Metro UK has highlighted the late Bermudian actor Earl Cameron in an article titled “My friend Earl Cameron broke the British colour bar in TV and film.” The Metro UK story said, “On a beautiful summer’s day in August 2017, I felt excited and honoured to be among the family and friends celebrating the 100th […]

The Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo’s rehabilitation team have been busy attending to a large number of rescued turtles, with the turtles being released back into the wild as soon as they are in good health. The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, supported by Bermuda Zoological Society, posted the video online, saying, “The Bermuda Aquarium […]

The Bermuda Society of Arts [BSOA] will host its “Faces Called Flowers: Artists Talk” event with artists Keishunda Curtis and Andrea Ottley on Wednesday, September 11 from 5.00pm to 7.00pm on the top floor of City Hall. A spokesperson said, “Faces Called Flowers: Artists Talk with artists Keishunda Curtis and Andrea Ottley. Join the artists […]

The Black Pony Gallery is selling artwork in the temporary exhibition, Alternative Voices: A Perspective on Contemporary Art from the Azores, which is on display at the National Museum of Bermuda in Dockyard. The exhibition is in honour of the 175th anniversary of the first arrival of Portuguese Immigrants to Bermuda with a specific feature […]

Concacaf has embraced the new WhatsApp Channels service launched by Meta, engaging over 1.6 million fans and providing a private way for followers to access the latest updates and content related to football in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. A spokesperson said, “Concacaf has upped its digital engagement game with the governing body […]

[Updated with photos & video] The Ministry of National Security invites everyone to the Taylor Made Peace Concert & Family Funday, which will be held today [Nov 11] at Bernard Park. A spokesperson said, “Join us today, November 11th, from 11 AM to 6 PM at Bernard Park for a day of peace, music, and […]

Minister of Public Works Lt/Col David Burch responded to Craig Cannonier’s comments on the Bermudiana Beach Resort, saying he notes the “amnesia displayed by the Shadow Minister in his comments as he would have had conduct of this matter when he served as the Minister of Public Works under the OBA administration.” This follows after OBA MP […]

“The narrative surrounding school reform in Bermuda has long-since reached a boiling point, and now the strain being heavily imposed upon teachers in the Bermuda Public School System [BPSS] is manifestly unbearable, and entirely unacceptable,” the Bermuda Union of Teachers General Secretary Dante Cooper said. Mr Cooper said, “Recent actions have exposed the Department of […]

Supermassive Black Holes (SMBHs) can have billions of solar masses, and observational evidence suggests that all large galaxies have one at their centres. However, the JWST has revealed a foundational cosmic mystery. The powerful space telescope, with its ability to observe ancient galaxies in the first billion years after the Big Bang, has shown us …

Continue reading "How Did Supermassive Black Holes Get So Big, So Early? They Might Have Had a Head Start"

The post How Did Supermassive Black Holes Get So Big, So Early? They Might Have Had a Head Start appeared first on Universe Today.

Rarely does something get developed which is a real game changer in space exploration. One example is the Skylon reusable single-stage-to-orbit spaceplane. Powered by the hypersonic SABRE engine it operates like a jet engine at low altitude and more like a conventional rocket at high altitude. Sadly, ‘Reaction Engines’ the company that designs the engines …

Continue reading "Reaction Engines Goes Into Bankruptcy, Taking the Hypersonic SABRE Engine With it"

The post Reaction Engines Goes Into Bankruptcy, Taking the Hypersonic SABRE Engine With it appeared first on Universe Today.

Eventually, every stellar civilization will have to migrate to a different star. The habitable zone around all stars changes as they age. If long-lived technological civilizations are even plausible in our Universe, migration will be necessary, eventually. Could Extraterrestrial Intelligences (ETIs) use stars themselves as stellar engines in their migrations? In broad terms, a stellar …

Continue reading "A Spider Stellar Engine Could Move Binary Stars Halfway Across a Galaxy"

The post A Spider Stellar Engine Could Move Binary Stars Halfway Across a Galaxy appeared first on Universe Today.

