See my Mac wish list.
MPG will be doing a full test of the 2018 Mac mini, specifically the 2018 Apple Mac mini Z0W1-MRTR38-BH.
MPG recommends saving a pile of cash on memory with OWC memory.
See my Mac wish list.
The macMini has its place among very capable extremely compact computers, but personally I’ll be waiting for the next-gen iMac 5K (iMac 8K would be slick), because I want that display built-in. OTOH, the 2018 Mac mini would make a superb web server or similar, or be great for anyone with existing displays.
If you need 64GB memory for the 2018 Mac Mini, saving $320 sounds good to me ($1080 at OWC vs $1400 at Apple).
The savings are even larger in percentage terms for 32GB ($600 vs $330), with 32GB pricing looking like the sweet spot.
PLUS, trade in the factory 8GB for $30 back.
The MPG recommended configuration for 2018 Mac Mini is bought with 8GB memory, then upgraded. Do not get less than a 1TB SSD, 2TB Mac mini SSD configuration preferred but darn expensive.
See my Mac wish list.
Apple is back at with atrocious Apple Core Rot.
I have not updated to macOS Mojave as I don’t like sand and mud in my gearing—Apple has completely lost my trust for quality control, and macOS Mojave is the latest in a long line of dilettante macOS releases combined with a muck pile of new bugs and some new emojis. Plus macOS Mojave destroys compatibility for some older apps.
Security is another matter—last night I updated macOS 10.13.6 High Sierra with the latest (huge) security update, Safari updates, etc (I had been away for a month photographing, and risking Apple updates is like Russian roulette for the OS).
I’ve seen several problems that need not have occurred. Apple doesn’t test nothin' any more, it seems.
First, the update rendered my system unbootable. Or rather it woudl fsck and boot partially, then reboot. After about 10 iterations of this that kept me awake till midnight (it was a slow cyclic process) and seeing some tiny print in the boot sequence from SoftRAID. I deduced that storage and SoftRAID were at issue, so I disconnected all external devices. I do not blame SoftRAID, since it is/was apparently a GateKeeper issue introduced by Apple. The fix is to boot up, install SoftRAID 5.7.2, update the SR driver, then reboot and all is well. Thanks Apple for caring about customer inconvenience.
Second, I have seen weird delays of 5 to 20 seconds where nothing happens.
Third, my system spontaneously rebooted just before I wrote this—a hard reboot as in instant off as if the power were cut (cannot happen, I have regulated UPS power), then a reboot. NEVER before this update have I experienced such a failure. Nice work Apple.
Fourth, Thunderboot 3 is now totally unstable. I am unable to use a daisy chain Thunderbolt 3 peripherals before booting, and after booting I’m seeing 4 to 6 disconnects in 20 minutes.
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$90 SAVE $70 = 43.0% Celestron 80mm f/11 AstroMaster LT 80AZ Mars Observing Alt-Az Re… in All Other Categories
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$110 SAVE $50 = 31.0% G-Technology 3TB G-DRIVE USB G1 USB 3.0 Hard Drive in Computers: Drives and Storage
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$16 SAVE $14 = 46.0% IK Multimedia iKlip Studio Desktop Stand for iPad mini in Electronics: iPads and Tablets
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See my Mac wish list.
Big savings on some things like memory, great peripherals to fill in the big holes that Apple leaves.
OWC Docks, Storage and Memory Compatible with the Latest Apple Products
Maximize creativity and production with the MacBook Air, Mac mini & iPad Pro
Woodstock, IL, November 1, 2018 - OWC®, a leading zero emissions Mac and PC technology company, and a leading provider of performance upgrades and accessories for Apple products, announced today a list of compatible solutions available now for the latest Apple MacBook Air, Mac mini and iPad Pro. OWC docks, storage and memory upgrades help users maximize workflows, production and creativity.
OWC Thunderbolt™ 3 and USB-C docks, along with video adapters let users easily expand connections to allow a multitude of devices, displays or drives. These additional ports save time and make it convenient moving from a workstation to a conference room or when traveling. The following OWC connectivity solutions are compatible with the new Apple releases:
MacBook Air (Late 2018)
• Thunderbolt 3 Dock
• USB-C Travel Dock
• Mercury Helios FX
• Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter
• Thunderbolt 3 Dual Display AdaptersMac mini (Late 2018)
• Thunderbolt 3 Dock
• Mercury Helios FX
• Thunderbolt 3 Dual Display Adapters
• Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter iPad Pro (Late 2018)
• USB-C Travel DockStorage
OWC external storage solutions improve capacity and performance. Designed to fit into existing workflows seamlessly, the Thunderbay 4 and ThunderBay 6 line up right next to the Mac mini. So, whether it’s a backup to Time Machine of family photos or the latest Hollywood production, OWC provides high-performance devices at an exceptional value. See below for storage solution compatibility with the newest Apple releases:
MacBook Air
• Thunderbolt 3 Storage
o ThunderBay 4 and ThunderBay 6
o ThunderBlade
o Express 4M2
o Envoy Pro EX
• USB-C (USB 3.1 Gen 2) Storage
o Mercury Elite Pro Dual MiniMac mini
o ThunderBay 4 and ThunderBay 6
o ThunderBlade
o Express 4M2
o Envoy Pro EXEnvoy Pro EX
• USB-C (USB 3.1 Gen 2) Storage
o Mercury Elite Pro Quad and Mercury Elite Pro Dual MiniOWC Memory is certified and guaranteed for life to deliver maximum compatibility and performance. The powerful new Mac mini from Apple features upgradeable memory slots for up to 64GB. Upgrading memory in a Mac mini boosts performance levels and allows users to run more apps, work with larger files, speed up render times, manipulate larger data sets or be used as servers in data centers, build and render farms.
