I am in need of a new laptop, and am considering the 14" MacBook Pro M3 Pro, and wondered if there were any caveats to buying one if my intention is to do some REW and other simulating and measurements? It's been a while since owning a Mac and wasn't sure if things had changed etc.
My goal is to measure some speaker projects and have a UMIK-1 from MiniDsp I would like to use.
I'm sure some software like WinISD isn't going to be possible, but wonder what else I may miss out on? Thanks and apologies if this is the wrong subforum.
My goal is to measure some speaker projects and have a UMIK-1 from MiniDsp I would like to use.
I'm sure some software like WinISD isn't going to be possible, but wonder what else I may miss out on? Thanks and apologies if this is the wrong subforum.
Good choice sub-forum! Should be no problem. I'm typing this from exact that model. I use it for REW and for the Win tools, I use the UTM emulator to run rePhase and what not.
Just check the compatibility with your USB mic. Google it to confirm that it works - I use an external USB sound "card".
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Just check the compatibility with your USB mic. Google it to confirm that it works - I use an external USB sound "card".
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Well the 16" M3 Macbook Pro works for me - I use Parallels for a couple of windows devices, Scarlett Solo USB audio. My DSP is usually off-line and with Python/numpy/scipy/matplotlib. Audacity is handy at times. I'd imagine Parallels could handle WinISD but I have not used it so don't know for sure. My previous Macbook Pro came with a job and lasted 10 years before the keyboard keys started to fail (also it is more sensitive to hot weather than when new). The M3 runs so cool that is not an issue! Running all day on a battery charge is nice too...
To join the chorus, I use a 16” M2 Max MacBook Pro with no issues.
I use REW with a Dayton Audio UMM-6 USB microphone, and it works flawlessly. All speaker design Windows applications that I’ve tried work just fine: WinISD, VituixCAD2, and XSim. I use wine as a Windows emulator, as it is free and relatively easy to install.
And, as Mark said, no heat at all. In 18 months of ownership, I think I’ve heard the fans kick in only once or twice, and the battery easily lasts the entire day. A nice tool.
I use REW with a Dayton Audio UMM-6 USB microphone, and it works flawlessly. All speaker design Windows applications that I’ve tried work just fine: WinISD, VituixCAD2, and XSim. I use wine as a Windows emulator, as it is free and relatively easy to install.
And, as Mark said, no heat at all. In 18 months of ownership, I think I’ve heard the fans kick in only once or twice, and the battery easily lasts the entire day. A nice tool.
Man, I think I'm just gonna wait for a sale to go on and snap up a MBP... Is the smaller 14 inch still just as capable you reckon? Thanks for the enthusiastic responses.
Yes, IMO the 14 inch will be just as capable. It has a smaller battery but also a smaller screen, so the runtime on batteries is almost the same.
Also, if an item goes on sale at Costco within 30 days after you buy it, they will refund the difference.
Or you can return it within 90 days for a refund.
Or you can return it within 90 days for a refund.
+1 for the MacBook Pro. I bought my first MBP in 2010 and now have a 14" 2023 M2 Pro. I also have a 2020 M1 Mac mini that I use as my shipping station. I use a label printer and I don't think the device driver for it has been converted to ARM/Mx yet, but Rosetta 2 handled that without a hitch. The only difference between installing the driver on an Intel Mac and the M1 was that the installation took a minute or two longer.
Have a look at FuzzMeasure for speaker measurements. Looks like they're now owned by RØDE: https://www.rodetest.com/ A personal license is $100 and well worth it.
There's Mac versions of Microsoft Office, if you absolutely need to have Microsoft Office.
The Mac version of KiCAD works well.
The only applications I use under Windoze are TINA-TI and Altium. I use Windows 11 ARM under vmWare Fusion. I've also installed TINA-TI through WINE and that works too, so it's pretty rare that I need to use Windoze. I have an older PC with Windoze 10 that I use for my Audio Precision APx555, but that's only because AP uses their own driver that's unlikely to work with Windoze under vwWare.
Parallels and VirtualBox are alternatives to vmWare. VirtualBox is free.
BTW: The 18-hour battery life is real and very easy to get used to. 🙂 I went with 16 GB memory and 500 GB of SSD. I wouldn't go below that. Among other things, I use the machine for video editing with FinalCut Pro. The machine has plenty of oomph for that, though I do use an external SSD for the video files as they tend to be large.
