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Mac Studio - page 3

Slammin’ Mac Studio is just the start of this rig’s massive upgrades [Setups]

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M2 Max Mac Studio setup with two 4K displays
This user went from a 2012 Mac mini to an M2 Max Mac Studio plus a MacBook Air.
Photo: [email protected]

A big upgrade to a computer setup is a major boost to any user. And today’s featured rig, though it may look unassuming, got a doozy of a makeover. A Mac mini dating all the way back to 2012 finally retired after a long career. And a powerful new M2 Max Mac Studio took over, with a late-model MacBook Air riding shotgun.

But that’s not all. Read more about other bonuses in the rejuvenated setup besides the laptop, and check out the full gear list below.

Tricked-out Mac Studio pairs well with curved OLED display [Setups]

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This nicely composed frame shows the M2 Mac Studio as a plant stand.
This nicely composed frame shows the M2 Mac Studio as a plant stand.
Photo: [email protected]

If you want to see a good example of high-end Mac computing, look no further than today’s elegant featured setup. Its powerful M2 Mac Studio desktop computer works alongside a PC gaming rig as they drive a curved OLED display for maximum contrast.

Throw in a rarely seen mechanical keyboard and a standing desk with a big Grovemade desk shelf, and we’re in business.

Mac Studio hides under Studio Display-laden desk [Setups]

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Where's the Mac Studio to go with those Studio Displays? Under the desk.
Where's the Mac Studio to go with those Studio Displays? Under the desk.
Photo: [email protected]

On Friday we mentioned dual-Studio Display setups seem relatively rare, but now we can hardly glance at social media without seeing one, or even several.

Today’s featured Mac Studio setup fits the bill with two Studio Display perched on 3D-printed stands. You can’t see the computer in the photo above. That’s because it’s mounted under the standing desk.

Big-time gamer’s rig doubles as dream shopping list [Setups]

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This Mac Studio and Studio Display setup is a gamer's paradise, with six gaming systems.
This Mac Studio and Studio Display setup is a gamer's paradise, with six gaming systems.
Photo: [email protected]

If you’re an avid gamer or you’re shopping for one, you could do worse than to check out today’s featured Mac Studio and Studio Display setup.

The user gets seriously greedy with a peripherals lineup that others might want to emulate, including six gaming systems, four keyboards, four mice and a stellar sound system.

Mac Studio makes most of new super-ultra-wide display [Setups]

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Lights, camera, action! This Mac Studio rig is ready for videoconferencing and more.
Lights, camera, action! This Mac Studio rig is ready for videoconferencing and more.
Photo: [email protected]

Version:
Some computer setups are bare-bones but functional, others are swanky as all-get-out. Leaning toward the latter, today’s setup rocks a powerful M2 Ultra Mac Studio desktop computer driving a new, 49-inch Samsung G9 super-ultra-wide display. If you’re looking for a mac mini monitor, check out this impressive Samsung ultra-wide monitor setup.

But that’s not all the finery the solid standing desk supports. Festooned with key lights, it’s also a great videoconferencing station, with a premium webcam, a mounted USB microphone and killer speakers.

Best monitors for your Mac in 2023

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The Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, iMac 24″ and 16″ MacBook Pro.
From left to right: The 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 24-inch iMac, the Studio Display and Pro Display XDR.
Photo: Apple

What’s the best monitor for your Mac? Desktop displays aren’t just for desktop computers anymore — 77% of you are buying MacBooks, but you probably want a nice setup when you’re at home. And if you do have a Mac mini or Mac Studio, you want to make sure you’re picking the right display.

Apple introduced its own Studio Display last year, which has been well-received and is reasonably priced (at least compared to Apple’s other offering). But what does the broader market for midrange displays look like?

Here’s a display buying guide to help you find an appropriate monitor to go with your Mac.

When it’s time to swap MacBook Pro for Mac Studio [Setups]

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When you work in 3D, you need a lot of computing power. And four screens, apparently.
When you work in 3D, you need a lot of computing power. And four screens, apparently.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured setup sports a powerful M2 Ultra Mac Studio desktop computer and four screens, three of them with sparkling 4K resolution. But until recently it was an M2 Max MacBook Pro setup upgraded from an M1 MacBook Pro.

Why the switch to Mac Studio? Hey, sometimes you just need a more badass computer. Especially when you work in 3D rendering and you rarely take the laptop off its dock anyway.

Learn to tame cable clutter with Basic Apple Guy [Setups]

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See any cables here? We didn't think so.
See any cables here? We didn't think so.
Photo: Basic Apple Guy

Today’s featured computer setup comes from Mac maven and designer Basic Apple Guy. We know him from the free wallpapers he offers for download. Who knew he was such a cable-management Jedi?

We came across his powerful setup with nary an unsightly cable while writing about his new “Flow” wallpaper — which was actually inspired by his fight with cable clutter.

