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My 2011 MacBook Pro still works but I am having difficulty printing and interacting with financial websites along with others. Also having the same problems with my 3 iPads, the most recent only a few months old.
I have a MacBook Air inherited from my wife that is about 4 years old. It doesn’t have the above problems but I don’t like the way websites and banking software displays. I have to do too much scrolling vertically and horizontally. The specs say the two laptops have about the same screen size but the older pro seems much larger.
I am considering an iMac 26” or the larger MacBook Pro. Being that the iMac is about $1000 less and I like the size I am leaning towards that. However, the convenience of the laptop being more portable is a big plus. Not for travel but for using in several places around the house.
I am not sure about how much memory I should get or which processor.
I am not gaming or doing major video editing. Being old school I feel more memory is better but have read that is no longer true.
I tend to keep my computers longer than many others so this may be my final purchase.
I would trade in the Macbook light on the new computer.
All opinions are welcome.
Thanks,
Bobby
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I had to stop relying on my early 2008 MBP because the browsers it could use were not acceptable by most web sites. I moved up to a late 2012 Mac mini, and Safari?Version 15.6.1, the version that comes with Catalina, macOS 10.15 is having issues being accepted by some sites. In particular, a few of the sites for my monthly bills, and CVS when I need to order up a refill.
I don’t remember which list Randy Singer is on, this or iomug, but he is saying maxing out RAM on new Macs is not necessary. I have not gotten to a new enough Mac to test this out.?
Brent ?
On my Mac mini running 10.15.7?
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My 2011 MacBook Pro still works but I am having difficulty printing and interacting with financial websites along with others. Also having the same problems with my 3 iPads, the most recent only a few months old.
I have a MacBook Air inherited from my wife that is about 4 years old. It doesn’t have the above problems but I don’t like the way websites and banking software displays. I have to do too much scrolling vertically and horizontally. The specs say the two laptops have about the same screen size but the older pro seems much larger.
I am considering an iMac 26” or the larger MacBook Pro. Being that the iMac is about $1000 less and I like the size I am leaning towards that. However, the convenience of the laptop being more portable is a big plus. Not for travel but for using in several places around the house.
I am not sure about how much memory I should get or which processor.
I am not gaming or doing major video editing. Being old school I feel more memory is better but have read that is no longer true.
I tend to keep my computers longer than many others so this may ?be my final purchase.
I would trade in the Macbook light on the new computer.
All opinions are welcome.
Thanks,
Bobby
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Bob Stern wrote: I am considering an iMac 26” or the larger MacBook Pro. Being that the iMac is about $1000 less and I like the size I am leaning towards that. However, the convenience of the laptop being more portable is a big plus. Not for travel but for using in several places around the house.
LG makes several 27” 4K monitors (check Amazon).
I would seriously consider getting ?good 3rd-party monitor, getting an Apple trackpad, getting a keyboard, Apple or 3rd-party, and then you have the freedom to choose the optimum computer for you.
That could be a Mac Mini, or a Macbook Air or Macbook Pro. You can use a laptop easily in “clamshell mode”, using the external monitor, trackpad, and keyboard. Or mouse, if you choose.
You can get a refurbished M3 Macbook Air from Apple for under $1000, with an Applecare warranty. I am not sure about how much memory I should get or which processor.
I am not gaming or doing major video editing. Being old school I feel more memory is better but have read that is no longer true.
16BG of RAM will be plenty for you.
--? Jim Saklad jimdoc@...
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On Mar 6, 2025, at 5:33 PM, Brent via groups.io <whodo678@...> wrote:
I don’t remember which list Randy Singer is on, this or iomug, but he is saying maxing out RAM on new Macs is not necessary. I have not gotten to a new enough Mac to test this out. All tests seem to indicate that the minimum amount of RAM (i.e. the minimum spec) is plenty if you purchase an "Apple Silicon" Macintosh, unless you do things that are hugely RAM intensive, such as video editing, 3D modeling, etc. (Of course, M1’s came with 8GB of RAM minimum, and the latest M4’s come with 16GB. In either case, the minimum is usually plenty.) See: Opinion: Is the base MacBook Air M1/8GB powerful enough for you? 8GB vs 16GB M1 MacBook Pro - How much RAM do you NEED?! Apple insists 8GB unified memory equals 16GB regular RAM Apple Silicon Unified Memory: How Much Mac RAM Do You Need? 16GB vs 32GB RAM M1 Pro MacBook - Multitasking RAM TEST! __________________________________________________ Randy B. Singer Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice __________________________________________________
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Others are giving good advice about new Macs, so I won't address that. ?However, the following made me curious as to whether your 4-yr old MacBook Air is using the same screen resolution as the other two Macs?