Upgrade Pricing for Mac mini:
• 16GB only $169.99 (save 15% vs factory / 31% with trade-in) OWC2666DDR4S16P
• 32GB only $329.99 (save 45% vs factory / 50% with trade-in) OWC2666DDR4S32P
• 64GB only $1079.99 (save 23% vs factory / 25% with trade-in) OWC2666DDR4S64PAvailability:
• 16GB and 32GB upgrades will be available November 8-9
• 64GB upgrade will be available November 20-21
See my Mac wish list.
The 2018 Apple MacMini (get 2018 MacMini at B&H Photo) is upgradeable.
OWC has upgrades for the 2018 MacMini. Generally you can save a bundle on memory and other stuff, so check it out before paying full Apple retail.
Separately, OWC’s Garage Sale / Clearance is in swing.
See my Mac wish list.
B&H Photo has the new iPad Pro, 2018 MacBook Air, and 2018 MacMini listed for purchase:
Dang, who would have thought a MacMini would ever hit $2999?
Macs these days can get most jobs done fine even if some years old... but sometimes storage needs a little help.
Options up to 2.0TB for most 2013 to Current Apple Mac models, 1.0TB now $399.00
Woodstock, IL – October 25, 2018 OWC®, a leading zero emissions Mac and PC technology company today announced new pricing on its Aura and Aura Pro line SSDs, which has led the way in supporting most Apple 2010 and later models with the upgrades that continue to keep these systems running strong today.
“Your startup disk is almost full”. This very urgent looking warning is the bane of Mac users everywhere. It’s the dire choice of either deleting your valuable memories or work from the computer or upgrading to a brand-new Mac.
Contrary to popular belief you can keep your cherished companion while making it just as beefy as the newest without having to spend a small fortune. The solution is quick and easy: upgrade your Mac’s drive memory capacity with a ‘Built for Mac First’ OWC Aura SSD.
Today pricing of the Aura Pro X line of SSDs for Apple MacBook Air (2013 to Current), MacBook Pro with Retina Display 13” and 15” 2013-2015, Mac Pro 2013-Current, and Mac mini 2014-Current is at a remarkable point that makes these options better than ever. When storage is a primary driver, it’s an incredible option to upgrade your current system for savings over just selecting those options on a new system. OWC offers users:
- Up to 16x the capacity of the original Apple factory SSD
- Up to 4X the storage vs. original factory highest capacity option
- Incredible data performance of up to 1352MB/s
- Free install videos and 24/7 support make it easy to perform a DIY upgrade
- 30 Day 100% Money-Back Guarantee
- Five Year OWC SSD Limited Warranty – includes award-winning OWC support
Current Pricing for the Aura Pro X is now as follows
- 240GB now $149.00 (compare vs. $200 factory upgrade form 128GB)
- 480GB now $219.00 (compare vs. $500 factory upgrade from 128GB)
- 1.0TB now $399.00 (compare vs. $600 factory upgrade from 256GB)
- 2.0TB now $879.00 (compare vs. $1400 factory upgrade from 256GB)
“OWC is about giving customers the best choices for the Macs they depend upon,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO of OWC. “Our entire SSD line enable make it so running out of space doesn’t force unwelcome and unnecessary choices. A truly simple upgrade, that you can do yourself, solves the storage problem without the more costly and complex process of migrating to a different system.”
No guesswork, no worries – visit OWC’s online SSD guide to get the exact solution right for you and your Mac + free online videos make installation a breeze. The above pricing on Aura Pro X, as well as OWC’s full line of SSDs now from $44.99 (supporting nearly Mac model 2002 or later) are immediately effective and available online.
And with OWC upgrades you get to keep your existing drive or trade in a drive you already have for up to $400 back. – Or - Complete kits with the award-winning OWC Envoy Pro include everything you need to upgrade, transfer your data, and enjoy your old drive as a ‘new’ external SSD Drive.
See previous security tips and previous phishing posts.
Nearly all phishing uses bait (and you’re the fish). Bait can be subtle, threatening or insulting. Don’t bite. All bait is designed to provoke a reaction: fear, anger, an appeal to your innate decency to help with or solve a problem, etc. Appeals to decency and honesty work because most people want to set things right, even if they did not cause the problem—it’s the desire to help.
Don’t let emotions be baited into helping someone HACK you.
Below, the attached screen shot shows a relatively crude attack, but more real looking than a very crude phishing email I received last spring.
