I like to keep computers running for as long as possible but recently I decided I should finally move on from my mid-2012 Mac Book Pro that is stuck several OS versions behind. I agonized over which version to get for weeks. I am a software engineer and need a beefy computer for my work... but my job always provides me with a laptop. I finally decided that I don't do enough personal software development to worry too much about getting a top-of-the-line computer and ordered this one. I took my time copying things from my old machine and finally (after the short return window) got around to plugging the new laptop into my work desk setup: external keyboard and mouse and dual external monitors. This machine has three video ports: two Thunderbolt ports and an HDMI port.... BUT IT WILL ONLY DRIVE ONE OF THEM AT A TIME. I can use either of my external monitors and plug them into any of the three ports but only the first one plugged in will work. I verified this via Apple's online docs: https://support.apple.com/en-us/101571. My 12-year old Mac will drive both of these monitors just fine, but my brand-spanking new M3 won't do it because I didn't order the "MacBook Pro Pro". I kid you not. You have to know to order a Pro Pro. The Pro Max is the uber-hotrod. I guess the Pro Pro is just making sure that you are really a Pro and not just pretending (just one "Pro"). Also ironic: I could have gotten the Pro Pro for the exact same price as my new Pro if I just lived with a half TB drive instead of a 1 TB. If I want a Pro Pro with 1 TB drive I have to shell out an additional $444!! You can buy a 1 TB NVMe SSD for around $50! Hell, I can get a 1 TB thumb drive for $20! Apple has lost their way. They've gone down the SoC rabbit hole and do a terrible job of explaining what a given CPU combo can or can't do... and you are stuck with it forever once you get it. No upgrades are possible. They make them disposable just like their terrible phones. I will live with only being able to have a single external monitor with this computer but I will never buy another Apple product again as long as I live. I am beyond aggravated.
Laptops
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M3 chip with 8core CPU, 10core GPU: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage. Works with iPhone/iPad; Space Gray 8GB RAM 512GB Space Gray Without AppleCare+ (3 Years)
