How old is your computer?

[old_gregg]

sounds like short on mobo. check standoffs

[Jeff Lebowski]

Wouldn't they have to set up some kind of replacement program? This is crazy.

[Uncle Ted]

How long until intel has chips with fixes out? My understanding is that this doesn't affect AMD chips. Only Intel x86 chips.

Feeling good about my decision to go AMD this time around.

Sorry... this vulnerability also applies to AMD and ARM CPUs:

https://security.googleblog.com/2018/01/todays-cpu-vulnerability-what-you-need.html

https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.com/2018/01/reading-privileged-memory-with-side.html

[beefytee]

Sorry... this vulnerability also applies to AMD and ARM CPUs:

https://security.googleblog.com/2018/01/todays-cpu-vulnerability-what-you-need.html

https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.c...with-side.html

Yep. The AMD Chiefs must have wanted to sell off today. They originally claimed they were not affected.

http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/amd-stock-price-is-gaining-as-intel-scrambles-to-fix-security-flaw-2018-1-1012439374

[falafel]

bah. that sucks.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Very much aware of my techno-ignorance, Mrs. PAC asked me to ask my betters on the board if her proposed computer fix makes sense. She uses a 2015 Mac (3.3 Ghz, Intel core), with 8 GB of memory w/available slots for 8 GB more. She uses Lightroom and Photoshop for photo editing. When using those programs, photos are slow to upload and save, and not infrequently she gets the spinning beach ball of death, losing whatever edits she has made. She has read that one can dramatically increase efficiency if she runs the operating system through an external hard drive. With that, and 8 more gigs of memory (all at a cost of less than $200), she believes/hopes that all will be well.

My reaction to problems such as this is to buy a new computer (back in our PC days starting in the late ‘80s, we’d buy a new computer every other year, with significant increases in computing power and storage). Thus, my default setting is to buy a new one.

Anyway, what do you recommend (buy or repair)? I’d just as soon save money, but if her proposal is too patchwork and not all that effective, I’m okay with buying a new Mac and further enriching the Apple shareholders here...

[Pelado]

I'm far from the board expert, but increased memory sounds like a good idea. So does getting a newer, more capable computer.

Just be careful that she doesn't expand her search too far for newer, more capable equipment.

[clackamascoug]

PAC - just buy the new one -with 1T SSD and 36 gig memory. If you buy one with those two specs - all the other components will fall into place.

Tell her she's worth it and save up for another in 5 years.

[Non Sequitur]

Very much aware of my techno-ignorance, Mrs. PAC asked me to ask my betters on the board if her proposed computer fix makes sense. She uses a 2015 Mac (3.3 Ghz, Intel core), with 8 GB of memory w/available slots for 8 GB more. She uses Lightroom and Photoshop for photo editing. When using those programs, photos are slow to upload and save, and not infrequently she gets the spinning beach ball of death, losing whatever edits she has made. She has read that one can dramatically increase efficiency if she runs the operating system through an external hard drive. With that, and 8 more gigs of memory (all at a cost of less than $200), she believes/hopes that all will be well.

My reaction to problems such as this is to buy a new computer (back in our PC days starting in the late ‘80s, we’d buy a new computer every other year, with significant increases in computing power and storage). Thus, my default setting is to buy a new one.

Anyway, what do you recommend (buy or repair)? I’d just as soon save money, but if her proposal is too patchwork and not all that effective, I’m okay with buying a new Mac and further enriching the Apple shareholders here...

One of the nice things about being north of 60 is that your future is somewhat diminished. What the hell are you saving for? Buy the damn computer already.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Very much aware of my techno-ignorance, Mrs. PAC asked me to ask my betters on the board if her proposed computer fix makes sense. She uses a 2015 Mac (3.3 Ghz, Intel core), with 8 GB of memory w/available slots for 8 GB more. She uses Lightroom and Photoshop for photo editing. When using those programs, photos are slow to upload and save, and not infrequently she gets the spinning beach ball of death, losing whatever edits she has made. She has read that one can dramatically increase efficiency if she runs the operating system through an external hard drive. With that, and 8 more gigs of memory (all at a cost of less than $200), she believes/hopes that all will be well.

My reaction to problems such as this is to buy a new computer (back in our PC days starting in the late ‘80s, we’d buy a new computer every other year, with significant increases in computing power and storage). Thus, my default setting is to buy a new one.

Anyway, what do you recommend (buy or repair)? I’d just as soon save money, but if her proposal is too patchwork and not all that effective, I’m okay with buying a new Mac and further enriching the Apple shareholders here...

IMHO, it would be crazy to throw money at a 7-yr-old computer. Get her a new M1 MacBook Air. They are fantastic (typing this from my MBA in JFK). Incredible battery life, runs cool/no fan, plenty of oomph, are super light, and they don't cost that much.

[Jeff Lebowski]

PAC - just buy the new one -with 1T SSD and 36 gig memory. If you buy one with those two specs - all the other components will fall into place.

Tell her she's worth it and save up for another in 5 years.

16GB is plenty. Don't waste your money on 36GB.

[Non Sequitur]

PAC - just buy the new one -with 1T SSD and 36 gig memory. If you buy one with those two specs - all the other components will fall into place.

Tell her she's worth it and save up for another in 5 years.

Good luck finding a model with 36GB RAM. I'm not sure they exist. Unless you're a hard-core developer, standing up local databases and web servers, you don't need anything more than 16GB.

And PAC, I'd advise the MacBook Pro instead of the Air, just for the larger display, especially since you're transitioning from a desktop. Plus, the Pro has a little more cachet, if you're into that sort of thing.

[clackamascoug]

Good luck finding a model with 36GB RAM. I'm not sure they exist. Unless you're a hard-core developer, standing up local databases and web servers, you don't need anything more than 16GB.

And PAC, I'd advise the MacBook Pro instead of the Air, just for the larger display, especially since you're transitioning from a desktop. Plus, the Pro has a little more cachet, if you're into that sort of thing.

I did make a mistake - I meant 32 gig - it was 1:22 am when I wrote that. It sounded like she did a lot of photo rendering work - which is a memory hog.

[Non Sequitur]

I did make a mistake - I meant 32 gig - it was 1:22 am when I wrote that. It sounded like she did a lot of photo rendering work - which is a memory hog.

I knew it was an honest mistake. I was just busting your balls. On another note, unless you're referring to Gig Young, don't ever say gig. Use GB.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Good luck finding a model with 36GB RAM. I'm not sure they exist. Unless you're a hard-core developer, standing up local databases and web servers, you don't need anything more than 16GB.

And PAC, I'd advise the MacBook Pro instead of the Air, just for the larger display, especially since you're transitioning from a desktop. Plus, the Pro has a little more cachet, if you're into that sort of thing.

Don’t listen to him, PAC. I have both.