Private Internet Access for sure.
No logs (which has been proven in court) and they accept all methods of payment.
Speeds are phenomenal and the pricing is very fair, been using them since 2013 and I've not looked back.
yeah, the touchbar really should have been an option for Pro models and let the Pro decide if it would be useful for them or not. For some applications, like video editing, many people liked it as they could see and scrub through their timeline easily. It really depended on your use case. For casual users it might actually have been more useful, but Apple, being Apple, never gave us an option. There are some applications like BetterTouchTool which tried to make it more useful, but in the end it didn't help much for me.
My favorite "software," if you will, when I got my first MacBook Pro was the integration with my iPhone. Being able to pick up phone calls on my Mac from my iPhone, activating iPhone hotspot without touching my iPhone, etc.
You can learn about features that MacBooks have to integrate with other Apple devices here.
Download the app Rectangle. It's free, open source, and brings Windows' window management to the mac. I've got a MBA for work and a Windows machine for gaming, and I feel right at home on my MBA :)
Also, as for browsers -- I really can't do Safari or Chrome, so I use Firefox on my mac. It works like a charm and has full extension support; Safari is missing some vital extensions I use, and Chrome I just don't use out of principle (and it sucks battery on my 2015 MBP)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172
Short answer, use a damp microfiber cloth and a dry microfiber cloth. Never use anything besides water… no alcohol, no wonder, nothing but water.
I also use KeyboardCleanTool. Allows you to lock the keyboard while cleat your MacBook. It’s my favorite price, free.
If you still have space, try AppCleaner which has a list of all your installed apps and will delete all of the files of the selected software (including Library and all these remainders). It’s small in size and personally most efficient than the drag to the bin native system for the above mentioned reason.
After that, empty your bin and everybody laughing 👍🏼
https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/
P.S. an extra layer of security would be setting a password on your Mac or lock Steam somehow for your little brother 😜
It is possible, but chances are that Skype is just misbehaving. Check out this software:
https://objective-see.com/products/oversight.html
It will help you monitor what apps are accessing the camera.
I recommend the Belkin 30W GaN charger. It’s 1/2 the size of apple’s equivalent 30w charger
I use whoosh to clean my devices. I never spray the cleaner directly onto my device, but instead onto the microfiber cloth, then wipe the screen and other areas, which I think are actually the instructions on the whoosh bottle. Whoosh on Amazon
Yes! Perfect match.
To add to what someone else said, 256GB is a good amount for someone primarily doing text based work (eg Microsoft Word) because text files are tiny. But if you’re doing large photo libraries or video libraries then 256GB is not a lot for internal storage. Which is why I recommend getting external storage when needed. I use the SanDisk Extreme Pro at 1,050 MB/s https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S1PCSV5/ (you can also get one that’s half the speed (but still that’s fast) and a little cheaper).
It's not an easy or a quick fix, but clean installing the OS will fix it - mind you, it involves wiping the hard drive completely (good in this case, you can clear any old data from the previous user lingering around), so make sure to backup and to understand all of the instructions if you decide to go this route. http://osxdaily.com/2014/10/18/clean-install-os-x-yosemite/
Bitwarden
The keychain enjoys wiping itself out for no dammed good reason way too often. So I don't use it with intention beyond what the OS uses it for.
AdGuard
https://adguard.com/en/welcome.html
They have iOS and macOS Safari Extensions, plus a full macOS app for system-wide ad blocking if you want that. It's all open-source, and the devs have always seemed responsive to the issues I have logged.
I give it my strongest recommendation (for whatever that's worth).
Has anyone here bought a refurbished MacBook from woot (Amazon)?
Have you guys seen this deal? https://www.amazon.com/Apple-i7-7820HQ-Quad-Core-Bluetooth-Refurbished/dp/B07JZXYT8K/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1544117025&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=macbook+woot&dpPl=1&dpID=21prfSdG4EL&ref=plSrch
It's a full $450 less than the refurbished ones sold at Apple's marketplace, but nowhere it states it has an apple warranty, it says woot warranty, which sounds shady.
What do you guys think?
