This. To me, Copilot as implemented has become little more than a digital nag. Not everyone wants everything run through the AI filter. Apple (so far) is doing it well.
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Flip Flopping between macOS and Windows
- Thread starter LiE_
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Nah, my problem with split keyboards is they have zero redundant keys that allow you to press the central ones with either hand. There's a learning curve of having to undo decades of muscle memory just for what, the sake of a few extra keys in an completely blank part of the keyboard?
The Alice layout solves at least the 'B' key which was arbitrarily assigned to one side when it's perfectly centered in its position. Most ergonomic setup I tried just for fun was two 60% keyboards (HHKBs) placed just how each hand wanted. Precisely zero learning curve, could even one-hand type still, yet fully ergonomic.
There are no keys you should press with either hands! That means your typing form is wrong. There's nothing wrong with that, mine was wrong too and it only took few days to correct it despite "decades of muscle memory". Part of typing ergonomically is typing properly.
The classic "you're just using it wrong!". The 'B' key is no closer to the left hand than the right -- it's arbitrary at best to assign it to one hand. Furthermore, if your keyboard is offset to the left as most full-size are, your hands are angled to the left and the 'B' falls much easier to the right hand.
I'm not interested in forcing myself to use my left hand exclusively for the 'B' key after 3 decades of muscle memory, and between 125 and 170 WPM. If so, why not just learn dvorak or any other more ergonomic layout than qwerty? The tools should be made to fit us, not the other way around: this is the entire principle or ergonomics.
Duplicating the center keys means precisely zero adjustment for anyone who wants a split keyboard for better wrist ergonomics. The space is empty and the cost is negligible.
Yes, the tools should be made to fit us but they aren't for the most part. The computer keyboard design is a silly relic made for mechanical typewriters with limitations that don't apply anymore. Your hands are only angled to the left and the B key seemingly closer to the right because of the pointless column stagger, get rid of that and boom it being on the left makes perfect sense. It's one key diagonal down right of F.
It isn't just the column stagger, which I don't see as a bad thing -- a linear grid does not appear to be inherently more ergonomic based on hand, wrist, and finger geometry and movement. As it is, though, the 'B' key is equidistant from the 'F' and 'J' keys where the left and right index fingers are on the home row given traditional typing techniques. Saying it belongs to the left index finger either arbitrarily or because that's where it would be in an ortholinear keyboard means nothing in this context.
The reason the keyboard is offset to the left has been for mouse space (mouse ergonomics are important too), given full-sized keyboards with full nav and numpads take space on the right.
You can argue all you like but split keyboards (and ortholinear) are exceedingly rare despite the obvious ergonomic merits. Limiting all the keys to one hand or the other requiring an unnecessary adjustment is undoubtedly a primary reason, so I've suggested a cheap and easy solution. In the meantime, the Alice layout looks to be a nice solution.
Yeah I used to use Microsoft Sculpts, and while I keep hearing rumblings that Encase is going to make them, the months came and went, and I needed something new.
I tried a few other split keyboards, but this K15Pro is the only one that I have actually liked even more than my sculpts. I use staggered layout just fine, and don't even really need a "b" on the right side. I also like that it doesn't have a number pad so that my mouse can be closer to the keyboard and saves my shoulder.
But I would definitely not like an extra column of redundancy on each side of the split. I actually like the split as it is--minus the extra B.
I tried a few other split keyboards, but this K15Pro is the only one that I have actually liked even more than my sculpts. I use staggered layout just fine, and don't even really need a "b" on the right side. I also like that it doesn't have a number pad so that my mouse can be closer to the keyboard and saves my shoulder.
But I would definitely not like an extra column of redundancy on each side of the split. I actually like the split as it is--minus the extra B.
I read somewhere that Apple is turning AI on by default on Apple devices. I plan to explicitly turn it off but I have to remember to do it.
I'm running a mixed environment: Mac Studio, Windows desktop, iMac Pro and I was thinking of moving everything to the iMac Pro and Windows desktop and selling the M1 Studio. I had black screen problems running one 4k monitor off the video card (1050 Ti) and the iGPU. Replacing the 1050 with a 1660 solved the black screen problem.
So yesterday I connected the 1660 to a second 4k monitor and tested my software and it runs fine on the Windows PC. But it got black screens on the second monitor. So this experiment won't work. I wanted to put all three 4k monitors on the Windows PC but the 1660 only has two usable ports (it has a DVI port for the third but it's not useful for a 4k monitor).
These are old video cards designed for gaming and it seems like they were aimed at HD monitors and I guess that they weren't ready for prime time on 4k monitors. I'd assume that this is fixed with current generation 40** cards but I'd have to do some digging to find out whether that's true or not. The interesting thing is that I don't have these problems with my Apple Silicon stuff. I did when these problems launched but the problems were fixed in software updates or by using better cables.