NEVER CLICK on LINKS or ATTACHMENTS in EMAILS!!!
Never means never unless you gain the technical competence to verify the email. Even so, that can sometimes take several minutes to be sure—and the more sophisticated the phishing, the easier it is to overlook a crucial detail. Hackers are doing a better and better job of making fake emails look real.
Details on the risks of this particular email further below.
Why does Apple Mail EVER allow this level of exposure to risk? It is security malfeasance for an email program to present users with such risks.
Safari has active detection of malware sites, but Apple Mail blithely enables outgoing links, making them clickable and thus a serious risk.
It’s about time Apple fixed such security practices in Apple Mail. Users should not have to be aware of such risks—the risks should be eliminated. We get new emojis with every OS release with top billing in Apple press releases, but Apple cannot be bothered to fix a core Apple Mail security risk? You can’t make this stuff up.
The proper first step that Apple should take is to disable all outgoing links in all emails so they are no longer clickable as links. Bonus points for showing the actual destination URL instead of the title. In terms of security, 99% of users would be well served by this . And would bitch and moan about the loss of convenience, but it is the smart thing to do by default.
Next, allow the user to downgrade the security from there, e.g., allow clickable links to (1) only sites previously visited and (2) known-good sites and (3) enable all sites as is allowed now for those who like to take the risk. A bonus feature would be to change the links so that clicking on one presents a dialog showing the actual destination URL and a rating as to safe, unsafe, unknown, then allow the user to take the risk by choice. I deem this a useful thing for technically skilled users, inadvisable for most.
Why hasn’t Apple fixed this dangerous practice right in Apple Mail, and done it two years ago? My view is that the Apple Mail development team surely has been badly damaged over the past few years, because Apple Mail is rife with bugs.
Whether it is macOS or Windows or Linux or other, diglloydTools IntegrityChecker provides a highly efficient and reliable means to validate data integrity on all your original drives and backups.
Detecting Corruption / Validating Data Integrity Over Time and Across Drives and Backup/Restore
In the digital age, the integrity of your data (photos, videos, spreadsheets, word processing, etc) is always at risk. Professionals should not rely on the storage medium as being reliable over time! Moreover, bugs and/or malicious software are always a risk. At the least, archived data of any commercial or personal value should be validated at least once a year. IntegrityChecker makes that possible on virtually any storage medium.
Late last year, diglloydTools was updated to include an optimized version of icj, the Java version of IntegrityChecker, which runs on any platform that has a JVM (Mac, Windows, Linux, etc). As yet, the other tools remain native to macOS only but I plan to move all relevant features to Java*. Usage is at the command line (Terminal, not a GUI), but there is not much to learn; see the examples in Cross-platform Integrity Checker (Java version) .
The value of IntegrityChecker increase over time: once hashed, files can be checked on any drive, any operating system supporting java, including DVDs and BluRay and other read-only devices. This is important for validating the integrity of long-term storage, particularly for professionals with data having long-term value, like image files, video footage, professional records, etc.
* macOS has been in the process of destroying API performance and/or outright removal for several years now. Rewriting would have to be in POSIX to have any hope of continuity, requiring a major rewrite and test cycle sure to introduce bugs by having to rewrite a bunch of low level threading code. Plus POSIX makes certain capabilities impossible (no APIs to do certain things). Java provides a cross-platform functionality that with native I/O support is equally performant for disk testing while being cross platform and ideal for anyone who might migrated to another operating system, or who wants longer-term stability in software (in MPG’s view, Apple has a proven track record of negligible respect for pro users, and a disdain for compatibility).
diglloydTools v 2.2.15 Now Includes Java IntegrityChecker with up to 50% Speed Improvement
Aside from testing hard drive or SSD or RAID performance and reliability with DiskTester, data integrity with IntegrityChecker is a must-have workflow tool for anyone with important data:
I trust you are doing well and thank you for continuing such a high quality website.
I am interested in purchasing the IntegrityChecker software. Although most folks feel that copying files for archiving purposes is trivial, I have had an experience where a number of my RAW files were silently corrupted - only could tell when opened in Lightroom. Luckily I had backups. I have been using ExacFile but it appears to be unsupported and for such software my main concern is about the quality of the software and ongoing support.
I am a PC user and have no intention as yet to delve into the world of the MacPro. So it is wonderful news that you have made your software tools available for those that use Windows!!
I am interested in purchasing the software over the longer term and was wondering what the best option would be? If I purchase download access for 5 years does that include upgrades to the software? Or should I be purchasing the download access for a month and then an upgrade option for the longer term?
MPG: IntegrityChecker (icj java version) runs on any computer that can run Java: macOS, Windows, Linux, etc. You will need to install the Java runtime environment or Java JDK for this cross-platform support, but that a trivial thing; download and run a simple installer.
The 5-year option offers a no fuss, and you can download any new version any time you like. It costs less in total, although the difference is modest amortized over 5 years.
It is my intention to expand the Java-based capabilities going forward, for cross-platform and long-term viability.
