Erm, I think 13” may be a bit too small for me ...

[jdb8167]

Thanks, buddy.

Don't think I'll use Sidecar. I'll just use Udemy, YouTube etc for the instructional videos on my iPad, and use Xcode on my MBP to code.

I must say, though, it's all very daunting (learning to code.)

It just takes time to wrap your head around the concepts. Don’t get frustrated, just keep going. It’ll come. Becoming a programmer isn’t particularly hard. Most people who start and then stop aren’t lacking the ability but instead they don’t like it because it is tedious or whatever. Becoming a good programmer takes dedication just like any other worthwhile endeavor and not everyone is cut out to put the effort in.

I would also suggest that if you are truly a novice that you check out Swift Playgrounds. You can learn Swift without getting bogged down in Xcode minutiae. Xcode knowledge is valuable but is orthogonal to learning to program.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

It just takes time to wrap your head around the concepts. Don’t get frustrated, just keep going. It’ll come. Becoming a programmer isn’t particularly hard. Most people who start and then stop aren’t lacking the ability but instead they don’t like it because it is tedious or whatever. Becoming a good programmer takes dedication just like any other worthwhile endeavor and not everyone is cut out to put the effort in.

I would also suggest that if you are truly a novice that you check out Swift Playgrounds. You can learn Swift without getting bogged down in Xcode minutiae. Xcode knowledge is valuable but is orthogonal to learning to program.

Hey bud, thank you for the inspiring response.

I believe you are correct. If I was to put in, say, 2 hours a day, then surely things will begin to make sense?

I'm still debating whether to start with Swift, or Python. I really want to develop iOS apps, so I'd like to start off as I intend to continue.

 

[jdb8167]

Hey bud, thank you for the inspiring response.

I believe you are correct. If I was to put in, say, 2 hours a day, then surely things will begin to make sense?

I'm still debating whether to start with Swift, or Python. I really want to develop iOS apps, so I'd like to start off as I intend to continue.

Either one is a decent language to start. Python is used more for scientific computing, machine learning, and command line tools. Swift, as you know is Mac and iOS GUI programming though both can be used for either.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Either one is a decent language to start. Python is used more for scientific computing, machine learning, and command line tools. Swift, as you know is Mac and iOS GUI programming though both can be used for either.

Thanks buddy.

I think I'll go with Swift.

What language/s do you code in, and how long did it take you to learn? Are you self taught?

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

So I've retired my aged iMac ... boxed it up and took it to my nan's for storage.

I'm feeling much more comfortable with the 13" display, and I'm indifferent with regards to the Touch Bar.

This machine is also faultless, so I'm really pleased I stuck with it.

Thank you for all of your responses .

 

[jdb8167]

Thanks buddy.

I think I'll go with Swift.

What language/s do you code in, and how long did it take you to learn? Are you self taught?

Unfortunately my example experience won’t help you much. I started programming in 1977 on a time shared HP 2000 in Basic. The next year I switched to a Z80 based CP/M microcomputer and taught myself Z80/8085 assembly. I got an Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering degree in 1984 but still was mostly self-taught considering where undergraduate programming courses were at the time.

What I do now is mostly enterprise software in Java and JavaScript but I dabble in everything. I know dozens of languages and technologies and have been a professional developer since 1985. Not much there you can use in the modern software development world. You can’t duplicate my path anymore. That time has passed.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Unfortunately my example experience won’t help you much. I started programming in 1977 on a time shared HP 2000 in Basic. The next year I switched to a Z80 based CP/M microcomputer and taught myself Z80/8085 assembly. I got an Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering degree in 1984 but still was mostly self-taught considering where undergraduate programming were at the time.

What I do now is mostly enterprise software in Java and JavaScript but I dabble in everything. I know dozens of languages and technologies and have been a professional developer since 1985. Not much there you can use in the modern software development world. You can’t duplicate my path anymore. That time has passed.

1984 is when I started secondary school: I still remember the computer lab, with the BBC Micros .

You've definitely inspired me to give this a go. If I don't try, I'll never know.

As they say, it's better to try and fail, than never to have tried at all.

Thanks again.

 

[Bob_DM]

My M1 MBP was delivered yesterday, to my nan’s place, so I’ll be unboxing it today.

However, I popped into the Apple Store to buy a USB-C to USB cable and I had a moment to play around, very briefly with a 13” MBP.

It’s so small!

I’m coming from a 24” iMac, so that’s probably why.

No pun intended, but do you think the 13” will grow on me?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

For me 13” is the ideal size for a laptop. Fits in standard briefcases or smaller camera rucksack on the move and
for real Photoshop/Lightroom editing or Logic Pro I want at least 27” screen at 2560 x 1440 so still external monitor needed.
For me bigger laptop misses portability AND screensize.

