Bigwaff has some good advice. I agree you don’t need a specific minimum “wattage;” your requirements in that are YOUR requirements. I personally use 90 watts for my MacBook Pro 16”.

I use a variety of chargers myself - including a display with power capability (e.g. Studio Display but there are lots of them). When I plug the display in - that’s it! Power sorted.

When not using the display, I have a variety of multi-port chargers in the locations where I typically use the Mac, plus a travel multi-port. I use MagSafe on some and USB on others. MagSafe is good for (a) locations where the cable might get pulled/strained, e.g. couch or bed and (b) situations where you might need all available ports.

I read somewhere that the faster way to transfer data between the two units would be a Thunderbolt 5 Cable but for some reason, only the Apple one will work fastest or best?

There’s no sense buying a £50+ cable to use once and then put in a drawer. The transfer is a one-time thing, just allow it to take as long as it takes via WiFi.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

The 16” MBP can use up to 140W (my 14” tops out at 105W usage) so you’ll want a charger than can provide at least 140W. Getting a larger charger won’t be a problem, as the MBP will only take the wattage it can handle.

Definitely get a charger from a reliable brand. Don’t want to fry your multi-thousand £ device because you wanted to save £50 on a charger.

I will say it’s mind blowing to me that a 16” laptop requiring a 140W charger doesn’t have one in the box. Just a poor decision, IMHO.

 

[Bigwaff]

The 16” MBP can use up to 140W (my 14” tops out at 105W usage) so you’ll want a charger than can provide at least 140W.

You’ll “want” 140W charger when your workflow is drawing that much power for sustained hours on end, which isn’t likely, but you don’t “need” 140W charger to charge battery. Have never had issues charging 16” M4 Max MBP using USB 90W delivered from display.

 

[benwiggy]

I just got a 16" M5 Pro & as I am in England, it did not come with a charger in the box (Apple seems to always screw us Brits!).

Apple is following the spirit of the EU's Common Charger Directive, which gives consumers the right to purchase electronic equipment without a charger, on the grounds that they might already have one.

Of course, Apple could supply a free charger, bundled, if they wanted to. But they'd have to also sell a box without one. It's nothing to do with being British. (Ironically, new EU directives are likely to still apply to us, because it's more effort to make exceptions for the smaller market.)
Apple also dropped the price by £99 when they removed the brick.

The official Apple one is a whopping £169

Apple sells the 140W charger for £99 on their UK site. You could get a lower-rated one -- it would just charge more slowly, which isn't a bad thing for the battery -- quite the opposite in fact. There's a 96W charger for £79. The wattage is a maximum rating -- the Mac will draw only the power it needs.

The MagSafe cable has a USB cable at one end. There's no functional difference between that and a USB-C cable.

I have just set up the M5-Pro & would like to know the best way to transfer all my data from my Monterey rMBP to the Tahoe M5-Pro? I hear a clean install is best

The new Mac is already clean!! There's nothing to clean on it, to start with!! Just use the Apple Migration Assistant, which will be offered at first start up.

 

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

Thank you all so much - deeply grateful! It has been so long since I purchased a new MBP & so many things have changed!

I just assumed that I MUST get a 140Watts charger as that is what Apple says matches on their website but if I can use a lesser one on the basis that it will just charge slower then at least for the time being, it is no issue - I can then worry about researching for a more optimum one later.

I have a number of Apple Chargers with the 1st & 2nd Gen MagSafe Chargers - is there a MagSafe Adapter for say between the one on the 2015 model & this 16" M5 Pro model - that would work super ideal for me. If Slower charging is better for the battery then I am all for that.

I will use Migration Assistant to transfer stuff as you all have recommended.

TBH, I am really very, very upset to now learn that I will not be able to use my Time Capsules Wirelessly with Time Machine - that was the single thing I loved most about Apple & now it will be gone.

I have a few Time Capsules (not the tall ones) so I guess I can still use via a wired connection to the MBP to back up but how would I go about doing so if it is possible - the MBP has USB-Connections & The Time Capsules have Ethernet Ports? I guess the USB 2.0 ports would be snails pace slow?

Finally guys, I will likely get Applecare & just found out that on the 16" one here in the UK - it is whopping £399 (USD $539!) for 3 Years - I feel compelled to get it as I remember when my 15" rMBP needed a new screen, it was almost £1k to replace & I shudder to think what it would cost on this new 16" one.

