Apple MacBook Pro M3 Max joins Mac Studio M1 Ultra

The perfect laptop and portable DAW part 2

Be sure to read my (growing) review: Apple MacBook Pro M3 Pro & M3 Max

In January 2023, I purchased a 14″ MacBook Pro M2 Pro with 12 core CPU, 19 core GPU, 16GB of memory and 1TB storage. At that time, I decided then that for my portability needs, it didn’t make sense to bump the memory or processor/GPU cores up. As a secondary system, I found the M2 Pro with 16GB to be very adequate for my needs, but as I expanded uses of the laptop, I yearned for more memory.

In January of 2024, one of my granddaughters needed a laptop for college and I was able to rationalize an upgrade. I gifted her the M2 Pro and upgraded to a 14″ MacBook Pro M3 Max with 14 core CPU, 30 core GPU, 36GB of memory and 1TB storage.

I regularly use most of the 64GB on my primary system, a desktop Mac Studio M1 Ultra. If this M3 Max were my primary system, it would have been tempting to go with 96GB. I never would have guessed it a few years ago, but I am really getting used to having large amounts of memory.

90% of my workstation needs are met by my primary system, but this MacBook Pro compliments it well. In Geekbench, the M3 Max 14 core CPU, 30 core GPU is faster in single and multi core CPU benchmarks and slower in GPU benchmarks than my M1 Ultra 20 core CPU, 48 core GPU. From my perception, both machines seem about the same which is totally wild to me.

Thanks!
-Yehuda

The previous chapter, one year earlier: Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro joins Mac Studio M1 Ultra

Apple related pages
Updated periodically – Apple Silicon is the DAW standard
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Studio M1 Max & M1 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Studio M2 Max & M2 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Studio M3 Max & M3 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple MacBook Pro M1 Pro & M1 Max
Updated periodically – Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro & M2 Max
Updated periodically – Apple MacBook Pro M3 Pro & M3 Max
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Pro M2 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple Mac mini M1
Updated periodically – Apple Mac mini M2 & M2 Pro
Updated periodically – Apple Mac mini M3 & M3 Pro
Updated periodically – Apple Studio Display
Updated periodically – Apple M1 Processor Series
Updated periodically – Apple M2 Processor Series
Updated periodically – Apple M3 Processor Series

Follow on Mastodon – TurtleIsland.social/@Yehuda

Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro joins Mac Studio M1 Ultra

The perfect laptop and portable DAW part 1

Be sure to read my review: Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro & M2 Max

In lieu of a 2nd Apple Studio Display (for a moment) I picked up a 14″ MacBook Pro M2 Pro with 12 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores, 16GB memory, and 1TB storage. I wanted macOS, application, and storage redundancy, as well as portability.

Most of my workstation needs are met by the desktop Mac Studio M1 Ultra, but the MacBook Pro will compliment it well.

This MacBook Pro generally has 50%-75% of the performance of the desktop and obviously is much easier to move. Not only will it expand my on the go computing, but it is the perfect portable DAW, should I ever need that.

The data itself is shared by iCloud Drive and Dropbox.

Thanks!
-Yehuda

The next chapter, one year later: Apple MacBook Pro M3 Max joins Mac Studio M1 Ultra

The previous chapter, six months earlier: Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra: Delivered!

Apple related pages
Updated periodically – Apple Silicon is the DAW standard
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Studio M1 Max & M1 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Studio M2 Max & M2 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Studio M3 Max & M3 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple MacBook Pro M1 Pro & M1 Max
Updated periodically – Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro & M2 Max
Updated periodically – Apple MacBook Pro M3 Pro & M3 Max
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Pro M2 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple Mac mini M1
Updated periodically – Apple Mac mini M2 & M2 Pro
Updated periodically – Apple Mac mini M3 & M3 Pro
Updated periodically – Apple Studio Display
Updated periodically – Apple M1 Processor Series
Updated periodically – Apple M2 Processor Series
Updated periodically – Apple M3 Processor Series

Follow on Mastodon – TurtleIsland.social/@Yehuda

I have three percent African DNA

However, you won’t see me claim I’m African-American

Or a Black person… though I’d be thrilled and honored to make these claims. My Senegal, Ivory Coast/Ghana and Nigeria DNA together has Elizabeth Warren’s Native-American DNA beat 3 times over, but I don’t know my African ancestor(s). I haven’t lived a life with any of their experiences. I can’t own this.

It is cool though!

I estimate within 4-6 generations ago that I had at least one African ancestor and I may someday discover the confirmed genealogy of this person.

My curiosity runs wild and that would be a super exciting day, but I still won’t be able to own it. An ally is the most I’ll ever be.

Thanks!
-Yehuda

Updated periodically – About TurtleIsland.social
Updated periodically – Migrating to TurtleIsland.social
Updated periodically – Introduction to Settler Colonialism
Updated periodically – Decolonization is not a metaphor
Updated periodically – Mvskoke History & Resources

Follow on Mastodon – TurtleIsland.social/@Yehuda

My August 2022 DNA Results

DNA does NOT make you Native or Jewish

First of all, it is extremely important to state that DNA does NOT make you Native or Jewish. Or any other culture for that matter. DNA is cool, but as they say – strictly for entertainment.

To be Native

To be Native, you must at minimum, have lineal descent from a Native Nation citizen. This means you must know your Native Nation. If you do not know your Native Nation citizen relative, you cannot claim you are Native, Native-American, Indigenous, First Nations, etc. on the basis of DNA results or family lore. You must know exactly who your relatives are. I feel ya, sometimes this means some difficult, time and money consuming research, but it is not optional.

