Airpods Max - Initial Thoughts

I've been using the Airpods Max for a bit now.  There are some things I like about them.

My likes:

• I like that I've an Apple-sourced over-the-ear headset.  
• They sound and feel (on the head) better than the Beats Studio Pros I have.  
• They also switch to my other Apple gear (the Beats don't do that - that's a known thing; by design).  
• I can have the ear cushions replaced and they look like they'll wear better than the Studio Pro ear cushions.
• I love the design and color options (mine are Midnight).

What I don't like:

• They're heavy and sometimes are uncomfortable around the ears.  The nooks for the ears are a bit too small (and I don't have large ears)...my ears barely fit and sometimes, when I'm moving or lying down, my ears fold or mash inside the ear cups.
• They require lots of charging.  For some reason, they've been draining quicker (it seems) than before I updaed them -- this didn't happen until after I applied that patch that enabled lossless audio.  UPDATE (5/29/2025):  I disabled Find My for the Airpods Max, which helped immensely with power consumption.  Note that you should probably not do this if you're using them outside your home - if you lose them or someone steals them, you're not going to find them or be able to flag them as lost.
• I can't turn them on/off (would be nice to power them off since they appear to drain quickly).
• The noise cancelling doesn't work as well as in-ear sets - while that's to be expected, I also expected better noise caneelling than the Airpods Max has, especially since they cost so much.

I did purchase AppleCare+ for them, since they cost so much.  I'd rather have AppleCare+ and not need it than to not have it and need it later.

I'll be giving them a try at work tomorrow to see how well they work in my cubicle area.

UPDATE (4/25/2025):  I had an issue a few minutes ago where the Maxs didn't want to connect to my MBP.  I'd been using them downstairs (when using the Mini) a few hours ago.  No matter what I did, the headset wouldn't connect to the MBP.  I reset the headset and then attempted to connect to them from the MBP - unsuccessful.  I then did a factory reset of the headset and then attempted to connect them to the MBP - unsuccessful.  I then rebooted the MBP (shouldn't have had to do this) and then attempted to connect them to the MBP - success!  This was a super odd issue that I've never had with other BT headsets or buds.

UPDATE (5/11/2025):  I was messing with the headphones the other day and noticed that the ear cups are removeable!  This is nice, as I can remove them to clean them.  As well, I noticed that there was water in them (I sometimes fall asleep with them on my ears).  Apparently, the ear cups trap moisture.  I'm not sure if this will develop into a future problem with the water, but I do have Applecare+, so...

I've a New Macbook!

Today, I bought a new Macbook.

I wanted another portable Mac but didn't want an Air.  I also wanted something with a bit more horsepower than what I already had, as my Air is a base model.

I wanted more than just 8 GB of memory.  

I wanted more than just 256 GB of drive space.

I wanted a bigger screen than 13".

I wanted a system that offered a bit more longevity.

I wanted to be less compromising when it comes to hardware.

Here are the specs of the new notebook:

Make/Model:  MacBook Pro 14" (MRX43LL/A - Release Year 2023)

Chip:  M3 Pro

Memory:  18GB

GPU:  18-core

CPU:  12-core

Drive capacity:  1TB SSD

Color: Space Black

I've also gained ports/connections when compared to my MBA:  I now have MagSafe, an extra (3 todal) Thunderbolt port, an SD card slot, and an audio cable port.  The system also has fans, to keep temps down - the Air doesn't have fans.

The whole system certainly seems less fragile than my Air.

So, I wanted more than just 8 GB of RAM because the Air was always using a LOT of swap after all the memory was consumed.  I was always having to close apps to get the system to release memory.

I wanted more than just 256 GB of drive space because I was always struggling to perform OS updates with the Air.  The Air's drive space was always 75-80% consumed and I believe that SSDs require some extra drive space for TRIM management - if I was always at 80%, I'm sure that TRIM was close to being adversely affected.  I'd been using external drives as workspace, but that doesn't solve the 80% consumption of system drive space.  1 TB gives me a lot more elbow room and it also gives me serious trade-in power, as well.  Plus, I don't have to depend upon external drives.

Regarding display size, 14" is significantly better than 13".  On paper, it seems like a small difference, but it's practical and is a noticeable difference.

When I buy notebooks and PCs, I always compromise.  I didn't want to do that with this one.  Actually, I did compromise - I actually wanted a 16" MBP but that's immediately a $2000 system, and a base system, too.  To have the system I wanted in 16" variation would've put me at $2500+ and that amount assaults my sensibilities, so I had to compromise.  This system was $1800.  I've spent that amount in the past on a gaming laptop and that laptop was obsolete rather quickly.  I worry less about that with a MBP.  I can easily see myself using this MBP for 5-6 years.

I also bought a set of Airpods Max.  I have a set of Beats Studio Pros that haven't faired well.  They're rickety AF right now.  I've put a LOT of use on them, to the point that I am expecting them to fail soon.  I needed a good headset and I've historically not had good experiences with what I've chosen in the past.  I decided to splurge on the Max.  I actually hate the Beats Studio Pros...they're inferior to anything that is Apple-branded, as Apple purposesly neuters the Beats products so that they won't be competitive with the Apple brands.  They're designed mainly for users who want to use them with Android smartphones.

I'm excited to try this new gear, as I've some backlogged video editing that I need to catch up on.  I'll report my usage experience as I use the new equipment!

UPDATE (3/31/2025):  Uhmmm....this laptop has GREAT sound!  I thought my Macbook Air sounded great.  Apparently, MBPs have a six-speaker system.

UPDATE (4/6/2025):  I installed homebrew and then fastfetch.  Screenshot --

UPDATE (5/29/2025):  I've seen folks complaining about the dark-colored Macbooks for some time.  The mantra is either that the paint wears prematurely, that it scratches easily (which reveals the undercoat), or that it's a fingerprint magnet.  Why did I buy a Space Black MBP?  Because I wanted something different.  I've been playing it safe with my Apple products - all have been Space Gray, as I thought that most of my products should match and I also didn't want to be battling fingerprints.  As well, my equipment is pristine...the only products that have scratches are my smartphone and my Apple Watch (because I wear one and because the other is either in my hand or in my pocket).  So, have I had to battle fingerprints on the MBP?  Surprisingly, no, but then again, I wash my hands a lot and my hands aren't usually oily/greasy.