Don’t buy malwarebytes. Activating the firewall is not necessary. Using a VPN is generally a good idea, I recommend Private Internet Access. You do have to worry about viruses, so don’t install apps from sources you don’t trust. Also, always browse the Internet with a solid ad-blocker like uBlock Origin. Often times malware is distributed via ad networks. Keep your macOS and browser up to date at all times.
the best way to make it look like its not worth any money is to first put a plain black vinyl skin over the top and bottom of the laptop, then put it in something like this, and then finally find somewhere to get the gateway logo made into a sticker and put it on the front and presto, nobody will even want to touch that thing because it looks like a piece of crap from 2001.
or a better way is a heavy duty laptop case with a lock. smart thieves dont steal things that look like a headache to get into without damaging whats inside
Several people recommended Amphetamine, but instead of that I recommend KeepingYouAwake
BetterTouchTool is awesome
Affinity Photo/Designer as a photoshop/illustrator alternative.
CotEditor
Sure thing I was shocked at how much I like it, It was like $30 on Amazon , it’s aluminum and sturdy. Doesn’t feel cheap and I never feel like my iPad scoots or adjusts without me doing it. Big thing is that it holds it on both sides, a lot of them only hold one side, so it goes 360* around (vertical and horizontal) here is the link, buy the shit out of it.
2 failures of Mac Pro using ZMUIPNG adapter on power delivery
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07RMDFNTB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you have another Mac, create an install disk for OS X El Capitan and try booting to it by holding option (⌥). The instructions for the install disk are here.
Hope this helps!
Try the Rectangle app. You can always long press on the green button of the browser window to select which side of the display you want the window but this app is very intuitive and unlike Magnet, its free and open source !
Brew is a must have in my opinion, as it will allow you to install and maintain software outside of the apple store very easily. I'd also recommend iTerm2 which you can install with brew.
Yes, that will work great. I have an M1 MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM and I’ve done stuff like this with Logic and Zoom. The fan never kicks in, which strongly suggests that an M1 MacBook Air with would perform just as well.
Side note: I don’t think GarageBand is the best app for the actual recording part. There are ways to get all the audio routed using free third-party plugins, but I prefer Audio Hijack for ease of use. Here is how I’d set up a podcast recording with two microphones (plugged into an audio interface, but separate USB microphones would work fine as well) and Zoom. Anyway, it might be worth checking out after you get your Mac.
You can use it for both. The type of storage you should get will depend on how you want to use it, though.
The reason I recommended an external HDD is that they’re large and cheap. Like, here is 2 TB for $62. The problem with HDDs is that they’re slow. They’re great for stashing data away that you don’t need to access super frequently.
An external SSD would be much faster, but they are also much more expensive. Here is a 2 TB for $299. The speed is really useful if you’re actively working with the files that are stored on it.
For Time Machine, the HDD is a more budget-friendly choice because you want a lot of space that’s archival in nature. The typical recommendation is getting one that’s 2-3 times the size of your internal storage.
There’s nothing wrong with using an SSD for Time Machine except for the fact that it’ll cost you more. But if you want to use the drive for both Time Machine and other stuff, then the SSD will give you a lot more flexibility.
It's kinda big and doesn't even have HDMI. and super expensive. I got my hub from Amazon for $30 and it has SD, microSD, HDMI, two USB-3 ports and a passthrough USB-C port. I would recommend something like this for you, literally only 1/10th of the price
I have an amazing and awesome 13" ICON Sleeve with Woolenex
So, if you want sheer storage you'll be fine getting any hard drive. Keep in mind hard drives are kinda fragile, I'd suggest not to take them on the road. Also, hard drives are pretty slow, like 20-30 (not 2-3) times slower than your mac's internal storage.
I would suggest you pick a external SSD instead. Storage will be a bit less for the same price, but they are waaay faster, smaller and less fragile.
For example you can get a Samsung T5 (or to newer R6 or T7 models): https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-T5-Portable-SSD-MU-PA1T0B/dp/B073H552FJ
However, if speed, size and fragility is of no concern, you can't really go wrong with the one that you suggested
I have one as well, and use it to backup my Mac.
Edi: for photo-editing I suggest you get an external SSD over an external hard drive
an elevated laptop stand would be very helpful
just something like this would help tremendously.
edit: and if that's not enough, there are ones with fans.
Neither. Both are poor value now the M1 MacBook Air is out.
I have seen M1 MacBook Airs for 3600AED on Amazon
If you prefer a UAE model and have an education discount you can get it from Apple for 3950AED in Dubai Mall or Mall of Emirates.
