neilm

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neilm
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  • Asahi Linux M4 support hits a roadblock because of Apple Silicon changes

    neilmneilm
    ajmas said:
    For server grade applications, many people would chose Linux over MacOS or Windows. Being able to use Mac hardware (new or used) for this would be a nice feature. I just wished Apple would quietly assist the Asahi team, since it would theoretically allow for more hardware sales and a certain goodwill. 
    I too wish Apple would do that. While there's no direct commercial benefit in it for Apple, I think there's some good karma to be had, and for minimal resource expenditure.

    ETA: On the other hand, Apple's whole boot security model has become pretty complex and obscure, at least as viewed from the outside. Its inner workings are not designed or intended to be public, and I imagine there's been no line drawn to demarcate what we're allowed to know from what we aren't. The line is more like a circle, with only Apple inside. So maybe the necessary resources to change and police that would not be minimal?
    decoderringAlex1N

  • 2025 Mac Studio review: One clear purchase choice for most buyers

    neilmneilm
    azentropy said:
    Great machine.  Would be next level if the could/would re-engineer it slightly to add easily user upgradeable off the shelf storage (2 or more free slots).
    If you look at the teardowns you’ll see that would have to make it a completely different product, one that experience suggests Apple isn’t likely to make.
    williamlondonmuthuk_vanalingamwatto_cobra

  • 2025 Mac Studio review: One clear purchase choice for most buyers

    neilmneilm
    The (few) people who need the particular features the Mac Pro has to offer probably know that, and aren’t seriously considering a Studio.

    The M3 Ultra Studio is faster at most tasks than the M4 Max, but not by all that much. I don’t think that most buyers would choose to pay the premium for that fairly slim edge. Where the M3 Ultra Studio comes into its own is for workloads requiring massive amounts of RAM. These include AI development, large scale data science, complex engineering simulations, and other things I know nothing about. Again, those users will know that’s what they need and find the choice straightforward. All they have to figure out is how to get it paid for!
    williamlondonwatto_cobra

  • Mac mini M4 Pro review: Mac Studio power, miniaturized

    neilmneilm

    “For a start, Apple couldn't fit all of the ports on the back of the Mac mini simply because there wasn't enough room. As a compromise, some USB-C connections have been brought to the front alongside the headphone jack.”


    You have that backwards.

    This new mini is a clean sheet design, so Apple could have put the ports anywhere they wanted to by going with a case size/shape/footprint to suit. There’s nothing magic about this particular case profile. But they chose to do it this way. 

    Some users will be happy to have a couple of front ports for easier access, others won’t for aesthetic reasons.

    watto_cobra

  • M4 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro vs M1 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro compared: Big performance gains i...

    neilmneilm
    I'm impressed with the author's ability to estimate performance to 4, 5 and even 6 significant figures!
    /s
    nubus