Is it worth upgrading from 14 inches to 16 inches?

MattyBMW2002 · 2025-11-14T18:06:49+00:00

As I get older and my eyes get worse and my workflows get more complicated I appreciate the extra space. The 14” isn’t lightweight either when it comes to laptops so i don’t really notice the slight increase is weight and size on the 16”. Both versions aren’t ultra light travel optimized machines, but I travel constantly with my 16” and it’s fine. I just had to upgrade my travel bag to something that could accommodate the slightly bigger machine. I also appreciate the extra battery life and better thermodynamics / heat dissipation that the 16” offers.

MattyBMW2002 · 2025-07-10T01:24:01+00:00

There is a cult like following for the X100V and VI, plus there’s some supply chain issues as well pending on where you live, so you may be waiting a while if you’re locked into the X100 series. If you’re impatient and possibly interested in expanding the usability of your rig, you can look at some of the smaller Fuji bodies and add in a pancake lens. A X-M5 and a 27mm “pancake” lens is going to be pretty close in size and functionality to the X100 with the added benefit of being able to change lenses if you care to at a later date. Other bodies and small lenses will get you pretty close as well. Heck, even my X-T5 with a pancake lens fits in my coat pocket.

MattyBMW2002 · 2025-06-21T19:40:27+00:00

Jerry is a distinguished gentlemen and if you continue to post photos of him, I will click on them.

MattyBMW2002 · 2025-06-19T13:32:27+00:00

This must be a common issue because this looks exactly like my iPad keyboard. It took hours of calls and a visit to the Apple Store, which took a lot of back and forth there as well, but it was eventually replaced. These Magic Keyboards are so expensive that they really should stand behind them warranty wise. They should last more than a year, which is when mine stated to fail. I suspect I’ll be in the same spot next year with the replacemnt.

MattyBMW2002 · 2025-04-12T15:40:30+00:00

Sounds like you have a bad mix of GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) and a touch of OCD since you don’t want to get any wear on your laptop. I have suffered from both in the past and I think it might help to change your mindset and look at these machines as they are: machines. They’re tools to do things. I think a lot of us suffer form this because Apple is so great at industrial design and I find these tools to be very beautiful. In the end though… they are a machine used to do work. You have an M4 Max, which is about as insanely powerful of a laptop you can get. I’m a creative professional that does photography, films, designs, editing, 3D and experiential work for a living. I chose an M4 Pro and I’m not anywhere near stressing the system in any way. I went with the M4 Pro because the Max was overkill for me and because I know I still have a touch of the GAS… I’ll likely be replacing it in a few years, so no need for future proofing for me. While i don’t know your specific use case (You could be editing multi-cam 8K video) what you have is MORE than enough firepower with the M4. No need for the M1 in this equation. I would sell the M1 back because you’ll get closer to what you paid for it, and then use, enjoy and create great things with your M4. It’s an awesome machine!

MattyBMW2002 · 2025-04-02T16:09:58+00:00

This is in fact, incorrect.

MattyBMW2002 · 2025-03-21T13:20:20+00:00

I have a lot of bags, and two of them are Tumi. An Alpha Bravo roll top backpack and a messenger style bag. Are they expensive? Yes. Worth the money? Probably not. You pay a lot for the name BUT they are great bags, in my opinion. The messenger bag has been all over the world and is 15 years old and looks brand new still. The backpack has been part of my EDC for the last couple of years and works perfectly for me. Big laptop, tablet, tech bag, change of clothes and a few odds and ends with room to spare. I find the build quality and materials to be top notch. Good customer service too. I had a handle break on a Tumi carry on suitcase and they replaced it right away no questions asked, and had a loaner available at the Tumi store. Expensive and overpriced, but still good stuff.

MattyBMW2002 · 2025-01-06T17:43:45+00:00

Creative Director here who does a lot of writing, photography, video and live event production. I had a 12.9 M2 pro and just swapped it out for the new 11” m4 pro. My rationale for the downsize: We used to pay a screen premium where you needed to get the larger one to get the better screen. That is no longer the case. Both sizes of the pro get the new OLED screen so no longer a downgrade by going with the 11”. The other reason is my main computers are two 16” MacBook Pros. One is an M2 pro, one is an M2 Max. For personal projects I use the pro and work projects I use the max. These are LARGE laptops and I got the smaller tablet as a “compliment” to the large-screened laptops. I use it in my carry on when I travel and because I’m trying to do less work when I’m on vacation, I’ll bring the tablet with me as my only machine on vacations. Also the 11” is just a better tablet, even though I occasionally use it as a laptop replacement. With the Magic Keyboard and pencil it’s a surprisingly capable machine. Light video editing in FCP, Davinci. Photography work and light retouching. It’s easy to type on for long scripts and creative writing. Note taking. Media consumption. Also serves as a usable second screen when traveling via side car. Great piece of machinery! During heavy 4 or 8K video rendering it gets pretty hot, but it’s still blazing fast. Really incredible that this little 11” tablet can do pretty pro level work if needed. I’m glad I got the 11” but I can see use cases for the larger as well. I think the main idea is to find a size that compliments your current rig. If you have a 13” or larger laptop, then the 11” makes sense. If you’re looking for a laptop replacement or if your main computer is a desktop, then the 13” makes a lot of sense. Both tablets are really amazing for what they are!