I think this might be what you're looking for
And this is a video on how to set it up
To use the newest Chrome on Mac, you'll need OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later.
You can upgrade to 10.11 (El Capitan). Sadly, this will most probably slow down your computer in its current state. Like /u/Nera2626 said, you can upgrade the hardware as well, which will help with the speed on the newer OS versions. The maximum memory your laptop accepts is 8GB of PC3-8500 DDR3 1066 MHz (SO-DIMM) RAM. An SSD wil further increase speed.
Edit: Not really sure where you're from, but here's a list on Amazon:
So you could be back on track for less than $150 if you know someone that can help you install it.
I ordered two of these off Amazon.
I was in the same position not wanting to buy anything too expensive. Using two of these I was able to hook up my two external monitors to my 2017 MBP with no issue.
Hope this helps.
I just bought the wired version off Amazon. I found several reviews that said the flush version frequently became disconnected when plugging/unplugging. The wired version does not have the SD card reader though.
I won't have my USB-C MacBook until later this week. If you'd like, I can update with my experience once I've used it a few days.
This is the best stuff I have found BY FAR, https://www.radtech.com/products/omnicleanz
This is the second best, but easier to find and is available on Amazon Prime for a little more money. You get more bottles and stuff in this package which Is cool but honestly the other stuff is better.
https://www.amazon.com/iKlear-iK-5MCK-Apple-Polish-Cleaning/dp/B001JD6T70
I use it once and it's not super wet and doesn't get into the keyboards to where it can damage it, vs the 2nd link for the iKlear bottles I have to spray, wipe, let it dry (which takes longer), and then repeat at least 3x to get the same effect.
This happened to me pretty recently. The flex cable for the hard drive went bad. I guess it's pretty common in some of the older pro models (I have a mid 2012 one). I was able to order a cable off Amazon and replace it myself, it was fairly simple. Here is the link to the cable I ordered, and here is a link to the replacement guide I followed, both for the mid 2012 model.
Edit: I saw that you mentioned in another comment that the repair option isn't showing up for you in the disk utility. If you're hdd isn't showing up or is showing up as "disk0" it doesn't necessarily mean its dead. If the cable is dead then your computer can't "see" it, so it's not going to show up in the disk utility (I think. I'm by no means a computer expert. I just did a LOT of googling when it happened to me haha).
So I’d like to get a MacBook for school but i don’t want nor need the $1299 price tag. However I did some digging and I found a Retina MacBook 2015 for $800 on Amazon, mixed reviews. But I also found a MacBook Air 2017 for $800 too, but at the same time I could always get the Student Discount. What should I do?
I have this Uppercase Keyboard Cover from Amazon and absolutely love it. I've never had a problem with it leaving any marks on my 2017 Macbook Pro 13" Touch Bar model.
https://www.amazon.com/Protective-Compatible-2012-2015-CornerArmor-Accessory/dp/B01HCF0XMU It’s this amazon tomtoc case. You can see the design in the pictures. In person the padding is very padded and sort of stiff (not fluffy). I don’t think it’s dust because I just got this MacBook and case recently. Should I refund and purchase a new case? I want protection in a case but not for it to squish my laptop.
It is either a 2017 or 2018 because the symbols on the control, option, and command keys are the newer keyboard.
I'm sorry, I missed the part when you said you already did it, just realized.
https://lifehacker.com/fix-your-bluetooth-audio-in-yosemite-with-this-terminal-1670380974 I have tried this for my very cheap pair of bluetooth earphones and this worked.
>None of those will make Windows install flash drives, but all are great for Linux distros!
Oh, that's pretty simple on a Mac. Rather than explain the process though, here's a simple tutorial that can help.
I've made a few this way. It's unfortunate that Windows ISOs aren't hybrid so you can't just DD them.
Looking for a macbook that can do some light coding, nothing too fancy. I do not think I need to buy a brand new Macbook for $1k+, so I was thinking about buying something used.
​
I know XCode needs the newest iOS, but I was wondering if I could get by with something like this. I am generally unsure how to figure out a good deal for buying a used Macbook online, so I would appreciate any references. Thanks!
