Feels ridiculous running M1 Air over an XDR Pro

[Maxwells_Equations]

So while I wait for the upcoming 16" releases....I find myself using a placeholder to get me by.....the M1 air baseline.

Should I feel ridiculous for using a $5K display on a $999 laptop?

 

[ijlakw]

Well... if I could afford it, I would welcome the feeling of ridiculousness. The problem is Apple doesn't offer us an alternative. The LG is long in the tooth and expensive, although far more reasonable than the XDR. The XDR is a non-starter for me because it's just too much. I'm still nursing a 2013 rMBP hoping 2021 brings either a new iMac or a new Cinema Display.

 

[velocityg4]

I don't see why. If you need a $5K display for your workload and a $1K laptop powers it fine for your needs. Why would you spend any more money?

 

[herp]

@Maxwells_Equations just to clarify - you have the base model 7 core GPU Air, and it runs the XDR well?

 

[ght56]

I tried to convince the lady that we needed an XDR more than a new vehicle. That one didn't fly. I told her about the nano glass option. Her position on the topic was unchanged. She told me I was being ridiculous. As I told her we would manage to get by without the stand, I felt I was being practical.

I think you should go for it.

 

[BeatCrazy]

So while I wait for the upcoming 16" releases....I find myself using a placeholder to get me by.....the M1 air baseline.

Should I feel ridiculous for using a $5K display on a $999 laptop?

You couldn't feel any worse than me, I bought a M1 Mac mini and XDR which I'm using right now to type this one

I had been pining for an XDR for 6+ months. After some saving and selling off a bunch of old gear (including my iMac Pro), I was able to feel better about the XDR investment.

The M1 machines are plenty fast to support the XDR.

 

[herp]

You couldn't feel any worse than me, I bought a M1 Mac mini and XDR which I'm using right now to type this one

I had been pining for an XDR for 6+ months. After some saving and selling off a bunch of old gear (including my iMac Pro), I was able to feel better about the XDR investment.

The M1 machines are plenty fast to support the XDR.

I'm in a similar situation - my iMac Pro has been the best computer I've ever owned but its almost out of AppleCare and I may as well switch my workflow over all at once. Its just hard to get over the price of the XDR.

How do you like the Mini/XDR combo?

 

[The_Interloper]

I can’t believe people are using Macs in this thread (Mini in particular) that cost less than the XDR stand.

 

[BeatCrazy]

I'm in a similar situation - my iMac Pro has been the best computer I've ever owned but its almost out of AppleCare and I may as well switch my workflow over all at once. Its just hard to get over the price of the XDR.

How do you like the Mini/XDR combo?

Overall, I'm satisfied. I had a few hiccups, as I described here, but I expect things to improve over time. Nothing that made me consider returning it/them. Yes, my iMac Pro served me well, and the AC+ was expiring next month. It's off to a good home, and I got a fair price so I pretty satisfied.

The XDR is interesting.... the color, performance and text sharpness are outstanding. The one area where I wish things were a bit better: the off-axis quality is not as good as I was expecting. I'm not purposely looking at it form awkward angles, rather the physics of my eyes being different distances from the corners vs. the center causes a brightness drop-off and color shift. This is true of all large LCD panels that I've seen. I was just hoping it was a bit closer to OLED panel performance. But it's not, and that's just physics.

I can’t believe people are using Macs in this thread (Mini in particular) that cost less than the XDR stand.

I realize and agree, it's kinda ridiculous. However, in 10 years, my mini will be worth about what, $150? Where the stand could potentially retain $500+ in value. I can see Apple using the stand design/hardware for 10+ years, including whatever eventually replaces the XDR.