Anyone get an M2 Mac recently?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

My current iMac is from 2017 and still humming away. But getting the itch for a new M2 to fix a few things, speed things up and replace an older MacBook with the iMac.

Lot of debate on a pumped up Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio but I'm leaning toward a Studio with the M2 Ultra chip which should last a long time.

Anyone get one or a MacBook?

[LWJ]

Grabbed a M1 at Costco in December for $800. Not sure it is still even offered? Works well.

[dad911]

I went in to Costco a few months ago when they had $150 off to buy an m2 mini as I really like the m1 mini I bought last year. Came out instead with the m2 macbook air. For a couple hundred more, I've got portability and battery backup, which has saved my ass more than a few times when the power went out while I was working.

So far so good......

[blucille]

I’ve had an m1 macbook pro for several years. And it’s great. Only downside is it maxes out at 1 extended desktop Monitor. Just picked up an m2 MacBook Air for my son to take to college in a few weeks. Light, portable, lots of expansion and I’ve got no fears it will last him the 4 or 5 years he will need it for. Great machines.

[JavaBrewer]

My 2010 MBP has been excellent but is no longer supported for OS update/upgrades so I can longer add external online accounts- namely Google and Yahoo. I am eyeing a M2 MBP upgrade in the coming months.

I used to do SW development but now in a manager/mentor role so don’t really need the horsepower these days. Might consider a MB Air instead.

[jyl]

I bought M2 MacBook Pros for my wife and daughter. No complaints from them, though they hardly tax the machines. Well, actually, there are complaints about the lack of ports other than USB-C and having to look for dongles. I'm still using my Intel MBP (2015) because I'm mostly on Windows these days (work).

If you want more than two external monitors with your MBP, you need to get the Max chip. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213503

Between MBP, MacMini, and Mac Studio, I dunno. If you don't need portability and want power, the Studio looks like a beast.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks guys. I got an M1 Mini a little after they first came out. It's an extremely light duty machine just for opening pics onto a 43" screen.

I would get an Air of MBPro for random portability but I think you can only hook up one monitor. I need two big monitors. Even my current 27" iMac and 43" screen is slightly lacking, would love 2 big displays to make billing by photos easier. Also need as many ports as I can get.

My one resignation to getting the Studio will be losing my beloved Office 2011 and going to the MS subscription system. and there' also Parallels but that should be a one-time purchase.

[SpyderMike]

I bought a pumped up mini M2 a few months ago. I am more of an older windows and Linux guy, but I needed to process 30GB ProRes files for my YouTube channel. It handles them with speed and with ease. No regrets when using it for its main mission. It doesn't play well with non Apple devices, which is a bit frustrating.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by SpyderMike

I bought a pumped up mini M2 a few months ago. I am more of an older windows and Linux guy, but I needed to process 30Gb ProRes files for my YouTube channel. It handles them with speed and with ease. No regrets when using it for its main mission. It doesn't play well with non Apple devices, which is a bit frustrating.

That's one thing I was hoping to hear, thank you. I work with pics a lot. Nothing that big but a lot of volume.

Photos has gotten super slow which may have nothing to do with the computer itself.

[ADDvanced]

Got an M1 last year. Battery life is insane.

[SpyderMike]

I was really pleasantly surprised at how fast the M2 Pro chip processed the large ProRes files. I tried to use and older Windows machine, but it was futile. This M2 doesn't struggle at all. In fact, it looks at me as if saying "really, that's it? what else you got, chump?".

I should specify that I have an mini M2 Pro with 16GB ram and 500GB drive. I store my video files on a 4TB external NTFS drive and use the NTFS for Mac app which has worked flawlessly.

[FA-18C]

We have dual iMacs going back to I think 2007. We are at the point where they work, but can no longer support any OS or application updates (Safari). They have done what we asked. In the same time period I have gone through 4 PCs at work :/

They still work, but need to start planning for a crash at some point.

[black_falcon]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

My current iMac is from 2017 and still humming away. But getting the itch for a new M2 to fix a few things, speed things up and replace an older MacBook with the iMac.

Lot of debate on a pumped up Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio but I'm leaning toward a Studio with the M2 Ultra chip which should last a long time.

Anyone get one or a MacBook?

You could add an SSD and max out the RAM which will transform your 2017 and buy a few more years. An M2 MBA will work in Clamshell mode with an external monitor, ideally with the Apple Studio Display.

M2 Mini with the apple studio display is another good option.

I have a 2020 iMac 27 which is a wonderful machine and can be found reasonably priced on eBay. Writing this on a 2012 MBP 15 with 16GB and a 2TB SSD. Undoubtedly one of the best Macbooks ever made. Also have an M1 MBA for "on the go".

Personally, I really dig this guy's setup..

[Racerbvd]

I just got my mother a new 15" MacBook air and new iPad, had to go up a level on the MacBook as they figured out when moving everything out of her 27" iMac, that she would need more memory (I said that she would when at the apple store) as there are certain programs that she needs. So far she is happy and I ended up with her old iMac and MacBook, so now I have to go through the learning curve.
I went to that hell the call the Apple Store, 11am on a Sunday

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I'll be waiting for this and/or a Studio/Mini with the M3 chip.