Apple's New Mac Studio Computer

[r.e.]

I'm interested to see how my processing of astrophotography images changes when I do finally upgrade. Stacking and processing thousands of images with complex denoising and other algorithms usually takes 4-6 hours on my machine. In the realm of LF photography, the only thing that makes my computer sweat is combining multiple strips from high-rez scans (stitched using Microsoft ICE). My 12x20 images at 1500 DPI amounts to 18,000 x 30,000 pixels, scanned at 16-bit and in color. Once processed down to greyscale they are manageable. I generally have no need for such crazy-high resolutions though but it's fun.

You're who computers with a lot of RAM and GPU are for. It would be interesting to read about your new build when you do it.

Hands-on reviews of Apple's "budget" iPhone SE are being published today in advance of the phone's release on Friday. Nothing yet on the Mac Studio, which is also scheduled for release this Friday. On-line orders for the Mac Studio are backed up to mid-April/May, and for some configurations June. Yesterday, China apparently implemented a Covid 19 lockdown in the Shenzhen area, where most if not all of these computers are being assembled, but it's unclear how much that will affect delivery.

I'm hoping to purchase a Mac Studio this Friday/Saturday from one of the dozen Apple stores in the NY City area. There should be at least some base models available, albeit in limited quantities, maybe with a few variations. Best Buy is currently offering the base M1 Max and M1 Ultra models (no variations) for shipping next Wednesday, March 23rd. B&H might also have some next week, although it's worth noting that B&H's liberal return policy excludes computers if the packaging has been opened. In any event, my preference is to purchase directly from Apple.

The base M1 Max is:

Memory: 32GB
GPU: 24 cores
Storage: 512GB

In the past, I've opted for 512GB of storage (which is really 500GB) over 1TB because I use my computer's internal drive strictly as a workspace, with almost all data stored on external solid-state drives. I typically have over 450GB of free space on my internal drive. However, this time I'm considering 1TB and may opt for it if it's available off the shelf.

[r.e.]

Video reviews are out today. I'm mostly interested in Dave Lee and Marques Brownlee. Lee is below, still waiting on Brownlee. Jonathan Morrison has an unboxing with a review to come, maybe later today.

Dave Lee on the Mac Studio M1 Ultra and Studio Display

[Tin Can]

My iMAC 24 does way more than I need

The Purple is very subtle

I should list ALL the Damn computers I have used up

[r.e.]

Marques Brownlee hasn't completed his review. Twitter message: https://twitter.com/MKBHD/status/150...c1xCL5iiYLpAOw

[Tin Can]

I never Twit, or Insta, or whatever Digi Hell is next

and never mega

That guy is very dangerous

[r.e.]

Apple appears to have given almost all reviewers the M1 Ultra chip. If you speak Spanish, there's a New York YouTuber named Victor Abarca who's doing a review of the M1 Max/64GB memory at 4 PM EDT. Abarca makes videos in both Spanish and English, so he may do an English review later.

The only other M1 Max review that I've identified is CNET's, but it's very thin on content.

Abarca Live Event, 4 PM EDT Today:

[r.e.]

Further to the above post...

If you want to see if your Spanish is up to the task, Abarca published an unboxing video earlier today:

[r.e.]

This is very helpful. DP Review has published a review for photographers of the Mac Studio M1 Max: The Apple Desktop We've Been Waiting For

[r.e.]

John Gruber (Daring Fireball) intends to purchase the Studio Display, but he is not happy with the monitor's camera. Like Dave Lee, he wants Face ID: https://daringfireball.net

I would think that he'll comment on the Mac Studio computer tomorrow.

[drew.saunders]

Review, with benchmarks, for both Max and Ultra: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022...workhorse-mac/