The theory goes that black holes accrete material, often from nearby stars. However the theory also suggests there is a limit to how big a black hole can grow due to accretion and certainly shouldn’t be as large as they are seen to be in the early Universe. Black holes it seems, are fighting back …

Continue reading "Early Black Holes Fed 40x Faster than Should Be Possible"

The post Early Black Holes Fed 40x Faster than Should Be Possible appeared first on Universe Today.

In This Episode Erin and Weer’d discuss court cases involving: machine guns being ruled as bearable arms; California required to issue Non-Resident Carry permits; another challenge to the Maryland assault weapons ban. David brings us an interview with Jan Wolbrecht … Continue reading →

Weer’d, Weer’d, Weer’d. It’s all about Weer’d this episode. In This Episode Erin and Weer’d discuss: the new NRA Executive Vice President’s disturbing (cat) skeleton in his closet; Tim Walz going “hunting”, and the questions it raises about his knowledge … Continue reading →

Anadarko Petroleum, Chevron, Plains All American, Occidental Petroleum and Noble Energy have emerged as the top five "Best Places to Work" in the U.S. oil and gas industry.

Per the Star Trek On Paramount+ Twitter account, this week’s episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks will feature...

At its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, Apple announced updates coming to its various operating systems, most of which focus on its own version of AI, dubbed Apple Intelligence. MacBooks will get macOS 15, aka Sequoia, that will support Image Playground, Apple’s image generation tool, and AI composition features that can rewrite, proofread and summarize text in Mail, Notes, Pages and more. But the AI smarts will only be available to Apple laptops with an M1 chip or newer. So if you have an older model (pre-2020), or want the latest chips to get the most out of macOS 15, you might want a new MacBook. This guide will help you pick which one makes the most sense for you.

After testing every model Apple makes, we think the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip and 16GB of RAM is the best choice for most people. But there are definitely reasons to consider the cheaper M2 Air and the fully featured Pro laptops. We’ve broken down all the options to help you decide which is the best MacBook for you.

Factors to consider when buying a MacBook

Compared to PCs, Apple computers tend to have more streamlined specifications. The company has long been known for this simplicity, and the M-series “system-on-a-chip” condenses things even further. It started with the M1 chip, which has since been retired in all models. The M2 and M3 chips can be found in current-generation MacBooks, but the latest Apple silicon, the M4 chip, is only housed in the new iPad Pro. All M-series chips combine, among other technologies, the CPU, graphics card and unified memory (RAM). Apple’s Neural Engine is included too, which is a specialized group of processor cores that handles machine learning tasks such as image analysis and voice recognition. 

While a unified chip means you have fewer decisions to make when picking a MacBook, there are still a few factors to consider, including specs like the number of CPU cores, amount of RAM, storage capacity, screen size, and, obviously, price. The finish color may be a minor consideration, but it's worth pointing out that the Pro come in just two colors (Silver or Space Gray) but the Air adds two additional hues (Midnight and Starlight).

CPU cores

Currently the lowest-specced chip in a MacBook is the M2 in the 13-inch MacBook Air. It comes with an 8-core CPU and either an 8- or 10-core GPU. At the other end of the spectrum, the M3 Max chip is built with up to a 16-core CPU and a 40-core GPU. Cores are, in essence, smaller processing units that can handle different tasks simultaneously. Having more of them translates to the computer being able to run multiple programs and applications at once, while also smoothly processing demanding tasks like video editing and high-level gaming. In short, more cores allow for more advanced computing and better performance. But if your processing power needs fall below professional-level gaming and cinematic video and audio editing, getting the highest number of cores is likely overkill — and after all, more cores equals higher cost and more power usage.

RAM

Your options for RAM, or in Apple’s terminology, Unified memory, varies depending on the chip you choose. The M2 and M3 chips can be paired with 8, 16 or 24GB of RAM. The M3 Pro chip has 18 or 36GB memory options, while the most powerful M3 Max chip supports 48, 64 or a whopping 128GB of RAM.