You go to the app store and download el capitan by searching it. Make sure you have a flash drive 8gb or bigger and foloe this guide to create it.
http://osxdaily.com/2015/09/30/create-os-x-el-capitan-boot-install-drive/
This. Buy a SSD, then clean install Yosemite (for example) onto it.
http://osxdaily.com/2014/10/18/clean-install-os-x-yosemite/
A standard rotating HDD only has so many years before it starts regularly corrupting data. I used to swap mine out every 3 years or so. Nowadays I just get a cheap SSD and install onto that.
I find Coconut Battery to be really good for monitoring battery health, but it is an application that you have to install once set up. I can't think of anything that would allow your mac to be connected to a desktop to check. Another option would be to boot an OS X Snow Leopard installer from USB if the computer is old enough, and using System Profiler to check, although that is a bit limited.
I really haven't paid much attention to the accuracy, but I've been using Coconut Battery for about a week, and it gives time until empty. I checked, and it's not open source, so I don't know how it computes the estimate.
Mid 2010 MBP here. Booting from a USB on that is fun, lol.
So those models you need a third party tool To boot from a non Mac USB- something like ReFit or I have used Mac USB Linux https://www.sevenbits.io/mlul/ to boot Linux properly.
That's strange, have the same setup as you, M1 MBP with MX master 3. I use it with bluetooth and have no issues at all in terms of connectivity. Although for scrolling I must say it's horrendous if that's the issue you are talking about? Choppy like you described. The smooth scroll option in the default Logi options is bad too, it makes scrolling inconsistent. I use a 3rd party extension that smooths the scrolling out called MOS. With this extension I don't have issues at all, maybe give it a try.
Check out Magnet in the App Store. It does a great job of using hot keys to quickly snap windows in a wide variety of layouts. I like it even better than the built in Windows functionality.
Depending on what you do for work Homebrew can be a good thing to install.
You might not need it, but if you do any development its pretty key. It lets you install things straight from the command line.
You'll also run into issues if your workflow uses any sort of virtualization at all, not just running Windows. For example, Docker Desktop will not currently work correctly on M1 Macs. They've said they're working on it, but it's still a WIP. Given though this is very much a developer centric issue, so keep that in mind.
For your average layperson, I've been using my M1 for a few days now and I've not run into any issues. The only minor issue I had was the Steam app being really sluggish, but that's fixed by turning off smooth scrolling and GPU acceleration.
There is actually a fix
Step 1. Type livestreamer --twitch-oauth-authenticate. Chrome will open and ask you to login to twitch. It will give you a "page does not exist" error.
Step 2. Check the url. It has a section that says access_token=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Copy this string.
Step 3. Continue watching livestreamer as usual. However, when opening a stream, it should read livestreamer --twitch-oauth-token xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx twitch.tv/channel best
I have used Livestreamer in about 4 months but that was what I had to do. I'd recommend saving your auth token somewhere to make it easier.
VideoPad is very format-agnostic and therefore also supports popular open source standards like WebM and Matroska (with VP9 or H.264 video but for some inexplicable reason H.265 is only supported in the MP4 container and not in other containers that also supports this codec).
The free version works for the most basic tasks, but you would probably prefer to spend 40$ / 35€ on the fully-functional Home edition. It comes with plenty of filters, and I would say it qualifies as a fully-fledged non-linear video editing tool. The bonus is that it also supports lossless editing (sequential cutting) with remuxing options.
I have to stress that I haven't really tested it myself, but several people have recommended it to me.
You can only airdrop between Macs; Mac <-> iOS AirDrop requires a Mac(Book) built after 2012.
> To send items to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or to receive items from those devices, you need a 2012 or later Mac model with OS X Yosemite or later, excluding the Mac Pro (Mid 2012). — https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203106
not necessarily i think find my can still connect to either a non protected wifi or nearby bluetooth now to track stuff. so as long as bluetooth and wifi are enabled it can get a location regardless of the computer was logged into. However, it does mean they at least turned it on. If you had no password on ur laptop then you might wanna wipe it, otherwise, if you do have a password, it just means it was turned on
EDIT: I would consider putting it into lost mode, and setting a different password to unlock the computer:
CotEditor is a free and open source native MacOS plaintext editing app written in Swift. You'll probably want to change the default font to a fixed-width font like Monaco or Menlo, but otherwise it's a pretty good out of the box replacement for Sublime Text, Notepad++, etc.
Performance will be way better than Atom (which is built on the Electron framework).
