Oh boy. Thanks for that input. It's almost making me reconsider my purchase altogether. All of my containers to date are Linux images.
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Apple Announces New MacBook Pros With M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips, Up to 96GB RAM, and More
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Oh boy. Thanks for that input. It's almost making me reconsider my purchase altogether. All of my containers to date are Linux images.
Been doing a bit of research and the images in my current work are based on ones which have arm versions. I had checked the Docker website regarding ARM support, but you raised an aspect of that that I hadn't thought through. I really appreciate that heads-up.
I'm now following a couple of threads on the docker community forums discussing the issues. You'd almost think I posted this after your warning... https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-perf-with-x86-x64-images-on-apple-silicon/118467.
But, it was posted on 12/21 and no one has responded.Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to open the box to figure if the laptop is going to work for me. I have a nagging feeling that the real answer is to buy a Linux laptop and use my 2018 MacBook for a few more years. A System 76 laptop configured like the Mac I was going to buy runs for $4,200, but I could scale back the specs (mainly GPU) to save money.
The MBA is the lowest end of Apple laptops. Photoshop and LR are not low-end usages. Choosing the low end and only two TB3 ports, 100 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 400 GB/s memory bandwidth and three TB4 ports would be a mistake. Also IMO a max of 24 GB RAM, although workable, would be a bad choice.
Exactly. You need to keep perspective.
My first Apple was an Apple IIe. I believe it was something like $2000 total at the time. The equivalent 2023 price would be about $6000? Oh and the 6502 ran at something like 1 MHZ. Oh and it wasn't a laptop. just a keyboard/computer combo.
I'm sure if I ran the numbers on the many many Macs, Powerbooks etc I've had over the years, the price/performance curve would show a huge down slope.
Allen, I get the impression that you do work with some large projects doing work that takes a lot of RAM and processing power. You absolutely need as much horsepower as you can get.
If Groundcontrol is doing that kind of work on a regular basis then the same may be true for them. If they are working on more moderate projects and not doing it every day, the investment may not pay off. It sounds like they are able to get their work done on a 2016 MBP though they are hitting limits now. The M2 MBA will walk all over that MBP. Only Groundcontrol can answer the question of whether that is enough or if they should invest in a heavy duty setup.
It is not about Allen's 2022 work. It is about Ground Control's hardware decisions for Photoshop/LR work in the future ~2023 to 2029 time frame. I have been heavily using PS since the 1990s, and RAM/hardware needs have grown constantly for 25 years, because app designers build each new version to take advantage of stronger hardware to do slick new tricks in the apps (especially PS!). With modern gear lesser RAM/hardware still "works" but delays creep in that subtly but unequivocally impact productivity and more importantly creativity.
So for the future, which starts post-purchase and which will include more demanding OS versions and more demanding app versions, I recommend choosing stronger hardware to anyone doing real work like PS/LR.
Note that is is not about large project sizes. It can just be about doing work on a single image. In 2001 I was processing 12 MP captures from a Nikon D2x; today even the iPhone Pro captures at 45 MP, exponentially increasing hardware demands. And PS and other editing apps do more and more hardware-demanding new things with each new version. Ground Control needs to expect the future to hold increasing hardware demands similar to the past.
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On top of convenience, I've never gotten scammed trading through the carrier/manufacturer
Yeah, I’ve been doing this since the 80’s as well and have never seen RAM requirements double in two years, let alone triple.
I went without a new Mac for years after 2012, and just kept upgrading my old MacBook Pro and mini since I didn’t like the fact that you could no longer upgrade the newer Macs after the fact. I finally broke down and bought a refurb base 2018 MacBook Air in 2020 because I figured I would treat the new ones like a phone and just buy bottom end and replace more often. The 2018 wasn’t bad, but I did buy a new base M1 Air when they came out, and the 8 GB in it was actually enjoyable to use versus “getting by” with the same configuration in the 2018, so I would say the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon architecture is a rather glaring exception to that constantly increasing RAM rule. I’m not saying RAM requirements will not increase over time with these, too, but the memory usage on these is so much better than the Intel models that it seems strange to see people worried about 24 GB RAM.
I have been doing PS+LR for a decade on mostly what was the bottom spec Air/Macbook at that point in time.
The performance is absolutely sufficient. Only wait is for large multi-frame stitches and multi-layer composites.
File sizes are from current size sensors, meaning from 10-50MP raws that balloon of 100s of mbs of bitmap during edit.
Ive been *wanting* to upgrade from first M1 MBA to 14” MBP but cant because the machine is still so damn fast.
To be fair, they’re actually lower than I was expecting based on the increases we saw with the MBA and iPad Pros. Both saw increases of 20-25%.
So whilst not great, the 15% increases do hint towards some currency stabilisation. Or, that Apple realised the 20-25% increases on those other models have been hurting sales. Probably a bit of both.