Mac Studio drives wild 4-monitor formation with Bat-Signal [Setups]

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The Bat-Signal is displayed on a giant screen atop three other monitors in a Batman-themed computer setup.
Gotta love the Bat-Signal.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured Mac Studio setup found an interesting way to arrange its four displays — three little ones in a row and one huge one broadcasting the Bat-Signal on top.

With Batman undoubtedly on his way (OK, maybe it’s just the logo, not the actual signal), the workstation also boasts a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Apple’s Smart Folio and a remarkably affordable mechanical keyboard for use with the desktop machine.

Is Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad too heavy? [Setups]

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A big Samsung smart TV dominates this Mac Studio rig.
A big Samsung smart TV dominates this Mac Studio rig.
Photo: [email protected]

We look at a lot of computer setups on social media, but sometimes what drives conversation among commenters surprises us. With today’s Mac Studio rig with an odd couple of mismatched displays, the main debate concerned … keyboards for iPad.

Specifically, when an iPad is so wonderfully light, what keyboard case doesn’t weight it down too much?

Powerful Mac Studio rig brings the symmetry [Setups]

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An M1 Ultra Mac Studio drives this setup.
An M1 Ultra Mac Studio drives this setup.
Photo: [email protected]

Computer-setup gawkers on social media love their symmetry. It’s really just human nature to prefer those clean lines and even spacing — you know, stopping short of full-blown obsessive compulsive disorder and blowing a gasket if one little cable appears out of place.

Today’s M1 Ultra Mac Studio workstation brings not only powerhouse computing, but a few tricks of the trade when it comes to creating that pleasing symmetry. And it packs an interesting device we don’t see very often.

Can using a huge smart TV as a display harm you? [Setups]

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That 55-inch OLED smart TV may be far enough away because the desk is 40 inches deep and the user said he tends to lean back a bit.
That 55-inch OLED smart TV may be far enough away because the desk is 40 inches deep and the user said he tends to lean back a bit.
Photo: [email protected]

Increasingly, gamers and other users replace traditional computer monitors with large smart TVs or ultra-wide monitors that eclipse screens like Apple’s 27-inch Studio Display and 32-inch Pro Display XDR in size. Today’s featured M2 Max Studio Display setup sports a 55-inch Samsung 8K OLED smart TV, for example.

Everybody loves plenty of screen real estate, but ergonomically speaking, is it healthy? Today’s setup represents the debate, offering pros and cons.

Designer calls in M2 Ultra Mac Studio to handle CG renders [Setups]

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That M1 Max Mac Studio is about to get replaced for not quite handling renders.
That M1 Max Mac Studio is about to get replaced for not quite handling renders.
Photo: [email protected]

It seemed only yesterday M1 Max Mac Studio showed up as the new powerhouse in town, ready to take on all tasks. But in today’s featured setup, it’s on the chopping block for failing to handle heavy-duty rendering work for animated films well enough. The designer running the setup eagerly awaits an M2 Ultra Mac Studio.

Meanwhile, he uses Universal Control to pair his powerful desktop with an M1 iMac for basic tasks and relies on massive amounts of external storage for his humongous files.

Did Apple accidentally make Mac Pro unnecessary?

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2023 Mac Pro with Apple M2 Ultra
2023 Mac Pro with Apple M2 Ultra
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s latest Macs are powerful and versatile. So much so that some people wonder if anybody will want the top-of-the-line Mac Pro desktop, even with its new M2 Ultra chip.

A new report found an audience for the top desktop lacking, given the capabilities of Mac Studio and MacBook Pro. But others suggest Mac Pro is here to stay.

‘After dreaming of Al Gore’s setup for 15 years, finally I got this’ [Setups]

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Al Gore was using Cinema Displays, but you get the idea. See Gore in the photo below.
Al Gore was using Cinema Displays, but you get the idea. See Gore in the photo below.
Photo: [email protected]

What do you get when you combine a high-end Mac Studio with three Studio Displays? You get a killer workstation. And in the case of today’s featured computer setup, you get a comparison to Al Gore, noted climate evangelist, former U.S. vice president and senator, and total Apple guy in more ways than one.

The user playfully implied he based his setup on Gore’s triple-Cinema Display workstation of yesteryear.

MacBooks make up a whopping 77% of Mac sales

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2023 MacBook Pro.
Most of the Macs that consumers buy look like this.
Photo: Apple

If you own a Mac, it’s almost certainly a MacBook rather than a desktop. New data from a market research firm shows that Apple’s notebooks made up the lion’s share of macOS sales over the last year.

Of desktop models, the all-in-one iMac is the most popular. On the other hand, the cheapest Mac is among the lowest-selling, according to the analysts.

