What's new
The Snug

Welcome to The Snug - a friendly place for discussions created by the community for the community. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

What's your latest tech purchase?

I’ll wait for Black Tuesday to look for a deal on a small iPad speaker. When younger, we used to listen environmental sounds at bed time. I want to give it another try. But I don’t want to spend $500 on one. Any suggestions?
 
Pre-ordered a silver MacBook Pro 14” with M4 Pro (14/20 cores), 48 GiB memory, and 1 TB storage.

Had to fight some second thoughts so the delivery date slipped from ”November 8” to ”November 8-12”, and my bank account probably screamed loud enough to be heard at least all over northern Europe. Ah, well, based on my two latest MBP purchases, my next one should be in 2035 or so.

Edit: Same configuration has slipped to November 15 for new orders. 🤩
 
Last edited:
💩 Apple!

Base Mac Mini M4 (10/10 CPU/GPU cores, 16 GiB RAM, 256 GB SSD) ordered when I noticed the delivery dates had changed from November 21 to November 12.

Did not expect to order one, but the price point of the base model won me over.
 
Ridiculously expensive USB hub: Streamplify Hub Deck 5.

www.streamplify.com

HUB DECK 5 - Simplify | Amplify

USB Hub with 5 USB ports and individual power buttons for each USB slot with LED indicators for connected devices. Choose from 7 swappable keycaps to customize your hub to fit your unique preferences and style.
www.streamplify.com www.streamplify.com

Long story short:

I have certain accessories I want to use with both my Mini and my MBP while at my desk. Not simultaneously, just with the computer I am using at the moment . Piece of cake with a monitor with built-in KVM; The Mini is always physically connected, and the MBP just needs a single USB-C cable for power, display, and the USB accessories. Perfect! ...until a work laptop enters the picture. I want to be able to plug it in just like my MBP but without connecting all accessories...
 
Pumbaa said:
Ridiculously expensive USB hub: Streamplify Hub Deck 5.

www.streamplify.com

HUB DECK 5 - Simplify | Amplify

USB Hub with 5 USB ports and individual power buttons for each USB slot with LED indicators for connected devices. Choose from 7 swappable keycaps to customize your hub to fit your unique preferences and style.
www.streamplify.com www.streamplify.com

Long story short:

I have certain accessories I want to use with both my Mini and my MBP while at my desk. Not simultaneously, just with the computer I am using at the moment . Piece of cake with a monitor with built-in KVM; The Mini is always physically connected, and the MBP just needs a single USB-C cable for power, display, and the USB accessories. Perfect! ...until a work laptop enters the picture. I want to be able to plug it in just like my MBP but without connecting all accessories...
Click to expand...
To me, KVM setups almost always turn out to be embarrassingly confusing. You could screen mirror or screen extend to your Mini from your MBP. Though I end up just using my MBP for everything and I have a USB-C PD ultrawide monitor at work and in my basement office.


------
Just got a 3D printer and I'm enjoying it a lot more. Also purchased an iPhone 16 pro, since my 13 pro's camera had been broken for the past year and would cost nearly as much to fix it as to trade it in for a new....and since my work transitioned our paging system to a cell phone app, keeping my phone tip top shape became mission critical. (no they don't reimburse me for using my personal cell...)
 
Well, my latest tech purchase was a replacement screen for my 2021 MBP that I broke when i dropped off the bed falling asleep working... It took 84 steps to fix it. Definitely wouldn't recommend. Though it's a good reminder, that these screens do seem to age over time. My new screen makes me feel like I'm using a new machine.

I also ordered a home assistant green hub...time for me to unify my home devices.
 