Individual Native Nations may also have other citizenship requirements that I won’t discuss in this post. Whether you are a Native Nation citizen or are a lineal descendant, DNA or family lore is not enough. There must be a clear and unbroken record of birth certificates to the last Native Nation citizen in your lineage.

Clans and family membership are usually matrilineal or passed from mother to child. There are exceptions to this but that is usually how it rolls. Citizenship though is usually derived from either parent, but Native Nations have a wide variety of requirements, so do your research.

In my opinion the terminology would be as the following example. I am a Mvskoke citizen, so I would generally say I am a Mvskoke citizen or Mvskoke. A relative of mine with lineal descent that is not a citizen, would generally say they are a Mvskoke descendant or of Mvskoke descent. In my opinion, either of us could say we are Native or Indigenous. This of course applies to North America.

To be Jewish

To be Jewish, is traditionally matrilineal or from conversion. My Father and I are patrilineal descendants, and therefore I and others in my family have had conversions. These days there are some denominations that accept matrilineal, patrilineal, or conversion.

None of these possibilities include DNA. In my opinion, like Native ancestry, if you do not know your lineal relatives, you need to do some research before you say you are a Jew or of Jewish descent. No one recognizes DNA or family lore, it is that simple.

DNA is great for finding relatives, or factually determining who your biological parents are though. It does not make someone Native or Jewish.

My Native and Jewish heritage is mixed obviously

Before we get into DNA percentages, remember there is no such thing as a part-Native or part-Jew. The only valid percentages for either are 0% or 100%. People are not fractional, they are whole. Racial/ethnic percentages also known as blood quantum are not real. Blood quantum is a white invention meant to bolster white supremacy. I’m sure to discuss blood quantum in greater detail in a future post.

Like blood quantum, DNA should also not be used to bolster white supremacy.

Generally Ancestry.com revises their estimates once every year or so. In 2022 they revised mine twice. 2022 included for the first time not just ethnicity estimates, but also whether maternal or paternal.

  • European Jewish 28%
  • Sweden & Denmark 16%
  • England & Northwestern Europe 13%
  • Germanic Europe 10%
  • Scotland 10%
  • Indigenous Americas-North 9%
  • Ireland 4%
  • Norway 3%
  • Indigenous Americas-Mexico 2%
  • Wales 2%
  • Senegal 1%
  • Ivory Coast & Ghana 1%
  • Nigeria 1%

Anyhoo, that’s it for now.

Thanks!
-Yehuda

Updated periodically – About TurtleIsland.social
Updated periodically – Migrating to TurtleIsland.social
Updated periodically – Introduction to Settler Colonialism
Updated periodically – Decolonization is not a metaphor
Updated periodically – Mvskoke History & Resources

Follow on Mastodon – TurtleIsland.social/@Yehuda

Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra: Delivered!

Alrighty! Woohoo! Yay! Yeehaw! Yippee!

Mar 9, 2022: Ordered Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra. Delivery changed a few times, last estimate June 29.
Apr 19, 2022: Ordered Apple Studio Display that should deliver by June 3.
Jun 3, 2022: Studio Display did arrive on time. Still, I couldn’t use it since the Mac Studio had not <sigh>.
Jun 24, 2022: Mac Studio M1 Ultra shipped and could be here tomorrow which will be the 109th day.
Jun 25, 2022: Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra: Delivered!

The perfect desktop and studio DAW part 1

Holy Shmoly, the Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra backorder waiting time was super brutal, especially considering the time I spent waiting for a MacBook Pro M1 Max before I changed the order to this Mac Studio M1 Ultra the day after it was announced. Oh well, the best is worth waiting for, it’s over now!

I will say one thing after using the Mac Studio for the better part of 2 days, it’s a dream to use.

Buying severely constrained Apple products

Supply chain/Covid related product delivery delays have really been a problem with Apple. At this point I think it looks like my experience of 109 days from order placement to delivery for the Mac Studio M1 Ultra is among the worst. Currently Apple is estimating up to 67 days.

The Studio Display took a more palatable 47 days. A MacBook Pro M1 Pro recently ordered is scheduled to take up to 51 days.

Though still bad, product delivery delays appear to be shrinking. Be prepared to have a lot of patience. As a general rule, the more advanced the processor and custom the build, the longer the wait.

My Mac Studio M1 Ultra and Studio Display are here now, amen. Stay tuned for more.

Thanks!
-Yehuda

The next chapter, six months later: Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro joins Mac Studio M1 Ultra

Useful Links

Apple related pages
Updated periodically – Apple Silicon is the DAW standard
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Studio M1 Max & M1 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Studio M2 Max & M2 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Studio M3 Max & M3 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple MacBook Pro M1 Pro & M1 Max
Updated periodically – Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro & M2 Max
Updated periodically – Apple MacBook Pro M3 Pro & M3 Max
Updated periodically – Apple Mac Pro M2 Ultra
Updated periodically – Apple Mac mini M1
Updated periodically – Apple Mac mini M2 & M2 Pro
Updated periodically – Apple Mac mini M3 & M3 Pro
Updated periodically – Apple Studio Display
Updated periodically – Apple M1 Processor Series
Updated periodically – Apple M2 Processor Series
Updated periodically – Apple M3 Processor Series

Follow on Mastodon – TurtleIsland.social/@Yehuda