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Computers & Hardware => Apple Related => Topic started by: sevenlayermuddle on July 04, 2017, 12:49:25 PM

Title: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on July 04, 2017, 12:49:25 PM
Anybody tried using a MacBook long term with a external monitor and keyboard, as if it were a desktop?

What I really want is a new Mac Mini but as Apple only offer a 3 year old design, I'm beginning to wonder if a MacBook Pro might be an option.  Cpu and other specs seem fine for what I want, which is building Apps & testing with Xcode, and my other hobby, photo editing.  Currently using Affinity Photo for the latter.

Pros would be that on a nice day like today I could bring it out onto the garden table and still get on with useful work.  Might have to resist the glass of Pimms that normally goes with sitting outside, mind. ::)

Cons would be much higher cost, and the fact battery replacement might be needed within the life I usually keep things, at least 6 or 7 years as long as Apple keep supporting it.   I'm also not sure if the battery would even be happy, on a device spending 99% of the time plugged into mains.

Thoughts welcome?
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: speedyrite on July 04, 2017, 01:02:45 PM
My mid-2012 MacBook Pro (blimey, it's 5 years old already!) spends 99% of its time desk bound and connected to the mains.

From System Information > System Report, Hardware > Power > Battery Information tells me (amongst many other things) that tells me that Full Charge Capacity (mAh) is 5589, Cycle Count is 73 and Condition is Normal.

I have no concerns about that, at the present time!
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on July 04, 2017, 01:39:22 PM
Thanks.  So far as I understand Apple suggest a battery cycle count of 1000 is expected, so a count of 73 after five years does indeed bode well, in fact it might well outlive me.

I'm of course assuming that it is fair to assume that a MacBook and Mac mini, with similar specs, will have similar performance.  After all, when you take a Mini to bits, it's essentially got laptop bits inside.

Definitely feeling tempted.   Problem would be justifying the expense not just to myself but to better half who, I am told, has more sense than me.  Or maybe I just need to hide the packaging and, when she first sees it claim...
"That old thing? Nah, had it for years."  ::)



Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: parkdale on July 04, 2017, 06:35:49 PM
"Wheres this battery management your on about?"

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV58CkrBePK/?taken-by=adventuresofotitis&hl=en
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on July 04, 2017, 07:28:50 PM
Nice to see a cat that enjoys a challenge.   :)
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: petef on July 04, 2017, 11:42:32 PM
My MacBook Pro is coming up for its 9th birthday soon. Most of the time I use it with just an external mouse but if I am doing serious work I add a second monitor. It is usually plugged into the mains.

These are the main bits of maintenance or upgrades I have done over the years.

  2014-05 RAM 4 GiB (was 2 GiB)
  2015-05 Diagnostics (no system DVD)
  2015-05 Video controller fix
  2016-03 SSD 500 GiB (was HDD 130 GiB)
  2016-09 Battery replaced
  2016-10 SMC fix
  2017-01 Video controller fix (again)

I needed to pay once for an OS upgrade, £19 for Snow Leopard. Others were free but El Capitan is the end of the line for this vintage. It still gets updates and I can live without Siri.

Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on July 05, 2017, 12:46:08 AM
My Mac Mini is also limited to El Capitan.   I'm perfectly happy with that, but I urgently need to re-release an old App asap, that I only ever released a 32 bit build, as it seems iOS 11 will only support 64 bit apps.   I'll build for a target of iOS 9 which is easy enough with El Capitan, but it obviously needs to be tested with current iOS too, which would seem to require XCode 8.3 for the iOS 10.3 simulators, and that Xcode requires Sierra.   :(

That said, I have found a suggestion that might overcome above and allow me to release using existing system.  Nothing nasty, no breaking of encryption, just copying some files around. I'll be trying it tomorrow and if it works, the urgency for a new Mac will be reduced, my 2009 Mini will enjoy a new lease of life, and my wallet will breathe a big sigh of relief.  :)

edit:  corrected iOS 10 to 10.3.  It is very late and I deny all responsibility for other numerical slips.
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on July 05, 2017, 11:10:48 AM
To clarify, the problem was that I had updated most of my devices to 10.3, and that rendered them incompatible for debugging with the older Xcode.  But the problem seems to have been overcome. 