However, for some reason, it does not cover loss or theft in the UK but apparently does in other parts of the world - is that true? If it is, then as Apple Cover is supposedly world-wide, can I get a friend/relative say in the USA to buy it for me there & have the benefit of loss/theft cover in the UK or anywhere else I travel?

Many Thanks!

 

[Bigwaff]

If it is, then as Apple Cover is supposedly world-wide, can I get a friend/relative say in the USA to buy it for me there & have the benefit of loss/theft cover in the UK or anywhere else I travel?

In US, Mac AC+ does not include theft and loss Only AC+ for iPhone, iPad, etc include T&L. T&L for Mac would be homeowners/renters insurance, credit card benefits, external to AC+.

 

[benwiggy]

I just assumed that I MUST get a 140Watts charger as that is what Apple says matches on their website but if I can use a lesser one on the basis that it will just charge slower then at least for the time being, it is no issue - I can then worry about researching for a more optimum one later.

140W is the maximum power that your Mac could use, with the CPUs at full tilt and with USB peripherals etc attached.
But if you're charging while it's asleep, then it will be using a lot less.

The battery powers the computer; the charger fills the battery.

Also, if you have household insurance cover, check whether it includes loss and damage to laptops.

 

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

Thanks again - Looks like I will have to get separate Loss/Theft Cover - there are Laptop Insurance I can get that covers everything but they also work out way more expensive than even Applecare in the long run - so will put it under house insurance - I wonder if that will cover loss/theft outside the home though?

As per the MagSafe 2 to USB-C Adapter/Converter I enquired about, it seems there indeed was such a thing but despite many hours of googling, I simply cannot find it anywhere - AliExpress has a couple of offerings but they look kind of shady with not so great reviews so will give them a miss rather than risk damaging my new MBP!

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Hi All,

Thanks again - Looks like I will have to get separate Loss/Theft Cover - there are Laptop Insurance I can get that covers everything but they also work out way more expensive than even Applecare in the long run - so will put it under house insurance - I wonder if that will cover loss/theft outside the home though?

As per the MagSafe 2 to USB-C Adapter/Converter I enquired about, it seems there indeed was such a thing but despite many hours of googling, I simply cannot find it anywhere - AliExpress has a couple of offerings but they look kind of shady with not so great reviews so will give them a miss rather than risk damaging my new MBP!

View attachment 2631634

Yeah that doesn’t look good at all.

 

[Jonnod III]

The MagSafe cable has a USB cable at one end. There's no functional difference between that and a USB-C cable.

I thought that Magsafe will provide more power than USB-C. 140 w versus 100w?

Also, using Magsafe means an extra USB-C port on the MacBook, which could be a useful difference.

 

[Bigwaff]

so will put it under house insurance - I wonder if that will cover loss/theft outside the home though?

Keep in mind your deductible. It’s good to have computers listed as an asset for insurance purposes in case of catastrophic loss, but your deductible might be a significant portion of replacement cost if just the computer is lost or stolen.

As per the MagSafe 2 to USB-C Adapter/Converter I enquired about

There are. I happen to have that ElecJet AnyWatt adapter you pictured. Use it with old Thunderbolt Display to power newer MacBook Airs. The adapter also gets pretty hot. Would not recommend with source or sink drawing greater than 60W. You’ll bake it.

 

[Alameda]

Hi All,

Thank you all so much - deeply grateful! It has been so long since I purchased a new MBP & so many things have changed!

I just assumed that I MUST get a 140Watts charger as that is what Apple says matches on their website but if I can use a lesser one on the basis that it will just charge slower then at least for the time being, it is no issue - I can then worry about researching for a more optimum one later.

I have a number of Apple Chargers with the 1st & 2nd Gen MagSafe Chargers - is there a MagSafe Adapter for say between the one on the 2015 model & this 16" M5 Pro model - that would work super ideal for me. If Slower charging is better for the battery then I am all for that.

I will use Migration Assistant to transfer stuff as you all have recommended.

TBH, I am really very, very upset to now learn that I will not be able to use my Time Capsules Wirelessly with Time Machine - that was the single thing I loved most about Apple & now it will be gone.

I have a few Time Capsules (not the tall ones) so I guess I can still use via a wired connection to the MBP to back up but how would I go about doing so if it is possible - the MBP has USB-Connections & The Time Capsules have Ethernet Ports? I guess the USB 2.0 ports would be snails pace slow?

