Macworld September 2023

At the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple unveiled a batch of new Macs, including models based on the M2, M2 Max, and M2 Ultra processors. The second generation of Apple’s M-class chips first appeared in June 2022, so there were hopes that we might get a glimpse of the M3 at this year’s summer event. Those hopes were dashed. Still, we may not have to wait much longer for the third generation, if Mark Gurman’s sources are correct. The widely read Bloomberg leaker-analyst has predicted in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter that this September’s iPhone and Apple Watch launches will be quickly followed by a second fall event focusing on the Mac. “Now that Apple has gotten the 15-inch MacBook Air and new M2 Ultra-based Macs out the door,”…

With the introduction of the M2 Ultra, bringing us Mac Studio updates and the Mac Pro with it, Apple has completed its transition away from Intel and wrapped up the M2 family of processors. Now all eyes are looking ahead to M3. Reports say that Apple is already testing new laptops with the M3 and the first possibly arriving later this year (see page 7). We don’t know much about the M3 yet, except that it will likely be made using TSMC’s 3nm manufacturing process. If we want to have some idea of what to expect with the M3, we can look at the evolution of M-series processors and how they relate to the A-series used in iPhones and iPads. Nobody really knows what the M3 will bring until Apple tells us, but…

At the end of June, I said that we probably wouldn’t be getting any new Macs for the rest of the year, based on reports that Apple’s chips cycle had been affected by production issues. However, new reports indicate that Apple could be releasing new Macs this fall. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple may release new Macs this October (see page 7) that feature the M3 chip. Either Apple and TSMC (the chip manufacturer) have been able to address the production issues, or the reports of a delay were exaggerated. In any case, Gurman reports that the first Macs to get the M3 are the iMac, the 13-inch MacBook Air…and the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The 13-inch MacBook Pro! It’s the misfit of Apple’s Mac lineup, but if there’s any doubt that…

Back at Worldwide Developers Conference 2020, Apple announced that it was going to make its own Mac processors, and the first question that popped up in everyone’s head was “When will they be released?” To many users, the second question that popped up was more important: “How much longer will Apple support the Intel Mac I’m using right now?” Apple will soon start its third generation of its M-series chips for the Mac (see page 9), so users are starting to ask that second question more frequently. Over at Ars Technica, Andrew Cunningham has done extensive research to figure out when Apple may drop support for Intel Macs, and it may be sooner than you think. Starting with the original iMac that was released in 1998, Cunningham tracked when each Mac…

Apple’s Mac lineup offers a model for every user, which is great because more choices are always good for the customer. But with that comes a bit of confusion as to whether a particular Mac model is actually a good deal. When researching a new Mac purchase, it can become dizzying to compare models and prices. Apple’s online comparison tool can help, but some customers may find sorting through the different specs intimidating—and it doesn’t include pricing. Fortunately, there are some clear-cut choices on which Macs you should avoid. There are three models that stand out, not because they’re bad performers, but because you can get more for your money. Here are the three Macs you should avoid and the Macs you should consider instead. AVOID: M1 MACBOOK AIR  GET: M2…

One of our favorite third-party displays is Alogic’s Clarity, a great-looking premium 27-inch 4K monitor that can pivot from landscape to portrait orientations and boasts a back-mounted USB-C hub. Read our full Alogic Clarity Monitor review. Alogic has now added two new monitors to its Clarity range: the Clarity Pro and Clarity Pro Touch. The Clarity Pro adds an all-important webcam to the display. The Clarity Pro Touch also has a webcam, but adds a touchscreen display that you can use much like an iPad with on-screen tap, swipe, slide, and pinch. SCREEN PIXELS AND COLORS Of course, the most important consideration when buying a display is the picture quality. As with the original Clarity, the Alogic Clarity Pro and Pro Touch offer a 4K (3840-x-2160 pixels) screen, capable of…