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On Mar 6, 2025, at 1:51?PM, Bob Stern via groups.io <bobbystern@...> wrote:
I have a MacBook Air inherited from my wife that is about 4 years old. It doesn’t have the above problems but I don’t like the way websites and banking software displays. I have to do too much scrolling vertically and horizontally. The specs say the two laptops have about the same screen size but the older pro seems much larger.
--
Bev in TX
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Bev,
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I previously adjusted the screen resolution last summer before I had cataract surgery. ?I didn't bother again since then.
I made an adjustment this evening to a larger resolution.
I will try some of my programs in the next few days o see if that helps.
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I Apple mail there is a window under the headers that I don't need since the headers show what I prefer and this window is redundant. ?I can't figure out how to remove that wasted space.
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Thanks to all that have replied.
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Thanks,
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Bobby
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?
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On Mar 16, 2025, at 10:10 PM, Bob Stern via groups.io <bobbystern@...> wrote:
Apple mail there is a window under the headers that I don't need since the headers show what I prefer and this window is redundant. I can't figure out how to remove that wasted space. Try hitting: Command - Option - Shift - H __________________________________________________ Randy B. Singer Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice __________________________________________________
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Given that you didn't include a screenshot, I'm just taking a stab in the dark...
Perhaps your wife's MacBook Air is an M1 or later model and Summarize Message Previews is turned on in Mail?
Apple > About this Mac If it?says: - Chip Apple M#, then it's Apple silicon - Processor...Intel, then it's an Intel Mac
If it's Apple Silicon, then is Apple Intelligence turned on? Apple??> System Settings >? ?? ??Apple Intelligence & Siri > Apple Intelligence
If Apple Intelligence is turned on, is Summarize Message Previews turned on in Mail? Mail > Settings > Viewing >? ?? ??Summarize Message Previews If that is selected and you don't want to see those summaries, then deselect it.
I have an Intel Mac, so I can't send any screenshots of Apple Intelligence options.
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On Mar 17, 2025, at 12:10?AM, Bob Stern via groups.io <bobbystern@...> wrote:
I Apple mail there is a window under the headers that I don't need since the headers show what I prefer and this window is redundant. ?I can't figure out how to remove that wasted space.
--
Bev in TX
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Thanks Randy but that didn’t work.
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Apple mail there is a window under the headers that I don't need since the headers show what I prefer and this window is redundant. I can't figure out how to remove that wasted space.
Try hitting:Command - Option - Shift - H
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It is Apple silicon. ?Shows chip is Apple M1.
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I don’t see the Apple intelligence.
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I don’t see Summarize Message Previews under Viewing. I may have ?seen it elsewhere last week but not today.
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thanks.
?
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Can you take a screenshot and in Preview add an arrow (or other indicator) pointing to the pane that you don't want to see?
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On Mar 20, 2025, at 1:20?PM, Bob Stern via groups.io <bobbystern@...> wrote:
It is Apple silicon. Shows chip is Apple M1.
I don’t see the Apple intelligence.
I don’t see Summarize Message Previews under Viewing. I may have seen it elsewhere last week but not toda
--
Bev in TX
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Here is the screenshot.
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i apologize, I don’t know how to make this smaller
?
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Please read this entire message before changing any settings.
The part that you don't want to see is the preview pane.??The preview pane is useful for seeing entire messages while quickly moving through the message list.??Alternatively, you can double click on messages to view them in a separate window.
It looks to me like you are using standard layout with bottom preview.??If so, you should see both "Show Column Layout" unchecked and "Show Side Preview" in the View menu.??If the preview pane is taking up too much vertical real estate, one alternative would be to switch to side preview. (View -> Show Side Preview).??OTOH, if you want to entirely get rid of the preview pane, then read on.
