6 ms·

Nice. Now try to do the same as (some types of) programmer or 3d modeller or video editor. The newest MacBook with an M2 chip compiles and runs my projects dras

by ido 3y ago

Nice. Now try to do the same as (some types of) programmer or 3d modeller or video editor. The newest MacBook with an M2 chip compiles and runs my projects drastically faster than the 2015 Dell XPS Skylake-i7 laptop I used to have and the GPU on the M2 is so ridiculously more powerful it's like going from 3dfx voodoo to a modern GPU.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
rpcope1 3y ago
At that point, I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't just step up to a desktop workstation?
- nvrmnd 3y ago
  A laptop can be easily transported for use in a variety of locations.
  - arrowsmith 3y ago
    You can even put them on top of your lap.
    - lost_tourist 3y ago
      most pc laptops I've used weren't very comfortable after some number crunching or kernel building after a few minutes...
      - nvrmnd 3y ago
        yes but have you tried a desktop computer on your lap
- Casteil 3y ago
  Err, mobility? M1 / M2 Pro MBPs pack a serious punch... and they don't have to sacrifice battery life to do so - they smoke virtually all other laptops in terms of battery life.
  - go_prodev 3y ago
    Battery life gets mentioned quite often with laptops, but is it still really that important? I run my business from an X1 Carbon, but it's more about portability than battery life. Trains, planes, Starbucks all have power available so it's constantly plugged in and I can't remember the last time I used it on battery for more than an hour.
    - hoot 3y ago
      I recently got my first macbook (coming from a thinkpad) and it’s honestly more about not having to give a shit about a charger. It charges incredibly fast when I plug it into its monitor, but otherwise I just throw it in a bag without even thinking about what my battery percentage is. I’ll leave the house with it and not even bring the charger.
      - gtirloni 3y ago
        I think this is the biggest selling point for me. Fewer cables around.
    - flkiwi 3y ago
      I've been using my X1C on battery for the last 4 hours on a transpacific flight (hello from the middle of nowhere) and am looking forward to about 4 more hours. The seat has a convenient power plug, but it's awfully nice to leave the charger tucked away in my bag to be one less thing to trip over when I have to wriggle free from my cattle class seat to run to the restroom. So, to address your question (which I would normally also ask), it is that important though this is also a somewhat narrow use case.
    - Casteil 3y ago
      It's just one of many great aspects for such a capable device. They also run very cool and are effectively silent even when the fan DOES eventually turn on for a sustained max load. By comparison, every Windows/Intel laptop I've had over the last decade exhibited obvious fan noise every time there was some short-lived load on the CPU - that includes several nicer business/pro grade laptops including Dell XPS, Latitudes, and a Thinkpad. ...and NONE of those other laptops came remotely close to reliably lasting 10+ hours on battery like the MBPs can/do.
- ido 3y ago
  Honestly, the new MacBooks are faster than any desktop I ever had - I don't feel a need to sacrifice mobility for more than that.
deleted 3y ago
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- deleted 3y ago
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ralfd 3y ago
My M1 Mac is the best laptop I ever owned. But it is also a big step up, I expect my machine to stay viable quite some time and recommend my noob friends to buy used M1/M2 Macbooks (if available).
- soulbadguy 3y ago
  Is it also (inflation / time adjusted) the most expensive ?
  - jrib 3y ago
    Base m1 macbook air sells for 800 bucks routinely. It's a great value in my opinion. I agree it's the best machine I have ever owned.
    - soulbadguy 3y ago
      Doesn't answer my question. I wasn't trying to imply that M1 are a bad value...
      - ido 3y ago
        My old Dell XPS was actually slightly more expensive (even before adjusting to inflation - I was researching online and at the time it was the most recommended high-end pc laptop). And macs retain value a lot better than PCs - you can likely resell it for a significant fraction of its new price in a few years (unless you broke it).
        soulbadguy 3y ago
        Still doesn't answer my question, not sure why people feel the need to jump into this... maybe something wrong the tone on my answer. But while i have you here... Which dell xps (year/model/spec) was it and which M1 mac (year/model/spec) was it.
        3y ago
pessimizer 3y ago
It would be silly if this article were trying to recommend a 15 year old computer for intense numerical processing, which is why nobody, including the author, made the attempt.
- paulmd 3y ago
  yeah, but "author realizes they have no substantial computing needs because they only word-process" isn't a particularly interesting article. like boss you can hook a bluetooth keyboard up to your phone and go to town at that point, if you want, there's really no need for a laptop at all. and since it's not applicable to the userbase here you're gonna get discussion on why it's not applicable.
  - kelnos 3y ago
    > "author realizes they have no substantial computing needs because they only word-process" isn't a particularly interesting article That's not really the point of the article, though. The point is that there are a lot of people with similarly non-computationally-intensive needs who still nonetheless buy a new laptop every few years. If more people would realize what the author has realized, they'd not only save money, but reduce e-waste and the need for quite as much new laptop manufacturing. > and since it's not applicable to the userbase here you're gonna get discussion on why it's not applicable. I think that says more about the bubbles HN users live in, and their inability to think outside those bubbles, than anything else. Kinda unfortunate. I would be much more interested in discussing why so many people with modest computing needs think they need a new laptop every few years (advertising, probably), and how this might be changed.
BowBun 3y ago
Did you read the article? The author is, well, an author. They don't program or 3d model. Computation sped wasn't even mentioned in the point they were making. I guess I don't see the reason to read an article about a specific use-case/point of view, only to follow up and say, "yeah well it wouldn't work for this completely different thing you weren't talking about". It's not the 'gotcha' you think it is.
- ido 3y ago
  I'm not trying to make a any gotchas. Yes, if all you need is MS Word and a web browser you can use a 10-15 years old laptop, I don't think this surprises anyone here (in fact its why most people these days use phones instead of PCs to do most of their internet browsing).
  - jamespo 3y ago
    I guess your superfast laptop wasn't very good at rendering the webpage of the article
    - ido 3y ago
      Are we not allowed to use the article as a springboard for conversation? Am I obligated to only restrict myself to what the author wanted to talk about without expanding the realm of discussion with the people on HN?
      - dejobaan 3y ago
        I feel that, for instance, game developers would fall into this category.
      - kelnos 3y ago
        I just don't think it's that interesting to take an article that says "I and other people with similar needs to me can do X", and reply, "well I have different needs and can't do X". Well... duh? There isn't really much conversation to spring into. Many people who buy new laptops every few years really don't need to do that. Some who buy new laptops every few years actually do see a benefit to doing so. The latter group isn't really all that interesting to talk about, at least not in the context of the article. The former group is, because making old laptops more useful for those types of people could have a huge positive environmental impact.
lost_tourist 3y ago
I don't think that anyone is implying that a few people need the newest hardware they can get, however if you're working on webpages, cloud apps, project management, most phone apps, etc you don't need a brand new laptop to get that done. And that's just for developers, your typical student or home user certainly doesn't need the latest and greatest. I recently bought an M2 32GB machine but that was to replace my 2015 macbook lol.