Given last year’s surge of very serious security bugs with macOS High Sierra, MPG recommends waiting at least 6 months to migrate to macOS Mojave.
There isn’t anything worthwhile for “upgrading” to—and software may break.
In particular, older programs I rely on (such as accounting) might not work at all, which would be a $500 cost to upgrade. I’m in no hurry to find out!
Get OWC Thunderbay 6 at MacSales.com
I’ve been using the OWC Thunderbay 4 for many years now (both Thunderbolt 1, 2, 3 versions). It is my all-time favorite drive enclosure, and I currently have five of them.
OWC now introduces the OWC Thunderbay 6, which ought to appeal to anyone with requirements for huge capacity (up to 72TB with current hard drives) and/or reliability (various forms of fault tolerance). As a bonus, it includes an HDMI port.
MPG will be testing the OWC Thunderbay 6 in the next few weeks.
More info on Thunderbay 6 at MacSales.com.
Storage Maximizer for Multimedia Workloads
- Works with 3.5" or 2.5" drives — no adapter needed.
- Up to 1500MB/s of sustained performanc
- Supports RAID 0, 1 via OWC's advanced SoftRAID engine
- Optional ultra-fast M.2 NVMe SSD
- Daisy chain up to six units together
- 3 Year OWC Limited Warranty
- Daisy chain up to six units
- Rugged, field-tested enclosure.
- Whisper-quiet fan and non-skid feet.
- HDMI port
When it comes to big jobs and tight deadlines, you don't want anything to slow your workflow down. The content you create and edit tends to grow the more you work with it; your equipment needs to keep up. The OWC ThunderBay 6 provides an exceptional level of performance to help you meet the demands of your most complex projects.
OWC Thunderbay 6Room to Move
Whether you're working with tons of small files or editing and streaming the latest 8K or VR footage, ThunderBay 6 enables you to complete your products faster, giving you more time to create. And with dual Thunderbolt 3 ports and a DisplayPort, integrating it into your workstation has never been easier.
ThunderBay 6 features six bays for hot-swappable hard drives or SSDs — or a combination — all housed in a rugged aluminum enclosure with an integrated power supply. Drives run quietly and are kept cool via a fan that operates quieter than a whisper.
Want even more storage?
To keep your workflow on the cutting edge, we've included an additional slot for an M.2 NVMe SSD to help future-proof your storage needs. NVMe is an incredibly efficient communications interface protocol to properly take advantage of SSD technology and high-performance connection buses. The result is exponentially faster and more efficient SSD storage, ideal for additional storage or a scratch disk.
The better and simpler way to RAID
ThunderBay 6 RAID Ready manages and protects your data with the advanced SoftRAID engine with RAID 0 or 1, depending on whether you need blazing fast performance or robust data protection. SoftRAID is also packed with features from active predictive disk failure monitoring to multiple array volume spanning; SoftRAID from OWC brings technology typically found only in data centers to your workstation or editing bay. It constantly monitors your disks, alerting you when a disk is becoming unreliable and is likely to fail. Replacing a failing disk before it fails saves you precious uptime.
Storage pools
ThunderBay 6, coupled with Windows Storage Spaces (available in Windows 10), allows you to create storage pools and simple, mirror or parity spaces based on the mix of data protection and performance you need. If you run low on capacity, just add more ThunderBay units to the storage pool.
Expand and connect as needed
Link up to six Thunderbolt units together with Thunderbolt's daisy-chaining capabilities. Combined with our SoftRAID technology, you can configure a storage solution tailored to your unique workflow. SoftRAID can create volumes that span multiple arrays or generate a nested RAID configuration for even greater performance and protection. As a member of the OWC external storage line, ThunderBay 6 eliminates bottlenecks in accessing, transferring or archiving your work. Use it with your Thunderbolt 3 equipped Mac or Windows PC to take your workflow to the next level.
Certified, Tested and Backed by OWC
From the seamless aluminum enclosure and slip-resistant feet to the multi-hour drive "burn-in" performance certification procedure ThunderBay 6 is designed and built to the highest standards or reliability and performance. This ensures your ThunderBay 6 arrives operating properly, ready for demanding use.
Certified, Tested and Backed by OWC
From the seamless aluminum enclosure and slip-resistant feet to the multi-hour drive "burn-in" performance certification procedure ThunderBay 6 is designed and built to the highest standards or reliability and performance. This ensures your ThunderBay 6 arrives operating properly, ready for demanding use.
Quality You Can Trust
Our commitment doesn't end there. Along with our OWC Limited Warranty, you can rely on OWC's award-winning, 24/7, U.S.-based support for your ThunderBay 6.
Get NuGuard KX for iPhone at MacSales.com
I’ve been using a NuGuard KX case for iPhone 7 Plus on my iPhone 7 Plus for nearly two years now. In that time, I’ve dropped my phone onto hardwood floors, asphalt, and concrete, including a drop at 15mph from my bicycle. The phone bounced each time and has never been damaged by a drop—amazing!
During the entire lifetime of my iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 7 Plus, I have used the NuGuard KX case and dropped the phones many times, yet I have never damaged the phone.