You can resize the message list and preview panes.??If you look closely, you will see a very fine line separating the two panes.??If you hover the cursor over that line, a different cursor will appear.??It has two vertical lines close together with a two headed vertical arrow in its middle.??On my Mac it's very sensitive, so you may need to try several times before you see it.??You can use that cursor to drag that line down (making the message list pane bigger) and up (making the preview pane bigger).??If you drag that cursor all the way to the bottom of the Mail window, then you make the preview pane go away. However, if you do so and later want to restore the preview pane then it may be very difficult to do so.??For that reason, it might be best to drag the cursor almost to the bottom, rather than all of the way.
If you do move it all of the way to the bottom, then the following is how to restore it at a later date.
Carefully move the mouse pointer along the bottom edge of the mail window. ?As you move the cursor it will change to a double ended arrow or a ?horizontal bar with a up facing arrow. ?When the horizontal bar+arrow appears, click and drag up. ?Your preview pane should reappear.??This can be very finicky.??Some folks find this impossible to do, and end up having to remove their mail preferences file to restore the preview pane.??Of course, deleting that file??also removes all other Mail configurations.??This is the reason I recommend not entirely closing the preview pane.
The same thing works when using side preview, except that the cursor is a vertical bar with a left facing arrow and the drag is from the right side.
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On Mar 20, 2025, at 1:53?PM, Bob Stern via groups.io <bobbystern@...> wrote:
Here is the screenshot.
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i apologize, I don’t know how to make this smaller
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Bev in TX
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I thought I was being careful, but apparently not careful enough!
It should read:
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On Mar 20, 2025, at 9:15?PM, Bev in TX via groups.io <countryone77@...> wrote:
Please read this entire message before changing any settings.
The part that you don't want to see is the preview pane.??The preview pane is useful for seeing entire messages while quickly moving through the message list.??Alternatively, you can double click on messages to view them in a separate window.
It looks to me like you are using standard layout with bottom preview.??If so, you should see both "Show Column Layout" unchecked and "Show Side Preview" in the View menu.??If the preview pane is taking up too much vertical real estate, one alternative would be to switch to side preview. (View -> Show Side Preview).??OTOH, if you want to entirely get rid of the preview pane, then read on.
You can resize the message list and preview panes.??If you look closely, you will see a very fine line separating the two panes.??If you hover the cursor over that line, a different cursor will appear.??It has two vertical lines close together with a two headed vertical arrow in its middle.??On my Mac it's very sensitive, so you may need to try several times before you see it.??You can use that cursor to drag that line down (making the message list pane bigger) and up (making the preview pane bigger).??If you drag that cursor all the way to the bottom of the Mail window, then you make the preview pane go away. However, if you do so and later want to restore the preview pane then it may be very difficult to do so.??For that reason, it might be best to drag the cursor almost to the bottom, rather than all of the way.
If you do move it all of the way to the bottom, then the following is how to restore it at a later date.
Carefully move the mouse pointer along the bottom edge of the mail window. ?As you move the cursor it will change to a double ended arrow or a ?horizontal bar with a up facing arrow. ?When the horizontal bar+arrow appears, click and drag up. ?Your preview pane should reappear.??This can be very finicky.??Some folks find this impossible to do, and end up having to remove their mail preferences file to restore the preview pane.??Of course, deleting that file??also removes all other Mail configurations.??This is the reason I recommend not entirely closing the preview pane.
The same thing works when using side preview, except that the cursor is a vertical bar with a left facing arrow and the drag is from the right side.
--
Bev in TX
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Sorry about that, one of my fickle fingers accidentally hit send too early.
Regarding the special cursor, it should have said:
It has two HORIZONTAL lines close together with a two headed vertical arrow in its middle.?
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On Mar 20, 2025, at 9:15?PM, Bev in TX via groups.io <countryone77@...> wrote:
Please read this entire message before changing any settings.
The part that you don't want to see is the preview pane.??The preview pane is useful for seeing entire messages while quickly moving through the message list.??Alternatively, you can double click on messages to view them in a separate window.