Tom
Have a look at FuzzMeasure for speaker measurements. Looks like they're now owned by RØDE: https://www.rodetest.com/ A personal license is $100 and well worth it.
There's Mac versions of Microsoft Office, if you absolutely need to have Microsoft Office.
The Mac version of KiCAD works well.
The only applications I use under Windoze are TINA-TI and Altium. I use Windows 11 ARM under vmWare Fusion. I've also installed TINA-TI through WINE and that works too, so it's pretty rare that I need to use Windoze. I have an older PC with Windoze 10 that I use for my Audio Precision APx555, but that's only because AP uses their own driver that's unlikely to work with Windoze under vwWare.
Parallels and VirtualBox are alternatives to vmWare. VirtualBox is free.
BTW: The 18-hour battery life is real and very easy to get used to. 🙂 I went with 16 GB memory and 500 GB of SSD. I wouldn't go below that. Among other things, I use the machine for video editing with FinalCut Pro. The machine has plenty of oomph for that, though I do use an external SSD for the video files as they tend to be large.
Tom
Thank you for asking this question.
I'm currently typing on a X1 Carbon from 2017. Quad core i5-7200U (2.5GHz), 8GB RAM. It's about to turn 7 years old next month. As a mid-life upgrade, I popped in a microSD card as a 2nd drive. They come in 1.5TB now, for about $100.
Apart from battery replacement (easy for end-user to do) and recall (in-home service), it has been the most durable PC I've used, and I've been switching between PC, and Mac and back to PC since about 1991. End of support for Windows 10 is October 2025, so I too, will probably need to look for alternatives.
As I get older I feel that the 14" 16:9 screen a little small. I'm looking for a 16" ultralight that's upgradable, even though Apple's SoC is very tempting...
Did you consider the Lenovo or Framework? They certainly are the most serviceable
I'm currently typing on a X1 Carbon from 2017. Quad core i5-7200U (2.5GHz), 8GB RAM. It's about to turn 7 years old next month. As a mid-life upgrade, I popped in a microSD card as a 2nd drive. They come in 1.5TB now, for about $100.
Apart from battery replacement (easy for end-user to do) and recall (in-home service), it has been the most durable PC I've used, and I've been switching between PC, and Mac and back to PC since about 1991. End of support for Windows 10 is October 2025, so I too, will probably need to look for alternatives.
As I get older I feel that the 14" 16:9 screen a little small. I'm looking for a 16" ultralight that's upgradable, even though Apple's SoC is very tempting...
Did you consider the Lenovo or Framework? They certainly are the most serviceable
Do you need the serviceability, though? I've generally found that PCs don't age well. I had a Lenovo Thinkpad, which I kept running as my daily driver for 4-5 years. That required periodic upgrades of the hardware and reinstalls of Windoze as Windoze tends to be more and more resource hungry with each update.
My experience with the MacOS is that it isn't as resource hungry as Windoze. That translates into a better user experience even on older hardware and also into better battery life.
My 2010 MacBook Pro is on its third battery. I replaced them myself. It's not hard. It still runs pretty well, actually. My only concern with it is that it only supports OSX that's dated a few generations back, so I'm a bit concerned from a security standpoint. But it's also a 14 year-old laptop. Try running Windoze 11 on a machine intended for Windoze 7... 🙂
With Apple I tend to be on a 5-year refresh cycle. The only exception was when I upgraded to the M2 last year. I wanted the Apple silicon. When I've upgraded, the battery has been around 80 % of the full "like new" capacity. I use my laptop for hours daily.
That said, if you do want a PC, Lenovo would probably still be my go-to option. I've had a couple of Thinkpads, both under the IBM banner and the Lenovo.
One thing I appreciate about Apple products in general is that I can use them while wearing polarized sunglasses. Clearly they're designed in California. 🙂
Tom
My experience with the MacOS is that it isn't as resource hungry as Windoze. That translates into a better user experience even on older hardware and also into better battery life.
My 2010 MacBook Pro is on its third battery. I replaced them myself. It's not hard. It still runs pretty well, actually. My only concern with it is that it only supports OSX that's dated a few generations back, so I'm a bit concerned from a security standpoint. But it's also a 14 year-old laptop. Try running Windoze 11 on a machine intended for Windoze 7... 🙂
With Apple I tend to be on a 5-year refresh cycle. The only exception was when I upgraded to the M2 last year. I wanted the Apple silicon. When I've upgraded, the battery has been around 80 % of the full "like new" capacity. I use my laptop for hours daily.