The NuGuard KX Case might not be as sleek-looking as a leather case, but it is a very practical case, that does not wear out or show wear like most other cases—nearly two years later it looks the same as when new. And it does what it ought: it protects the phone from damage.
Another safety factor is grip: a bare iPhone too easily slips out of the hand (a form-over-function design IMO, with very poor ergonomics in terms of risk of droppage). Witness my kids not using the case (I told ’em!) and all three of them cracking the glass on their phones as it slipped out of their hands! But with an iPhone installed in the NuGuard KX case, the grip is as sure as it can be with a nil risk of it slipping out of the hand.
NuGuard KX
Massive protection in a thin and light case design. Engineered to absorb and evenly distribute kinetic energy.
Thoughtfully Designed. No Bulk.
The NuGuard KX edge guard over-molding provides enhanced iPhone screen edge protection without interfering with edge-to-edge, touch finger accessibility. You’ll experience hassle-free touch keyboarding and the ability to drag and organize app icons from screen to screen. This case is also thin; you can easily fit your protected iPhone in your pocket.
Full Port Access + Great Grip
Precision cutouts allow for full access to the iPhone XS/X and iPhone XS Max ports and buttons, and the one-piece design makes covering your phone a breeze. A unique, cross-hatch texture design on the back and sides of the case ensures a sturdy and strong grip while smooth, front-edge rails allow for easy pocket removal.
Exceeds Apple Drop Spec
KX cases can help your iPhone survive some of the toughest tumbles, falls and drops to protect it well beyond Apple's three-foot protection minimum required of other cases. Exceeds Apple Drop Specs KX cases can help your iPhone survive some of toughest tumbles, falls, and drops to protect your iPhone well beyond Apple's 3 foot protection mimimum required of other cases. The Strongest Case. The Strongest Warranty. All NuGuard KX protective cases come with a best-in-class replacement lifetime guarantee and a no risk, no hassle 30-day money back guarantee.
Highlights
- Revolutionary x-orbing gel technology absorbs, evenly distributes kinetic energy
- One-piece design – hard shell integrated with soft interior core.
- Exceptional protection without being bulky
- Fast and simple affixing takes only seconds
- Easy access to all ports and buttons.
- Cross-hatch texture design offers secure hand grip, yet easy pocket/purse removal.
- Compatible with iPhone XS/X and iPhone XS Max wireless charging.
- Available in black, crimson and midnight
Get OWC Thunderbay and SoftRAID at MacSales.com
I (Lloyd) use SoftRAID daily in RAID-5 mode for my main storage, using an OWC Thunderbay 4. Highly recommended.
OWC Launches SoftRAID Version 5.7
OWC announced today the release of SoftRAID 5.7 with support for the latest macOS 10.14 Mojave.
The new version of SoftRAID has been updated and tested to work with Mojave, which has made major changes to the kernel, security and third-party software requirements.
SoftRAID’s disk management tools, such as disk certification, verify disk and predictive failure, are fully compatible with Mojave and APFS formatted disks. This version also paves the way for the ability to create, modify or manage APFS volumes in SoftRAID 6, which is targeted for release later this year.
Key Features in SoftRAID 5.7:
- SoftRAID 5.7 added technology that can help protect volumes from data corruption caused by Mac OS kernel bugs.
- SoftRAID 5.7 changes the way that SMART statistics are collected in SoftRAID Monitor. The new code checks SMART every time a disk is inserted rather than waiting for the next scheduled time for checking SMART.
- The SoftRAID Easy Setup application for 5.7 is now a 64-bit version, compatible with Mojave.
- The ability to anonymously report SoftRAID status and disk reliability information. This new opt-in feature provides non-identifiable information the SoftRAID team will use to help prioritize future feature releases and give insight into drive issues.
“We have been very impressed by the power of crowd-sourced data lately for disk reliability,” said Tim Standing, Vice President of Mac OS Software Engineering at OWC. “In particular, we are excited to investigate predictive failure modes on SSD drives, so we can actively alert SSD users of impending failure before they experience catastrophic data loss.”
SoftRAID 5.7 is a free update to users of SoftRAID 5.0 and later. A free trial is available, and SoftRAID can be purchased at SoftRAID.com.
About SoftRAID
The SoftRAID team has been producing high-quality applications for over 20 years. SoftRAID has been first to market with many key features including: fast mirror rebuilds, full email notification, bootable RAID volumes, disk certification, RAID volume validation, TRIM support on all RAID Levels, disk failure prediction and more. SoftRAID has earned its reputation as a rock-solid product which comes with great technical support.
Important notes:
- Mojave no longer supports starting up from RAID volumes, including Apple’s RAID and SoftRAID volumes. High Sierra is the final macOS release with support for starting up from SoftRAID volumes. If your startup volume is a SoftRAID volume, you will need to migrate to a Disk Utility standard volume before installing SoftRAID 5.7 or upgrading to Mojave.
- SoftRAID 5.7 no longer supports Snow Leopard (10.6.x) or Lion (10.7.x). If you are running one of these older versions of SoftRAID, 5.6.7 will be your final version for these two Mac OS X releases.
