WaveHunter

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

I got 30k in fine first time I was stopped in custom for bringing 10 Ampoules. So started to bring 3 at the time after that with prescription one every 10 days to clear the rules with only one month supply.

 

I do 17 to 21 days on 250mg, but after I started Subq, I only need 75mg every 12 day. Even at that dose Im on the higher end of testo and hemoglobin.

 

 

Fined coming into the Kingdom with only 10 amps?  That sucks; that's only half a box.  I guess that was your customs agent's way of asking you to contribute to his retirement account.

Your dosage sounds pretty low for test-E but if it works, good for you. 

I started out sub-Q since I was pretty squeamish about needles but switched to IM (in the butt)  because I didn't like the long-lasting bumps that subQ left under the skin of my abs since it felt and and looked kind of weird.

There's a whole debate about efficacy of subQ vs IM, but with our  history, it's best we not go there ????

How long have you been on TRT?.  For me, 7 years now, though for the last six weeks I stopped, just to see how I'd feel without it and see what happened with my blood panels.  Curiously, all seems the same, so I'm still wondering what that's all about.

For anyone who has also wondered why you should spend rediculous amounts of money for Apple branded cables, I saw a really good YouTube video where the differences were explored between expensive Apple branded thunderbolt cables and generic ones listed on AliExpress at about 10% of the cost.

He ran benchmarks on both cables and guess what?  No significant difference at all. 

He actually chose the cheapest, negatively rated cable he could find on ALiExpress to compare with the Apple cable! 

Here is the video link:  

My takeaway...buy them on Lazada or AliExpress!  Apple makes great devices but they are such a rip-off when it comes to accessories.

I need some UBS-3 to USB adapters.  I was going to buy the Apple one at 680 THB:

These are the two I decided to buy off of Lazada at only around 120 THB each.  They are UGreen brand which has a really good reputation for quality, and they actually look to be better quality than Apple:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i2441394667-s8459679925.html?urlFlag=true&mp=1&spm=spm%3Da2o4m.order_details.item_title.1

and this one:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i2553635981-s9083745795.html?urlFlag=true&mp=1&spm=spm%3Da2o4m.order_details.item_title.1

10 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I have sent pics, batch numbers and date to the producers who is willing to confirm it is their batch or not. I have not got any fake rotexmedica or Bayer yet. I useally buy stock for a year or more, if not extend travelling. I also get from Bangkok Hospital with documentation if travelling abroad. 

 

UGL I stay away from. 

 

From now on I will get for free from Norway next time I go home. Took me 3 months to achieve making all the tests and paperwork to benefit blue prescription.

Same here, Bayer or RotexMedica only, but both are highly counterfeited in Thailand so I buy in person from pharmacists I know I can trust to only source genuine products.  I have no way of telling the difference between fake and genuine because, for. all intents and purposes the fakes are dead ringers for the real thing, even down to batch numbering and scratch-off authenticity stickers

I never buy from hospitals since the price markup is almost always outrageous.  For travel my doctor provides the documentation though it's never been asked for by Customs.

So I guess we both take this seriously.  My post was only intended to dissuade others from buying pharmaceuticals online from unknown sources, particularly injectables.  That just seems like a recipe for disaster IMHO.

I need some feedback on what gamers are looking for in premium-quality mouse pads.  I am not a gamer.  I am a professional photo retoucher and for years I searched for the "perfect" mousepad for retouching.  Though I use a tablet for some retouching, a precision mouse is preferred like when working on a pixel by pixel level.

The problem is that a precision mouse is only as good as the surface it slides over.  Many of the premium mouse pads, even ones priced over 3,000 THB may be outstanding when brand new, but they quickly degrade in how they glide within a month or two if used all day long. 

I've tried all of the premium brands like Artisans from Japan, Razer, SteelSeries.  I've tried cloth, aluminum, composite, glass, you name it, and they all had serious flaws in terms of durability and glide characteristics...So, I designed my own, and it is and has remained perfect now for over one year!

I only intended it for my own use but it is so perfect, I'm looking into the possibility of manufacturing them, and the most likely market seems to be serious gamers that are into the Low-DPI type games that require ultra fast but highly controllable movements, just like what I require for retouching.