Great, all you’ll need is a USB-C to HDMI adapter like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Aluminum-Pixelbook-Compatible-Thunderbolt/dp/B07THJGZ9Z
You can also get a hub for a bit more money that adds some handy USB-A ports and a card reader:
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Adapter-Reader-MacBook-Chromebook/dp/B07H4VQ4BZ
I've been using the Logitech Triathlon (M720) for about six months and love it.
The MX Master 2 and 3 are great, but I personally like the Triathlon's shape more, and the multiple function buttons (two on the side -- third is for Flow -- and another lower on the bottom which is direction-based, so can have four different functions). It doesn't have a rechargeable battery like the MX Masters, but one can use a rechargeable AA (as I do) to minimize waste.
8GB/256GB might be enough for you, but it’s mainly going to depend on how seriously you get into photo/video editing. If it’s occasional, you’re all good. But if you think it’s going to become a more serious thing, I would consider bumping up the RAM.
RAM is really fast storage that apps use while working. So, if you load up a photo in Photoshop, it’ll be stored in RAM while you’re messing around with it. Practically, 8GB RAM should be enough if you’re editing iPhone photos, but if you’re planning get a nicer digital camera that saves 50 megapixel images or whatever, then 16GB is a safer bet. 8GB will still work, though, but it’ll be a bit slower and put more wear on your computer.
Video editing can also get pretty heavy. That’s the kind of stuff that can push your SSD requirements up since uncompressed video files can take up a huge amount of space. If you’re going to be doing this, though, it’ll be more cost-effective to work off of an external SSD like this rather than the internal SSD. Yes, it’s more convenient to not carry an extra thing around, but you’ll be paying Apple a substantial price premium for the privilege.
The other stuff that you mentioned like video calls, Office, Netflix/YouTube, readings, etc. are not very intensive in terms of RAM or SSD usage.
MOSISO Compatible with MacBook Air 13 inch Case 2020 Release A2337 M1 A2179 with Retina Display Touch ID, Heavy Duty Plastic Hard Shell Case with TPU Bumper & Keyboard Cover, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BJ6F76W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_HSYHZ9JHQ09827Z60NYQ
ok here is a negative datapoint:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AJVYDC0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
this one's 13 inch sleeve is not snug, it allows about 1inch free space
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B082DCCLX4
im not sure about 240hz. i use that with my AOC 34 inch 144hz, it runs at max 100hz.. this is the ONLY adapter i tried that can do 60hz when used with my mbp16, where now with the m1 it does 100hz..
ive tried so many brands off amazon, docks/adapters/hubs ranging from 100-300$(company willing to expense), im just glad i finally got one so cheap that works.
This is the sleeve I plan to get for mine when I get it in July. One answered question suggested the 13in would fit best. I have basically the same thing already from this brand for my iPad and it works great.
MOSISO Laptop Sleeve Bag Compatible with MacBook Air 13 inch 2018-2021 A2337 M1 A2179 A1932, MacBook Pro A2338 M1 A2289 A2251 A2159 A1989 A1706 A1708,Polyester Vertical Case with Pocket, Airy Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W4JKZC7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_X4K43PCBF4H7M5XNXZVK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I tried the below which are listed but nothing :(
DELL UNIVERSAL DOCK - D6000 and
Plugable Thunderbolt 3 and USB C Dock
both are listed to work but neither worked.
I plugged my dock into my mac. Then used a HDMI/primary display
I plugged the dock into my mac. Then used a HDMI/primary display cable into the dock. The second HDMI was plugged into a hub* which I connected to my mac. Nothing. Tried to the dock, nothing either. I also tried the second HDMI straight into my mac and nothing.
*does the hub need to be display link compatible? I used This one
Any advice would be amazing as I am going crazy trying to get this to work, and my office is a graveyard of docks atm
Wb these
SAMSUNG T7 Portable SSD 500GB - Up to 1050MB/s - USB 3.2 External Solid State Drive, Gray (MU-PC500T/AM) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874YS2N7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_MRWVDZPYXN8ANPFKR2HN?psc=1
Hi, sorry for the no response.
iVANKY Docking Station Pro provides 96W charging power, which can take care of the 16”. But it's with dual HDMI ports.
Seem like you need to get an HDMI to USB-C adapter for the USB-C monitor. But this dock is the only one I've found so far supporting charging up the 16” MacBook at full speed.
