[Trainer-Talk] MacBook Dilemma

Sun Jun 13 09:11:57 UTC 2021

Hello everyone. Thank you so very much for all of your replies, it means so much to me. I do like the suggestion from someone who said i could connect an external keyboard to it if i wanted to do functions with the function keys. That might work if i am at home and sitting at a desk, but on the run out of the home office, i won’t be able to do that. I know that the TouchBar does change its buttons depending on the app I’m using, but that is something I’d have to figure out on my own, or better yet, thankfully, macOS Big Sur brought with it the notifications center and the control center, so i can customize the control center with anything i need as though i had regular function keys. Also i did hear that M1 models unfortunately don’t allow for any windows usage, so I could still keep this MacBook i have and just use it as my windows computer, though i know it is unconventional. I know VMWare does not have as fast as a response rate as Boot Camp does, but that is something i can handle if i deem it necessary to have windows on the computer itself, and i don’t know that i would. Thank you all so much. There have been a lot of suggestions and that is all i could have asked for. I appreciate you all more than you know and you have made my decision so much easier. So again, thank you all so very much and i still welcome even more replies if anyone has anything else to add.

Sent from my iPad

> On Jun 12, 2021, at 2:35 PM, Nik Petersson via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Thanks for this, that is really good to know.  I just got a new MAC Air with an I7 processor last year and I am running a bootcamp partition, but I was starting to look at the new MAC Air setup and I just assumed that VM-Ware would work, shows you what happens what happens with assuming.  I will research this one.
> 
> Thanks, Nik.
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jun 12, 2021, at 1:44 PM, Maurice Mines <maurice.mines at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Unfortunately VMware is a no go on the M1 machines your only possibility is parallel. And from what I believe I understand it is not accessible to us. I hope this helps. Please excuse any errors that may be in this email this is because I’m using dictation software
>> 
>> maurice Mines  
>> Maurice mines.
>> Board member, National Federation of the blind deaf blind division.
>> Vice president National Federation a of the blind of California Bakersfield chapter.
>> Amateur radio call sign kd0iko.
>> Direct phone number,  661-459-6328. 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>>> On Jun 12, 2021, at 12:51 PM, Nik Petersson via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi there, if you want to run Windows on the M1 processor just use something like VM-Ware or one of the free virtual products
>>> 
>>> I am not hot on the touch bar and do love my MAC Air, but I have several client that use MAC book pro laptops and the touch bar works OK and you can always connect a external keyboard if you like. 
>>> 
>>> Thanks, Nik.
>>> .
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>>> On Jun 12, 2021, at 8:52 AM, Ned Granic via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hi,
>>>> 
>>>> Apple dumped Intel processors and switched to a beefed-up version of their own CPUs - based on the ARM architecture - that they put in their mobile devices.  Windows runs only on Intel processors.  That's why it's not possible to install Bootcamp on the new Mac models.  You might look for a model from 2019.
>>>> I don't like the Touch Bar either, but it still works.  Not sure how can the laptop be used without it.
>>>> Sounds unlikely it will break down any time soon; those are sturdy reliable machines.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> HTH!
>>>> 
>>>> Ned
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of JASON ALAMILLO via Trainer-Talk
>>>> Sent: Friday, June 11, 2021 12:51 PM
>>>> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
>>>> Cc: JASON ALAMILLO
>>>> Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] MacBook Dilemma
>>>> 
>>>> Hey Brad, thank you for your advice, I am not looking to have another Intel Mac because I want better thermal performance as well. For example, my mom bought a MacBook last year and it gets hot and the fans start going crazy as soon as you push it even a little. I am looking for an M1, but the Windows thing, being honest, I have this Mac which takes Boot Camp so I’m ok with having a computer without windows capabilities. Although I do think it’s a stupid thing Apple took that out but that’s just my consumer opinion. Now you said you do everything you need to that a TouchBar would normally do, but without even needing to use the TouchBar at all. How is that possible? How do you use TouchBar features without using the actual TouchBar? I am concerned that this Mac is going to break down in the middle of my semester but if I have a solution to the TouchBar, I might just get the M1.
>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jun 11, 2021, at 12:15 PM, Brad Snyder via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> The new MacBook Air with M1 processor does have regular F-keys, but you can not run Windows with BootCamp on M1 Macs.  The MacBook Air also has only 2 USB-C ports, which can be limiting in some  use cases.
>>>>> 
>>>>> The higher end MacBook Pro 13, and the MacBook Pro 16 with Intel processors are still available, and these machines have 4 USB-C ports and will run Windows with BootCamp if that is something you feel you need.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I have a 2019 MacBook Pro 13 with TouchBar, and find the TouchBar is a non-issue because I never need to use it.  I am able to do everything I need to do without interacting with the TouchBar.  Same is true for the absence of a physical Escape key, though that issue has been corrected beginning with the latest models of the 2 higher end macBook Pros.
>>>>> 
>>>>> If you need a more powerful Mac than the M1 MacBook Air or lower end MacBook Pro, then go ahead and get the higher end Intel MacBook Pros.  I don’t think you will have any problem using them.
>>>>> 
>>>>> - Brad -
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jun 11, 2021, at 12:59, JASON ALAMILLO via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hello all. As many of you know, there are a lot of us who have to deal with VR services all over the country on a daily or weekly basis. Mine in Nevada isn’t all that awesome or wonderful or helpful all the time, but recently they have told me that they would be willing to get me a MacBook if it is needed as I have expressed to them that it is. Only thing is I have a dilemma. I thought Apple would introduce a MacBook without a TouchBar and extra IO ports like an SD Card slot, MagSafe charging port, USBA and others. Unfortunately they didn’t. I do need a new MacBook. This one is just too slow when loading apps, editing videos and audio files, switching between windows, and especially now when doing meetings online, it sounds like a jet engine and it isn’t as effective as I need it to be. So I could go and ask them to get me one of the newer M1 MacBooks which would be absolutely amazing because of the immensely faster chip, boosted performance, and I would get it with tons more storage. But I do not like to use the TouchBar, which is what Apple replaced the row of function keys with. It freezes, it’s difficult to use with VoiceOver, and I’d rather use a row of function keys. I would have to deal with it should I ask for one of the current and newest M1 MacBook. I would also love to have the extra ports because it would make the computer more mobile and portable for me because I wouldn’t have to be carrying around a bunch of adapters just for all of the drives and such I need to use.
>>>>> Another concern is that the newer Macs don’t have windows compatibility. Does anyone know if that is true?
>>>>> I know I could wait until Apple does another event or drops MacBooks just without an event, but that could be until September or even later than that. I know that they may or may not bring back the TouchBar or IO ports, it’s Apple, we can only wonder. So I am not sure what to do and I thought I’d ask all of you even though most of us are windows users. What do you think I should do, I am quite confused and at the moment have no idea what to do. Thank you so much for your time and advice.
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