What I don't know is exactly what they consider to be ideal in terms of static vs dynamic friction, the optimal size of the mousepad, what is a reasonable price point for purchase, etc.

What I've produced has BOTH low static friction for fast glides from a resting state, but high enough dynamic (kinetic) friction so it remains controllable and has precise stopping ability. 

Because the surface is perfectly smooth (no texture at all) and is a hard aluminum pad that has been manufactured in a way to be almost as hard as diamond, the surface never wears, can not be scratched under regular use, and that means that glide characteristics remain exactly the same over time.  That equates to allowing excellent muscle memory, which means I get work done far faster than I ever did before.  For gamers, it would mean vastly improved aiming success I think.

Anyway, I just would like an opportunity to chat with seasoned gamers to learn what they look for in using mouses and pads.  I would love to hear from anyone who takes gaming seriously enough that they have strong opinions about mouses and mouse pads.

51 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Im sure he is on a cycle for building mass, and know UGL very well and the risk. As well several forums where you can check the different producers and others experiences. 
 

There is a few gyms so Im sure he will easily find what he needs there. Last time I was there I went in to a random pharmacy to get Andriol Testo caps because I extended my travel, and pharma grade was not to be found anywhere. They did not have the original 40mg gel caps, just the Thai copy ones, but they showed me their menu of UGL products. Nothing I want to use, but I guess if thats what he want, he probably know the risks. 
 

Just to add, they had most products, and if not in stock, they will manage to provide it in minutes. 
 

10 ml 200- 300mg/ml was 1750 baht ++++  if I can remember right. Enenthate, Sustanon, etc

The problem with most underground labs with very few exceptions is that there is no verifiable way to know what their production standards are, what raw materials are used, or whether they are produced under sterile conditions.  They could, and offer are just made in someone's bathtub LOL!  That's especially true here in Thailand.

There are a few UG labs that are highly recognized for producing top quality drugs like AlphaPharma and ZPHC  and have a well deserved reputation for being on par with the highest grade pharmaceutical companies like Bayer or RetroMedica, but just like those big Pharma leaders, they can AND ARE often counterfeited. 

The only way to know you are buying the real thing is to buy in-person from a pharmacist who is well known for carrying only legitimate products.

I am not a bodybuilder or Myaithai fighter and only use Test for TRT but these guys know which pharmacies they can trust for carrying authentic and high quality pharmaceuticals so I follow their lead on where to buy genuine Test, and almost without exception they buy from brick and mortar pharmacies, in person, and never off of a website from an unknown seller.

In Bangkok, there are three pharmacies that have long had a reputation for serving the bodybuilding and Myaithai community, and in Pattaya there is one.  Of course, there are other pharmacies that sell Test but you really need to discover whether they have a track record for selling legitimate products.

It's almost impossible, even in-person to tell the difference between a counterfeit and the genuine product, so you have to rely on the integrity of the pharmacist you are buying from.

In Thailand, scams are almost routine and authorities are very lax about controlling it so it's important to take precautions about what you inject into your body.  Buying online or from an unvetted pharmacy is like playing russian-roulette with your health.  That's all I'm saying. ????

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

That's the skytrain. I never bothered with the skytrain from Phaya Thai, given how close it was to MBK. I'd just get a taxi to the door at MBK.

Thanks!  I'm sure I'm making this seem more difficult than it is.  I just like to be prepared.  Kind of overkill I suppose since I'll gave Google Maps to guide me LOL!

If it were me I would not want to lose the 2nd molar from the back.  The Wisdom tooth, no worries, but the second from back I would prefer to save it for both cosmetic and functional reasons. I guess losing the 2nd molar back  is not critical, cosmetically or functionally, but I think it would be noticeable.

Prices for crown here in Thailand are so inexpensive compared to Western dentists that I would go for the crown. 

The only time I might opt for an extraction of a back molar is if it required a root canal.  I had one of those once and it was not only a horrible experience but then the root canal got infected afterwards and has to be redone!

Crowns are not painful enough for NO2, but I guess it would be kind of fun ????.   I just had a local anesthetic injection into the gums, which makes me kind of squeamish at the thought of a needle going deep into my gums but the actual pain is only for a second and then you have that weird feeling as your mouth goes numb which is kind of fun in a perverse way. 

