Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

Two Macs? We were lucky to have a HOUSE!

Apple recalls 2015 15inch MBP

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2019/6/20/18693136/apple-recall-2015-15-inch-macbook-pro-battery-overheat-fire-risk-safety

Treated myself to a 2018 MacBook Air to replace my mid-2012 version...went for refurbished again as it’s a nice and easy way to save some cash, c.15% in this case which makes AppleCare+ effectively free.

It arrived eleven days ago. Trying to log into a website today and it’s not working. Took a while to work out what was happening...the bloody keyboard is failing!

Booked into the Apple Store tomorrow, but have a feeling I’ll be simply returning it for a refund and hope they fix it with the rumoured refresh later this year.

So disappointed!

Self insurance and decent Mac specialist > AppleCare when it comes to actual repairs IMHO.

I opened this thread to ask an AppleCare/insurance question, so good timing.

I just picked up a used iPad Pro 11” from eBay and it’s covered by Apples limited warranty until June 2020.

How come you prefer self insurance over AppleCare @miro_o? What is the general consensus around here about the best way to insure Apple products? I’m most concerned about accidental damage as I seem to be getting more clumsy by the year!

The new AppleCare covers accidental damage as well... I was a bit skint when I got my MBP last year so decided to wait until later to buy it, big mistake... If you get it within a month (?) of purchase you get accidental damage and a bunch of other stuff, leave it longer and you only get an extended warranty... And it's the same price... I was gutted when I found out...

Ah thanks, I didn’t realise it worked like that. I’ll have to check if the iPad I just bought is still eligible for that part of the AppleCare.

Anyone else have any recommendations? 👀

My experience of AppleCare years ago with G4 Mac Pro’s was ok. More recently the success of repairing faults with two laptops was more miss than hit.

I’d just rather go to a trusted expert who stands by their work and have no incentive to bodge a quick fix.

Fair enough, hopefully the experience will be better with an iPad.

@>>>>>> thanks for pointing out the difference between AppleCare & AppleCare +, looks like the window is within 60 day of purchase. Checked mine and it’s still eligible so I’ll go for that.

Serious question - do you think there is a market out there for a, let say, a half day or a day long course on how to use a Mac? I am still amazed but not surprised by the amount of people who are afraid to use a Mac but work means they have to or want to. Or they just want to but don’t know how to take full advantage of the functions offered.

I am currently writing some short courses for our non core teaching side of business at work, most will be creative software stuff, but I am thinking if there might be interest from people (not on this thread obviously... probably) to pay to learn how to use a Mac?

I am pretty there are courses similar our there already, no?

Doesn't apple store do these kinda things on a regular basis? They do intros to iPads too I think

I think it could work, either as an in person thing or over video, or as a video course. I'm sure you could sell quite a few downloads if you make a little website and buy some traffic to it

I am having issues with my MacBook. Can somebody recommend somebody to undertake an MOT and resolve any issues that I have, ideally City based?

I think the issue is more that those who are willing to pay to go on a course are probably those who already know how to use them. If you're interested enough to pay to learn you probably already have the basics.

If you're planning to market it to businesses who have employees using Macs then that would be a different matter. I imagine (well I know there are, I've been to some) there are a reasonable number of people who've ended up at some "creative" firm who are forced to use Macs as the company doesn't want a mixed network of Mac and PC.

My previous company was a digital consultancy that used macs exclusively, which was a joy for me although running excel in parallels was tedious. Powerpoint was allowed only if seconded into a client who used it, core work was done in Pages as stipulated by the style guide. For quite a lot of hires a quick half day or 2 hours to get used to it would have been really helpful, especially if it could be referred to later.

Any more details? Whats it doing?

@will_s, what Chris says, if it’s software, we might be able to help.

Our short courses are delivered in person in small groups or we take a bespoke order from a company or whatever and then they either come to us or we go to them in a case. So I guess I can write it specifically targets businesses that use Mac exclusively then? I mean to learn how to use a Mac itself doesn’t take long but I suppose we could have a few set menus of let say how to use a Mac + MS Office / + understanding basic file formats used with pictures etc / + a bit of Acrobat. That more attractive?

I think some people like the exclusive feeling and this is something that perhaps the Apple store can’t offer, if I remember correctly, you basically do your tutorial in the middle of the shop floor, no?

Our short courses are delivered in person in small groups or we take a bespoke order from a company or whatever and then they either come to us or we go to them. So I guess I can write it specifically targets businesses that use Mac exclusively then?

I mean to learn how to use a Mac itself doesn’t take long but I suppose we could have a few set menus of let say how to use a Mac + MS Office / + understanding basic file formats used with pictures etc / + a bit of Acrobat. That more attractive?

I think some people like the exclusive feeling and this is something that perhaps the Apple store can’t offer, if I remember correctly, you basically do your tutorials in the middle of the shop floor, no? And the tutor : student ration is also quite important, I have been to a few of our own short courses and 10 people is the max we allow on each course so plenty of 1:1s if they want to or the whole group could just go through more stuff at a faster pace.

It's basically running slow. Plus the safari will freeze, requiring a restart to get it going again. Not the end of the world, but annoying.

Have checked memory, and there is plenty of space so that is not the issue.

Spam, Shirley?

Dearly beloved bought a new 13" MBP today, not sure why TBH but there you go... Lightning fast browsing, Netflix and MS Office... 🙄

I have a noob question. Just bought an iMac at work -- I want to hook it up to an external monitor in my office (this one).

What is the optimal cable/adaptor combination given that the iMac only has USB and USB-C (/thunderbolt)?

.

I'd say USB C to display port. Not sure if HDMI will work properly with 4k@60Hz

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DisplayPort-uni-Thunderbolt-MacBook-Pixelbook/dp/B075V27G2R

I think you are right given it's standard HDMI socket on the monitor. Maybe I was thinking of Mini HDMI which has higher bandwidth.