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What will you be using your M1 Mac for?

TrueBlou said:
Day 1 can be a bit overwhelming. It will all fall into place eventually, just remember this, we absorb more information in the first 10 and last 10 minutes of any learning session, than we do what's in-between, So keep each session short and have a break to leat your mind relax again, before you dive into it again.

What are you starting off with?
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Thanks for the advice, bud.

I'm using Udemy, and "Code with Chris." It's Swift, so I'm using Xcode.

He's explaining things clearly, but sometimes I have to rewind and listen again.

However, funny enough, I did as you suggested ... I took a rest after a few of the lessons, had a coffee, and now I'll dive back in. Funny enough, whilst I was procrastinating, I actually had a strong urge to return to the lessons. Much like when you're invested in a video game, and you just want to get back to it until it's finished.

Know what I mean? Must be a good sign, right?

Hope you're well, buddy (PS: How many more "sleeps" until you get your MBA? ;)).
 
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The London Fella said:
Thanks for the advice, bud.

I'm using Udemy, and "Code with Chris." It's Swift, so I'm using Xcode.

He's explaining things clearly, but sometimes I have to rewind and listen again.

However, funny enough, I did as you suggested ... I took a rest after a few of the lessons, had a coffee, and now I'll dive back in. Funny enough, whilst I was procrastinating, I actually had a strong urge to return to the lessons. Much like when you're invested in a video game, and you just want to get back to it until it's finished.

Know what I mean? Must be a good sign, right?

Hope you're well, buddy (PS: How many more "sleeps" until you get your MBA? ;)).
Click to expand...


Too many bloody sleeps, I need to stop counting the days, continually torturing myself by reading about and watching videos of the MBA M1 and maybe just take a huge dose of my morphine and hibernate for a week...... If it doesn't just kill me :D

If you'd like some *cough* suggestions *cough* on helpful material, feel free to drop me a PM for something I can't say out in the open ;)
 
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The London Fella said:
For me, I've decided to teach myself to code (just started a free course on Udemy.)

My 2008 iMac is just way too slow, and I just tried to install Xcode but it wouldn't let me install the additional components needed. Thus, I needed a new machine.

If anyone has any tips for me, they'd be welcomed (I am a complete beginner.)

What about you? What will you be using your M1 Mac for?

Intrigue me ...
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I’d be interested in finding out how you’re getting on. I’ve wanted to learn to code (maybe just some basic stuff) for a few years but my day job is so busy it puts. E off any kind of studying during my non-working hours. My weekdays are pretty much non-existent at the moment.
 
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VitoBotta said:
I use the Mini mostly for web development stuff. So several terminal things, vscode, Docker etc. But I typically like to keep many things open at the same time which is why I ordered a 16GB model to replace this 8GB one. I am also doing a little games.
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How are you using Docker? for remote containers, or are you using a recent beta-version?
 
Quackington said:
I’d be interested in finding out how you’re getting on. I’ve wanted to learn to code (maybe just some basic stuff) for a few years but my day job is so busy it puts. E off any kind of studying during my non-working hours. My weekdays are pretty much non-existent at the moment.
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I'm finding it difficult, to be honest.

At my age (47!) things don't tend to stick in my brain, like they did when I was at college.

I'm plodding along, though. The way I see it is that if I do just a little bit each day, there has to come a time when it makes sense? Right?

There are plenty of tutorial videos on YouTube, if you give it a search. Also, there are plenty of free courses on Udemy (there are also Udemy apps.)

Good luck on your own journey, my friend.
 
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For my M1 MBA (8 GB / 256 GB):
  • Web browsing (Safari, Firefox if needed)
  • Email (Mail app)
  • Reminders (trying to use that more broadly, not just M1 but also on iPhone)
  • Text file editing (TextEdit)
  • Office productivity (LibreOffice)
  • Programming (Xcode)
  • Basic graphics editing (Seashore, a nice MacOS frontend to GIMP)
  • Notes (using the Notes app, in place of MS OneNote [which is also good, but required OneDrive and I want to use iCloud instead])
  • Listening to music (Music app)
  • Listening to podcasts (Podcasts app)
When I replace my Intel Mac mini with an Apple Silicon desktop (likely M1 Mac mini, but interested in seeing what other options the future may bring):
  • Everything listed for the M1 MBP above
  • Development for Apple platforms (Xcode)
  • Jax development (IntelliJ)
  • Household finances (Moneydance)
 