 

[spiderman0616]

For me 13” is the ideal size for a laptop. Fits in standard briefcases or smaller camera rucksack on the move and
for real Photoshop/Lightroom editing or Logic Pro I want at least 27” screen at 2560 x 1440 so still external monitor needed.
For me bigger laptop misses portability AND screensize.

Same. I have a 2019 model 15" MBP from work and I generally really like it, but despite its thin and sleek design, it is a pretty heavy machine. Not so heavy that I won't take it places, but heavy for a portable device. I have to have a lot of stuff open at once for work, and often have to share out my screen for PowerPoint presentations and stuff, so it mostly sits docked to two monitors on my desk.

I originally upgraded to a 12.9" iPad Pro because I wanted a laptop sized screen, and that's what I had been using almost every day for personal computing until I got the M1 MBA. What I immediately realized was that the aspect ratio on the MBA is MUCH better for productivity than on the iPad Pro 12.9. Had never considered this until I made the switch, but the difference is real. Having apps open side by side is much better on the Mac than on the iPad. Never thought I'd say that, but here we are.

 

[Beau Slim]

So I've retired my aged iMac ... boxed it up and took it to my nan's for storage.

Does your old iMac support Target Display Mode? I still use my 2010 iMac every day as a monitor.

 

[retta283]

The 13.3" screen size Apple uses is shorter overall than my 12" iBook from 20 years ago(meaning, if you play a 4:3 video on it, the iBook's screen is technically larger). That to me is too little. Too small to be used as a main machine. The Retina switch helped, as the highest "scaled" resolution is about the minimum for extended workflow. But the panel itself makes it feel cramped.

This is coming from someone with Server apps open, terminal windows, multiple instances of Finder, and so on. I'm sure for the average browser computer user it's adequate. But I just don't see a 13" laptop as really being a Pro machine unless you are truly willing to sacrifice portions of your workflow usage for smaller footprint.

 

[spiderman0616]

The 13.3" screen size Apple uses is shorter overall than my 12" iBook from 20 years ago(meaning, if you play a 4:3 video on it, the iBook's screen is technically larger). That to me is too little. Too small to be used as a main machine. The Retina switch helped, as the highest "scaled" resolution is about the minimum for extended workflow. But the panel itself makes it feel cramped.

This is coming from someone with Server apps open, terminal windows, multiple instances of Finder, and so on. I'm sure for the average browser computer user it's adequate. But I just don't see a 13" laptop as really being a Pro machine unless you are truly willing to sacrifice portions of your workflow usage for smaller footprint.

For me, it's more about amount of screens rather than screen size. I can't REALLY do my job the way it's supposed to be done with less than 2 monitors, because I'm constantly in conference calls and presentations and often have to share my screen on one side while I do other things on the other.

On iPad Pro, my solution to this was that I would have all my work apps open in pairings and then I would just 4 finger swipe back and forth between different pairings. There were two major problems with this: 1) Most 3rd party iPad apps still don't fully support iPadOS multitasking, multi windowing, or slide over, so for work tasks, I was constantly having to re-open or re-situate my applications. I found workarounds for all of it, but still.......and 2) iPadOS does not allow me to share my screen out from the conference call software I have to use.

On the Mac if I have to work on just the laptop screen, I have Spaces. To me, that's the next best thing to having 2 monitors, and as long as I have that feature on the MBA, I can do pretty much anything. There is nothing finicky about it--it just works. It's one of the Mac's most underrated features, in my opinion. The stuff I had set up on a Space stays that way until I say otherwise, whether I'm constantly flipping back and forth or not. I don't have to worry about apps being compatible with the Spaces feature, because macOS treats it the same way as a second monitor. Whether that's on my 13" MBA or my 15" MBP doesn't make too much difference to me. I love the portability of the MBA.

 

[culo77]

I also am liking the scaled size, much better for my post 40 eyes.

I came from a 15in, but with lockdown I have been remote desktoping to my work computer with a 9.7in iPad to do the light tasks. That work stuff with the iPad I needed reading glasses to make that be "acceptable". More demanding and side-by-side work tasks I would jump on the 15in computer. I too was worried at first about the 13in. I was fine with the native resolution but changing it to scaled is so so so much sweeter.

All that said I maybe buying a 27in monitor, just for those few times it would be nice to have more real estate (about 7-9 times each month).

 

[anthony13]

I could never get used to the 13" size. I bought one a few years back and only kept it about a year. I think I found out that even for portable use, I needed a 15" minimum. But I draft a lot and require the space for toolsets.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I like the 13" MacBook. I can do all I need to do easily with that size screen. If I could get one of the newer M1 16" for the same price, I would do that for my home desktop. I am no fool.

 

[culo77]

I'm so geeked. I just found out that I can screen mirror (and second screen) my TV connected to appleTV. Happy that I don't need to get a monitor for those few times I need more screen real estate. SideCar is nice and I use it occasionally but this screen mirror to the TV is just perfect for my use!