It is a two step procedure but I wouldn't really call the steps "operations". 

In my case there was no decay or infection so it was just a matter of grinding the remaining tooth to create a proper mating surface for the crown.  Molds were made of the remaining tooth and a temporary crown was fitted.  The procedure was fairly quick. It could not have taken more than an hour to do at most.

Then I came back a few days later once the permanent crown had been made in a lab, and it was fitted in not more than 20-30 minutes.  So really not a big deal at all, and it has lasted for well over 20 years with no problems at all.

Just be sure the work is done by a really good dentist.  I found my dentist here in Thailand simply by using Google Maps (reviews).  The really good dentists just jump right off the page with dozens of positive reviews, so it's pretty easy to find a good dentist that way.

10 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Seriously? Go back to page one and read what you have constantly repeated and advocated. Again accusing others for being lazy and not objective? It all falls back on your responses who have not provided anything else than false claims. 
 

From one extreme to another you base your opinions on, and please read back how many times you mention Omad and how much you advocate for it. 
 

This is just pure bull pie and trolling and you know it. 

 

 

I am so done with trying to have an intelligent conversation about nutrition in this thread when certain people only want to entertain themselves with troll-like comments. 

What a <deleted>' waste of time this is!  This particular thread was so positive in the beginning but has now devolved to nothing more than bizarre entertainment for unhappy and bitter expats who have nothing better to do with their lives then to cowardly pick fights under the anonymity afforded by an online forum.

So, I'm done with this BS.  Find someone else to play this silly and unproductive game with!

3 hours ago, Hummin said:

If you read my replies, and answered my questions instead of claiming you rely on science we still wait for you to provide instead of degrading us. The latest comment “Anyway it was nice debating with you even if we didn't really communicate in a meaningful way” is really not necessary when you avoiding every common sense question asked, and hiding behind your science we still havent seen.

 

My critic is based on common sense, previous scientific researches based on Omad, where they find long term Omad is not healthy neither sustainable out of many reasons and should not be promoted as healthy and sustainable. 
 

Im totally fine with you describing your system, and you are happy with your lifestyle diet as long you feel good about it, but it is not for everybody. 
 

I already feel the effect as expected but physically and mentally, and a big factor is the decission I made about making the change it self. A little placebo effect. The craving is gone and waking up feeling full. 
 

I have done keto with cheating before, because Im not giving up my oat maels in the morning, and had the same effect and feeling as now. 
 

The good thing, it doesnt need to be extreme to get result, just a tiny bit dicipline and motivation. The hardest things for most people, is to sacrifice their little everyday treats or maybe drinking habits. 
 

I love wine and dining a few times a week, and also a cold beer after a nice long ride with the motorbike, which is my bottle neck for being sustainable, so therefor I have quit those treats because they lead to cravings. For most this is the real problem to succeed, because it is a social thing and part of peoples life to have small well deserved treats in life to feel better. 

FYI, when I don't provide links to studies I am NOT hiding information from you or anyone else.  There is no single study that will prove or disprove what I say.  It would be nice if there was, bu that's not how the real world works!

I have looked at literally hundreds of scientific studies, and have objectively explored AND PRACTICED both high carb and low carb nutrition over the years to arrive at the point I am at now with my nutritional beliefs. 

There was a time when I firmly believed in high carb nutrition when I was more or less leading a vegan lifestyle, so I have looked at both side of this debate not just from studying the science but practicing it!

My posts have NEVER advocated a particular nutritional lifestyle to anyone! I only relate what works for me and why I believe in it.  My posts are all about urging others to objectively research the science for themselves FROM ALL PERSPECTIVES. 

If the actual science leads you to Omad fine.  If it leads you to a high carb vegan lifestyle, that's fine too.  I've practiced both.  All I am saying is that if you don't use actual science to form your views, you are just being blind to the truth.

This is why I do NOT provide links to studies.I don't provide links to studies.  Not only would the list of links be overwhelming, but it would probably be biased.

SO...I give you enough information and keywords in what I say for you to google and find the information for yourself, but it's obvious that you're not willing to take the time to do that, and so you cling to your biased beliefs that probably originated from a single source like some health guru on YouTube.