Finally guys, I will likely get Applecare & just found out that on the 16" one here in the UK - it is whopping £399 (USD $539!) for 3 Years - I feel compelled to get it as I remember when my 15" rMBP needed a new screen, it was almost £1k to replace & I shudder to think what it would cost on this new 16" one.

However, for some reason, it does not cover loss or theft in the UK but apparently does in other parts of the world - is that true? If it is, then as Apple Cover is supposedly world-wide, can I get a friend/relative say in the USA to buy it for me there & have the benefit of loss/theft cover in the UK or anywhere else I travel?

Many Thanks!

You have many flexible choices. It depends how you use your laptop.

I mostly use my MacBook Pro as a desktop, so it sits on a stand and I attach it to a Thunderbolt docking station. That handles everything -- power, keyboard/mouse, Ethernet, fast card readers, and my monitor. The only thing it does not handle is storage; with mine at least, I had a lot of disk disconnections when I attached through the dock so I attach my SSD drives directly when I need them.

The MagSafe is a cable; it has USB-C on one end and the MagSafe connector on the other. I do not use MagSafe because I travel often and all of my equipment uses USB-C cables, so I have a "wallet" which holds 3 USB-C cables and two chargers, which lets me charge my iPad, phone, laptop, headphones, watch, etc. When I travel I bring a compact 40 Watt charger which will charge my Mac at night and then I have 10 hours of battery life during the day, which is more than enough for me.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Hi All,

I have been rocking on a Mid-2015 15" rMBP since they came out for the last 11 years. It still works OK for most of the time except some issues & I felt the need to upgrade before things get more expensive due to the RAM situation. I kind of wanted a new unit after 11 years!

It is running Monterey very far behind from Tahoe.

I just got a 16" M5 Pro & as I am in England, it did not come with a charger in the box (Apple seems to always screw us Brits!). The official Apple one is a whopping £169 ($230!) so looking for other options more reasonable but reliable & that will not destroy my MBP. I will stay away from the cheaper options on Amazon that are $30-$40 & I hear that Anker & U-Green are good options.

What would be the best way to charge - MagSafe or USB? What type of charger - wall plug type or something else? If anyone can recommend the best options I would be grateful as the choices are bewildering. I guess I need one that is rated at least 140Watts - any issues if I get a higher capacity - 160/200 watts etc & one that has multiple ports?

I have just set up the M5-Pro & would like to know the best way to transfer all my data from my Monterey rMBP to the Tahoe M5-Pro? I hear a clean install is best which I presume I have already fresh from Apple but I know there are probably a bunch of corrupt files & some things not right on my rMBP that I prefer not to to be transferred on to the new unit.

I have Super-Duper which can clone my rMBP Drive but it will also clone any issues as well so not so sure about using it & also, some things are never ever the same with it. I am kind of concerned about the OS's being so different from each other & the time difference between them that might cause issues.

I read somewhere that the faster way to transfer data between the two units would be a Thunderbolt 5 Cable but for some reason, only the Apple one will work fastest or best?

Can I still do wireless back ups via Time Machine to Time Capsules with the M5-Pro MBP?

Many Thanks All!

Modern MBPs have great battery life, making charging specifics mostly irrelevant. Only if you have some extreme usage like using for days down to zero then a need to charge immediately does charging wattage matter. Slower low wattage makes less heat so actually is probably easier on the electronics, but I would not even think about it because Apple has battery charging well managed. Just get any good brand charger that suits you. More often than not I find myself on some old low wattage charger, Apple or other. The MBP does not care.

Using a MBP mostly as a desktop (like I do) it does not matter how you charge, but there is one advantage to using MagSafe: Magsafe is its own single-usage port, so you do not have to give any thought to how the three Thunderbolt ports are powered or not powered when changing TB devices around.

 

[taphil]

As per the MagSafe 2 to USB-C Adapter/Converter I enquired about, it seems there indeed was such a thing but despite many hours of googling, I simply cannot find it anywhere - AliExpress has a couple of offerings but they look kind of shady with not so great reviews so will give them a miss rather than risk damaging my new MBP!

Just get a new USB C 65W GaN charger. It's the size of a golf ball from Anker or Ugreen or Baseus and $20-25 in the US. Get a higher watt charger if you run full load often, as it'll draw from the battery if 65W isn't enough.

