The MacBook Pro M1 Max

After four years of wandering through the PC wilderness with a Dell XPS 15, I've returned to the Macintosh fold with an M1 based, MacBook Pro. Although it was pricey—by far the most expensive Apple product I've ever bought—I couldn't be more delighted.

Although the MacBook Pro was announced and available to order from October 2021, I decided to wait because I was in the middle of a higher-level Japanese class and wanted to allow myself some time to figure out if it was the right machine for my needs. 

In February 2022, I took a trip to my local Apple store to kick the tires and compare the 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. 

That night, I pulled the trigger on the following configuration:

• Apple M1 Max with 10-core CPU, 24-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
• 32GB unified memory
• 1TB SSD storage
• 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display

I typically choose Space Gray for my Apple devices but this time, it was silver. Because the black keys are set in a double-anodized black well, I think the higher contrast of silver looks better. I've also heard that the Space Gray coating wears out over time due to the palms resting on the case. Also, for some reason the braided Mag Safe power cable only comes in white, so it's a closer color match.

The initial shipping estimate was six to eight weeks, but apparently after three delays due to China's zero-COVID restrictions, it ended up being fourteen weeks. According to a recent Accidental Tech Podcast, co-host John Siracusa is currently experiencing similar wait times for his Apple Studio Display.

MacOS has evolved so much from the last version (High Sierra) I used with my 2011 MacBook Air. I'm not a fan of Monterey's rounded square icons on the Dock, but I can understand why Apple wanted to share the same designs as their more popular iOS. I'll get used to it.

macOS Monterey (12.4) Dock

macOS High Sierra (10.3) Dock

I like the integration between my iPhone and the notebook in regards to the automatic syncing of notes, notifications, and messages. It's nice to finally have all USB-C/Thunderbolt ports now. I hope to discover additional features the more I use it.

Regarding M1 optimized applications, I wasn't satisfied with the information provided from the unofficial Is Apple Silicon Ready? guide so I made my own Google Sheets version. The MacBook Pro is an expensive machine, so to maximize its performance and value, I intend to use applications that are Apple silicon optimized and don't require Rosetta 2 translation to run. Unfortunately, this is one reason why I felt compelled to walk away from my favorite 3D app, Modo. Heartbreaking.

Maxon Cinema 4D R25

After researching my options, it came down to two 3D apps—Cinema 4D and Blender. I took advantage of an educational discount and purchased a six month license of Cinema 4D for $9.99. I plan to follow a few of the tutorials to see if the interface and feature set are a good fit. If not, I'll give Blender a try.

Adobe going subscription only left me with a tough choice. If I was freelancing, it's absolutely worth it, but as a hobbyist, I had to look elsewhere. Fortunately there are some good alternatives, so I decided on Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher—the Serif equivalents of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Currently they're having a half off sale, so I bought all three for $80.

Serif's 50% off promotional graphic.

I also ordered a laptop shoulder bag and a Logitech wireless mouse to complete the package. For 3D work, a three-button mouse is absolutely critical. For this reason, in addition to its ridiculously high price, is why I never considered the Apple Magic Mouse. The bag and mouse should arrive by next week.