MacBook M1 Pro 2021 Stable and Reliable? Any way to fix the issues?

[TinHead88]

You do need to be careful but there are some good ones.

Please go ahead and name a few.

 

[Marsikus]

"AVG Cleaner" is not bad. It does nothing fancy, it only automates search and removal of residual folders from long time removed applications and duplicated files. All the same what can be done manually.

 

[HDFan]

Please go ahead and name a few.

CleanMyMac.

 

[transphasic]

My 2021 MacBook Pro M1 is NOT stable and reliable. Since receiving it in January 2021, rebooting it once a day has a been the norm. Even with 32Gb of memory, it constantly runs out of memory with a normal workload. Right now, one of my BenQ monitors is constantly throwing an error “No cable attached”.

I bought this thing for general use, software development, audio editing and video editing. I knew that I was taking a risk since the M1 chip was relatively new. However the ability to integrate a Macbook, iPad, iPhone, and Apple watch seemed like an attractive option.

I also knew, despite 30+ years as a Windows software developer, that my transition would be somewhat painful. What I didn’t expect was the enormous hassle I’ve encountered There has been so many problems:

• While the UI is bit confusing, it’s pretty nice for simple tasks. OTOH, complex tasks and software development has been a nightmare. Under the surface, MacOS is complex and confusing - Like Windows ten years ago!
• For one or two running apps, it’s OK. Run 10 to 15 apps simultaneously, and it runs out of memory and gets unstable. Even with memory utilities, it chokes. (I would have bought 64GB of memory, but that would have meant waiting another 1-2 months.
• I have something like 10-12 USB accessories attached using a USB extension box. I’m pretty sure that MacOS can’t handle this well. (No problem with my PC workstation.) My MacBook is hooked to a rats nest of accessories just meet my requirements.
• Apps load VERY slowly. For instance, Davinci Resolve takes something like 30 seconds to load. On my PC workstation, it loaded in 5-6 seconds.
• Expansion is miserable. ONE HDMI port. Three other USB/Thunderbolt ports. Memory and disk space is NOT expandable.

Questions:

• Anyone else encountered these issues?
• Any way to fix the issues I’ve found?
• It would be a MAJOR pain to switch back to a Windows PC, but is that a reasonable option? Or…
• Is it reasonable to get a Mac Studio? (Getting more memory and disk in an option, but the expansion ports are abysmal.) Can the Mac Studio handle more USB accessories safely?
• Bottom line - is the Mac a good, general purpose workstation?

Thanks,

Dan.

Would have to have more data on which apps you were using, and some testing would be needed. I've used both DOS/Windoze and the Mac OS since both were originally released, and in 2022, both modern versions can handle running plenty of apps simultaneously without issue.

The apps that typically present a delay when opened on the Mac are generally 3rd party ones like Excel, Word, or Photoshop, i.e., not by Apple and often not optimized yet for Apple-made chips/silicon. They use a tool called Rosetta to translate which adds another layer/taking up more time to function.

The Mac can handle all those accessories, assuming they are well made from better know firms like Belkin, Anker, etc. As for Win, it has FAR more compatibility issues with drivers and devices than the Mac EVER had, and while it has been improved a bit, my Win devices take much more setup and cajoling to interact than the Mac.

My recommendation would be to make an appointment and take your computer to an Apple store/Genius bar for thorough testing. They have diagnostic tools to test the memory, chipsets, hardware, etc to confirm if there is a functional defect. From a top level it sounds like your memory chips might be defective but much more analysis would be needed to confirm this.

Entire pro studios making albums and films with FIVE TIMES the amount of hardware you are currently using are operating right now worldwide, and I've been in plenty. I think it is your specific unit, not the platform.