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Captain Trips said:
For my M1 MBA (8 GB / 256 GB):
  • Web browsing (Safari, Firefox if needed)
  • Email (Mail app)
  • Reminders (trying to use that more broadly, not just M1 but also on iPhone)
  • Text file editing (TextEdit)
  • Office productivity (LibreOffice)
  • Programming (Xcode)
  • Basic graphics editing (Seashore, a nice MacOS frontend to GIMP)
  • Notes (using the Notes app, in place of MS OneNote [which is also good, but required OneDrive and I want to use iCloud instead])
  • Listening to music (Music app)
  • Listening to podcasts (Podcasts app)
When I replace my Intel Mac mini with an Apple Silicon desktop (likely M1 Mac mini, but interested in seeing what other options the future may bring):
  • Everything listed for the M1 MBP above
  • Development for Apple platforms (Xcode)
  • Jax development (IntelliJ)
  • Household finances (Moneydance)
Click to expand...
What ever you do, don’t install Chrome.

There's a thread on here which proves it's a battery drainer.

I only use Safari, which does everything I want or need.
 
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The London Fella said:
I'm finding it difficult, to be honest.

At my age (47!) things don't tend to stick in my brain, like they did when I was at college.

I'm plodding along, though. The way I see it is that if I do just a little bit each day, there has to come a time when it makes sense? Right?
Click to expand...
It does. I started programing at 17, I'm 57, I forget as much as I learn, and I learn every day. Programing is about solving problems. From getting from point A to B without knowing how to get there.

Developing Apple apps, is the most difficult way to begin. You have to learn three things at once. The 3 things are constantly changing and documentation is minimal. I stopped iOS development about 5 years ago.

1. Need to learn the language
2. Need to learn the IDE in which you code
3. Need to learn layout design and hooking foreign concepts to actions in your code.

Yes, you need to learn this in every language, but to me, it is more difficult with Apple.

Also, try a different learning methodology. As adults we all learn differently, some by reading, some by doing, some by watching. Videos are my least effective learning medium because it is difficult to keep up, and retain all the words being said.

Step by step tutorials that you can read and do, are my preferred style. The Swift Playgrounds are also good if you are very new to programing concepts.
 
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The London Fella said:
I'm finding it difficult, to be honest.

At my age (47!) things don't tend to stick in my brain, like they did when I was at college.

I'm plodding along, though. The way I see it is that if I do just a little bit each day, there has to come a time when it makes sense? Right?

There are plenty of tutorial videos on YouTube, if you give it a search. Also, there are plenty of free courses on Udemy (there are also Udemy apps.)

Good luck on your own journey, my friend.
Click to expand...
Thanks. One the pandemic is over and we’re back to normal, I may consider attending some classes.
 
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Quackington said:
Thanks. One the pandemic is over and we’re back to normal, I may consider attending some classes.
Click to expand...
Same here.

Reading books and watching tutorial videos is just not working for me.

I have mental health issues, and take quite a bit of medication, so that may be hindering my progress.
 
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I'm using mine for all the things I used my 12.9" iPad Pro for:

photo editing
graphic design
video editing
sound editing
music composition
web browsing
entertainment
communication

Keeping my work Mac stuff on my work Mac and my personal stuff on my personal Mac, so I will NOT be using it for my day job. ;)
 
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Email
Web browsing and foruming
Communication
Learning
Hopefully some virtualisation
Hopefully installing other OSes (we'll see)
Researching fully how M1's do their thing
And everything else a 61 year old does :)
 
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The London Fella said:
Same here.

Reading books and watching tutorial videos is just not working for me.

I have mental health issues, and take quite a bit of medication, so that may be hindering my progress.
Click to expand...

Medication can be a bit of a hindrance, I’m on a list of things as long as your arm for my nerve damage. I’ve seen me sitting at 3 in the morning, getting annoyed because I’ve done something the hard way. Only to remember once I’ve done it, there’s an easy way :rolleyes:

At least with not sleeping much I’ve got extra time to sit and drink coffee, staring at the screen, willing it to write a sodding simple piece of code by itself :D

On the bright side, once you learn, it’s not just the commercial aspect you have to look forward to - actually, not look forward to, that’s worse than coding. But I’ve just finished a password and two-factor auth app for myself and the wife. I’ve no intentions of putting it up for sale, but I trust no service with my password information. So instead, I use a three-fold keychain, iCloud and my own encryption in-app to keep it as tightly locked up as possible. While still offering the benefits of iCloud syncing.....

