Three days after the Apple Event on October 18, 2021, I ordered the MacBook Pro 14 based model using the Apple Store app on my iPad Pro 12.9 (2020).
It was the most pricey gadgets I ever bought and I did so using an app. How convenient . . . and unnerving.
Buying Online Only
It turns out that buying the Macbook in the Apple Store is the only way I could get my hands on the latest Macbook Pro 14.
Or I could also buy online because I don’t want to go to the store and I wanted to try the Apple Store app on the iPad Pro.
One of the ways I was able to cope with the pandemic is by buying gadgets.
To name a few I was able to buy iPad Pro 12.9 and iPhone 13 Mini in a brick and mortar store.
When my first ever laptop Toshiba wouldn’t turn on in August (yes, it was tough not having a laptop for three months), I could either buy or wait.
What’s it going to be: MacBook Pro 13 or 14?
I had to wait till October 18 to order and waited five weeks to have the MacBook delivered to a relative’s place.
MacBook Pro 14 Based Model
I chose the MacBook Pro 14 inch Space Grey. My budget allows me to get the 14 inch based model.
Any upgrade comes with a hefty price. So based model it is.
For a whopping CAD 2,645.79 I am fortunate to get the latest model.
The tax is $125.99 and that is for someone who lives in Alberta. I wonder if customers living in other provinces will be charged more.
Specifications:
PROCESSOR AND GRAPHICS MEMORY: M1 Pro with 8-Core CPU, 14-Core GPU, and 16GB unified memory
POWER ADAPTER: 96W, USB-C power adapter
I had to pay extra $20; otherwise, I’ll get the 60W power adapter
SOLID STATE DRIVE: 512GB SSD storage (additional $250 for 1TB)
THUNDERBOLT: 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port
INPUT: Touch ID
RETINA DISPLAY: Liquid Retina XDR display
TRACKPAD: Force Touch Trackpad
Will the hardware suffice for me to do the things I want to create and learn?
Not Enough Storage
I knew the based model is just what I need while speculating and watching video reviews.
Until I figured out how to transfer my files from a HDD (Windows) to SDD (Mac).
The shortest answer is use a Windows laptop to copy files from HDD (with enclosure) to an external SDD like SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (500GB).
Related Post: My iPad Pro Accessories
After transferring all the files including photos from my Sony a6000 the storage capacity is almost half consumed.
The available storage is more or less 250GB. And I haven’t installed many Mac desktop apps yet.
In the past two years I haven’t taken a lot of photos because I can’t travel and events were cancelled. For the first time Calgary Stampede was cancelled. It’s a more than a century annual tradition and I get to be around to hear it.
Maybe next year, I can travel again in and out of Canada.
Will the 500GB SSD of MacBook Pro 14 be enough then?
Who knows. Well I have a portable SanDisk external SSD for backup and added storage if necessary.
To get a 1TB storage I need to shell out $250 which is non-existent. I told myself not to overstretch my budget. So I didn’t.
I stood by my decision. Whatever I have at the moment will make do. As the saying goes, a tool is only a tool that is wielded by a skilled person or something like that.
What Notch?
I am about to end this post then I remembered to mention the ever famous notch.
Cue the music. The notch doesn’t bother me anyway.
What’s all the fuss about it anyway. I hardly notice it because I have an external monitor connected to the laptop via HDMI.
Hurray for bringing back ports. Then again why Apple didn’t add a USB-A. Not even one.
If you don’t like seeing the notch, install the Topnotch app. It’s an easy solution to hide the questionable screen design.
MacBook Pro Learning Curve
Haven’t I told you that I’ve been a Windows user since the time of floppy disk.
But when I get to use a cousin’s Mac, I knew I wanted to have one someday. And also learn how to use Linux (Mint).
Here are the free and paid resources I am using to learn how to maximize using a MacBook Pro.
- MacBook Pro Essential (ebook) – download in Books app
- Apple Mac Basics – The Complete Course for Beginners (Udemy, CAD 14.14)
- LinkedIn Learning (free via a library membership)
Navigating through the Mac is getting easier. There is so much to tweak if you know how.
At the moment, I am concern of using my Mac for blogging (and later video editing). What software I can use to increase my productivity as a blogger?
To edit photos, I use a web application called Photopea. If you know how to use Photoshop you are golden.
Update: I gave up on Photopea and switch to Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for CAD 13.64/month with 20GB cloud storage.
OK so I need to edit this post in my Mac. I am writing on my iPad on my bed where it’s comfy. I need to finish the courses and reading the ebook and write a lot of posts.
What MacBook Pro are you going to buy and for what purpose?
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