BlueLightning

Many of the folks who will ultimately buy one of the M2Pro/M2Max MBPs are coming from a 3-6 year old laptop, some from a 7-10+ year old one.  So comparisons to the prior year's models are of limited utility, unless one is considering buying a discontinued unit at a discount (or a refurbished unit).  I doubt that there is a configuration in the entire line-up that is less than 2x the performance of my late 2013 13" mbp (8gb, 256gb), which previously replaced a mid-1990s Dell (256kb, 13gb) desktop.  

Although some of us upgrade more frequently (and push the performance envelope), many of us are no where near power hungry users.  I do understand there are creative types who may upgrade more frequently. Many of us will not soon be using 8K displays or USB4.  Many of us just want a few more ports than the Air models, and the base level 14" seems to fit the requirements for the casual user (spreadsheets, email, web browsing and viewing videos).  If the 13" mbp didn't have that gimmicky touch bar and had a few more ports, I'd likely go that way instead.  I initially considered a M2Pro mini, but prefer to have the screen, camera, microphones, speakers, keyboard, touch pad and such bundled together, plus the internal battery (handy during power failures).  

"...a statement from NortonLifeLock parent company Gen Digital revealed that approximately 925,000 inactive and active accounts could've been targeted in the attack."  Glad I haven't used Norton on personally owned computers.  Also, haven't used anything Norton in more than 10+ years on company owned computers (used competing brands during that timeframe).  Never used 1Password (or any other 3rd party password manager).  May be a good argument to phase out passwords in favor of passkeys (will start investigating passkeys).  

Have noticed a large increase in spam emails starting about a week before Christmas.  Wondering if a different database was hacked, or some company or companies running low on cash has been selling email addresses in a bid to make money.  

Multiple problems over the years, but better record than delivery folks Kroger uses.  

Has anyone else noticed that if you click the post as button from the main article page after keying in a comment, the comment is trashed, and you cannot copy the contents?  
Looks like the comment window should be removed from the main article page to avoid folks being irritated by spending time keying an entry, then having their time wasted keying something that is not copied or retained (and maybe never returning to apple insider).  Looks like the post comment or post as button with text entry box should ONLY be on the discussions page, not the page with about 5 or so initial comments.  Maybe a "see full discussion" button?  (Bigger error than problems with Amazon, Kroger or any online delivery outfit.)  Perhaps it is a good thing Apple Insider is not running a online fulfillment center.      

This is what many large companies do with tens or hundreds of thousands of units (including one large company that formerly made everything from light bulbs to jet aircraft engines).  There are commonly two types of leases that a company may use, one is an operating lease, the other is a capital lease.  This looks more like a capital lease.  Companies formerly leased mainframes or minicomputers for 3-5 years, now many lease laptops, desktops, printers, displays and copiers for 3-4 years.  Sometimes they will buy out some items at lease end, often times displays.  
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/capitallease.asp  

Seems no different from leasing a car or truck (other than no interest charge by BBY).  Or, what many folks do with their cell phones.  Lease term is three times longer than the 12 month payment plan that Apple offers for macs (24 months for cell phones).  B&H has something similar.  

Some automobiles/trucks are "sold" with a seven to ten year high interest rate loan.  Homes are normally sold with a 15-40 year loan.  Hope laptop/desktop leases never get that long!  I doubt manufacturers could build a laptop that would last longer than 7-10 years.  The one I'm using is pushing 9 years.  Apple, Google and Microsoft are all deeply into designed obsolescence, as are Dell, H. P. and Lenovo.  

Interesting.  Looks like you can buy the machine at lease-end (and have spent about the same as the list price).  Or, turn it back in (and have spent less than the un-discounted price).  Maybe BBY assumes they can make money on difference between wholesale and list price, plus any services they sell, plus selling returned off-lease refurbished units?  If machine was reliable at end of lease, I'd likely buy-out the lease for the 37th payment, and keep the unit for a few more years.  Only quibble I can think of is that BBY typically only sells a few configurations, usually not the custom order configurations available from Apple on-line or certain other on-line stores.