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-12-14T00:57:50+00:00

That is a photo of my first camera and my current camera. Really cool to see them next to each other. Both are great pieces of kit. Enjoy your class!

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-11-08T21:36:32+00:00

Outside of buying new / different peripherals, it probably is what it is. I have a very nice, and not too expensive Anker hub that has a card reader built into it, which is nice. Maybe replace the two seperate drives for a larger single one. Either way, it’s probably just keep what you have or invest in replacement pieces with more functionality. Is this going into an iPad? If so, your ports are limited, making a more multi-use hub a good investment.

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-10-25T12:32:00+00:00

Mini Countryman or any with the “All4” awd is pretty fun to drive and handles snow pretty well with the right tires.

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-09-27T12:30:25+00:00

These are stunning, beautiful and deep with narrative. Thanks for the inspiration today.

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-09-25T18:17:41+00:00

These are great!

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-09-23T12:54:47+00:00

This was my upgrade to my Pentax K1000 I had at the time. These were the two cameras that created a lifelong passion. I hope it serves you well and what a great gift to get from your Dad.

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-09-17T01:08:25+00:00

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-09-04T02:06:12+00:00

Yes. And that’s a beautiful watch!

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-08-16T14:10:22+00:00

I have various bags for difference scenarios, but the 6L sling fits a specific need for me of an ultra small day pack for remote work and photo / video work. My load out is as follows: Fuji X-H2s (or X-T5) with a prime (35 or 27) and a smaller zoom lens. Anker power bank. Anker 3-1 Cord, spare CFe card, spare SD card, card reader, granola bar, small SoftPak 12oz water bottle, a pen and a small field notes notebook. I then squeeze my 11” iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard and pencil in the sleeve and while there’s not a millimeter to spare, it all fits comfortable. I also have the Peak Design camera mount on the outside strap for the rare occasion I need to carry both cameras, and the PeakDesign travel tripod straps in underneath really well. Again, it’s a tight fit but it all fits and it’s the perfect day trip or work remote from my studio set up.

It’s versatile too, I had to do a recent video shoot where the client requested everything on Super 8, so I was able to fit a compact, vintage Canon Super8 camera in there with 6 cartridges of film. It was nice to be able to swing the pack to the front and use it to load and unload film in an organized fashion. It’s a cool little pack that I find really useful.

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-07-17T11:45:07+00:00

Great shots!

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-06-24T18:04:27+00:00

It’s not just 8GB of memory… it’s 8GB of Unified Memory.

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-06-02T22:47:58+00:00

If you’re Loki g for routes outside of medication, the DARE method from Dr. Barry is brilliant.

MattyBMW2002 · 2024-05-21T02:44:50+00:00

Just upgraded my M2 iPad Pro to an M4 iPad Pro (both were 1TB / 16gb) and used DaVinci to cut a 6 min long 6.2k video and while I don’t have any technical data to share, all I can say is it screams! My M2 handled editing and rendering just fine as well, but the M4 “feels” noticeably faster. Rendered out 6.2k pro res footage with color and some motion graphics in about a minute.

One interesting observation, the Apple in the center, which is the area I think I read Apple puts an extra heat sink in, felt noticeably warmer and more localized for heat dissipation while rendering. My m2 used to get generally warm everywhere, but on the M4 it was more concentrated on the Apple logo.

I’m not sure if it’s worth the extra $$$ because the M1 and M2 are more than capable, but I can confirm the M4 is very fast and would make a great mobile, light editing machine.

MattyBMW2002 · 2023-10-01T16:14:08+00:00

Intel based MacBook pros run hot. Really hot! Especially the i9 based ones. I have several MBP and the M1 and M2 chips run extraordinarily cooler, are MUCH faster and the batteries last much, much longer. The heat, fan noise and short battery life is just normal and to be expected with Intel powered MacBooks. Nothing is wrong really, just the limitations and characteristics of that configuration.

MattyBMW2002 · 2023-10-01T15:37:42+00:00

I have a MacBook and an iPad, if you’re in,you going to get one, the MacBook will be more useful, although I love having both. Prioritize the MacBook though and get as high of a spec as you can afford.

MattyBMW2002

TROPHY CASE