[kieran]

From the pictures that I did see that people posted, it's very similar to the midnight that they currently have on the MBA.

I got the midnight one and it does look black in many instances, but there is definitely still some blue coming through.

Gruber also discussed on his podcast that the Space Black is still not actually Black like the old Black MacBooks, but more black than the Space Gray.

NO idea why Apple can't just make a black computer and call it a day.

[chucker]

Haven't seen one, but the consensus seems to be that it's not as dark as one might expect from "black", but is a fair bit darker than the previous Space Gray.

And less fingerprint-prone than Midnight.

Originally Posted by kieran NO idea why Apple can't just make a black computer and call it a day.

Given that they patented the technique they used here, their goals are apparently non-trivial. Does black aluminum require paint? They probably want to avoid that.

[Yontsey]

Originally Posted by turtle I haven't seen one in person yet. I will say I've heard it loos great.... but that is all personal opinion right? With Apple's return policy and the bonus it seems like it would be a good time to "chance" it. Return it if you don't like it.

I wonder how that would work since it's done via points and it's through an Authorized Apple Retailer and not direct?

[kscherer]

We just put our 16" M3 Pro floor model out and are very disappointed in the color. There is nothing black about it. It's just dark gray.

If you're hoping for black, avoid it. It's not black. In fact, that the word "black" is used in the description is just … marketing?

IT'S NOT BLACK AT ALL!!!

It's dark gray, and should be called, um, space gray?

If the light is just right and you're standing across the room, it's um, really dark gray … ish.

[Yontsey]

I actually would prefer that. I have a Space Gray MBP right now but always thought it would look better if it were a little bit darker.

[psmith2.0]

How hard can black be? Gotta be one of the easiest shades to manufacture.

How is there any discussion/debate over black? Only Apple. Thank goodness Ive is gone. Can’t imagine how much he’d complicate it all…

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by psmith2.0 How is there any discussion/debate over black? Only Apple. Thank goodness Ive is gone. Can’t imagine how much he’d complicate it all…

There would be a magical, new process involving the squeezing of coal using a special process with lasers and 100% recycled apes.

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by Yontsey I actually would prefer that. I have a Space Gray MBP right now but always thought it would look better if it were a little bit darker.

Turn the lights down and squint.

[psmith2.0]

Originally Posted by kscherer There would be a magical, new process involving the squeezing of coal using a special process with lasers and 100% recycled apes.

Which would trigger the "coal mining" and PETA/animal crowd. Not sure there's a lobby of laser-based handwringers yet. Give it time...

[Yontsey]

I'm very much pro-coal so consider me sold.

[psmith2.0]

Same.

[Yontsey]

Originally Posted by kieran From the pictures that I did see that people posted, it's very similar to the midnight that they currently have on the MBA. I got the midnight one and it does look black in many instances, but there is definitely still some blue coming through. Gruber also discussed on his podcast that the Space Black is still not actually Black like the old Black MacBooks, but more black than the Space Gray. NO idea why Apple can't just make a black computer and call it a day.

I would probably go with the M2 Air if they would let me upgrade the RAM to 24gb and the SSD to 1TB. It's so annoying that you basically have the take the stock model with the Chase promo. That's why I've been looking at the M3 Max because it comes with 36gb RAM. I have enough points to cover the cost so that's not really an issue. Just major overkill for what I need.

[Yontsey]

Also, why am I having such a tough time pulling the trigger on a beast of a MBP when it literally costs me nothing?

Would be going form an Intel i5 to a M3 Max.....

[chucker]

Originally Posted by kscherer There would be a magical, new process involving the squeezing of coal using a special process with lasers and 100% recycled apes.

I vaguely recall them mentioning that it is indeed (entirely? partially?) recycled aluminum. Maybe that does factor into making the process trickier.

Originally Posted by Yontsey Also, why am I having such a tough time pulling the trigger on a beast of a MBP when it literally costs me nothing? Would be going form an Intel i5 to a M3 Max.....

You shouldn't have a hard time; these are all great machines. Especially the Max is another big boost (at the cost of battery life).

Those discussions about the little things miss the big picture that basically all Apple laptops right now are pretty good buys, as long as you get enough RAM and SSD. Which, with the Max, you presumably will.

But if all you need is 36 GiB RAM, you don't need the Max.

[Yontsey]

Originally Posted by chucker I vaguely recall them mentioning that it is indeed (entirely? partially?) recycled aluminum. Maybe that does factor into making the process trickier. You shouldn't have a hard time; these are all great machines. Especially the Max is another big boost (at the cost of battery life). Those discussions about the little things miss the big picture that basically all Apple laptops right now are pretty good buys, as long as you get enough RAM and SSD. Which, with the Max, you presumably will. But if all you need is 36 GiB RAM, you don't need the Max.

Pro or even the M2 Air would be enough machine for me, but through Chase Sapphire, you can't customize the machine. So with the M2 Air, you only get 8gb and I believe the M3 Pro you only get 16gb RAM. That's the problem with going through Chase for their promotion.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by Yontsey Pro or even the M2 Air would be enough machine for me, but through Chase Sapphire, you can't customize the machine. So with the M2 Air, you only get 8gb and I believe the M3 Pro you only get 16gb RAM. That's the problem with going through Chase for their promotion.