I don't mean to be harsh, but nothing annoys me more than someone who's not willing to really explore something as complex as the physiological basis of nutrition in an objective way, and instead takes the easy way out by listening to a few YouTube health gurus and adopts their view as their own.

That lazy method will never lead you to a truth you can truly believe in, but if that's how you want to do things, that's your right.

Even worse though is to attack others for their beliefs, armed only with scientifically unfounded and biased views.

So, that's why I said It's pointless to discuss this further...because you are simply not willing to discuss this topic in an objective way.

2 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

You can’t accept that you are wrong, see under. You have found a limit to creating accounts, congratulations, that limit is virtually redundant and irrelevant because it doesn’t stop you using iCloud. You can’t accept that your statement is false and misleading 

Again, Sorry to disagree with you, but I will take the word of TWO senior tech specialists at AppleCare who discussed this with me on the phone in detail, over yours, especially when you admit that you have never tried to attach more than three iCloud accounts to a device.

1 hour ago, eisfeld said:

Unfortunately the apple website is really low on specs for this adapter. They don't write what speeds or wattages it supports. Ugreen is a respectable brand and I've been using their cables for a while without complaints. I start to prefer them over Anker even. Their adapter at least says clearly it's USB 3.0 with up to 5Gbps so speed should be good enough but not sure about charging capabilities. I saw also there exists a braided version and a version without cable, just adapter. Wonder if the non-braided black plastic ones are older versions?

 

Found it on Lazada! ???? Thanks for the heads-up!!!

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/ugreen-70889-type-c-to-usb-30-otg-5gbps-andriod-typec-ipad-airpro-20-22-macbook-pro-m1-i2441394667-s8459679925.html?clickTrackInfo=undefined&search=1&source=search&spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.i40.493f26a6KHjhnd

50 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

Unfortunately the apple website is really low on specs for this adapter. They don't write what speeds or wattages it supports. Ugreen is a respectable brand and I've been using their cables for a while without complaints. I start to prefer them over Anker even. Their adapter at least says clearly it's USB 3.0 with up to 5Gbps so speed should be good enough but not sure about charging capabilities. I saw also there exists a braided version and a version without cable, just adapter. Wonder if the non-braided black plastic ones are older versions?

 

Now that looks like a really well made cable!  Did you see that on Lazada (I hope)?  I did an image search for it but I can only find it listed on Amazon.

1 hour ago, sometimewoodworker said:

As i said previously I don’t know for sure I don’t have a new device to check
 

It may do I suspect that for a free account not created on the device, no it doesn’t

 

 For a free account created on the device that may well, probably is, true

 

That is badly worded and as worded is wrong

it is quite possible that there is the limit of three free iCloud accounts to be created.

 

It is not true that you can only log into iCloud on a maximum of 3 accounts.

The reason for the delay in responding to your post is that I was logging out of then logging into accounts on one of my devices and I had to refresh the iCloud accounts.

So categorically you can sign into at least 4  iCloud accounts. I see no reason that the Apple tech is not correct and there is no limit to the number of iCloud accounts (not created on the device) that you can sign into. I could create more free accounts but see no point 

probably Correct, as far as I can see, but irrelevant as you can use a different (already created) account.

From your own link

 

“Please note that there is no limit to how many accounts you can have on a device. As long as an iCloud account exists, you can use it even if the 3 account limit was reached.

This means that you can create a new iCloud account elsewhere and use this account to sign in to this device. In other words, you can use your Apple ID to set up iCloud on another Apple device, iPhone, iPad, or Mac.”

Whatever.  I see you get your kicks by playing devil's advocate rather than just checking out the links I posted or just calling a Tier-2 specialist at Apple.  I have better things to do then play this silly game.

Kind regards.

Just curious if anyone can tell me if these two adapters are basically the same?  I've heard positive reviews of the UGreen brand when it comes to SSD enclosures and usb hubs, and of course Apple accessories are usually infamously  overpriced for no good reason.  I need three adapters so saving 1500 THB is money well spent elsewhere.

Honestly, unless I'm missing something important, the Ugreen looks and seems to be better quality!