New Macs’ benchmarks blow us away [The CultCast]

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The Mac Studio specs make us swoon (and question the Mac Pro's raison d'être. We talk new Macs on our Apple podcast, The CultCast (episode 599).
The Mac Studio specs make us swoon (and question the Mac Pro's raison d'être).
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The M2 Ultra chip gives the new Mac Studio and Mac Pro incredible powers, the first benchmarks show. And the new 15-inch MacBook Air doesn’t look too shabby, either. In fact, it seems like the ultimate Mac laptop for most people.

Also on The CultCast:

  • We’ve got a great travel charger from Ugreen in this week’s giveaway.
  • Erfon uncorks an update on the untimely death(?) and possible rebirth of his beloved original HomePod.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Mac Studio vs. Mac Pro: Which is right for you?

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Mac Studio vs. Mac Pro: Which is right for you?
There are fewer differences between Mac Pro and Mac Studio than you might think.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The 2023 Mac Pro starts at $7,000, while a similarly configured 2023 Mac Studio is $4,000. The potential savings has people questioning whether they really need the Pro to get the job done.

Let’s compare these professional-grade desktops to see how they stack up. You might be surprised at how similar they are, given how very different the two designs are. If you’re considering the latest Mac Pro, check out this detailed comparison of Mac Studio vs. Mac Pro.

New Mac Pro, Mac Studio and 15-inch MacBook preorders start arriving

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2023 MacBook Air, Mac Studio and Mac Pro
Apple's most powerful Macs are now on sale.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s 2023 Mac Studio, Mac Pro and 15-inch MacBook Air are now reaching customers. Announced at WWDC23 last week, the new Macs went up for preorder soon after.

Customers who placed their orders early have already started receiving Apple’s latest Macs. If you didn’t place your order already, you can currently grab one with a $50 discount!

2023 Mac Studio review roundup: Eye-watering power

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2023 Mac Studio
What makes the 2023 Mac Studio a standout professional desktop doesn’t show from the outside.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s professional-grade Mac Studio desktop has been updated with either an Apple M2 Max or M2 Ultra processor. The new chips give a welcome increase in performance, and the top-tier model now supports 8K monitors.

Read on to discover what the first reviewers have to say about the powerfully upgraded Mac.

Mac Studio pairs well with LG ultra-wide 5K display [Setups]

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This Mac Studio user couldn't be much happier with his LG 5K2K curved ultra-wide display.
This Mac Studio user couldn't be much happier with his LG 5K2K curved ultra-wide display.
Photo: [email protected]

In the battle over who offers the best 5K display, Apple doesn’t always win, even with Mac users. And it’s usually because of price.

Today’s featured Mac Studio setup relies on a 40-inch LG 5K2K curved ultra-wide monitor — picked over a pair of Studio Displays that would cost twice as much — and the user more-or-less said they they couldn’t be happier.

It’s not too late to order 15-inch MacBook Air for launch day pickup [Updated]

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MacBook Air 15 inch from Apple WWDC23
The 15-inch MacBook Air is the largest consumer-oriented notebook Apple has ever offered.
Photo: Apple

The first 15-inch MacBook Air was a highlight of WWDC23, but it was a bit overshadowed by other announcements. Perhaps that’s why Apple still has units ready to be preordered for pickup on launch day, June 13.

The same is true for the upgraded Mac Studio with M2 Pro or M2 Ultra processors. And the first Mac Pro with Apple silicon is also sold out on launch day.

M2 Ultra Mac Pro proves twice as fast as Intel Mac Pro — at half the price

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Apple M2 Ultra processor from WWDC23
Apple's M2 Ultra powers the 2023 Mac Studio and Mac Pro.
Photo: Apple

Benchmark scores of Apple’s M2 Ultra indicate the new chip runs up to 20% faster than its predecessor, the M1 Ultra. And the comparison between the latest chip and the Intel processor in the 2019 Mac Pro proves even more dramatic.

You can configure the 2023 Mac Studio, which Apple unveiled during the WWDC23 keynote, with the M2 Ultra. And this bruiser of a chip is the only option you get when buying the new 2023 Mac Pro.

Apple Vision Pro first impressions: Fab or fatally flawed? [The CultCast]

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Apple Vision Pro on The CultCast podcast: The technology sound amazing!
The technology behind Apple Vision Pro looks amazing!
Image: Cult of Mac
WWDC23

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The first impressions of Apple’s just-unveiled Vision Pro headset leave us mind = blown. Still, no matter how vivid the VR is … or how flawless the visionOS user interface is … or how “natural” the headset looks to be … can anything justify its $3,499 price tag?

Also on The CultCast:

  • The load of new Macs showcased at WWDC23 left us surprised — and just a little perplexed. Who exactly is the Mac Pro for?
  • The iPhone’s voice recognition receives marginal improvements in the first iOS 17 beta, and that gives us hope for the future.
  • Marquee features aside, iOS 17 brings a ton of tiny, thoughtful improvements.
  • The tally is in for last week’s WWDC23 predictions. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!)