That said, if you do want a PC, Lenovo would probably still be my go-to option. I've had a couple of Thinkpads, both under the IBM banner and the Lenovo.
One thing I appreciate about Apple products in general is that I can use them while wearing polarized sunglasses. Clearly they're designed in California. 🙂
Tom
😎
You must be on OLED/mini-LED
Mac’s.
I agree that PCs don’t age well, and the endless updates that Windoze can slow things down or brick things.
That’s why I’m surprised my first X1 Carbon has gone the distance of 7 years. The other Lenovo’s, Dell, HP, and Microsoft devices, not so well. But I’m no sys admin, so my sample size is only half a dozen.
14 years is something else though!
Thanks for your perspective Tom.
I’ll probably pull the pin. Give me an excuse to finally get into Logic. Been wanting to do so since 1992
You must be on OLED/mini-LED
Mac’s.
I agree that PCs don’t age well, and the endless updates that Windoze can slow things down or brick things.
That’s why I’m surprised my first X1 Carbon has gone the distance of 7 years. The other Lenovo’s, Dell, HP, and Microsoft devices, not so well. But I’m no sys admin, so my sample size is only half a dozen.
14 years is something else though!
Thanks for your perspective Tom.
I’ll probably pull the pin. Give me an excuse to finally get into Logic. Been wanting to do so since 1992
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Small-Endian strikes again. Just say "Mac is not a PC". Most CAD/EDA are not compatible. The Thing by minority for minority, 1984.
I'm not sure what the technology is. But I've been able to use all Apple products I've tried while wearing polarized sunglasses - as I am right now, enjoying my "morning" coffee in the sun on my back deck. That's not a new thing. Even my iPhone 4 and the 2010 MBP could/can be viewed with polarized sunglasses. I don't know if they use circular polarizers or something. On my MBP it looks like they just turned the polarizing filter 90º. That way the display is viewable with the laptop on my lap.
I really like the Apple hardware. It works very well. The machines I've used have been dead quiet in operation. Apple has a patent on how to make quiet fans, so even though the products do have fans in them, they're inaudible under typical conditions. Of course, that only gets even better with the ARM silicon as it doesn't burn as much power as the corresponding Intel CPUs.
Mac is not a PC. There! I said it. Now what? 😉
OP asked for the perspective of Mac users. Some of us did convert from the PC and it's only natural that there'd be a comparison at some point. Sorry if this offended you. I, personally, have no interest in US vs THEM.
Absolutely true. But "most CAD/EDA" is really limited to $5k/year software packages like Altium, OrCAD, etc. that most hobbyists won't have access to anyway. The only reason I've even touched Altium is that I have a client who provides a license so I can work on their stuff. The Mac version of KiCAD works just fine, so that problem seems to be solved - at least for the hobbyist and also for the many professionals who use KiCAD.
As I mentioned earlier, I run Windoze in a virtual machine for the few times where I can't avoid it. That's basically down to Altium and LT Spice (the Mac version is awful). I'm sure I could get LT Spice to work under WINE. It's not hard. But I only have one circuit that I need LT Spice for, so it's not a high priority. I also have to have a Windoze PC for my AP equipment. Oh, well. But that still leaves 95+ % of my work in an environment that's conducive for getting work done.
To be clear: I'm not against PCs. I frankly don't care what computer others use. But after trying something other than Windoze I realized how nagging Windoze is. And that's gotten even worse with the later versions. I expect the OS to just be there and let me get my work done in peace. I like MacOS for that, but I'm completely at peace with the fact that others have different preferences. We don't all have to like the same stuff.
Now if we could only get OS/2 back. That was a great system... 🙂
Tom
Although I have no experience with this myself, it might be worth your own investigation.
Open Core Legacy Patcher
Yeah... There are ways to get more recent OSes running on older Mac hardware through unofficial channels. I hear it works well, but I have no personal experience with it. I think it's fair to retire a 14 year-old laptop ... though I may bring it to trade shows. All it'd need to do is to run a web browser for newsletter signups. It has plenty of oomph for that. 🙂
Tom
Tom