It looks to me like you are using standard layout with bottom preview.??If so, you should see both "Show Column Layout" unchecked and "Show Side Preview" in the View menu.??If the preview pane is taking up too much vertical real estate, one alternative would be to switch to side preview. (View -> Show Side Preview).??OTOH, if you want to entirely get rid of the preview pane, then read on.
You can resize the message list and preview panes.??If you look closely, you will see a very fine line separating the two panes.??If you hover the cursor over that line, a different cursor will appear.??It has two vertical lines close together with a two headed vertical arrow in its middle.??On my Mac it's very sensitive, so you may need to try several times before you see it.??You can use that cursor to drag that line down (making the message list pane bigger) and up (making the preview pane bigger).??If you drag that cursor all the way to the bottom of the Mail window, then you make the preview pane go away. However, if you do so and later want to restore the preview pane then it may be very difficult to do so.??For that reason, it might be best to drag the cursor almost to the bottom, rather than all of the way.
If you do move it all of the way to the bottom, then the following is how to restore it at a later date.
Carefully move the mouse pointer along the bottom edge of the mail window. ?As you move the cursor it will change to a double ended arrow or a ?horizontal bar with a up facing arrow. ?When the horizontal bar+arrow appears, click and drag up. ?Your preview pane should reappear.??This can be very finicky.??Some folks find this impossible to do, and end up having to remove their mail preferences file to restore the preview pane.??Of course, deleting that file??also removes all other Mail configurations.??This is the reason I recommend not entirely closing the preview pane.
The same thing works when using side preview, except that the cursor is a vertical bar with a left facing arrow and the drag is from the right side.
--
Bev in TX
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Thanks to everyone who offered advice and suggestions.
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please forgive my late response.
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Bev suggested settings to change but didn’t match the options on this MacBook. ?However they led me to change “ Show Bottom Preview” which when not active allows me to see a greater part of any email. So that is mostly resolved.
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prior to that I changed the screen resolution which also helped but makes portions of some items too small for these eyes.
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The bottom line is that I can continue to use this MacBook Air but I will probably buy a Different computer that has a larger screen.
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once again thanks.
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Bobby
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On Apr 8, 2025, at 15:13, Bob Stern via groups.io <bobbystern@...> wrote:
The bottom line is that I can continue to use this MacBook Air but I will probably buy a Different computer that has a larger screen. Consider a larger external screen with the MBA — jt - jt@...
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I agree with Julian. I used my old 15” MBP with a 22” external monitor. Since 2010.
Brent
On my iPhone Xr
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On Apr 8, 2025, at 14:49, Julian Thomas <jt@...> wrote:
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On Apr 8, 2025, at 15:13, Bob Stern via groups.io <bobbystern@...> wrote:
The bottom line is that I can continue to use this MacBook Air but I will probably buy a Different computer that has a larger screen. Consider a larger external screen with the MBA
—
jt - jt@...
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Julian and Brent. During most of my years of computer use your suggestion is what I have done.
My currents situation and needs are different. I don’t like my MacBook air that I inherited from my late wife. She bought it before retiring a few years ago and had it set up by her IT people at her school. She had a MacBook pro provided by the school district while still working. I never liked how that was set up but my wife was fine with it. I don’t like the keyboard, the display and how some of the apps are configured. They set up the fleet of computers for their convenience and made it difficult to personalize.
I also lack the space to accommodate a laptop and an additional monitor.
I am considering moving to a smaller home and may impact my computer placement concerns.
A new MacBook Pro seems to make the most sense but a much less expensive iMac is more emotionally attractive. As I sit here in my sun room/dining room I see no good place to put a large monitor or an iMac without impacting my view outside.
Thanks,
Bobby
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Julian Thomas On Apr 9, 2025, at 13:25, Bob Stern via groups.io <bobbystern@...> wrote:
A new MacBook Pro seems to make the most sense but a much less expensive iMac is more emotionally attractive If the MB Pro ‘makes sense’ a MB Air should also make sense. It has most of the function of the MBP but less CPU muscle.
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Bob Stern
Brent
Jim Saklad