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    My Impressions of the MacBook Pro M4

    (michael.stapelberg.ch)
    240 points secure | 12 comments | 31 Oct 25 10:13 UTC | HN request time: 0.003s | source | bottom
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    dr_pardee ◴[31 Oct 25 19:33 UTC] No.45775823[source]▶
    > I still don’t like macOS and would prefer to run Linux on this laptop. But Asahi Linux still needs some work before it’s usable for me (I need external display output, and M4 support). This doesn’t bother me too much, though, as I don’t use this computer for serious work.

    “I don’t use this computer for serious work.” Dropped $3K on MBP to play around with. Definitely should have gotten MBA

    replies(4): >>45775861 #>>45775875 #>>45776174 #>>45778211 #
    criddell ◴[31 Oct 25 19:38 UTC] No.45775861[source]▶
    If you are going to start making a list of expensive hobbies, $3K for a computer isn't going to be anywhere near the top of the list.
    replies(5): >>45776000 #>>45776238 #>>45779286 #>>45782264 #>>45783277 #
    asdff ◴[31 Oct 25 20:18 UTC] No.45776238[source]▶
    The type of person shelling out 3k for a computer is not running it until the wheels come off.
    replies(5): >>45776964 #>>45779606 #>>45781683 #>>45781766 #>>45782195 #
    1. brailsafe ◴[31 Oct 25 21:36 UTC] No.45776964{3}[source]▶
    What does the purchase price have to do with it? Seems like it would entirely depend on circumstances and constraints, rather than cost, how long someone would run something
    replies(1): >>45778021 #
    2. asdff ◴[31 Oct 25 23:58 UTC] No.45778021[source]▶
    Tells me they are price insensitive and probably get a new computer every couple of years.
    replies(1): >>45779076 #
    3. biinjo ◴[01 Nov 25 03:39 UTC] No.45779076[source]▶
    That reasoning does not make any sense. I spend $3-4k on a MBP and run it till it fall apart, usually 5-7 years later.
    replies(1): >>45779239 #
    4. RossBencina ◴[01 Nov 25 04:24 UTC] No.45779239{3}[source]▶
    I reckon it makes some sense for Apple users. You have to be willing (and financially able) to upgrade when Apple says. Apple forcefully obsoletes their products way too quickly to be a viable option if you care about longevity[0]. I have five excellent-condition still-perfectly-working Apple products next to me, none of which have current operating system support from Apple.

    [0] EDIT: for reference, my previous ThinkPad lasted me 14 years.

    replies(4): >>45780093 #>>45781145 #>>45781778 #>>45787642 #
    5. tuyiown ◴[01 Nov 25 08:31 UTC] No.45780093{4}[source]▶
    14 years as your main driver ? Because that what we’re talking about.
    replies(1): >>45781505 #
    6. madeofpalk ◴[01 Nov 25 12:31 UTC] No.45781145{4}[source]▶
    It makes sense for some people, and doesn't for others. Not particularly surprising or insightful.
    7. Too ◴[01 Nov 25 13:30 UTC] No.45781505{5}[source]▶
    14 is a indeed very long. Let’s instead assume 12, it’s 2013 and you got a top specced T440 with 4th gen i7. That’s actually not bad and the build quality is like a tank as all Thinkpads. Nothing I would use as daily driver myself but having used many other thinkpads of that generation I can see why others are still getting by with it today.

    Since we are talking about OS support. 4th gen Intel isn’t supported by Windows 11, so you’d have to upgrade to Linux.

    replies(1): >>45782695 #
    8. 45764986 ◴[01 Nov 25 14:12 UTC] No.45781778{4}[source]▶
    >I have five excellent-condition still-perfectly-working Apple products next to me, none of which have current operating system support from Apple.

    If they're working perfectly, why does it matter if they have current operating support? It doesn't seem like you're dependent on Apple.

    replies(1): >>45782009 #
    9. kace91 ◴[01 Nov 25 14:45 UTC] No.45782009{5}[source]▶
    Software drops support for certain OS versions even if the device still can run it.

    The first iPad Pro can’t run adobe products for example.

    The Mac is a bit more resilient to this, but it’s still worrying as yearly improvements become subtler.

    replies(1): >>45787633 #
    10. gcr ◴[01 Nov 25 16:00 UTC] No.45782695{6}[source]▶
    Out of curiosity, how much of that thinkpad were you able to upgrade? Could that be the difference between 5 and 14 years here?
    11. ryandrake ◴[02 Nov 25 03:24 UTC] No.45787633{6}[source]▶
    Yea, this is the bigger problem: 3rd party software developers drop support for "too old" operating systems WAY too early. Especially on mobile. Some developers only support one major previous version, which is insane.

    So, Apple leaves old hardware high and dry by not supporting them with operating systems, and 3P software leaves users high and dry by dropping support for operating systems. It's like they are working together to create e-waste.

    12. ryandrake ◴[02 Nov 25 03:26 UTC] No.45787642{4}[source]▶
    Out of about a dozen Apple devices in our household, none of them can be updated to the latest operating system. It's a huge problem with the Apple ecosystem, I'd say one of the biggest problems. Their hardware vastly outlasts their software, comically so.