 

[benwiggy]

I thought that Magsafe will provide more power than USB-C. 140 w versus 100w?

Depends on your cable. USB-C standard is rated to a maximum of 240 W.

 

[ab2c4]

I apologize in advance as I am a fairly new Mac user but this topic brought up a question: How are you able to use a 2015 MBP this past year or two, weren't you worried that it might get infected as it hasn't gotten security updates in I'm guessing years? Or are Mac's that secure that even if they haven't gotten security updates in years they are still safe to take online?

 

[Bigwaff]

Or are Mac's that secure that even if they haven't gotten security updates in years they are still safe to take online?

There are browsers for older macOS versions which are up to date with security standards and safe to use on banking/etc sites. If you limit yourself to reputable web sites and keep to your local home network, you’re very safe. Step outside those bounds and then risk becomes more about what computing activities you are doing and what networks you are connecting to.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Hi All,

Thank you all so much - deeply grateful! It has been so long since I purchased a new MBP & so many things have changed!

I just assumed that I MUST get a 140Watts charger as that is what Apple says matches on their website but if I can use a lesser one on the basis that it will just charge slower then at least for the time being, it is no issue - I can then worry about researching for a more optimum one later.

I have a number of Apple Chargers with the 1st & 2nd Gen MagSafe Chargers - is there a MagSafe Adapter for say between the one on the 2015 model & this 16" M5 Pro model - that would work super ideal for me. If Slower charging is better for the battery then I am all for that.

I will use Migration Assistant to transfer stuff as you all have recommended.

TBH, I am really very, very upset to now learn that I will not be able to use my Time Capsules Wirelessly with Time Machine - that was the single thing I loved most about Apple & now it will be gone.

I have a few Time Capsules (not the tall ones) so I guess I can still use via a wired connection to the MBP to back up but how would I go about doing so if it is possible - the MBP has USB-Connections & The Time Capsules have Ethernet Ports? I guess the USB 2.0 ports would be snails pace slow?

Finally guys, I will likely get Applecare & just found out that on the 16" one here in the UK - it is whopping £399 (USD $539!) for 3 Years - I feel compelled to get it as I remember when my 15" rMBP needed a new screen, it was almost £1k to replace & I shudder to think what it would cost on this new 16" one.

However, for some reason, it does not cover loss or theft in the UK but apparently does in other parts of the world - is that true? If it is, then as Apple Cover is supposedly world-wide, can I get a friend/relative say in the USA to buy it for me there & have the benefit of loss/theft cover in the UK or anywhere else I travel?

Many Thanks!

You can use Time Capsule with Tahoe which the Mac will ship with. You'll just want to hold on macOS 27. Nothing to be upset about.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

I apologize in advance as I am a fairly new Mac user but this topic brought up a question: How are you able to use a 2015 MBP this past year or two, weren't you worried that it might get infected as it hasn't gotten security updates in I'm guessing years? Or are Mac's that secure that even if they haven't gotten security updates in years they are still safe to take online?

How many Windows 10 devices are on the internet right now, do you think?

 

[ab2c4]

There are browsers for older macOS versions which are up to date with security standards and safe to use on banking/etc sites. If you limit yourself to reputable web sites and keep to your local home network, you’re very safe. Step outside those bounds and then risk becomes more about what computing activities you are doing and what networks you are connecting to.

Good to know, and I totally forgot about the security in a browser itself such as Chrome, Firefox, etc.

 

[ab2c4]

How many Windows 10 devices are on the internet right now, do you think?

I imagine a lot of people are "rolling the dice" right now so to speak with Win10. I know I wasn't willing to do that so when I was forced to buy a new computer by Microsoft I figured it was a good opportunity to try a Mac for something different.

 

[benwiggy]

How are you able to use a 2015 MBP this past year or two, weren't you worried that it might get infected as it hasn't gotten security updates in I'm guessing years?

It's all about managing risk.

What threats are these machines vulnerable to?
Are there known exploits for these vulnerabilities in the wild?
Do they require particular circumstances, like physical access to the machine, or visiting a malicious website?
Do they require the user to agree to do something, like download, give their password..?
... etc, etc.

 

[Black_Mage]

That’s a heck of an upgrade! The best way to charge is mag safe. It’s the safest way anyway. As for migrating info, I recently tried using my external SSD that’s set up for Time Machine to copy my files. It worked great. Migration Assistant copied my applications and settings too. I wish I tried it much sooner.