So it looks like my faithful old Mac Mini has a stay of execution.   I still want to upgrade, and still sorely tempted by a Macbook pro, though I'll probably wait a few months and see if a new Mini comes out in the autumn.

I did try this morning, just as better half was rushing out the door to work,  "By the way, is it all right if i buy a Macbook Pro today?".  Unfortunately she wasn't in too much of a rush to consider the question, and response was as I anticipated. :D


Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: roseway on July 05, 2017, 11:14:02 AM
She sounds like an intelligent lady. :)
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: vic0239 on July 05, 2017, 11:50:09 AM
Yes, but that will be just the opening salvo. My usual plan of attack it to plant the seed, just as you have done, then surreptitiously bring the subject up until the other half either agrees it’s a good idea or gives in in disgust. It’s a win win.  ;D
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: Pwiggler on September 12, 2017, 03:44:25 PM
... legend !
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on September 12, 2017, 05:13:11 PM
I may have to test the water again quite soon, see if resistance has weakened.   There's an Apple launch event today and if (as expected) there is still no mention of a new Mac Mini, the MacBook will become very tempting.... :blush:

Or maybe I'll give them a few more months, they sometimes bring in new products October-ish, but I am long since fed up waiting. :(
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: roseway on September 12, 2017, 06:24:43 PM
Returning to this subject, I glanced at the title and thought at first that it said "Using a MacBook as a doorstop".
I make no comment. ;D
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on September 12, 2017, 07:36:23 PM
 :whip:

 :D
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on September 16, 2017, 05:35:16 PM
Well last week came & went, and no new Mac Mini. :(

So I'm ready for an alternative, but wavering from the Macbook Pro.  Now to my own surprise, contemplating an iMac.

Thing is, Macbook connectivity is limited - just a couple of USB-C ports (one of which would be 'lost' to the charger), and no ethernet.   I need ethernet, plus a few USBs, so I'd need extra hardware from day 1.  Then there's my monitor, currently a 20" LG, 1680x1050.  Pretty good in 2009 when I bought the old Mac, but won't show a modern machine at its best, so that'd want replaced too. Cost will soon rack up from the basic retail price of the machine.

Today, I looked at the iMac with 27" 5k display.  I'd heard good things about Apple's 5k displays, and WOW, that thing looks good!  I'd actually challenge the forum's Apple sceptics to go and take a look at one and see whether, hand on heart, they can deny that the display is utterly amazing.

Another big draw towards the iMac is that RAM can be upgraded later, vs the soldered-in RAM on the MacBook.  So I'd be happy to start with the basic 8GB and the option of upgrading in a few years, whereas the MacBook I'd want to upgrade to 16GB from the outset just to cover the risk that I might need it one day.  The most basic disk size of 128GB would also want upgrading.   

Bottom line, the iMac on its own, with that incredible 27" 5k display, will probably cost about the same as I'd spend on a MacBook, to the spec I want.  With the Macbook, I'd be looking at least an additional £400, maybe much much more,  for extra bits and bobs, and a monitor anywhere near the equivalent of the iMac.

Never liked the idea of an "all in one" system, but maybe the iMac might make a lot of sense.  Comments welcome.    :)
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: Ronski on September 16, 2017, 07:43:25 PM
As you may recall I don't particularly like Apple  >:D But you're reasoning above sounds pretty sound to me, and if that 5k display takes after my 27" Dell which I'm pretty sure has the same display panel which Apple used some years back then I'm sure it will be amazing if not total resolution overkill.

