Brand new MacBook Pro 16" M1 (previous model)

[StarShot]

Picked up a new MacBook Pro 16" M1 model. I don't need the latest/greatest model. I am upgrading from a MacBook Pro 14" 2020 model with Ventura 13.2.1. I don't want to transfer all the "baggage" on my previous Mac so I'm thinking of setting it up as new and then installing a few apps that are on the old unit. I'm hoping my old MS Office (I think Office will install on the new machine).

Thoughts on browser. I used Opera mostly with some usage of Safari as well. Any thoughts on Opera? Some how something called Duckduckgo got installed on my old MBP and I don't want it on my new computer, one of the reasons I'll looking for a fresh start with the new MBP. I've tried to get rid of DuckDuck without any luck. Should I be worried about Duck**** if it gets on my new MBP?

And for now, what's the safest browser to use. I'm concerned mostly about tracking. On my old MBP, I look at some item and in what seems like a NYMinute, I am getting ads for the item I was searching about. Definitely tracking...

 

[Mr. Dee]

DuckDuck Go is a search engine, but I believe they recently got into the web browser business. I don't know if what you are referring to is the browser or the search engine being the default in your web browser. Normally you can change that within your browser settings. Firefox is considered the best browser for privacy, but I think Safari does equally as well.

 

[Honza1]

DuckDuck Go is more private search engine than Google. It is my preferred choice - less cool and helpful, but no tracking of users. No idea why this would be on new computer, unless it was added by someone else who sold it to you. It is not installed by default.
Use Safari as browser, works well enough, and pick search engine you like. Google or DuckDuck Go are good choices.
I have many browsers and use them for various purposes - Chrome work really well with any Google service, obviously. Firefox is for business tuff (for me) and Chrome is default for everything else. Opera and Brave - I use them on Windows VMs for various reasons and generally work fine also. Any of these will work fine for general user. Unless you are in critical need to extra safety and security, no need to worry about browser choice.

 

[StarShot]

DuckDuck Go is more private search engine than Google. It is my preferred choice - less cool and helpful, but no tracking of users. No idea why this would be on new computer, unless it was added by someone else who sold it to you. It is not installed by default.
Use Safari as browser, works well enough, and pick search engine you like. Google or DuckDuck Go are good choices.
I have many browsers and use them for various purposes - Chrome work really well with any Google service, obviously. Firefox is for business tuff (for me) and Chrome is default for everything else. Opera and Brave - I use them on Windows VMs for various reasons and generally work fine also. Any of these will work fine for general user. Unless you are in critical need to extra safety and security, no need to worry about browser choice.

Thanks for the info. l DuckDuckGo is not on my new computer. It is on the computer I'm retiring. Wondering what you think of Opera?

 

[StarShot]

DuckDuck Go is a search engine, but I believe they recently got into the web browser business. I don't know if what you are referring to is the browser or the search engine being the default in your web browser. Normally you can change that within your browser settings. Firefox is considered the best browser for privacy, but I think Safari does equally as well.

Thanks for the info on DuckDuckGo!

 

[StarShot]

Picked up a new MacBook Pro 16" M1 model. I don't need the latest/greatest model. I am upgrading from a MacBook Pro 14" 2020 model with Ventura 13.2.1. I don't want to transfer all the "baggage" on my previous Mac so I'm thinking of setting it up as new and then installing a few apps that are on the old unit. I'm hoping my old MS Office (I think Office will install on the new machine).

Thoughts on browser. I used Opera mostly with some usage of Safari as well. Any thoughts on Opera? Some how something called Duckduckgo got installed on my old MBP and I don't want it on my new computer, one of the reasons I'll looking for a fresh start with the new MBP. I've tried to get rid of DuckDuck without any luck. Should I be worried about Duck**** if it gets on my new MBP?

And for now, what's the safest browser to use. I'm concerned mostly about tracking. On my old MBP, I look at some item and in what seems like a NYMinute, I am getting ads for the item I was searching about. Definitely tracking...

I'm running into problems with my new MBP 16". My previous MBP 14" has some kind of software problem. It's not unusual for it to lock up 2 or 3 times in sessions and because of this, I don't want to transfer whatever is causing this to my new MBP 16". This is the tipping point that caused me to buy the new 16".

However booting the new computer up as new is causing other problems like I subscribe to Apple TV+. Yes, I do get 3 free months if I want, but there doesn't seem to be anyway to pickup my present subscription or anyway sign in to my regular Apple TV+ account. I'm running into this same problem with other subscriptions that I have as well. I think I'm going to hook up with an Apple Genius at my local store to see how to solve this problem.

I do have to admit I love the bigger screen and the output of the speakers. And at least the new unit has a 3.5mm jack. One of thee days Apple is going to say, it's BlueTooth or the road...

 

[G5isAlive]

Your Apple TV and other subscriptions should be tied in with your Apple account. Did you log in to that?

 

[JustAnExpat]

Picked up a new MacBook Pro 16" M1 model. I don't need the latest/greatest model. I am upgrading from a MacBook Pro 14" 2020 model with Ventura 13.2.1. I don't want to transfer all the "baggage" on my previous Mac so I'm thinking of setting it up as new and then installing a few apps that are on the old unit. I'm hoping my old MS Office (I think Office will install on the new machine).

Thoughts on browser. I used Opera mostly with some usage of Safari as well. Any thoughts on Opera? Some how something called Duckduckgo got installed on my old MBP and I don't want it on my new computer, one of the reasons I'll looking for a fresh start with the new MBP. I've tried to get rid of DuckDuck without any luck. Should I be worried about Duck**** if it gets on my new MBP?

And for now, what's the safest browser to use. I'm concerned mostly about tracking. On my old MBP, I look at some item and in what seems like a NYMinute, I am getting ads for the item I was searching about. Definitely tracking...

> I'm hoping my old MS Office

Which version? Version 16 works just fine.

>Any thoughts on Opera?

It's good. It's my "primary" backup browser. I use Safari mainly.

>Duckduckgo

That's a privacy focused search engine. Think "google", without the record tracking. I use that website all that time too.

> what's the safest browser to use

I think Opera with VPN turned on. Safari is good too with cookie blocking.

>in what seems like a NYMinute,

What's that? The New York Times? That's a real newspaper.

 

[StarShot]

> I'm hoping my old MS Office

Which version? Version 16 works just fine.

>Any thoughts on Opera?

It's good. It's my "primary" backup browser. I use Safari mainly.

>Duckduckgo

That's a privacy focused search engine. Think "google", without the record tracking. I use that website all that time too.

> what's the safest browser to use

I think Opera with VPN turned on. Safari is good too with cookie blocking.

>in what seems like a NYMinute,

What's that? The New York Times? That's a real newspaper.

NYMinute = NY minute. common expression for something that is very fast. My old MBA is a 13", not a 14". Didn't realize that when I posted this thread. Didn't realize DuckDuckGo was legit with a name like it carries. Thanks for the info...

 

[StarShot]

Your Apple TV and other subscriptions should be tied in with your Apple account. Did you log in to that?

Didn't realize about the tie in with an Apple account and subscriptions. I finally reconnected with my correct Apple account that is tied in with my subscriptions and they work fine now...