Gambled on a Das Keyboard 4 Professional for Mac from the UK on eBay. Postage and import charges basically doubled the price (damn you, Brexiteers!) but still a good deal for me provided it gets delivered as promised and looks and works as advertised.

www.daskeyboard.com

Das Keyboard 4 Professional for Mac Mechanical Keyboard

The Das Keyboard 4 Professional for Mac is a high-performance mechanical keyboard designed for the best Mac compatibility. Constructed with Cherry MX mechanical switches, aluminum top panel, two-port USB 3.0 hub and NKRO for the best typing experience.
www.daskeyboard.com www.daskeyboard.com

Took the plunge as my old trusty Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate for some reason did not enjoy having a drink last year, and I just got a message that my order for a new one could not be fulfilled...

www.daskeyboard.com

Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard

The Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate is a completely blank mechanical keyboard for ultimate typists. Constructed with Cherry MX mechanical switches, aluminum top panel, two-port USB 3.0 hub and NKRO for the best typing experience.
www.daskeyboard.com www.daskeyboard.com
 
I made an arm-jerk purchase of a NIB Apple Watch 10 from a MR Member yesterday . . .

. . . it was really weird outing myself to another peri-anonymous individual.

Real VV "True Names" type scenario!
 
Does a new knob for my dryer count? I called the official parts department of the manufacturer and they wanted $80 for a plastic knob. No thanks! I then searched online and found what seemed like the right one for $15. I got it in the mail and luckily it was the right one!
 
Adding insult to injury, more Googley stuff: Chromecast Ultra.

Not technically a purchase, a friend gifted me an unopened Chromecast Ultra. I guess I am more likely to have casting visitors in addition to airplayers than others. 🤷
 
I've been thinking more of trying to make videos, so I considered getting a 15 inch M4 Macbook Air with 24GB of ram with 512GB SSD. Which would have actually been cheaper than the M2 MBA with 16GB & 1TB SSD I originally got. I did briefly think about getting the new M4 MBP with a nano texture screen, but when I convinced myself to buy one, I couldn't convince any of the Apple Store salespeople to sell me one. The security guard & I stood there for 45 minutes in the Apple store while salespeople helped ( a very nice White couple I'm sure, and an older Black lady ) others, until I eventually left empty handed.

Catching up to now, I was looking at the new 15 inch MBAs that now have increased ram, and I thought I would go for it. That is until I read on MR that Amazon & a few other places were discounting the Pros. One particular poster that I consider to be a bit of an @$$hat was reminding anyone that would listen to him that Micro Center was having better deals. A new Micro Center opened near me coincidentally, so I stopped in, saw a 14 inch M4Pro Macbook Pro with 24GB / 512GB for $100 cheaper than a 15inch MBA with the same memory & SSD.

So now I'm back on the MBP bandwagon, though I think the 15 inch midnight blue is the most beautiful laptop I've owned.

Oh, and the kicker. I went in today to trade in my 15in MBA while Apple is supposedly giving higher trade in values until early April, they took care of me the literal moment I walked in the door. So Apple Care is paid off for the MBP and I've $500 or so on a card. Make the high end Apple store's service make sense for me. 🤷‍♂️
 
Jay Mysteri0 said:
I've been thinking more of trying to make videos, so I considered getting a 15 inch M4 Macbook Air with 24GB of ram with 512GB SSD. Which would have actually been cheaper than the M2 MBA with 16GB & 1TB SSD I originally got. I did briefly think about getting the new M4 MBP with a nano texture screen, but when I convinced myself to buy one, I couldn't convince any of the Apple Store salespeople to sell me one. The security guard & I stood there for 45 minutes in the Apple store while salespeople helped ( a very nice White couple I'm sure, and an older Black lady ) others, until I eventually left empty handed.

Catching up to now, I was looking at the new 15 inch MBAs that now have increased ram, and I thought I would go for it. That is until I read on MR that Amazon & a few other places were discounting the Pros. One particular poster that I consider to be a bit of an @$$hat was reminding anyone that would listen to him that Micro Center was having better deals. A new Micro Center opened near me coincidentally, so I stopped in, saw a 14 inch M4Pro Macbook Pro with 24GB / 512GB for $100 cheaper than a 15inch MBA with the same memory & SSD.

So now I'm back on the MBP bandwagon, though I think the 15 inch midnight blue is the most beautiful laptop I've owned.