You’ve likely heard the analogy comparing memory to the amount of workspace available on a literal desktop surface, whereas storage is the amount of drawers you have to store projects to work on later. The larger the worktop surface, the more projects you can work on at once. The bigger the drawers, the more you can save for later.

More RAM is ideal for people who plan to work in multiple apps at once. And the more demanding each program is, the more RAM will be required. Extra memory can also come in handy if you’re the type who likes to have infinite numbers of tabs open on your browser. If your daily workflow doesn’t involve simultaneously using a vast number of memory-intensive programs, you can save yourself money and buy the RAM configuration that you’re most likely to actually use.

For casual users, 8GB may be enough, however, if you can afford an upgrade to 16GB of RAM, we recommend going doing so, as modern browsers tend to be pretty memory-hungry. Investing in more RAM now will give your new MacBook a longer lifespan of reliable use. It’s also important to keep in mind that, unlike most PCs, the RAM in current-model MacBooks is not user-upgradable, so you’ll want to get what you plan on needing at the outset.

Storage capacity (SSD)

Storage options range from 256GB of SSD for the M2 MacBook Air and 8TB of storage for the MacBook Pros with the M3 Max chip. If you want to rotate between a long roster of game titles or keep lots of high-res videos on hand, you’ll want more storage. If you’re mostly working with browser- and cloud-based applications, you can get away with a smaller-capacity configuration. That said, we recommend springing for 512GB of storage or more, if it’s within your budget. You’ll quickly feel the limits of a 256GB machine as it ages since the operating system alone takes up a good portion of that space. Having 1TB will feel even roomier and allow for more data storage over the life of your laptop.

When Apple announced the iPhone 15, the company also announced new iCloud+ storage storage plans, with subscriptions that allow up to 12TB of storage. You could also transfer files to an external storage device. But if you don’t want to pay for a monthly subscription and prefer the convenience of having immediate access to your files, it’s best to get the highest amount of storage space your budget allows for at the outset.

Screen size

MacBooks come in 13-, 14-, 15- and 16-inch sizes. That might not seem like a huge difference, but, as Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham noted when he reviewed the now-retired 15-inch M2-powered MacBook Air, a larger screen "makes a surprising difference.” That’s especially true if you plan to use your laptop as an all-day productivity machine and won’t be using an external monitor. More space means you can more clearly view side-by-side windows and have a more immersive experience when watching shows or gaming.

But screen size is the main factor influencing weight. The 13-inch MacBook Air M2 weighs 2.7 pounds, whereas the top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro weighs 4.8 pounds. If you plan to travel a lot or swap your work locations regularly, a smaller screen will make life easier in the long run.

All MacBooks feature IPS LCD panels (in-plane switching, liquid crystal display), which Apple markets as Retina displays. The MacBook Air M1 has a Retina display. A Liquid Retina display comes with the M2 MacBook Air and the Liquid Retina XDR display comes with the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. “Liquid” refers to the way the lighted portion of the display “flows” within the contours of the screen, filling the rounded corners and curving around the camera notch. “XDR” is what Apple calls HDR (high dynamic range).

Compared to most other laptops, MacBook displays are notably bright, sharp and lush. But one feature worth pointing out is another Apple marketing term: ProMotion. It’s the company’s term to describe a screen with a higher, 120Hz refresh rate, which results in smoother scrolling and more fluid-looking graphics. Only the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros offer ProMotion; the other models max out at 60Hz, which is perfectly fine for everyday browsing and typical workdays. But if you want buttery-smooth motion from your display, you’ll have to shell out more money for an upgrade.

Price

When the MacBook Air M3 came out, Apple dropped the price of the base-model, 13-inch, M2-powered Air with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. With a $999 starting price, it’s now the least expensive new MacBook you can get. Alternatively, you can spend up to $7,199 for the 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 Max with 128GB of RAM and 8TB of storage. Chip type, screen size, memory and storage capacity all influence the final price, which is why guides like this can help you determine just what you need (and what you don’t) so you can get the most cost-effective machine for you.

