Honestly, this article was a long time in the making. I originally planned to make a small video, but I have been lying flat recently, so I finally decided to write this article to show off my new MacBook Pro 16 “M1 2021 computer in front of everyone.

In order to avoid causing misunderstanding, I did not post the specific link of the product here, so as not to say THAT I was advertising. There are a lot of introductions about this computer on the Internet, but as a programmer who has worked for 10 years, I still want to share with you my real feelings about using this product from the perspective of a programmer, and maybe give some reference to friends who have purchase plans.

This article I plan to introduce to you in the following aspects:

1. Reasons for purchase

The reason why I buy this product is because my last MBP is 2012 and it has been used for 10 years. The one on the right side of the picture below is specially removed from the “nursing home” for this article:

This is the first macbook I’ve ever bought, and it’s still pretty durable. It works well so far except for the aging battery. In fact, it will be fine for a few more years, mainly because it only has a 128GB hard disk, the first retina display, and 4 core 8Gb. At this point, running some development software is starting to get a bit overwhelming, especially the NPM project with the just-in-time build front end. And IDEA, which I usually use, is also a big memory user.

Therefore, in line with the upgrading performance of Apple’s M1 products, I also want to buy a new one, so as to make some reserves for my development in the next 10 years. As the saying goes, “If you want to do a good job, you must first do a sharp tool”. I think it is worth using an electronic product for 10 years.

2. Configure parameter sharing, which is about hardware experience

The parameters of the money I can buy are roughly as follows:

MacBook Pro M1 16 memory memory: 32GB hard disk: 512GB CPU: 10 cores (8 performance and 2 energy efficiency) GPU: 16 coresCopy the code

Before the Spring Festival, I booked this product on the official website. It took about three weeks from placing the order to receiving the goods. Generally, if you are buying an entry-level memory + CPU configuration, it is available officially and third parties. But I made a reservation because I customized the memory and CPU.

Here are my customized considerations:

  1. In terms of memory, I chose 32GB instead of 16GB. I suspect that software will consume more and more memory now and in the future. I worry that 16GB will not be enough, as many ides are memory hogs. I didn’t think I was right.

  2. I chose the highest CPU configuration, which is currently 10 cores, but the official did not specify 8+2 as the standard configuration at that time. I have no specific concept of 2 energy efficiency cores. The starting point of choosing CPU is also very simple, this computer is used to do development, the more CPU, the faster compilation.

  3. GPU I choose the entry level 16 core, after all, as a programmer, when doing video processing is still very few; And there’s a 6800 AMD graphics card in the house.

  4. About hard disk: I choose 512GB, the official stock is 1TB, but as a developer originally said that 1TB hard disk is not necessary for me, in the era of cloud, I seldom put data locally, my own “films are not many”, haha.

One important point I made here is that I chose 32GB of RAM, not 16GB. I think I did make the right choice. I usually use the following ones as a developer:

1. Chrome 2. Idea 3. Postman 4. Other company software, such as email, chat softwareCopy the code

As far as the monitoring goes, the memory usage is usually around 20GB, and I don’t even use large design software like PHOTOSHOP:

About hardware

Anyway, by all accounts, Apple is back on the consumerist side, so it’s great that the HDMI port is back. But there’s more to it than that, and I’ll tell you what I feel:

1. Keyboard 2. Hardware interfaceCopy the code

1. The keyboard

Want to focus on the feeling of using the keyboard:

  1. Ditching the butterfly keyboard, the typing experience did come back, but I still felt a bit worse than my 12-year-old keyboard.
  2. The ESC exit button has become large in size, this one is really comfortable, I also have a company 15 years OF MBP, the ESC is really small and often press the wrong button.
  3. A separate fingerprint button, which I find useful (but should come in 2020). I also wanted to talk about whether it is possible to implement a password fingerprint authorization function by USB expansion interface. In many cases, fingerprint identification is more than input password block.
  4. The up, down, left and right buttons are a little small, and I think this is the only one that feels uncomfortable to use. I used to press these buttons, and now I occasionally press them wrong.

2. Hardware interfaces

The HDMI port is back, but I want to say something else. I’m not really happy with it. So far it’s bringing HDMI back, but I’m still wondering: why not add a USB port and a wired port? Although there is a lightning port, USB is not necessary, this is true. But I still want an Ethernet port, because wi-fi is often unreliable.

So I took my old docking station and used it again:

But that brought up a new problem for me. The device blocks Apple’s quick charge source, so you can only charge it using the Lightning port. It’s important to note that apple’s power adapter cable for this 16-inch laptop reverts to the old magnetizing connector for 120W, and the charging cable is also a magnet head. No lightning port cable

Therefore, in order to use this docking station, I bought a 100W quick charging cable of Type-C, giving up the official quick charging source:

other

In addition, as you can see from the comparison I shared, the new computers do have narrow bezels and a larger screen size, which is really a good experience. In addition about bangs screen, actually I feel does not affect specific use, actually feel also is not so ugly.

3. Software sharing

As for the software, I think the most important thing is that M1 is an ARM chip. How is the software compatible? From my current use, I think it can actually meet my daily development and use:

Whether the available software
Available software Idea, vscode, Postman, Wireshark, Sequel Pro, iTerm2, design software, ClashX, ExpressVPN, Cisco, Xmind are all ok
Not available Charles and Fiddler, these two HTTPS packet capture tools do not have M1 version, abandoned

In general, most of the software has corresponding versions of M1, especially for large commercial software companies, which generally adapt quickly. Wireshark is used to capture HTTP packets. Wireshark is used to capture HTTP packets. Wireshark is used to capture HTTP packets.

4. Code compilation

After all, this computer is used to write code, so FINALLY want to share the truth of the development dare to say. I mainly do server-side research and development, but also involve some big data, front-end and client development. The main development is: Go, Java, PHP, occasionally use front-end Node system, I also play with some foreword languages, such as rust and so on.

The following a general feeling: I said I ho ho you can hear the computer laptop fan’s voice, but I don’t know so to evaluate the performance of the device is a bit too much. It’s true, though, that the fans used to fill up from time to time, especially on front-end projects, but that hasn’t been a problem with this computer so far, and compiling is much faster.

scenario feeling instructions
Front-end development, Node, vuejs Satisfied with the Compilation speed improved obviously, no longer heard violent fan
Go, PHP, Java Satisfied with the Compilation speed is also much faster, second level, very smooth
rust general Rust compiles poorly, so writing small toys in a new book isn’t much of an improvement the first time you compile

conclusion

The above is all the content shared this time. In general, I am quite satisfied with this product. But the price is there, and writing this article is a personal experience, not investment advice. If you’re interested in buying one, my advice is to wait for the upcoming spring launch. Also hope everybody sees an officer to have the computer that oneself admire in the heart at an early date.