It's also possible that it's an interface thing. If I run the monitors off USB-C from my Mac Studio, I don't have any problems. Video cards tend to just support DisplayPort and HDMI interfaces; even current generation cards. I am going to try running one of the monitors off the iMac Pro to see if there are any black screens. I suspect that there won't be any problems given that it should support 4 external 4k monitors. The Vega 56 GPU is rated as being in-between a 1070 and 1080 by Tom's Hardware and I guess we'll see if it can run multiple external 4k monitors smoothly.
So yesterday I connected the 1660 to a second 4k monitor and tested my software and it runs fine on the Windows PC. But it got black screens on the second monitor. So this experiment won't work. I wanted to put all three 4k monitors on the Windows PC but the 1660 only has two usable ports (it has a DVI port for the third but it's not useful for a 4k monitor).
These are old video cards designed for gaming and it seems like they were aimed at HD monitors and I guess that they weren't ready for prime time on 4k monitors. I'd assume that this is fixed with current generation 40** cards but I'd have to do some digging to find out whether that's true or not. The interesting thing is that I don't have these problems with my Apple Silicon stuff. I did when these problems launched but the problems were fixed in software updates or by using better cables.
It's also possible that it's an interface thing. If I run the monitors off USB-C from my Mac Studio, I don't have any problems. Video cards tend to just support DisplayPort and HDMI interfaces; even current generation cards. I am going to try running one of the monitors off the iMac Pro to see if there are any black screens. I suspect that there won't be any problems given that it should support 4 external 4k monitors. The Vega 56 GPU is rated as being in-between a 1070 and 1080 by Tom's Hardware and I guess we'll see if it can run multiple external 4k monitors smoothly.
Unless your workload is mostly x86 keeping the iMac "Pro" around doesn't make a lot of sense. Far better to update your Studio (presumably) later this year.
I dont personally get the obsession with keeping tons of completely obsolete Macs that aren't practical to use around, maybe streamline your setup in the process?
I dont personally get the obsession with keeping tons of completely obsolete Macs that aren't practical to use around, maybe streamline your setup in the process?
I mean, I agree. Not for me. I have exactly one Mac - m4 Mac mini LOL.
So have people mostly figured out their setups and now the flip-flopping is diminished? Seems like this thread has chilled the last few months.
I have recently received a FormD T1, Thermalright AXP90-X53 Full Copper and Noctua NA-FD1 duct kit. Revised my build form 9800X3D, 5080 and OLED 4K to 9700X, 9070 XT and IPS 4K160. The whole build at current prices is under the AU price of the 5090 Astral.
I am happy to drop setting to maintain higher fps when needed and the lower power will help with temps/noise. Sticking with 4k as I want crisper text outside of gaming and I tend to leave static screens up.
I am happy to drop setting to maintain higher fps when needed and the lower power will help with temps/noise. Sticking with 4k as I want crisper text outside of gaming and I tend to leave static screens up.
Certainly on the phone side of things I’m happy with my 15 Pro. It really helps that my wife moved over to Apple so we get all the benefits of a shared ecosystem.
Right now I don’t have a personal computer. I had sold my Gaming PC and bought a Mac Mini M4 but I returned that with 14 days. I’m in the process of doing a big house move/purchase so wanted to hold off of tech purchases. When I get the new place it will have a larger home office which I’ll need to figure out what to put there. I need monitors(s) and a personal computer.
Not sure if I’ll get a gaming PC again or go base Mac Mini again for my basic needs. As I get older the less I enjoy sitting at a desk playing games, especially as I’m at the same desk for work.
I agree about gaming as you get older. It is still fun but I just have other things to do.
I would definitely get an M4 Mac mini if the desktop route is you ideal setup. iMac is not too bad either but not sure if they have M4 yet. If you get an iMac no monitor needed.
If you like Windows then Windows is great but personally I prefer MacOS. If your wife has Apple products too then it will make your life pretty seamless between the two of you if that is something you value.
I enjoy having both with a KVM switch. Not sure what I would do if MS got its act together on security and privacy, but for now that is not something they are prepared to do. So, I am happy with my M4 Mac mini 16/512 and my gaming laptop with an RTX 4060 for gaming and remoting into work.
I definitely agree with having your family on the same phone ecosystem. I tried going android a couple of years ago, and it wasn't fun when the rest of my family was on apple.
5k monitor, great speakers (they are a lot better than the regular 5k iMacs and the 5k iMacs are moderately better than the Apple Silicon iMacs), studio microphones for cheap. I do 4k video editing and office stuff on the iMac Pro and it's just a nicer experience than the 4k Dell Ultrasharp monitors on the other Mac Studio.
The iMac Pro runs two programs a lot better than the Mac Studio. One of the programs is native Windows and runs via WINE and then on Apple Silicon via Rosetta 2. It's really horrible performance-wise. There are tons and tons of complaints about performance on Apple Silicon in the subreddit for the company that makes the software. I've considered getting a Windows laptop because it's so slow on Apple Silicon. It runs better on my 2015 MacBook Pro running Windows than the M1 Max Studio.