We recommend the MacBook Air M3 for most people, the MacBook Air M2 for students and those on a budget, and the 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pros for professionals. If you have extra money to spare once you’ve picked your machine, we recommend upgrading to at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage to make your machine as future-proof as possible.

Best MacBooks 

MacBook FAQs

What's the difference between MacBook Air and Pro?

The MacBook Air comes with a standard M3 or M2 chip. MacBook Pro models have the option of more powerful M3 Pro or M3 Max chips. The Pro has a higher resolution screen with a higher peak brightness that supports XDR (extreme dynamic range). The battery life on most Pro models is longer than on the Air models. Pro models also have more ports and more speakers. In short, the MacBook Air is aimed at everyday users looking for good productivity and entertainment capabilities, while Pro models are aimed at professionals who need a high-performance computer.

What's the difference between macOS and Windows?

MacOS is the operating system developed by Apple and used in all of its desktop and laptop computers. It can only be found in hardware made by Apple including MacBooks and iMacs. Microsoft’s Windows operating system can be found in the company’s own Surface laptops as well as computers made by a wide array of manufacturers, like Acer, Asus, Dell and Razer.

The Coast Guard handled two separate jet ski accidents late last month, including a collision with a boat and a collision between two jet skis. A Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre [BMOC] spokesperson said, “On Monday 26th August at 6:30pm, Bermuda Radio was advised by Fire Dispatch that an ambulance had been requested as a jet […]

[Updated] There is no access to Bermuda College this morning [Oct 9] the police have confirmed. A police spokesperson said, “Please be advised there is currently no access to Bermuda College due to an industrial accident on the compound. There have been no reported injuries at this time. Police and Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service are […]

Members of the public stepped up to help a 44-year-old man who was “seen unresponsive in the water” at Elbow Beach. A police spokesperson said, “Around 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2024, police received several reports of a swimmer in distress on the public side of Elbow Beach. “Officers were informed that the swimmer, a […]

[Opinion column written by OBA Senate Leader Ben Smith] If you repeat a lie enough times some people will start to believe it’s the truth. The PLP did a great job of repeating to everyone that the America’s Cup was bad for Bermuda. They continue to repeat this lie every time they feel the pressure […]

The Jamie Madison Collection is marking its sixth year, with the public invited to “shape the future of the collection” by voting for a preferred jacket style. Founder Jaime Ramsay said, “As we reflect on the past six incredible years, the Jamie Madison Collection team is overwhelmed with gratitude for the unwavering support from our […]

[Written by Stephen Wright] Sancho Jackson has reflected on his “inspiring experience” strutting down the catwalk at the recent New York Fashion Week Festival. The 22-year-old was selected to participate in The Model Experience, a coveted programme that offers aspiring models the chance to walk the runway, collaborate with brands and designers, share the stage […]

Sancho Jackson has completed his second modelling assignment after walking the runway at the Fig Buffalo Cut and Sewn show at Seneca One Tower in Buffalo, New York, last weekend. Mr Jackson, who lives in Birmingham, England, was invited to model at the event by Austin Guyett, the designer behind By A Guy, whom the […]

TBi has ”acquired the business and certain assets” of WoW, with TBi saying they “have an exciting vision to take the company to new heights.” A spokesperson said, “TeleBermuda International Limited [TBi] today announced that it acquired the business and certain assets of World on Wireless Limited [WoW], acting by its Joint Provisional Liquidators [JPLs], Michael […]

Bermuda-based Coralisle Group [CG] has acquired a 100% interest in Massy United Insurance Ltd. of Barbados [United]. A spokesperson said, “United now operates within the Coralisle Group as CG United Insurance Ltd. [CG United]. The acquisition significantly expands CG’s presence across the Caribbean, adding 14 new markets where CG United operates. “These include Anguilla, Antigua & […]