I'm seem to recall that the display doesn't have much adjustment,  but I'm sure someone on here said it's possible to order with vesa mount, which when used with a decent desk mount will give all the adjustment you could need.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-mac/imac-vesa/27-inch

Nice to see that Apple allows some things to be upgraded by the end user.
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on September 16, 2017, 09:06:36 PM
Thanks Ronski   I think "resolution overkill" might suit me down to the ground.  I wear glasses for most things but have always found that if I sit close enough to a screen I can focus without glassses, which is a treat for my nose and ears.   But it does mean that even with fairiy high resolutions, sitting that close,  the individual pixels can become noticeable, particularly with text rendering.  Not so, with 5K.

Agreed, I'd expect any panel with the same spec to be pretty identical, and probably come from the same factory.   But Apple are also pushing a stand-alone LG 27" 5K monitor in their stores, having abandoned their own monitor branding a while ago.   I looked at two of the LGs, one connected to a Mac Mini, one to a Mac Pro.  Whilst impresssive, the iMac display definitely beat them both in terms of text clarity which is what matters to me.   I can't explain why.   Even tried fiddling with brightness and then calibration settings on the demo setups, but was unable to make the LG look as good as the iMac.

If I had a criticism, it is that the iMac display was a bit 'glossy'.   Whether that will translate into annoying reflections will remain to be seen.

I'll also miss my old 2009 LG's height and tilt adjustments which, given my 'up-close' viewing habits were very welcome.
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on September 18, 2017, 02:23:58 PM
iMac on order, 2017 model, 27" 5K display.   

Deciding factor was that that, even though you don't often see Apple stuff being discounted,  a few retailers seem to be currently price-matching one another with a £150 discount on that particular system.  Better still, one of them is John Lewis, who enhance the deal even further with a 3 year guarantee.    ;)

Anxiously awaiting the postman, now, and for the next few days.  :)
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: Dray on September 18, 2017, 02:29:43 PM
Quote
just a couple of USB-C ports (one of which would be 'lost' to the charger), and no ethernet.
Hopefully, you will be pleased to learn that USB-C adapters are available which give ethernet, power and USB connections
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on September 18, 2017, 02:48:37 PM
Hopefully, you will be pleased to learn that USB-C adapters are available which give ethernet, power and USB connections

Yes I know, but it's still extra cost, and extra wiring clutter.   And I'd want to avoid cheap stuff, if it plays any part in charging interface.    If I'd bought the LG monitor sold by Apple that would have given me a similar 27" 5K, and a few more USB ports too but wow, that's another £1179 - 75% of the cost of the iMac.   :o

Any roads, having just placed the iMac order, this is not the best time to persuade me I should have gone for a MacBook Pro.  Please don't succeed in that, at least not right now.   :D
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on September 20, 2017, 09:09:45 PM
And new toy arrived today.  And oh boy, it's good. ;D

For photo processing, sheer bliss.  Even with my current 20 Megapixel camera you can keep things scaled to full pixel size most of the time and still see enough to be useful, vs constantly zooming and shrinking as you process with an 'ordinary' monitor.  Plus of course, it's a pretty accurate colour gamut too, far superior to my old LG.

For development, I can have a generous sized window of the Xcode IDE, alongside a full-sized iPad simulator, with no overlap.   On an 'ordinary' monitor, I'd have to settle for less editing space and/or scaling the simulator back to a fraction of size, maybe 1/3, whereupon nasty artefacts surface when rendering (say) a line that is meant to be one or two pixels in width.

Feeling very pleased indeed.   And I don't mean to appear ungrateful for all the encouragement I received re the MacBook Pro.   I'll always be a little envious of the other benefits a portable has, but in the end, the big iMac proved ideal for me. :)
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: Ronski on September 20, 2017, 10:43:49 PM
Acre's of screen real estate makes a lot of difference. I have my 27" Dell  running at 2560 x 1440 along with a 23" Samsung which runs at 2048 x 1152 (bit of an odd resolution), you could always use that old LG as a second screen, although it would look rather small and pale in quality to the 27" 5k screen.
Title: Re: Using a MacBook as a desktop
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on September 20, 2017, 11:04:43 PM
Aye, maybe the LG could be used as second monitor.    Not sure if/how Mac OS supports that, never tried, but I think it probably does work.  Good idea.