The other is an Electron program running through Rosetta 2 called TurboTax. It was painful to use on the Mac Studio last year and it runs so much better on the iMac Pro this year.
Software drives hardware decisions.
If your software runs poorly on Apple Silicon but great on Windows, then you have the problem of which laptop you bring on trips or do you bring one of each. Presumably that will be diminishing as more software companies port to Apple Silicon but that is still an ongoing process and you have to wait for their port to get released, if ever, to get the performance that you want or need.
Some of the other stuff in Windows laptops are nice to have (user-replaceable SSDs and RAM, one or two USB-A ports, no notch), but, non-native software can be a bigger pain because you can't solve it with money.
I'm seriously looking to flip back over to Apple. I do have a M1 MBP, which I use as a secondary or tertiary device and its feeling a but sluggish in many ways.
While I cannot justify another MBP, given the price points, I'm really eyeballing the Mac Mini. Plus my use case is such that I really don't need mobility for 90% of the time.
At first, I was considering the base unit, but after doing some of my due diligence, I think the M4 Pro Mac Mini better fits my usages, needs and concerns.
My current PC: CPU AMD Ryzen 7 3700X GPU AMD RX 7800 XT
CineBench 2024: single core: 76 multi core 719, GPU 10224
M4 Mac Mini: CineBench 2024: single core 174 multi core 977 GPU 4000
M4 Mac Pro Mini: CineBench 2024: single core 174 multi core 1450 GPU 7704.
Given that having 24GB of ram/512GB storage, and more p-cores, the M4 Pro seems to make more sense.
While I cannot justify another MBP, given the price points, I'm really eyeballing the Mac Mini. Plus my use case is such that I really don't need mobility for 90% of the time.
At first, I was considering the base unit, but after doing some of my due diligence, I think the M4 Pro Mac Mini better fits my usages, needs and concerns.
My current PC: CPU AMD Ryzen 7 3700X GPU AMD RX 7800 XT
CineBench 2024: single core: 76 multi core 719, GPU 10224
M4 Mac Mini: CineBench 2024: single core 174 multi core 977 GPU 4000
M4 Mac Pro Mini: CineBench 2024: single core 174 multi core 1450 GPU 7704.
Given that having 24GB of ram/512GB storage, and more p-cores, the M4 Pro seems to make more sense.
One of the configurations that some use with parallelized workloads is to buy two base minis instead of an M4 Pro. You get 32 GB of RAM, same storage, 20 GPU cores, same number of P cores but more E cores. Price at Microcenter for two base M4 minis is $900 while the price for the base M4 Pro mini is $1,200. You'd get better cooling too.
I personally prefer the Studio but it's hard to not look at how inexpensive the base mini is. If you really need the performance of the M4 Pro mini, then you might wind up with more fan noise and some thermal throttling on it. The Studio has a massive heat sink inside and better airflow.
I went back to all macOS this week because of the McAfee Windows Ad that you can't get rid of without going through the purchase screen and then it gives you another two or three ads that you have to skip through. This started last week and I found tons of forum posts complaining about it. I found a workaround, though, and that's uninstalling the Windows App Store. So I'm back on macOS and Windows.
Why does Microsoft do this crap?
Why does Microsoft do this crap?
I don't see myself some how combining the two Mac Minis and using them in a combined fashion, a single computer for 1200 makes more sense then two minis for 1400. I don't see any upsides to how I use my computers.
The studio really isn't on the radar for me, largely because at some point I need to draw the line.
I went from spending 450 for the base mini to 900 for 24GB/512GB, to 1200 for M4 Pro 24gb/512gb to 1800 for a Mac studio. What I get with the studio mostly, is the increase in GPU cores - not sure if that's worth 600 dollars. I'm not terribly worried about fan noise, not when I have a PC with its fans doing their thing on my desk. I'm pretty sure for most of my work, I'll not hear the mini's fan.
Wow, I've not seen that, nor do I get many (any?) ads on my desktop. I must have done something with debloating. I do get adds on my Thinkpad, and if I got that McAfee where I have to visit their purchase page, I'd also be pissed.
Not this specific ad, but the general direction of Windows is why I'm re-embracing macOS. ITs funny when Microsoft releases their new features, it seems to generate some level of controversy and negativity - see Recall for evidence. Where as with Apple, new features like in Tahoe, there's excitement and positivity. World of difference, plus I don't have as much telemetry to worry about.
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My humble opinion you don’t need ssd on mac mini. For stationary device you can plug in big external ssd and forget about it.
Though i never understood people suggesting base laptops and getting ssd: hauling, connecting, not forgetting, dangling from a side affecting mobility, power draw on battery and one port wasted, also might disconnect when moving around.