Apex Group Ltd. announced it has acquired the technology platform and conference business of Context365, “an established global provider of technology and events that connects alternative asset class investors with high quality asset managers.” A spokesperson said, “Context365 connects LPs and GPs through its software as a service [SaaS] digital networking and research platform, further […]

Monument Re announced today that its Isle of Man subsidiary Monument International Life Assurance Company Limited [MILAC] has completed the acquisition of the closed book portfolio of Zurich International Life Limited’s [ZILL] Singapore long term life insurance business. A spokesperson said, “The ZILL Singapore branch portfolio and employees have transferred into the Singapore branch of […]

Seadrill Limited and Aquadrill LLC announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Seadrill will acquire Aquadrill in an all-stock transaction. A spokesperson said, “Upon completion of the transaction Seadrill shareholders and Aquadrill unitholders will own 62% and 38%, respectively, of the outstanding common shares in the Company. The transaction values […]

Apex Group announced the planned acquisition of Bank of America Custodial Services [Ireland] Limited, the Irish depositary business of Bank of America. A spokesperson said, “Apex Group Ltd. [Apex], a global financial services provider, announces today the planned acquisition of Bank of America Custodial Services [Ireland] Limited [BACSIL], the Irish depositary business of Bank of […]

Essent Group Ltd. announced that it has entered into an agreement through its subsidiary Essent US Holdings, Inc. to acquire Agents National Title Holding Company and Boston National Holdings LLC from Incenter LLC, a subsidiary of Finance of America Companies Inc. for $100 million. A spokesperson said, “Agents National Title, based in Missouri, is a […]

International General Insurance Holdings Ltd. [IGI] announced the completion of the acquisition of Norway-based managing general agency Energy Insurance Oslo AS [EIO]. A spokesperson said, “The transaction included the acquisition of all outstanding shares of EIO. The entity, which is expected to be renamed IGI Nordic AS [IGI Nordic], is a subsidiary of Bermuda-based International […]

Apex Group Ltd., a global financial services provider, announced the planned acquisition of Efficient Group Ltd. A spokesperson said, “Efficient is the holding company of Boutique Collective Investments [RF] [Pty] Ltd [BCI] and Boutique Investment Partners [Pty] Ltd [BIP] and following the completion of the acquisition, Efficient Group [Pty] Ltd will be rebranded under the […]

Clarien Bank Limited has signed an agreement to acquire Omnium Trust Company Limited [Omnium Trust] and Omnium Corporate Services Limited [Omnium Corporate Services], a boutique practice offering quality trust and corporate administration services. A spokesperson said, “The terms of the acquisition, which strengthens Clarien’s aspiration to be Best Wealth Manager in Bermuda, are private and […]

Arch Insurance announced it has acquired Thimble, a leading insurtech platform for small business customers and agents. A spokesperson said, “Thimble enables small businesses to quickly get insurance coverage by the job, month or year using its award-winning app, website, or over the phone. “The acquisition expands Arch’s suite of digital solutions for small business […]

Renaissancere Holdings  announced it has “entered into a definitive agreement with American International Group, Inc., whereby RenaissanceRe will acquire AIG’s treaty reinsurance business, which includes Validus Reinsurance Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries, AlphaCat Managers Ltd. and its managed funds, and all renewal rights to the Assumed Reinsurance Treaty Unit of Talbot.” A spokesperson said, “AIG […]

Monument Re announced today that its Belgian subsidiary Monument Assurance Belgium has completed the acquisition of a run-off block of retail life policies, annuities and associated assets from Federale Verzekering [Federale]. Koen Depaemelaere, CEO of Monument Assurance Belgium stated that “We are pleased to have completed this transaction with Federale as it represents a positive […]

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced that its captive and alternative risk transfer solutions subsidiary, Artex, has acquired Bermuda-based Frontier Financial Services Limited. A spokesperson said, “Frontier is a management firm specializing in consulting, recruitment, business services and immigration services to reinsurance and insurance-linked securities clients in Bermuda. Peter Brodsky, Derek Winch and their team […]