Get Apple iMac 5K and Apple MacBook Pro at B&H Photo and see my Mac wish list.
The 2018 MacBook Pro is Apple’s most powerful laptop ever, rivalling desktop systems when properly configured. See my in-depth review of the 2018 MacBook Pro. It has been out about 6 weeks and already is up to $300 off—see my discussion of what to get for a student.
See my video presentation of using the 2018 MacBook Pro as a desktop replacement. Unless laptop functionality is needed, MPG still recommends the iMac 5K or iMac Pro.
A 2018 iMac 5K should be in the works soon, so unless laptop functionality is needed, paying a premium for a small-screen laptop which just sits on a desk isn’t the optimal move.
Nice video. Some observations...
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that my wife’s new 2018 MBP 13 seems much zippier than my 2013 Mac Pro 6-core. Hmmmm.
As a result I’m considering replacing my 2013 Mac Pro with a 2018 MacBook Pro 15 at 2.9GHz. But I wonder about potential compatibility with the rumored Apple Display. Of course, I am curious what Apple may have in store for a new Mac Pro.
I do a lot of financial modeling on my Mac Pro, currently using my trusty 30” Apple Cinema Display. Love the fact that it is not glossy as the iMac 5K. I’d love to find a good 30” 4K monitor. 27” is not quite large enough for my purposes. By the way, I don’t need the color accuracy you require for you photo work.
MPG: there are lots of large 4K displays at reasonable prices if one does not need professional color management: 30-inch and larger 4K displays.
Thing is, the 2017 iMac 5K display is really superb and with more working room (5120 X 2880 vs 3840 X 2160 for 4K). The glossy aspect is mostly a non-issue these days (much improved).
If going with the 2018 MacBook Pro, the LG Ultrafine 5K is a no-brainer—very nice display which I just tested and liked a lot. The image quality is very similar to the 2017 iMac 5K.
The best overall value is the 2017 iMac 5K or the iMac Pro: the iMac 5K (at least the entry-level model) can be thought of as an excellent display with a free computer inside.
For most or all of the 4K displays, something like the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock will be needed in order to have a Mini DisplayPort video-out, which no Thunderbolt 3 Mac offers.
Continues below...
$4699 SAVE $300 = 6.0% Apple 27" iMac Pro with Retina 5K Display (Late 2017) in Computers: Apple Macs
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$2499 SAVE $300 = 10.0% Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2018, Space Gray) in Computers: Apple Macs
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I should have mentioned that an important reason for replacing my desktop Mac Pro is that I know live part time in two locales about 100 miles apart. I’ve been struggling with how to take my computing environment with me. USB drives and re-synching is getting really old.
A desktop class laptop is the ideal solution. I suppose that I could rely more on iCloud, but I am firmly averse to having confidential data not under my sole control.
On a completely different topic I’ll look forward to joining your mirrorless camera area once the new Nikons (probably Nikon Z6) are available and I make a decision between Nikon mirrorless and Sony mirrorless. Love that competition.
MPG: I just put my iMac 5K into the about $199 Gator Cases Creative Pro 27" iMac Carry Tote (see Travel Bag for iMac 5K — Works Great) and take it with me in my Sprinter van.
Get Apple iMac 5K and Apple MacBook Pro at B&H Photo.
The USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 port of the Apple 2018 MacBook Pro (and 2016 and 2017 models) can charge at high speed in a vehicle with simple adapter. That’s because the USB-C specification allows for power delivery of up to 90 watts, far higher than the ~12 watts of USB 3.1 gen 2.
Most USB-C chargers are poor performers. Issues include low power charging, heat problems and sometimes noise/buzzing. Not the Mikegyver offering.
Shown below is the Mikegyver USB-C power adapter for high-speed charging via. A high-power USB-A port is also included for charging a device like an iPad or iPhone, as shown.
See also Mike McGyver’s blog, Mobile Connected Tech.
The Mikegyver USB-C power adapter takes its power from the 12V (to 24V) DC vehicle cigarette lighter socket, charging the MacBook Pro via a standard USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 cable (I used the cable that comes with the Apple power brick).
See the MPG test summary that follows the specifications below.
You can charge your new Macbook Pro 15" touchbar from your Car at FULL Speed! Not to be mistaken for other lower powered USB-C (Type C) Car chargers. You will now also be able to charge your high powered devices (i.e. Macbook Pro 15" Touchbar) from external batteries that do not have true USB-C capabilities (all batteries on market today are not truly high powered USB-C PD). This will charge your Macbook Pro Touchbar without draining your internal batteries while you work on intensive applications! This versatile adapter has wide input range and can be used with any power source on the market.
Includes a standard USB port so you can charge both your USB-C Touchbar Macbook Pro 15" and iPhone/iPad at the same time!
- World’s First True High Powered Car and External Battery USB-C (Type C) & USB-A PD QC3.0 charger adapter.
- Unlike other Batteries or Car adapters that do NOT charge or partially powers, our USB-C solution is full powered with PD circuit which means you will expect your MacBook Pro Touchbar (or any other large devices) to recharge just like factory supplied AC adapter.
