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Apple MacBook Pro M3 Max joins Mac Studio M1 Ultra

By YehudaFebruary 15, 2024Apple, DAW, M1 Ultra, M3 Max, Mac Studio, MacBook Pro

The perfect laptop and portable DAW part 2

Be sure to read my (growing) review: Apple MacBook Pro M3 Pro & M3 Max

In January 2023, I purchased a 14″ MacBook Pro M2 Pro with 12 core CPU, 19 core GPU, 16GB of memory and 1TB storage. At that time, I decided then that for my portability needs, it didn’t make sense to bump the memory or processor/GPU cores up. As a secondary system, I found the M2 Pro with 16GB to be very adequate for my needs, but as I expanded uses of the laptop, I yearned for more memory.

In January of 2024, one of my granddaughters needed a laptop for college and I was able to rationalize an upgrade. I gifted her the M2 Pro and upgraded to a 14″ MacBook Pro M3 Max with 14 core CPU, 30 core GPU, 36GB of memory and 1TB storage.

I regularly use most of the 64GB on my primary system, a desktop Mac Studio M1 Ultra. If this M3 Max were my primary system, it would have been tempting to go with 96GB. I never would have guessed it a few years ago, but I am really getting used to having large amounts of memory.

90% of my workstation needs are met by my primary system, but this MacBook Pro compliments it well. In Geekbench, the M3 Max 14 core CPU, 30 core GPU is faster in single and multi core CPU benchmarks and slower in GPU benchmarks than my M1 Ultra 20 core CPU, 48 core GPU. From my perception, both machines seem about the same which is totally wild to me.

Thanks!
-Yehuda

The previous chapter, one year earlier: Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro joins Mac Studio M1 Ultra

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Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro joins Mac Studio M1 Ultra

By YehudaJanuary 28, 2023Apple, DAW, M1 Ultra, M2 Pro, Mac Studio, MacBook Pro

The perfect laptop and portable DAW part 1

Be sure to read my review: Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro & M2 Max

In lieu of a 2nd Apple Studio Display (for a moment) I picked up a 14″ MacBook Pro M2 Pro with 12 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores, 16GB memory, and 1TB storage. I wanted macOS, application, and storage redundancy, as well as portability.

Most of my workstation needs are met by the desktop Mac Studio M1 Ultra, but the MacBook Pro will compliment it well.

This MacBook Pro generally has 50%-75% of the performance of the desktop and obviously is much easier to move. Not only will it expand my on the go computing, but it is the perfect portable DAW, should I ever need that.

The data itself is shared by iCloud Drive and Dropbox.

Thanks!
-Yehuda

The next chapter, one year later: Apple MacBook Pro M3 Max joins Mac Studio M1 Ultra

The previous chapter, six months earlier: Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra: Delivered!

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Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra: Delivered!

By YehudaJune 26, 2022Apple, M1 Ultra, Mac Studio

Alrighty! Woohoo! Yay! Yeehaw! Yippee!

Mar 9, 2022: Ordered Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra. Delivery changed a few times, last estimate June 29.
Apr 19, 2022: Ordered Apple Studio Display that should deliver by June 3.
Jun 3, 2022: Studio Display did arrive on time. Still, I couldn’t use it since the Mac Studio had not <sigh>.
Jun 24, 2022: Mac Studio M1 Ultra shipped and could be here tomorrow which will be the 109th day.
Jun 25, 2022: Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra: Delivered!

The perfect desktop and studio DAW part 1

Be sure to read my review: Apple Mac Studio M1 Max & M1 Ultra

Holy Shmoly, the Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra backorder waiting time was super brutal, especially considering the time I spent waiting for a MacBook Pro M1 Max before I changed the order to this Mac Studio M1 Ultra the day after it was announced. Oh well, the best is worth waiting for, it’s over now!

I will say one thing after using the Mac Studio for the better part of 2 days, it’s a dream to use.

Buying severely constrained Apple products

Supply chain/Covid related product delivery delays have really been a problem with Apple. At this point I think it looks like my experience of 109 days from order placement to delivery for the Mac Studio M1 Ultra is among the worst. Currently Apple is estimating up to 67 days.

The Studio Display took a more palatable 47 days. A MacBook Pro M1 Pro recently ordered is scheduled to take up to 51 days.

Though still bad, product delivery delays appear to be shrinking. Be prepared to have a lot of patience. As a general rule, the more advanced the processor and custom the build, the longer the wait.

My Mac Studio M1 Ultra and Studio Display are here now, amen. Stay tuned for more.

Thanks!
-Yehuda

The next chapter, six months later: Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro joins Mac Studio M1 Ultra

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