by ido 3y ago

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

rpcope1 3y ago

At that point, I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't just step up to a desktop workstation?

nvrmnd 3y ago
A laptop can be easily transported for use in a variety of locations.
- arrowsmith 3y ago
  You can even put them on top of your lap.
  - lost_tourist 3y ago
    most pc laptops I've used weren't very comfortable after some number crunching or kernel building after a few minutes...
    - nvrmnd 3y ago
      yes but have you tried a desktop computer on your lap
Casteil 3y ago
Err, mobility? M1 / M2 Pro MBPs pack a serious punch... and they don't have to sacrifice battery life to do so - they smoke virtually all other laptops in terms of battery life.
- go_prodev 3y ago
  Battery life gets mentioned quite often with laptops, but is it still really that important? I run my business from an X1 Carbon, but it's more about portability than battery life. Trains, planes, Starbucks all have power available so it's constantly plugged in and I can't remember the last time I used it on battery for more than an hour.
  - hoot 3y ago
    I recently got my first macbook (coming from a thinkpad) and it’s honestly more about not having to give a shit about a charger. It charges incredibly fast when I plug it into its monitor, but otherwise I just throw it in a bag without even thinking about what my battery percentage is. I’ll leave the house with it and not even bring the charger.
    - gtirloni 3y ago
      I think this is the biggest selling point for me. Fewer cables around.
  - flkiwi 3y ago
    I've been using my X1C on battery for the last 4 hours on a transpacific flight (hello from the middle of nowhere) and am looking forward to about 4 more hours. The seat has a convenient power plug, but it's awfully nice to leave the charger tucked away in my bag to be one less thing to trip over when I have to wriggle free from my cattle class seat to run to the restroom. So, to address your question (which I would normally also ask), it is that important though this is also a somewhat narrow use case.
  - Casteil 3y ago
    It's just one of many great aspects for such a capable device. They also run very cool and are effectively silent even when the fan DOES eventually turn on for a sustained max load. By comparison, every Windows/Intel laptop I've had over the last decade exhibited obvious fan noise every time there was some short-lived load on the CPU - that includes several nicer business/pro grade laptops including Dell XPS, Latitudes, and a Thinkpad. ...and NONE of those other laptops came remotely close to reliably lasting 10+ hours on battery like the MBPs can/do.
ido 3y ago
Honestly, the new MacBooks are faster than any desktop I ever had - I don't feel a need to sacrifice mobility for more than that.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

ralfd 3y ago

My M1 Mac is the best laptop I ever owned. But it is also a big step up, I expect my machine to stay viable quite some time and recommend my noob friends to buy used M1/M2 Macbooks (if available).