Any thought?

Apple USB-C to USB Adapter at 690 THB:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/apple-usb-c-to-usb-adapter-i160588337.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.9.2de4264ddmBdF0&trafficFrom=17449020_308357&laz_trackid=2:mm_150051164_51202885_2010202869:clkgg22jj1gihv1dooaeea&mkttid=clkgg22jj1gihv1dooaeea

UGREEN USB C USB3.1 TYPE C Male to USB3.0 Female Adapter  at 170 THB:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/ugreen-usb-c-usb31-type-c-usb30-usb-adapter-otg-30701-for-samsung-galaxy-note9-plus-note-8-macbook-pro-2017-google-pixel-2-xl-nexus-6p-5x-lg-v30-oneplus-6-5t-i594284892.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.4.252135f3T7S1Sc&trafficFrom=17449020_308357&laz_trackid=2:mm_150051164_51202885_2010202869:clkgg5o9u1gihv3bdbb6if&mkttid=clkgg5o9u1gihv3bdbb6if

6 hours ago, BKKBike09 said:

...If you do buy a new MB, one tip is don't buy the compact charger because it has the wall plug pins built in. So you can't swap out the plug pins for a UK or other set if you travel etc. ...

I'm not sure if you are referring to an optional power adapter, but according to AppleCare, the charger that comes with the new MBP has a removable plug, and all of the current power adapters seem to have that same snap out plug right up to the 140 watt one.  For my 8 core device, it is a 67 watt adapter, as shown here:

As you can see, it has a snap out plug, and you can snap in an extension power cable, or many different style plugs like these:

The only design difference seem to be they did away with the 2 prongs to wrap the Magsafe cable around because it was causing too many cable to become frayed, and they made that cable removable, I guess for the same reason.

58 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

Another thing I noticed in Thailand is that if you use the charger directly plugged into the wall without the extension cable you'll have electric leakage through the chassis of the laptop because there's no grounding which can be uncomfortable. The extension cord I have for my EU charger uses 3 metal contacts instead of 2 with the third one being ground and elimintates the current leaking into my hands. It seems like the new slower chargers can't be grounded!

That's so funny you mentioned the leakage issue!  I just noticed that last night...and the adapter was not even plugged in. I always unplug the magsafe cable from the computer when I'm not using it.

My powered hub was connected to a USB port, and even though it was turned off it still caused leakage you could feel by lightly rubbing your fingers over the closed case of the MBP.  Unplugging the USB plug from the port made it stop.  Sort of spooky! 

My big problem with the new power adapter for the 2021 MBP is that it does not include an extension cable.  Because the adapter is so heavy and Thai outlet receptacle are so loose, the weight of the adapter plugged directly into the wall will cause it to fall out!  The new MBP no longer come with an extension cable but I just found out that my old extension cable for the 2013 MBP will snap into the new adapters perfectly.

1 hour ago, BKKBike09 said:

The charger with the ability to change wall plug fitting is also what you need if you use an extension cable with the charger. The cable on the new MB Air charger is longer than on my old MB Air charger, but I still like to be able to use the extension lead.

 

Apple have also changed the design of their chargers so that the cable to connect to the laptop can now be removed from the charger. This stops the cable fraying where it joins the charger (nearly every charger I've ever had, had this issue after a while). 

 

I've never used a skin so can't comment on the tactile qualities.

 

One other point about all the new MBs - they no longer have any USB-A ports, everything is USB-C. So you need an adapter to use any USB-A device ...

I was on the phone with AppleCare|Asia just a few minutes ago and they said that the power adapters sold with the newer MacBook Pro's are no longer country-specific, meaning that the adapter that comes with the device has a US style wall outlet plug and can accommodate 110 or 220 outlets, so that was nice to hear.

Even bigger surprise...even though the adapters no longer come with a wall outlet extension cable, the one that came with my old MacBook Pro charger can snap into the new adapters just fine.  Big relief since the adapter itself is too heavy to plug into most Thai wall outlets without falling out due to the weight LOL!

I never had a problem with frayed mag-safe cables but I know lots of people do so it's nice it is now detachable.