- Connects directly to Car Cigarette ports. [MPG: super for travel, no power inverter!]
- Also connects to most high powered external battery banks (set to at least 12v) and charges at full speed.
- Charges USB-C devices like Macbook, Macbook Pro, HP, Dell faster then most on the market.
- QC3.0 USB-A to fast charge your other devices at same time.
- Wide input power range: 12-24vdc.
- Includes cigarette cable and external battery cable connector.
- Built in Safely and overload protection.
- Compatible with all USB-C (Type C) devices like Macbook 12”, Macbook Pro 13”, Macbook Pro 15”, Lenovo Yoga, HP, Dell, Google, and also smaller devices like USB-C cell phones.
- USB-C cable not included. [MPG: use the cable supplied with the Apple power brick]
- Optional external battery sold separately and can be found here. Please choose "no device selection" during checkout process.
Specifications:
- 60W + 18W (Total 78W)
- Input: 12-24v, max 10A
- Output: 60w USB-C: PD 5v3a, 12v3a, 15v2.4a, 20v3a.
- Output: 18w USB-A: 3.6-5.5v,3a, 6.5-9v/2a, & 9-12v/1.5a.
- Cigarette cable for car.
- 5.5x2.5 to 5.5x2.5mm cable for external batteries.
- Size: 3.3in x 1.9in x 0.9in, weight: 2.1oz
Get the about $49 Mikegyver USB-C Adapter/Charger at Amazon.
MPG tested the Mikegyver Macbook Pro Touchbar USB-C Car Adapter Charger using the 15-inch 2018 MacBook Pro. First the MacBook Pro battery was drained down to 17% charge so that there would be a high power draw for an extended period. The MacBook Pro was left on (not allowed to sleep).
The Mikegyver unit passed with flying colors: no noise, the charger unit barely got warm and the 2018 MacBook Pro charged rapidly even while in use.
The 60-watt power delivery is not rated as high as the Apple Power Brick (rated for 90 watts), but did appear to match the 60W over USB-C figure. Charging rate was subjectively rated as very fast given that there was an ongoing drain due to the MacBook pro being operated at the same time.
Given that MPG has to try really hard with artificial efforts to exceed a 60W power draw with the 15-inch 2018 MacBook Pro, it is unlikely that anything but CPU and GPU-intensive video processing of 4K footage or similar could exceed the power rating of the Mikegyver unit. The rare user with such a need should use the Apple power brick running off a pure sine wave power inverter (in my Sprinter van, I have dual 2000W pure sine wave power inverters, but 12V DC is a more efficient use of power).
At present I (MPG Lloyd) do not own a 2018 MacBook Pro, but when/if that comes about, the Mikegyver charger will be the go-to power source in my Mercedes Sprinter photography adventure van.
Get Apple iMac 5K and Apple MacBook Pro at B&H Photo.
Apple keeps introducing hundreds* of small and large bugs along with dozens of workflow-damaging issues that have wasted me countless hours. All of which fall under the umbrella of Apple Core Rot, which MPG was the first to discuss and name publicly, back in 2013 (some of the press is slowly getting a clue but not really grasping the severity of the issue or how deep the rot goes).
Engineers at Apple, rushed to deadline, just don’t bother to write unit tests. This from the world’s richest company—software development sloppiness—it’s unprofessional and that is not hyperbole. I don’t blame the engineers—I blame Apple’s management structure, which values shipping by calendar goal over software quality metrics. That claim is re-proven with every new macOS release. It’s understandable to want to ship on time (huge profits are at stake), but it speaks to poor planning. To do it once is forgiveable, to do it for the past 6 years is a pattern of behavior.
* Realistically, I’d guess that the real bug count is 10,000 or more.
Minor issue? Yes, very minor—but not in the context of dozens of other bugs I run into. Together, they add up into a mess of wasted time.
Here’s one thing that stopped me in my tracks: all I wanted to do was to paste a string into a mail window to save it for temporary use, the string:
2018-0903-NEC-PA271Q-6200K-g2_2-140cd
Mail would only past this empty contact (even using modifier keys to paste as plain text failed):
Get Apple iMac 5K and Apple MacBook Pro at B&H Photo.
The Apple 2018 MacBook Pro has been out about 6 weeks and already is up to $300 off—see my discussion of what to get for a student.
The 2018 MacBook Pro is Apple’s most powerful laptop ever, rivalling desktop systems when properly configured. See my in-depth review of the 2018 MacBook Pro.
This video is aimed primarily at photographers and videographers who need robust computing capability. For many it is worth considering the 2018 MacBook Pro as a full replacement for a desktop-class machine, at least if travel is involved where a laptop is sometimes needed—why not have top-end laptop that is also a desktop-grade machine? For the first time ever, I deem a laptop a viable desktop replacement.
Gear recommendations follow the video presentation. Play the video at 1080p, for on-screen clarity.
Shot in 4K but YouTube won’t allow streaming it in full quality.
This is an unscripted video. There are a few word-errors which I correct a bit later (e.g., “hard drive” instead of “SSD”). Makes me wonder if my concussion affected my recall vs speech—a little frustrating.