USB-C dock will be enough, and within your budget.
I'm using iVANKY Docking Station Pro. A bit more than $100, comes with dual 4K@60Hz HDMI, 4*USB-A, Ethernet, and more. 12 ports expansion will take care of most of your needs.
From amazon not sure if this is the exact one i used a different amazon account
I cooked that Belkin one personally. I had a charger, Ethernet, 4K monitor, and a usb receiver running through it to my 16” MacBook Pro.
Here’s what I replaced it with and it’s been amazing to use between my personal and work machines.
Anker Docking Station, PowerExpand 13-in-1 USB-C Dock for USB-C Laptops, 85W Charging for Laptop, 18W Charging for Phone, 4K HDMI, 1Gbps Ethernet, Audio, USB-A Gen 1, USB-C Gen 2, SD 3.0 https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B088F7SY6S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_4TPMB5TMP01B7GK3DSCV
I got an anker usbc hub from amazon. 2 USBA, 1 USBC, SD and microSD, power USBC, and HDMI. Had no problems with it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZVKTP53/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Your machine has a SATA 2 connection but any 2.5 inch 2.5 inch SATA 3 drive will work as the standard is backwards compatible. Just know that you won't get the advertised speed of a SATA 3 drive. It will still be an improvement.
You could do 8 GB of ram
Yep here’s the link . As well I don’t use both displays at once, I close over my MacBook and just use the bigger screen
Got mine last week and added this case to it. Love it!
Spigen Thin Fit Designed for MacBook Pro 13 inch Case A2338 M1 / A2251 / A2289 (2020) - Black https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08G9J7V6G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_ND8SYRBE11WHBNBQ9FS2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
This is the keyboard cover I got. I got the Korean/English one but I think they have blank ones with just English too. It fits perfectly on my MacBook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089LZ2K2B?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I was focused on high-quality screw drivers as a starter in case there is a way to safe it:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VYWDXBS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
are you aware of any brute-force approach to loosen those screws if need be?
Oh do I have a neat little accessory for you. This is really a handy dandy cover. One I posted is for retina MacBook but they have versions for new MBs too.
I would say going with the base model MacBook Air M1. Personally I have it and its amazing. There are reports coming that the unified ram acts more like 16gb instead of 8gb. Might sound really weird but that's the truth. I also do some light video editing here and there and it performs really well! I would only get the Pro if your into spending 300-400 more and only getting 2 more hours of battery life and a Touch Bar. What I did is I got the M1 MacBook Air on the education website and saved more than $150 (CAD). With that extra money I saved with going with the MacBook Air and then education discount I purchased a 27 inch curved gaming monitor from Samsung. It is only 60hz but the MacBook only supports up to 60hz anyways. I would say my setup is really clean as I do use a dongle.
​
(btw the you dont need to be a student for the education discount! They dont even check lmao)
Also when I do run Cinebench or video edit my Mac does not get even slightly hot if your worrying about not having a fan. Also it doesn't thermal throttle.
Yes, you can on the 2016 MacBook. You can absolutely run 4K with a monitor that has built in USB-C.
There is even 4K 60Hz HDMI output with an active adapter and with power delivery passthrough.
Cable Matters makes one for about $25 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XNS7W63/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1ObFzb3PSYEB0
An SD card is a bad idea, it would stick out of the side of your laptop and could get damaged if you're not careful. You should buy this special sized adapter for microSD cards, and buy whatever microSD card you want. You should look at the SD card speed classes table, and pick a card based on what speed class you think you'll need.
Thunderbolt 2 support was (and still is) basically non-existent. Anything with Thunderbolt 1/2 is incredibly expensive on top of that, and was really only in high end storage devices. There isn’t a hub that looks like that one, but if you’re looking for one in general...
https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Thunderbolt-Dock-Ethernet-aluminum/dp/B00PAPMSLE
https://www.amazon.com/OWC-OWCTB2DOCK12P-Thunderbolt-2-Dock/dp/B00UUCQVBK
Here's my perspective. Do not buy the 1tb from Apple. You're wasting your money if you do so. The difference in lifespan for a 512gb and 1tb ssd is negligible, especially in the four year period you're hoping to get you out of your machine. If you really need more storage I would look at externals SSD's in the future. They are both fast and reliable.
