May 2023 Hardware/Software/MPU related Sales and Deals

Costco
Mac Studio - Apple M1 Max Chip - 512GB, 32GB of unified memory(2022)
$1,499.99 ($450 off)
$450 savings is valid 5/6/23 through 5/14/23. While supplies last. Limit 2 per member.
https://www.costco.com/new-mac-studio---apple-m1-max-chip---512gb.product.100948103.html

A quick search did not clarify for me what is wrong with this configuration. What is your objection?

Amazon (maybe US only?)
Apple 2023 Mac Mini Desktop Computer M2 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage, Gigabit Ethernet.
$1,199.00 ($100 off)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSHFS6XX/

(not intended as a reply to @karinyhus but I can’t seem to edit that)

Click the little arrow thing-y in the upper left corner next to the name when creating a reply. Then select Reply to Topic.

Screenshot 2023-05-06 at 7.49.48 PM

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Thank you for sharing this!

I have been using Discourse for years and never knew… :person_facepalming:

In my defense: on my iPad there is no visible arrow (an empty box instead)

image

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You’re very welcome. I only learned it recently a month or two ago from someone else here on the Mac Power Users forum!

There is a reply button at the bottom of the thread vs the reply button at the bottom of someone’s post. They both show up in Safari on my iPad.

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Costco
Mac Studio - Apple M1 Ultra Chip - 1TB, 64GB of unified memory (2022)
$3,199.99 ($600 off)
$600 savings is valid 5/6/23 through 5/14/23. While supplies last. Limit 2 per member.
https://www.costco.com/mac-studio---apple-m1-ultra-chip---1tb--(2022).product.100948078.html

:thinking: makes one wonder if something is up with the Mac Studio

No, lots of bought M1 MacBook Air machines and are still happy with them! :rofl:

Looks like a new MacStudio is on the horizon. That could be a reason for the price drops.

OR

Costco wants to clear off their inventory.

Like… how? Are you a professional video editor?

Costco
Mac mini – Apple M2 Pro Chip 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU – 16GB Memory – 512GB SSD – Silver
$1,099.99
$150 savings is valid 5/15/23 through 5/22/23. While supplies last. Limit 2 per member.

https://www.costco.com/mac-mini-–-apple-m2-pro-chip-10-core-cpu,-16-core-gpu-–-16gb-memory-–-512gb-ssd-–--silver.product.100943080.html

I was also baffled by @SpivR assertion but I understand his point is that the investment on those massive CPUs is only cost effective if your workloads are those associated with huge files like video/music/photo edition, and such (AI/ML, development work also come to mind). I’m not sure I agree with it, but the argument itself makes sense.

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Agreed! As a matter of fact, I’m currently running a 2018 15’’ MBP and besides the fan noise I generally do not feel it to be much slower than my work computer, an M1 Max, although it is. We are at a point were even older base devices are perfectly usable for most use cases.

It looks like Costco’s $1,499.99 Mac Studio (Apple M1 Max Chip/512GB/32GB of unified memory/2022) deal has been extended until 5/22/23.
“$450 savings is valid 5/18/23 through 5/22/23. While supplies last. Limit 2 per member.”
https://www.costco.com/new-mac-studio---apple-m1-max-chip---512gb.product.100948103.html

I think that price can be a feature.

A base Mac mini M2 Pro from Apple currently lists for $1,299 (Costco still has it for $1,099 until 5/22/23). Increasing the memory of that Mac mini M2 Pro to 32GB at the Apple store (not currently possible at Costco) adds another $400 bringing it to $1,699. Because of Apple’s memory pricing approach and lack of upgradeability, suddenly the Costco Mac Studio deal becomes more of a bargain . . .

I agree. I always purchased base model iMacs for our customer service and sales departments and by 2018 all their applications except email were running in a browser. (Most preferred Apple Mail at that time). I doubt if “regular” office workers will ever need more than an M1.

Best Buy
$100 Apple Gift Card (Email Delivery) [Digital]
“Free” Best Buy® - $10 Promotional Best Buy E-Gift Card
“Free” Apple TV+ for 3 months & Apple Music for up to 4 months & Apple News+ for up to 4 months (new or returning subscribers only)
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-gift-card-app-store-apple-music-itunes-iphone-ipad-airpods-accessories-and-more-email-delivery-digital/6421951.p?skuId=6421951

Best Buy
Samsung - T7 Shield 4TB External USB 3.2 Gen 2 Rugged SSD IP65 Water Resistant - Black
$219.99
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-t7-shield-4tb-external-usb-3-2-gen-2-rugged-ssd-ip65-water-resistant-black/6529365.p?skuId=6529365#anchor=productVariations
2TB on sale for $119.99 (black, blue, and beige)
1TB on sale for $89.99 (black, blue, and beige)

also on sale at Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Resistant-Photographers-MU-PE2T0S-AM/dp/B0BHZQGN26/

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I have the 2TB T7 Shield, and it’s excellent with my M1 MBP. It feels like an internal drive. I was going to get an M.2 SSD stick and Thunderbolt external enclosure for the high speeds they’re supposed to deliver, but a YouTube video convinced me they have no real-world speed advantage over the T7 when used with a Mac (at least for a photo or video workflow):

At these prices, I’d get the 4TB.

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For those who must have an even faster transfer speed . . .

Amazon
SanDisk 4TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD - Up to 2000MB/s - USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE81-4T00-G25
$299.99 (it looks like list price was $899.99 when it first became available in April 2021)

2TB on sale for $179.99

maybe there’s a connection with the earlier Costco Mac Studio deals?

Looks like the Costco Mac Studio deals are back again through 6/2/2023 while supplies last

$1,499.99 Mac Studio - Apple M1 Max Chip - 512GB (2022)

$3,199.99 Mac Studio - Apple M1 Ultra Chip - 1TB (2022)

and are joined by $150 off the Studio display

$1,349.99 Apple Studio Display - Standard Glass - Tilt-Adjustable Stand (2022)