The current MacBook Pro really is pretty sweet, and makes for a surprisingly great upgrade from the Air.

I won’t go through my entire history of Macs, but until recently, my computer was a MacBook Air, and the two before that were MacBook Pros. Back in the day I felt the need for Pros because I was using my laptop to do a lot of visual work (web design, photos), but as I started working at PechaKucha and my freelance writing days were mostly behind me, I felt that my computer needs could be answered by something that wasn’t as powerful – and something lighter was attractive as well.

Another thing I discovered was that Apple’s refurbished system is pretty great, and so that MacBook Air I purchased (the 2012 model) was refurbished, and I’ve been very happy with it.

But it was now time to get something new. 

My wife’s computer was my previous MacBook Pro, the one I used before getting my Air, and it was becoming unusable – too slow, unreliable, issues with the trackpad, not charging properly, etc. So the plan was that she would use my current Air – which is still fine, and she just needs it to do research/writing on – and I’d upgrade to something new. I had it in my mind that I would get another Air, since I’d been so happy with the model I had, but was surprised to see (in part because I don’t really follow Apple’s Mac releases liked I used to) that it looked like the Air was getting very little love these days, mostly because the regular MacBook and MacBook Pro have pretty much caught up to it in terms of size and weight, while trumping it with power and display (retina).

So I got a refurbished 2015 13″ MacBook Pro with retina display, and I love it.

At first I figured I’d be getting a MacBook – price is a huge issue – but when comparing everything, the MBP model I got felt like the best deal, with a slight extra kick that should mean it will last us longer.

I was warned that the best would be to wait until the summer as Apple will surely be offering upgrades to all its laptops (the current models all date back to early 2015), but I couldn’t wait that long, and in the end, with Apple, you’re always going to be lusting over the next model, no matter when you buy one.

a cold morning in baltimore :) went and grabbed a delicious frozen latte from my favorite local coffee shop, baltimore coffee & tea! todays coffee is the starry night latte, which has chocolate, toffee, and hazelnut syrup. happy studying!

another lovely day to study outside with my best study partner. today i’m drinking a grande iced blonde caffé latte with an extra espresso shot, hazelnut flavor, and whipped cream :)

nice cozy study day for the beginning of fall featuring my favorite study buddy and the season’s first cup of hot chocolate :)

made a little study tracker/schedule on notion using a kanban board template they have and i love it! so satisfying and organized. i have a genetics exam coming up in 2 weeks that i really want to get an A on so i’m studying hard :)

today, i made iced coffee with hershey’s chocolate caramel creamer!

started making my OWN coffee again so this is just a hazelnut iced coffee (still very yummy and didn’t cost $5)

studying microbio at my desk on a rainy day and feeling cozy

Всё больше люблю работу из дома, свободу и свой макбук :-)

На работе всё идёт хорошо, но, есть мысля о том, чтобы стать ещё более независимым. Правда, скорее всего не летом.

Осенью я очень хочу слетать с семьёй на море и ещё хорошо было бы в конце октября заскочить в Сургут на свадьбу к очень близкому другу. Правда, они уже 3 раза передвигали дату, так что, может, свадьба будет вообще весной :-)

Скетч, которым я нынче начал пользоваться вместо фотошопа, местами сильно меня расстраивает. Он периодами тупит, глючит и подвисает. Есть мысль вернуться в фотошоп. Но из-за преимуществ скетча я дам ему ещё несколько шансов :-) Нашел несколько статей, почитаю их, может они мне помогут.

Кстати, купил себе подписку на Креатив Клауд. Решил, что раз уж я пользуюсь фотошопом уже лет 8, то пора бы и честь знать. 

По рекомендации Саши Реушкина, другого дизайнера интерфейсов из тумблера и просто хорошего человека, а так же по собственному увлечению творчеством Влада Головача, начал читать книгу «Дизайн интерфейсов: искусство мыть слона». 

Прочитал где-то на половину. Книга хорошая и полезная, но понравилась не так сильно, как «Культура дизайна». Возможно, я просто уже знал всё, что там было написано, и, может быть, самая соль у неё в конце.

В любом случае, скоро напишу мелкие рецензии на обе книжки.

В общем, такие дела. Жизнь идёт своим чередом, местами даже кипит, а работа доставляет удовольствие. И я даже нахожу немного времени для того, чтобы поиграть в диабло 3:-)

Буду держать тебя в курсе, дневничок. 

The twat in me really wants the new MacBook in Space Grey because it looks so cute but the rational part of me is like don’t be an idiot and just get the Dell XPS 13 for the same price as it’s better.

Do I do that or just fix the fans on my 7 year old dying MacBook Pro and wait for the next 3 generations of the new MacBook when it has more than one USB port and can do what the Dell can do.

Or do I just get the MacBook Pro retina 13 inch for slightly more.

I don’t get excited about Apple products anymore but that Space Grey edition is oh MA gaaaaaad.