The Beanster Blog

The first hub I purchased a coopidea USB-C to 4 port USB-A hub was interfering with WiFi. I was experiencing dropped wireless in both macOS and Windows 10. I also experienced the HDD's ejecting unexpectedly. I hope the Satechi Hubs I ordered are of better quality than the coopidea. So I went and returned the annoying hub and decided to get an Apple made dongle. They are more expensive by default, also local APRs (Apple Premium Resellers) are not participating with Apple's USB-C Promotion . And it's just one USB-A port. They also don't have the single USB-C to USB-A one. So I had to purchase the more expensive Multi-port AV adapter. I've tested the USB-A, and USB-C pass-thru but have yet to test the HDMI port. these are ugly AF!!! Curiously I needed to install some software which required a restart  I decided to buy a Belkin USB-C to USB-B micro (the fat version for USB3.0 HDDs) I may get another one of these if they are reliable. cable seems stu...

Yesterday I brought both MacBook Pros to Ynzal and had them appraised. They will give 18,000.00 for the MD101 and 35,000.00 for the MC975 respectively, that's 53,000.00 off the next laptop I will get from them. I am kinda dreading the dongle life so much so that I asked if they still had the 2015 MacBook Pro with Discreet Graphics. Alas, no such luck. As per Ynzal, the distributor is projecting to have the MLH42PP/A in stock by 3rd week of January (estimate only!). It's the stock config of the 15inch 2016 MacBook Pro w/ TouchBar, as much as I would want to spec out the machine the cost is just too much as it is. So I will go with the stock config, which is a significant upgrade from my circa 2012 MacBook Pro. I guess the next step would be to reformat the MD101. I'll use this guide

Dong~~~!!! Each time I boot / re-boot my MacBook Pro I hear the garbled chime because of my busted speakers. I re-boot multiple times a day because I use Windows on Bootcamp. I am really tempted to trade-in this 2012 Retina MacBook Pro 15inch and up & downgrade (basically compromise) to a 2015 Retina MacBook Pro 13inch. I've ruled out the MacBook Air 13inch as I really love the Retina display on my current system and can't see myself going back. Why not the 2016 MacBook Pro 15inch? Well I've pretty much convinced myself that USB-C might need a few more years before it's mainstream. And the cost, oh the cost. For the spec I want it's going to be 2x as much as the 2015 rMBP 13inch I'm eyeing. I do believe that my computer usage has changed quite a bit since 2012. I really haven't been playing that much games on my computer anyway. No change:  Retina display  8Gb RAM  USB-A x 2  SDXC  HDMI  MagSafe 2 Pros:  Smaller & Light...

I have been toying with the idea of purchasing 2015 Retina MacBook Pro to replace my Mid-2012. I get to keep USB-A, HDMI, SDXC, and MagSafe. I'm not sure if this is the correct path to go but I haven't come to terms with the dongle fiasco that is the 2016 MacBook Pro. I really want TouchID tho, but it's not putting me over the edge. The only thing I am sure about is 256Gb is not enough. For my use case, which means dual booting into Windows. I think 512Gb should be minimum, especially since modern Mac components can no longer be upgraded. Another thing I am considering is going with a 2015 MacBook Air 13in. While this will be a downgrade in the screen and horsepower department. It will be a boost in the up time department and the weight will be less. Alas, this would also mean no more games for me. Which makes me a bit sad. I could treat the MBA as an interim notebook while everyone gets used to USB-C. Or I could stick it out with my Mid-2012 and it's busted spe...

Should users be forced to live in "Dongle Hell" while Apple forces everyone to evolve & adapt into the USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 era? Why did we have to lose MagSafe, USB, HDMI, SDXC, all at the same time? Why is the system RAM limited to 16Gb? Why is the GPU not NVIDIA? Why can't you plug your 2016 iPhone 7 or 7+ to a 2016 MacBook Pro without purchasing a USB-C to lightning cable or USB-C to USB dongle. BTW your 2016 Lightning EarPods  also won't work with the best laptop ever. Why do we need to use dongles? Would it be less painful if the 2016 MBP had two USB-C and two USB? Apple Inc., is anorexic. The obsession w/ thinner & lighter is unhealthy. Making EVERYTHING thinner & lighter means sacrifices. Sacrifices that users must pay high prices and endure until such time that what ever they think is best, becomes the norm. For the first time since the iPhone 3GS, I am thinking of not updating because they got rid of the 3.5mm jack which I use daily. I switc...