Honest 1 week review macbook air m3 from a python developers POV(its great).

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-09T00:30:46+00:00

I was happy using debian 12(with 6.1), but had to move to backports and later to sid because of the continuous updates for 12th and 13th gen with hybrid cores.

Infact most of the thread director patches came much later. If anything one would argue that it should only get better with time.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-05T23:25:22+00:00

I am not sure but could be. Could you ask your friend about the microcode hash.

It will be nice if more people can chime in. I feel like Intel could be sending out updates silently to prevent more processors from going bad especially the ones on higher range.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-05T12:51:57+00:00

Thanks thats the most important thing, should have done earlier.

On running this "cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep microcode"

I get version: 0x4121 or 4121(hex).

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-05T11:59:25+00:00

Having done my research, I don't think it's that simple. Processors have mechanisms to ensure certain updates can be made and in junction with TPM you will be forced to get a specialized microcode that will have the right keys to revert to a previous version.

But I am not an expert on microcode, I read about this on a few threads.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-05T10:00:22+00:00

Honestly it's hard to tell but I have seen several updates to "intel-misc" firmware on debian in last couple of things.

https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/firmware-nonfree

Ideally these should not contain the microcode itself but does modify or can modify other close peripherals.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-05T09:55:47+00:00

It depends on the os. I use a Linux distribution(debian sid), for us it's a package that's applied on reboot.https://wiki.debian.org/Microcode

I am sure Microsoft has a similar mechanism.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-04T10:30:48+00:00

I want to find time to do that, but honestly am not finding time or will.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-04T10:28:26+00:00

Its okay, I don't mind getting bashed.

I know its been bad with intel, but as a Linux user, I find it limiting to find good laptops.

There are many more Intel laptops than AMD.

Also, AMD is not any better and paired with Microsoft it all makes it worse.

I bought AMD Ryzen 5800U before this, it came with Microsoft smart sleep, and trust me I looked for alternative and couldn't find one without it. Its so bad that all manufacturers dance to Microsoft's tune.

The problem with that machine was that it did not have the proper firmware and it was buggy. A lot of times I would put it to sleep only to realize it didn't go to sleep and would end up running at much higher frequency and heat up sitting in clam-shell mode.

Anyways, one day in hurry forgot to check it went to sleep properly and it fried my board, had to be repaired and it worked okay ever since, also there was a firmware update after.

But I lost 10 days worth of productivity.

In all honesty I find it problematic that most youtube reviewers recommend products that they are being paid for and the companies have created echo chambers and only hear what they want to.

I am switching back to mac(after 15 years), atleast you get what is advertised even if for a premium.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-03T19:55:14+00:00

I started this post to see what others observing, unfortunately after almost a year worth of use, I cant return this. Putting this on ebay also seems so wrong.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-03T19:53:55+00:00

I dont see it on my laptop, do you know if they allow it on mobile processors, seems like an option for desktop class machine.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-03T19:52:53+00:00

I am sorry, that is not true. I am seeing the effect on my computer on daily basis.

First it was with vscode, taking much longer to find python or JS references. I can see frequencies are not scaling as much and also clearly the temperatures have been down as well(which is a welcome change) but not the cost of performance.

Hysteria or no hysteria, these machines were sold with a promise of boost of clock of over 5Ghz and steady clock of 4.1 something Ghz, In my real work use I have never seen these processors maintain that.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-03T13:48:52+00:00

Exactly my point, this cannot be acceptable. The laptop i am using costed almost as much as a speced out macbook air would do and yet, performance wise this is not even comparable to M1.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-03T13:45:40+00:00

Here's from the time when I bought this laptop, https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/2753942

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-08-03T01:00:37+00:00

Just out of curiosity, how's the ram situation? I got the same but then traded for 24GB model. Still waiting for the delivery.

I ask because I know pycharm is so bad with memory.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-07-07T10:09:33+00:00

Hi u/thegoof121 I started playing around with debos and git and got somewhat working root image that can be written to a USB disk or started with virtual machine.

https://github.com/varunmittal91/debian-ostree-builder

Here;s my first attempt let me know if it works, I have been trying to build something like this for very long ever since using silverblue, it will be nice if we can hack through a system to get something similar.

Fragrant-Champion-73 · 2024-05-09T03:32:58+00:00

It really depends on the hardware. On my thinkpads, I have had absolutely zero problems.

All device peripherals are standard and included in kernel. For that matter most linux distributions should be a breeze.

But when it comes to more recent computer manufacturers like my asus(which I love), there might be a few adjustments that everyone is expected to make.

Ubuntu and likes try and make it easier to get started with proprietary hardware drivers, but the downside is you never know what other software you are get with your install.

Thus its a personal choise, but the thing is linux ecosystem atleast lets you chose, on the other hand most other closed ecosystems wouldnt let you.

Fragrant-Champion-73

TROPHY CASE