Maybe this is a because the Pound and Euro have recovered a little of their value since last fall though they are still well below historical exchange rates relative to the USD.
UK£
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Something to consider is that there is never a free lunch.
Meaning:
1. More memory is going to cost more. There is quite the differential between 32/64/96.
2. There will be some power consumption costs with the increased memory. May not be at all relevant with the 16", but could be more so with 14". This was found to be the case in the first gen models.
So you always need to weigh your needs with these types of costs.
I’ve been waiting for this release and am pretty happy that Apple upgraded the ports and WiFi to the latest specs. I’m in need of an upgrade as I’ve been making due with a late 2008 MacBook Pro 15” (Chrome’s demands on RAM have been growing), and am eye-ing the 64GB M2 Max 16” MBP. But then, I’ve been reading about next year’s MBP rumors, possibly having MicroLED?, 3nm M3 Max, GPU with Ray Tracing?, and also really want to buy it too. What should I do? I’m thinking I might be able to sell the M2 Max when the M3 Max comes out. Should I buy an M2 Pro? Would it be easier to sell? What if I can’t sell it next year? I DO badly need a laptop now though.
Get what you need for the present and not worry about the future, or you'll be perpetually waiting chasing specs. The "next" computer will always be better and you'll still be on your old one sitting there dreaming up how amazing the one after that one will be and you'll never be satisfied.
Easy to say if you are loaded with money. Not everyone can afford to drop 4g on a new laptop when they need to upgrade their storage size. Apple products are no longer upgradeable. It's not like you can add more ram or change out your drive in the future when your needs change. I do not agree with your advice in the least.
In this case, if you can postpone an upgrade I would consider that. MicroLED will be a worthwhile upgrade along with 3nm (if rumours are true). Even though wifi was upgrade to 6E , Wifi 7 is just around the corner as well, which will be the standard worth upgrading to. Wifi6/E is transitional. GPU performance needs to drastically increase to be competitive to intel/discrete gpu equivalents. The M chip is in its infancy and hopefully larger gains will be made to GPU spec performance. The M series are VERY poor performers when it comes to GPU render for 3D artists. If your work load is 3D based, I would consider a PC at this present time. If all you are mainly doing is final cut and logic work all day and can't wait, then this generation is fine. Make sure to maximize the amount of ram and storage to whatever you can afford, because you will need to live with it for the life of the laptop. Your laptop could drastically reduce in resale cost depending on the features added to the next series of processors. Remember computers are just tools for a job and not cars. If you need to the tool to get the job done now, you need the tool.
considering the level of inflation we've experienced over the past 18 months, that's really a bit of a bargain.
That said, Apple is maximizing short-term profits at the expense of the pro-level user base who is becoming less interested than ever in playing the game.
A professional machine should have more ports. It should be capalbe of being used professionally without risking a cracked display. Apple is creating crystal jewelry, charging a fortune, and acting as if the user base hsas no choice..
I honestly don't find the Apple pricing in Germany to be too bad, release price of the MBP 14" is 2,399€, generally prices for new apple products drop about 10-20% within 3-4months. You can already find for 2,239€ at resellers, with delivery arriving in a week. 2,239€ already includes 19% VAT, which means price excluding VAT is 1,881€ (on release day!), that's about 2,042 USD or about 2,2% more than in the US. In the US resellers might have sales too, but those are more limited from my experience.
I'm glad I got a maxed out 15" Intel MBP with dedicated GPU just before the switch in architecture. Should carry me a few more years before the M* stuff is actually a viable alternative. Same goes for my basic-ish Mac Pro.
Since you're currently using a computer from 2008, I'm going to assume the kind of work you do on a Mac is very low intensity; you really only need a current day computer for some added comfort. Why are you even bothering to consider a MacBook Pro? Or, are you doing some more heavy duty work on another Mac and, if so, what is it?
If you BADLY need it right now as you say, there is no point in waiting.
You've been using a 2008 MacBook??? Wow! Good for you. You could consider the M1 at a discount price rather than the M2 - if you have been able to use a 2008 it will literally be like you've transported into the future.
You also do NOT need 64 GB for chrome tabs!! You may be fine with the M2 Air which is a good machine too.
But in any case, don't overthink this. The M3 will not be a miracle over the M2, despite what people here say - it will still be incremental.
Good for you! I'm sure it will carry you through. But the M stuff is definitely viable now and runs circles around any intel MacBook, so there is some inaccuracy in your assumptions. But there are people here tinkering with PowerPCs, so great if it suits you.
From my experience, Lightroom CC is very low-end usage. You could prob run it well with 4 gb.
And Lightroom Classic is quite high-end. Especially memory consumption. Runs best with 32-64 gb.
Almost polar opposites.