As for 16" or 13", personally I would go for 16" but I am a sucker for larger screens(that justifies the extra cost for myself). The gpu probably won't be too important for your use case but in the moments you do need its muscle, you will appreciate it. You are also getting a significantly better processor and larger battery with the 16" which will al help with the longevity of the machine.
In the end, they are all amazing machines. If money is tight, or if very good probability/space is concern, I would get the 13". You will be very happy with it. If you have the extra $200, or portability is less of a concern, I would say get the 16", It, in my opinion is the best "bang for your buck" machine.
I have been a fan of Anker products, mainly bc of their customer service if something breaks. They have a USB-C hub on amazon that is a 7 in 1 with 2 usb 3.0, 1 usb c, 1 hdmi, and a micro and regular SD card slot. Also has a power in plug. With this single hub I run a USB hub into the usb port, power, and hdmi for my 1st external monitor. I then have a usb c adapter for my second external screen directly into the computer. Ive tested all the ports at once and they work well. Cant go wrong for 40 bucks. I didn't need the thunderbolt 3's data transfer power, nor the money for a more powerful hub. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZVKTP53/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Anker is better, but they're expensive when not on sale. Only thing to keep an eye out for the max wattage of the cable. Most long ones are 30-60W.
From there I normally just look on amazon and check the reviews. Only 10ft that I've owned is this guy. Only this it that it's not braided:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0832DC7W8/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_qCXUEbPKGSC89
It's an HP Envy 27 Inch UHD 4K. It's the cheapest on Amazon.
Here is the Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3YVA0P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1
ExpressVPN — works also perfect in difficult circumstances and “locked” countries like China. They have many many locations you can choose quickly and change immediately if you want. I use it 2,5 years now.
M2 MBA is an excellent choice for you. To solve the "lack of ports" problem, it's customary to purchase a dongle like this, which includes an HDMI port and USB-A ports for your headset. Also, that USB-C port on the dongle is actually for power delivery, so you don't have to use the included magsafe cable to charge and just use one port for everything. (full disclosure, I do not have any experience with that product so I can't vouch for it but the reviews for it look solid.)
For the record, the M2 MBA can also only natively handle one external monitor, so if you have a multi-monitor setup, it's possible on the MBA but there's some finagling you have to do. see this video for more details.
And obviously the adapter I linked on amazon features an HDMI port and will work just fine with your cinema display.
Docking station: iVANKY Docking Station Pro
Monitor: Dell U3219Q 4K
Got my M1 Max 2020 16Gb Ram 512GB 13inch from Amazon renewed for 1K and it was absolutely the best place i could have gotten it from! I ordered it about three months ago and wanted a 512GB version but they sent me a 1TB version instead all brand new! It was honestly a blessing because I wanted to get a 1TB but they didn’t have that option and they gave me it eitherway somehow😭 It also came with free 2 year AppleCare+ and a 61W charger which is perfect for charging my mac and my iPhone! Here’s the link if you wanna check it out! 2020 Apple MacBook Air (13.3"... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V7DCPH6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Thank you so much for the help! I found the one I’m going to get, its not exactly the same but it is the same brand and still 2 HDMI ports. Much appreciated!
If you’re wondering, I’ll get this one: https://www.amazon.se/CalDigit-Thunderbolt-Mini-Dock-HDMI/dp/B079GWKX63/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?crid=1F4NNP9O91ISC&keywords=caldigit+dock&qid=1670531095&sprefix=caldigit+doc%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-8
How about two ports but only one cable? It doesn't need to be a thunderbolt dock if the bandwidth is enough to run two monitors. A relatively cheaper dock with dual USB-C will do.
MacOS is not supported as a GUEST os. As a HOST, MacOS works just fine, here: https://www.virtualbox.org/
"Presently, VirtualBox runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh, and Solaris hosts"
So if you want to install VBox on your MacOS so that you can run Ubuntu in it, it works just fine (been doing it for years).
It has two USB-C ports. I assume you want USB-A ports, though. You can get hubs for pretty cheap. Here’s one that will accommodate 4 devices:
https://www.amazon.com/uni-Aluminum-Thunderbolt-Multiport-Chromebook/dp/B087QFM3GF/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0892Z9LZ4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
​
I use this as a small laptop sleeve but it can also be carried around.