Nascent Group Ltd. announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Bermuda Compliance Consultants Ltd, and the acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023. A spokesperson said, “Founded and headquartered in Bermuda, Bermuda Compliance Consultants Ltd. [BCCL] provides compliance advisory services to the insurance and the fund markets. Alison Morrison, […]

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. has completed its acquisition of Validus Re, the treaty reinsurance business of American International Group, Inc. A spokesperson said, “RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. today announced that it has concluded its acquisition of Validus Re, the treaty reinsurance business of American International Group, Inc which includes Validus Reinsurance Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries, AlphaCat […]

The Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers [ABIR] said they “welcomed the news that RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. has successfully closed its acquisition of Validus Re and its subsidiaries from American International Group [AIG].” A spokesperson said, “ABIR member RenaissanceRe becomes the fifth-largest property and casualty reinsurer in the world after the acquisition of Validus, which […]

Fleming Insurance Holdings, a provider of capital solutions to P&C insurers globally, has entered into an agreement to acquire JRG Reinsurance Company Ltd. from James River Group Holdings, Ltd. A spokesperson said, “This is a transformational transaction contributing to Fleming’s growth plan with the addition of complementary infrastructure, a strong balance sheet and capital base, […]

Arch U.S. MI Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arch Capital Group Ltd., has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire RMIC Companies, Inc. [RMIC] and its subsidiaries that together comprise the run-off mortgage insurance business of Old Republic International Corporation. A spokesperson said, “Once the transaction is closed, RMIC’s $1 billion risk in force […]

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. today announced the completion of Brookfield Reinsurance’s acquisition of Argo in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion. A spokesperson said, “Under the terms of the transaction, Brookfield Reinsurance acquired all issued and outstanding common shares of Argo at a price of $30 per share. Argo’s common shares have ceased […]

BroadRiver Asset Management announced that it has “completed the acquisition of the US & Bermuda businesses [“Lombard US/BDA”] of Lombard International Group.” Andrew Plevin, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BroadRiver, said: “This transaction is an outstanding opportunity for BroadRiver and its investors and an additional step in BroadRiver’s strategic expansion into the insurance sector. We look […]

Carrick Group Limited, a Bermuda-based international non-life legacy insurance business providing reinsurance and run-off solutions, announced that it has been acquired by Northlight QIAIF plc, an Irish regulated company managed by London-based investment manager Northlight Group LLP from Zimmer Financial Services Group.” “Northlight is thrilled to acquire a run-off insurance platform with a strong team […]

Apex Group announced an “exciting” start to 2024, having completed the acquisition of Retransform from The Annet Group. A spokesperson said, “Leading international financial services business Apex Group today announces an exciting start to 2024 after closing its acquisition of Retransform from The Annet Group. “Retransform is a global real estate provider offering Proptech, Technology […]

Compre, the Bermuda-domiciled international legacy group, today announces the acquisition of two portfolios of European casualty and motor liabilities from separate undisclosed international insurance groups. A spokesperson said, “All necessary approvals have been granted by Bermudian and European regulators, allowing Compre’s class 3B Bermudian reinsurer Pallas Reinsurance Company Ltd. to reinsure approximately €200m of reserves […]

RiverStone International has completed the acquisition of Catalina Insurance Ireland, an Irish insurance company regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. The transaction received regulatory approval in January and closed on 2 February 2024. Catalina Insurance Ireland has total reserves of approximately US$350 million emanating mainly from a German med-mal portfolio and a UK and […]

Arch Insurance North America, part of Arch Capital Group Ltd, has entered into a master transaction agreement to acquire the U.S. MidCorp and Entertainment insurance businesses, including select specialty insurance programs, from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE [AGCS] for a $450 million cash consideration to Allianz. A spokesperson said, “Arch estimates its capital requirement […]