Gotcha.

[Yontsey]

Went ahead and pulled the trigger on a Space Black M3 Max w/ 1TB SSD and 36GB RAM. Pretty jazzed.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by Yontsey Went ahead and pulled the trigger on a Space Black M3 Max w/ 1TB SSD and 36GB RAM. Pretty jazzed.

Yeah, that's a beast.

[psmith2.0]

Oh wow, that's gonna be a screamer!

For ~$3,200, it damn well better be!

[Yontsey]

Originally Posted by psmith2.0 Oh wow, that's gonna be a screamer! For ~$3,200, it damn well better be!

Even better....thanks to Chase Sapphire, it's free.

[psmith2.0]

You can't beat that with a stick! Enjoy!

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by Yontsey Even better....thanks to Chase Sapphire, it's free.

Well, free to you. We retailers get to pay for a fair chunk of those points, so you're welcome!

[turtle]

Than is awesome that you got it and at such a good deal. I’m sure you are going to love that machine for years to come.

[PB PM]

Originally Posted by kscherer Well, free to you. We retailers get to pay for a fair chunk of those points, so you're welcome!

To be fair, everyone pays higher prices due to points cards users. Retailers build in a higher markup to make up for the loss, and any that don’t won’t last long.

[psmith2.0]

Man, that is a monster-spec'd notebook. I keep thinking about it.

It's so funny how, over time, the definition of speed/power changed. We all flipped out years ago at the introduction of the blue and white G3 towers. Now they'd probably make an awesome goldfish aquarium. Someday, Yontsey's monster MacBook will seem "quaint" and charmingly dated/"old school".

But I'm betting it'll be a good while, with the M3 Max and that much RAM and storage!

Fast™ is Fast, here in late 2023. That transition to AS has gone quicker, and better, than I ever would've dreamed. About as smooth and hiccup-free as I could've imagined. Their third architecture(?) change since I've been in the camp, and I think this even went a little better/more impressive than the PPC to Intel one 15+ years back.

[PB PM]

Originally Posted by psmith2.0 Their third architecture(?) change since I've been in the camp, and I think this even went a little better/more impressive than the PPC to Intel one 15+ years back.

Apple started with PPC back in 1991/1992 (for consumers), so it had a good run up to 2007. Before that was mostly Motorola chips IIRC. So Have you been using Mac's since the early late 1980s/early 1990s then? That would be three transitions, otherwise not sure what other transition you are referring to. Our first Mac was in the late 1980s, so I think I've been through all the Mac transitions? Okay I don't have AS Apple device, so I guess I cannot say that yet. I did use some pre-Mac Apple computers at school, but we never owned one.

If we are talking about CPU architecture, you would have gone through more than three with PPC alone, with pre-G3, G3, G4, G5. Then there were three major changes just during the Intel run alone, from the original Core Series (32bit), to Core 2 Duo (64bit), to the Core i Series. Not sure if the M chips have different architectures or not, but I'm guessing not.

[psmith2.0]

Been using since 1992-1993…PPC, Intel and AS are the three I’ve used/experienced. Whatever was in place before the PPC, I see that on my Quadra 610 and the IIfx(?) Macs at school. I got my first personal Mac in February 1994. Before then, it was all school/friend’s Macs. I know my first Nac wasn’t a PPC, it was right as they were going to that, I remember reading (pre-Internet, I subscribed to both Macworld and MacUser magazines). And I remember missing the POC-based Quadra 610 by about two months because I needed a Mac right away.

I do recall, in 1996, paying $259 to take the thing from 4GB to 8GB RAM, which, oddly enough, is roughly in line with Apple’s current BTO pricing, nearly 28 years later!

I need to sit down with Google/Wikipedia and straighten out some timeline stuff. It’s all getting a little hazy. In a nutshell:

Quadra 610: 02/1994 - 02/2000
iMac DV: 02/2000 - 03/2002
iMac G4: 03/2002 - 09/2003
PowerBook G4: 09/2003 - 09/2008
iMac 20”: 09/2008 - 10/2019(!)
13” MacBook Pro: 10/2019 - Present

Six Macs in just under 30 years. Not counting the brief fling with a tangerine iBook shirt j the late 90’s/early 2000’s that I barely used, and realized two computers was silly and not for me. Re-sold it 2-3 months later. And missed it on mmediately, although I fully coo to liking the look/design/color of the thing more than its performance/usefulness. This was back when you still had to buy the AirPort cards separately for $99 and install them yourself, otherwise you’d be online via phone modem cord or Ethernet cable. Which was aggravating/stupid on a notebook.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by psmith2.0 Been using since 1992-1993…PPC, Intel and AS are the three I’ve used/experienced. Whatever was in place before the PPC, I see that on my Quadra 610 and the IIfx(?) Macs at school.

Yep. 68k.

(PowerPC started in 1994.)

[Yontsey]

I remember as a kid my grandfather getting the CD-Rom external Add-on with speakers for the LCII (I believe?) and it was like $500. Insane what that stuff cost back in the 90s and how far technology has come. Especially now that cds are dead.

[psmith2.0]

Yeah, and I just missed it.