Oh, and the kicker. I went in today to trade in my 15in MBA while Apple is supposedly giving higher trade in values until early April, they took care of me the literal moment I walked in the door. So Apple Care is paid off for the MBP and I've $500 or so on a card. Make the high end Apple store's service make sense for me. 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
Did you end up getting the MBP?

Just saw this review of the MBA. Sounds like it's hard to go wrong with the current lineup of Mac laptops...

sixcolors.com

M4 MacBook Air review: Am I blue?

The M4 MacBook Air can drive two external displays with its lid open. The new M4 MacBook Air is the Mac most people should buy. It’s easy to get caught up in the small changes Apple rolls int…
sixcolors.com sixcolors.com
 
SouprMatt said:
Did you end up getting the MBP?

Just saw this review of the MBA. Sounds like it's hard to go wrong with the current lineup of Mac laptops...

sixcolors.com

M4 MacBook Air review: Am I blue?

The M4 MacBook Air can drive two external displays with its lid open. The new M4 MacBook Air is the Mac most people should buy. It’s easy to get caught up in the small changes Apple rolls int…
sixcolors.com sixcolors.com
Click to expand...

Yes, I got the MBP. I got this one from Microcenter, but at $1599. The trade in of the MBA pretty much brought the price down to $1000, which was too good an offer to pass up,

www.microcenter.com

Apple MacBook Pro 14" MX2H3LL/A (Late 2024) 14.2" Laptop Computer - Space Black; Apple M4 Pro 12-Core CPU; 24GB - Micro Center

Get it now! MacBook Pro features the most advanced lineup of chips ever built for a pro laptop. Phenomenal single - and multithreaded CPU performance, faster unified memory, enhanced machine learning accelerators - the M4 family of chips gives you the kind of speed and capability youve never...
www.microcenter.com www.microcenter.com
Click to expand...

Basically I got a new MBP at cheaper than a refurbished or a new Air with the same ram & drive.

www.apple.com

Refurbished 14-inch MacBook Pro Apple M4 Pro Chip with 14‑Core CPU and 20‑Core GPU - Space Black

Originally released October 202414.2-inch (diagonal) Liquid Retina XDR display;¹ 3024-by-1964 native resolution at 254 pixels per inch24GB unified memory512GB SSD²Touch ID12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk ViewThree Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports
www.apple.com
Click to expand...
www.apple.com

15-inch MacBook Air - Sky Blue

Get free shipping on a MacBook Air laptop supercharged by the M4 chip when you order from apple.com. Select a model or customize your own now.
www.apple.com
Click to expand...

I was looking at future proofing because I'm not sure when I'll get a new ( I assume I will get a new iPad Pro next year ) laptop. With Apple defaulting to 16GB of Ram finally, not because of the calls of their customers, but because they jumped on the AI bandwagon to quiet investors. I wondered if Apple isn't letting on how much ram AI will actually need, which made me think that 24GB of ram is the new 16GB. The quality of the Airs has opened an interesting window, where the price MB Pros seems to drop at other sellers, to keep moving them out the door.

Like I said, I loved my 15 inch MBA, I do think it is the perfect form factor. Light, with the perfect size screen. The midnight blue is beautiful. The 14 inch is taking a bit of getting used to, it somehow seems to affect my typing. It's also "chonkier", but just a little heavier. Not 16 inch MBP heavier, but you get the impression it's heavier. The screen? Ah, I missed that screen. Yes you get used to the MBA & don't get upset, but if you go back to the Pros screens it just seems worth it. Nothing tops the 16 inch MBP speakers, but the 14 inch MBP speakers are a bit better than the Airs. The only time I noticed the speakers though was in a hotel room when we watched it instead of the hotel TV.

I don't imagine I'll ever come close to pushing a M4 Pro, but it's nice to know there's no ceiling I'm in danger of ever reaching should I follow thru on making vids or anything else.
 
Last edited:
I forgot that I still had a ( Photobucket is holding people's photos hostage unless you sign up for some kind of service ) Flickr account.

54432497785_87a7cfed60.jpg


I haven't settled on a skin yet, so I just got a white case for it to match my IPPs white Pitaka case.

54431269137_e72b19fdce.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Back
Top