And yeah, I already ordered a USB>USB-C adapter that will connect to the USB cable between one of the USB-C ports and my powered USB hub for my peripherals and external hard drives.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I would not have thought to check all this stuff out with AppleCare if you had not mentioned them ????

Just posting all of these details in case anyone else is also considering the purchase of a MacBook.

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

 

 

After I got covid I have changed strictly to eat only between 08:00 and 16:00, and one week in, it feels good. However I do my nuts, oats, youghurt in the morning, just little bit fruit during the day, and dinner with 1/3 rice portion, seasonal vegetables and little bit meat. I guess I maybe consume 1750 calories a day now. No additional sugar, sweets or processed food. When I heatthe gym and work harder on the farm again, I will add more protein. 
 

There is not only one way to a better life, and a little change from daily routines and habits is a good start without becoming a nob and a religious. 

I'm not criticizing you or your routine.  What you described doesn't sound that unhealthy.  I'm not criticizing anybody who takes steps to have a lifestyle that they feel works best for them since optimal nutrition is unique to the individual. 

I'm only critical when someones attacks concepts that have a lot of science to support them without even making an effort to objectively explore the underlying science they are based on.

I'm NOT advocating OMAD or any other nutritional practice.  All of my posts have only been intended for people to objectively explore the underlying biochemistry of metabolism since that is the foundation of what is or is not proper nutrition.

On 11/18/2022 at 4:33 PM, scubascuba3 said:

3,000 word response coming soon 555

LOL!  OK, I admit I get carried away sometimes with my "War and peace" length responses.  However, there is actually a lot of meat on the bone for anyone objectively looking for real information on the topic, and not just simple unsubstantiated sound bites or personal anecdotes that prove nothing.

19 minutes ago, eezergood said:

Not sure if you meant to respond to me? However, this dude has NOT been eating 10k cals per day consistently. Im calling shenanigan's  

I have no idea what your reply even means.  Do you?

Just a helpful note for anyone else considering purchase of Appler devices from a non-authorized reseller.

I was just on phone with AppleCare|Asia and was give some great advice that allows you to check a new Apple device from a non-authorized reseller.  Note that I feel that the reseller I am dealing with is honest and trustworthy but the advice I was given makes the transaction even safer.

With the actual serial number of device in hand, all you need to do is go to two apple sites and enter the number:

#1 - https://support.apple.com/en_US/specs

Enter the serial number and you will get detailed specs on that specific device including the date of manufacture, the exact configuration, etc.

#2 - https://checkcoverage.apple.com/

Enter the serial number to see if the warranty is genuine and whether or not it has been activated, and additional information.

My reseller is allowing me to take step #2 in his store and actually activate it so I can leave the store knowing the device is under warranty.

8 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

I have a Midnight Air (M2 with 16GB / 512GB) - just bought it to replace a 2012 MacBook Air which worked flawlessly for years until trackpad started playing up a bit recently. Midnight shows fingerprints much more than I thought it would.

 

The latest MB Airs are basically comparable performance-wise to MB Pros from a couple of years ago. I think unless intended use is gaming or serious video editing, latest MB Air is a great choice. I don't know if local pricing will be changed to reflect weakened THB?

 

I've used Macs for years - still use a 2011 iMac every day for WP / emails / internet browsing and watching Youtube. Works fine. Good luck doing that now with a 10 year old Windows clunker.

 

The Thai-English keyboard is messy; the older versions used to be much clearer because the English letters were bigger than the Thai. But it's simple to buy a keyboard English only skin on Lazada or whatever. If you order a new MB online you can specify an English-only keyboard if you want.

 

If you do buy a new MB, one tip is don't buy the compact charger because it has the wall plug pins built in. So you can't swap out the plug pins for a UK or other set if you travel etc. 

 

As I said above I think MB Air is a great choice for all round use.

Great suggestions!  Thanks for your input, especially about the compact charger.  I did not know that, and that would be a real issue for me ntp being able to charge on trips to US.

As for those keyboard skins, have you ever used them?  Just wonder if they have good tactile qualities.  Truth is I never really look at the keyboard when I type, and usually use an external keyboard when I use the device on my desk, but that Thai-English keyboard sure is messy looking so skins might be good to clean things up...if they do not affect tactile quality.