soulbadguy 3y ago
Is it also (inflation / time adjusted) the most expensive ?
- jrib 3y ago
  Base m1 macbook air sells for 800 bucks routinely. It's a great value in my opinion. I agree it's the best machine I have ever owned.
  - soulbadguy 3y ago
    Doesn't answer my question. I wasn't trying to imply that M1 are a bad value...
    - ido 3y ago
      My old Dell XPS was actually slightly more expensive (even before adjusting to inflation - I was researching online and at the time it was the most recommended high-end pc laptop). And macs retain value a lot better than PCs - you can likely resell it for a significant fraction of its new price in a few years (unless you broke it).
      - soulbadguy 3y ago
        Still doesn't answer my question, not sure why people feel the need to jump into this... maybe something wrong the tone on my answer. But while i have you here... Which dell xps (year/model/spec) was it and which M1 mac (year/model/spec) was it.
        3y ago

pessimizer 3y ago

It would be silly if this article were trying to recommend a 15 year old computer for intense numerical processing, which is why nobody, including the author, made the attempt.

paulmd 3y ago
yeah, but "author realizes they have no substantial computing needs because they only word-process" isn't a particularly interesting article. like boss you can hook a bluetooth keyboard up to your phone and go to town at that point, if you want, there's really no need for a laptop at all. and since it's not applicable to the userbase here you're gonna get discussion on why it's not applicable.
- kelnos 3y ago
  > "author realizes they have no substantial computing needs because they only word-process" isn't a particularly interesting article That's not really the point of the article, though. The point is that there are a lot of people with similarly non-computationally-intensive needs who still nonetheless buy a new laptop every few years. If more people would realize what the author has realized, they'd not only save money, but reduce e-waste and the need for quite as much new laptop manufacturing. > and since it's not applicable to the userbase here you're gonna get discussion on why it's not applicable. I think that says more about the bubbles HN users live in, and their inability to think outside those bubbles, than anything else. Kinda unfortunate. I would be much more interested in discussing why so many people with modest computing needs think they need a new laptop every few years (advertising, probably), and how this might be changed.

BowBun 3y ago

Did you read the article? The author is, well, an author. They don't program or 3d model. Computation sped wasn't even mentioned in the point they were making. I guess I don't see the reason to read an article about a specific use-case/point of view, only to follow up and say, "yeah well it wouldn't work for this completely different thing you weren't talking about". It's not the 'gotcha' you think it is.

ido 3y ago
I'm not trying to make a any gotchas. Yes, if all you need is MS Word and a web browser you can use a 10-15 years old laptop, I don't think this surprises anyone here (in fact its why most people these days use phones instead of PCs to do most of their internet browsing).
- jamespo 3y ago
  I guess your superfast laptop wasn't very good at rendering the webpage of the article
  - ido 3y ago
    Are we not allowed to use the article as a springboard for conversation? Am I obligated to only restrict myself to what the author wanted to talk about without expanding the realm of discussion with the people on HN?
    - dejobaan 3y ago
      I feel that, for instance, game developers would fall into this category.
    - kelnos 3y ago
      I just don't think it's that interesting to take an article that says "I and other people with similar needs to me can do X", and reply, "well I have different needs and can't do X". Well... duh? There isn't really much conversation to spring into. Many people who buy new laptops every few years really don't need to do that. Some who buy new laptops every few years actually do see a benefit to doing so. The latter group isn't really all that interesting to talk about, at least not in the context of the article. The former group is, because making old laptops more useful for those types of people could have a huge positive environmental impact.

lost_tourist 3y ago

I don't think that anyone is implying that a few people need the newest hardware they can get, however if you're working on webpages, cloud apps, project management, most phone apps, etc you don't need a brand new laptop to get that done. And that's just for developers, your typical student or home user certainly doesn't need the latest and greatest. I recently bought an M2 32GB machine but that was to replace my 2015 macbook lol.