New Work Computer Arrives!
Dec. 9th, 2021 06:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerI've mentioned a handful of times recently that I've been working at my current employer for just over 4 years now. (It was 4 years in July.) One prerogative that came with my 4th anniversary was being able to replace my work laptop. I held off on requesting a new machine for a few months even though my old one is fairly dilapidated. The battery dies after 30 minutes, the keyboard sticks and repeats, and the CPU and RAM aren't really up to snuff for what I need today. Well, I did finally put in a request for a new computer about a month ago. Today, it arrived.
Of course it could have arrived yesterday but after FedEx telling me it would be delivered by 9:05am the driver finally came at about 1:35pm— during the one brief period of the day I was out of the house. Signature required, etc., so back in the truck it went. Today it was "delivery by 9:05am" again, and this time I made sure to be ready to dash to the front door all day— not even taking a shower for fear that the driver would knock and leave during a quick, 10 minute wash!
My new computer is a MacBook Pro 14". It's the new model with an M1 Pro CPU. I got mine up-spec'ed with 32GB of RAM. I need that for the 60-70 browser tabs I have open at any one time between 6 windows. 🤯 (No I'm not exaggerating.)
Getting this computer was the method to my madness in putting up with my old machine for a few months longer than strictly necessary. If I'd requested a new computer in August I'd have gotten an older MacBook Pro, with an older chipset. Possibly I would even have gotten a hand-me-down (used) computer from someone who'd left the company. I waited a few months until not only were we in a hiring upswing (so used computers would all be used up) but until the new MacBook Pros were launched. 🎉
For several years Apple laptops have offered only USB-C ports, which meant using an adapter dongle was a constant necessity. I wrote about this nuisance a year ago; it's what's been making me reluctant to replace my personal computer, a MacBook Air.
This new MacBook Pro has a total of 3 USB-C ports but also has a dedicated MagSafe power port, a dedicated HDMI jack (pictured), and an SD card slot (pictured). The SD slot I don't care about for this machine— though I'm holding out hope Apple includes one in the next version of the Air— but the dedicated power and HDMI jacks are very convenient. Those two mean that I'll go from 99% of the time having to attach a dongle to 99% of the time not needing a dongle. Woohoo! 🎉
Of course it could have arrived yesterday but after FedEx telling me it would be delivered by 9:05am the driver finally came at about 1:35pm— during the one brief period of the day I was out of the house. Signature required, etc., so back in the truck it went. Today it was "delivery by 9:05am" again, and this time I made sure to be ready to dash to the front door all day— not even taking a shower for fear that the driver would knock and leave during a quick, 10 minute wash!
My new computer is a MacBook Pro 14". It's the new model with an M1 Pro CPU. I got mine up-spec'ed with 32GB of RAM. I need that for the 60-70 browser tabs I have open at any one time between 6 windows. 🤯 (No I'm not exaggerating.)
Getting this computer was the method to my madness in putting up with my old machine for a few months longer than strictly necessary. If I'd requested a new computer in August I'd have gotten an older MacBook Pro, with an older chipset. Possibly I would even have gotten a hand-me-down (used) computer from someone who'd left the company. I waited a few months until not only were we in a hiring upswing (so used computers would all be used up) but until the new MacBook Pros were launched. 🎉
Ports is Ports
One thing I like about the new MacBook Pros is that they have real ports again.For several years Apple laptops have offered only USB-C ports, which meant using an adapter dongle was a constant necessity. I wrote about this nuisance a year ago; it's what's been making me reluctant to replace my personal computer, a MacBook Air.
This new MacBook Pro has a total of 3 USB-C ports but also has a dedicated MagSafe power port, a dedicated HDMI jack (pictured), and an SD card slot (pictured). The SD slot I don't care about for this machine— though I'm holding out hope Apple includes one in the next version of the Air— but the dedicated power and HDMI jacks are very convenient. Those two mean that I'll go from 99% of the time having to attach a dongle to 99% of the time not needing a dongle. Woohoo! 🎉
no subject
Date: 2021-12-10 08:30 am (UTC)Physically, my computer is still working fine. But a lot of programs no longer support the OS that I'm running, and I do not want to go up a whole major release. Not only am I concerned that my old machine might not have the power to run it adequately, but the storage on this thing is pretty full and I doubt I have enough free space to install the newer OS versions.
So I basically did the same calculations you have, and came to a similar conclusion. Except that I just ordered it last week, and it will be another couple of months before it gets delivered.
no subject
Date: 2021-12-10 04:15 pm (UTC)My computer arrived faster than estimated. Apple initially said 8 weeks, and it arrived in less than 3. "Under-promise and over-deliver"?
no subject
Date: 2021-12-10 05:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-12-10 09:05 pm (UTC)I'm going to see if I can hold off replacing my Air until late next year. That's when Apple should launch a new Air model... and hopefully it will have real ports again!