...... Now I just need to change 587 passwords:D
 
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TrueBlou said:
Medication can be a bit of a hindrance, I’m on a list of things as long as your arm for my nerve damage. I’ve seen me sitting at 3 in the morning, getting annoyed because I’ve done something the hard way. Only to remember once I’ve done it, there’s an easy way :rolleyes:

At least with not sleeping much I’ve got extra time to sit and drink coffee, staring at the screen, willing it to write a sodding simple piece of code by itself :D

On the bright side, once you learn, it’s not just the commercial aspect you have to look forward to - actually, not look forward to, that’s worse than coding. But I’ve just finished a password and two-factor auth app for myself and the wife. I’ve no intentions of putting it up for sale, but I trust no service with my password information. So instead, I use a three-fold keychain, iCloud and my own encryption in-app to keep it as tightly locked up as possible. While still offering the benefits of iCloud syncing.....

...... Now I just need to change 587 passwords:D
Click to expand...
Hello bud.

Sorry to learn of your nerve issues. It must be quite uncomfortable for you.

On the flip side, congrats on your app. Why not put it up for sale? I’m sure that type of application would interest many people.

See you next year, when you’ve changed those passwords o_O.
 
Quackers said:
Email
Web browsing and foruming
Communication
Learning
Hopefully some virtualisation
Hopefully installing other OSes (we'll see)
Researching fully how M1's do their thing
And everything else a 61 year old does :)
Click to expand...
That’s quite a list.

You'll end up going Quackers (couldn’t resist) :) .
 
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The London Fella said:
Hello bud.

Sorry to learn of your nerve issues. It must be quite uncomfortable for you.

On the flip side, congrats on your app. Why not put it up for sale? I’m sure that type of application would interest many people.

See you next year, when you’ve changed those passwords o_O.
Click to expand...

I don't know that it would be commercially viable enough to bother trying to go up against the already established services to be honest. There's no shortage of password apps on the AppStore - I just only trust me, I know what's going on behind the scenes with mine :D
 
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TrueBlou said:
I don't know that it would be commercially viable enough to bother trying to go up against the already established services to be honest. There's no shortage of password apps on the AppStore - I just only trust me, I know what's going on behind the scenes with mine :D
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Damn ... and there was me, hoping to hack into your webcam ;) .
 
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As a Visual/UI Designer... will use my Mini M1 for:

Design: Sketch, Figma, Adobe Suite
Daily: notes, safari, music & podcasts app, mail app and some 8bits-16bits games in OpenEmu
 
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The London Fella said:
Same here.

Reading books and watching tutorial videos is just not working for me.

I have mental health issues, and take quite a bit of medication, so that may be hindering my progress.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear of your issues. I’ve been served a few ads for London General Assembly (if I recall the name correctly) coding classes over the past few years but never got around to signing up. I took Spanish classes one time, ended up being Mondays at 6pm...I think I made it to about 2 classes. They were right by my office in central London at the time. I just never left the office in time. Put me off signing up for any other classes after work!
TrueBlou said:
Medication can be a bit of a hindrance, I’m on a list of things as long as your arm for my nerve damage. I’ve seen me sitting at 3 in the morning, getting annoyed because I’ve done something the hard way. Only to remember once I’ve done it, there’s an easy way :rolleyes:

At least with not sleeping much I’ve got extra time to sit and drink coffee, staring at the screen, willing it to write a sodding simple piece of code by itself :D

On the bright side, once you learn, it’s not just the commercial aspect you have to look forward to - actually, not look forward to, that’s worse than coding. But I’ve just finished a password and two-factor auth app for myself and the wife. I’ve no intentions of putting it up for sale, but I trust no service with my password information. So instead, I use a three-fold keychain, iCloud and my own encryption in-app to keep it as tightly locked up as possible. While still offering the benefits of iCloud syncing.....

...... Now I just need to change 587 passwords:D
Click to expand...
This password app sounds neat. I’ve always been a bit paranoid about these password apps, but I guess this is one of the more secure options! I just try to keep my passwords in my head.
The London Fella said:
That’s quite a list.

You'll end up going Quackers (couldn’t resist) :) .
Click to expand...
Hah.
Quackers said:
Been there, done that :)
Click to expand...
I think we may be related ;-)
 
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