Sound track: I waited for the quietest part of the day. Even so, squawking birds nearby and noisy kids 1/4 mile away and overhead airplanes make me less than happy with the sound track. Today I have a shredder going just as I wanted to redo it. It’s hopeless without a soundproof studio or getting it done in the mountains where quiet, but I don’t own all the gear and can’t keep it out on loan any longer.
Mannerisms: I blink a lot because of contact lenses, particularly when dry or bright; I cannot consciously control very well, especially if my eyes are tired from too little sleep.
Think of the 2018 MacBook Pro has a 4 to 6 year investment—there is no reason that kind of lifespan should not be possible (be sure to buy AppleCare).
Key recommendation: MINIMUM configuration should be 16GB memory and 1TB SSD because memory, SSD, GPU and CPU are all soldered onto the logic board. And because anything else is almost certain to inadequate down the line.
The configuration that Lloyd would buy is the 2018 MacBook Pro 2.9 GHz / 32GB / 2TB / Radeon Pro 560X.
View all recommended 2018 MacBook Pro models for serious/pro usage.
$3249 SAVE $150 = 4.0% Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2018, Space Gray) in Computers: Apple Macs
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$4499 SAVE $200 = 4.0% Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2018, Space Gray) in Computers: Apple Macs
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$6549 SAVE $150 = 2.0% Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (Mid 2018, Space Gray) in Computers: Apple Macs
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The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock is the best choice for desktop use because of the extra ports and in particular if there is a need to drive a display that requires Mini DisplayPort. I use one at home, and one in my Sprinter van.
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$50 SAVE $129 = 72.0% Tripp Lite USB 3.0 Charging Hub 7+1 Port Hub with Dedicated Char… in All Other Categories
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Solid state drives are expensive but noiseless and very fast.
The ideal scenario for any Mac with an internal SSD is to add an external SSD of capacity equal to or larger than the internal SSD. Keep this SSD separate from the laptop when traveling (in case of theft), and use it every day for a backup, particularly a clone backup.
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Hard drives offer excellent value on a per-gigabyte basis.
Every user should have a bare minimum of two complete backups, with at least one of them stored well away from the computer. In addition, MPG recommends at least one always-attached Time Machine backup and one always-attached clone backup.
An outstanding value and simple approach is a large hard drive (12/10/8/6TB) in the OWC Mercury Elite Pro enclosure. OWC does not sell the 12TB configuration, so if 12TB is desired, buy the empty enclosure and add the 12TB hard drive yourself. Remember also that hard drives slow down as they fill up.
Go to the OWC Thunderbay for RAID-5 with SoftRAID and high-volume storage and fault tolerance. Fault tolerance is not a backup.
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$1350 SAVE $80 = 5.0% OWC 24TB OWC ThunderBay 4 RAID Ready 4-Drive HDD Storage Solutio… in Storage: ThunderBay
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To finish the “desktop as a laptop” system, a large display is needed and this necessarily requires a keyboard and mouse because there is no ideal way to position a MacBook Pro except to the side.
A laptop screen is too small and requires hunching over the keyboard—very poor ergonomics causing fatigue and eventually leading to physical injury.
A separate keyboard and mouse eliminates the 2018 MacBook Pro keyboard as an issue (it sucks) and a mouse bypasses the trackpad, which I find highly inefficient by comparison.
The ideal display for the 2018 MacBook Pro or for any Thunderbolt 3 Mac is one that plugs directly into a Thunderbolt 3 port. The LG Ultrafine 5K is lovely and 4K video easily fits. However, photographers like Lloyd require a wide gamut color managed conventional resolution display. See 2.5K or 4K or 5K Display for Image Editing and Viewing?.
* Displays with Mini DisplayPort or DisplayPort cannot be connected without something like the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock that provides a Mini DisplayPort.
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$119 SAVE $11 = 8.0% Apple Magic Wireless Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (Silver) in Computers: Peripherals
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See also Even ”Enterprise Grade” Drives Fail.
According to Tim Standing of SoftRAID, initial verification of a drive can preclude a large percentage of relatively early drive failures.
While SoftRAID has a certify command, it does not graph the performance, and so I would add this point: in my experience, drives that show aberrant behavior are also more likely to fail, even if they pass certification.
The diglloydTools DiskTester fill-volume command can test 99% of the drive and graph the behavior, as shown below, where 5 samples were tested simultaneously, and then graphed together to verify consistent performance—important for RAID setups.
Over the years I have found that aberrant performance behaviors (obvious in a graph) are often an excellent predictor of flaky drives. The test-reliability command is good too, with the major benefit of being able to operate on in-use drives—no need to take a system down for days to certify (which means having to completely wipe) the drives.
Show below is drive performance for five samples of the HGST 8TB Ultrastar He8 hard drive. All samples deliver the same pattern of declining performance as the drive fills up—exactly as expected. Drives with excessive remapped sections tend to show weird spikes in speed in the wrong places. This is bad for RAID performance as well (when drives do not perform the same in the same area).
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