11 hours ago, eisfeld said:

...I have debated with myself a lot over the past couple months if I should get a M2 Air or a 14 inch Pro because as you said price wise they are pretty much identical when you spec the Air to match and take into account Pro discounts. So it should be a no-brainer to pick the Pro right? Well... Do I need the CPU/GPU power of the Pro? Not really though when keeping a machine for several years it helps having too much rather than too little. The screen on the 14 Pro has nice blacks and the speakers are much better. But then again do I really need these? No....

I did a lot of research before deciding on the 2021 MacBook Pro vs the new Air M2, and also the M1 Air vs M2 Air.  The consensus of most reviewers I saw on YouTube was that the M2 is really only marginally better and in most cases just not worth the added cost.  Apparently it will be the M3 that will have major differences.  There are literally dozens of comparison reviews on the M1 vs M2 vs the anticipated M3 on YouTube.

For right now, the M1 is the best bang for the money with the Airs is the takeaway I arrived at, and if you really want something better, wait for the M3.  For most people that will use the device in a casual way like for web browsing, emails, etc.., the M1 Air is incredible I think, and probably the best laptop on the market, bar none!

I only chose the MacBook Pro (M1) because my applications require the graphic processing power since I work with the latest version of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere, and other graphics card intensive applications like DaVinci Resolve and Corel Painter.  Applications like these require state-of-the-art graphic card processing that the Air just doesn't have, according to benchmark tests.

If it were not for that, I would gladly have gotten an Air for the light weight, and better and more refined ergonomic design.  If I had the money I would have BOTH an Air and a macBook Pro ????

8 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

While you may have found it that doesn’t mean that it’s so simple to find. A URL would be helpful.

 

That is clearly incorrect as all iPhones come with an OS and no iCloud account. Though that may be a special case, and as I mention under I haven’t installed an iOS for a long time, so can neither confirm nor refute the statement. So I don’t know for sure.

To be sure if that statement is correct, or is not correct, I would have to have a new iPhone/iPad that has had not been started. This is not something I do on a regular basis, roughly once every 2 to 4 years and though I don’t positively recall the process I think it’s not correct. Again I don’t know for sure.

 

I certainly have installed a Mac OS on frequent occasions and for the Mac it is certainly not true, but then the question is about an iPhone/iPad, so it may not be relevant.

That is definitely incorrect. The Apple statement is that it can only ever create 3 free accounts accounts.

 

So create an account on a Mac or sign into an account that has been created on a different device. There is no limit to the number of accounts that you can sign into (though naturally you will need to sign out before signing into a new account)

Correct, as far as I can see, but irrelevant as you can use a different (already created) account.

 

That is rather dismissive, Google is not authoritative and first tier techs know how to find the information that they have, they may not have the detailed knowledge of a product specialist but the vast majority of questions or problems don’t need to be escalated.

 

I have worked in tech support on a reasonably high level and while no company is precisely the same the first line techs do an excellent filter job. Apple first line techs can often give the required information, do an excellent job and know when to refer the questions.

Look, I think we've played this debate to death.  All of the information I've provided is not anecdotal.  It comes from Apple and other credible sources. 

    1) You cannot set up an OS on a iOS device without an iCloud account.  The hardware will not allow that. 

    2) The hardware does in fact record your iCloud account into the hardware side of the device.

    3) Once it is recorded, it can not be erased by you, even if you completely reset the device to factory settings. 

    4) The iOS hardware will only allow up to a maximum of three iCloud accounts to be associated to it, and no more. 

    5) Even if an account is deleted from iCloud (which I believe can not even be done), it doesn't matter since this is a hardware restriction, not a software or iCloud restriction.

These are the facts that two senior technicians from AppleCare have given me, in addition to seeing it in black & white in a Google search.  it's not the kind of information that Apple wants widely known I suppose since it is really hard to find it on Apple.com, but it is out there from credible sources. 

Here's just a few links that discuss this in more detail:

• https://appletoolbox.com/icloud-the-maximum-number-of-free-accounts-have-been-activated-qa/

• https://macreports.com/cannot-sign-in-the-maximum-number-of-free-accounts-have-been-activated-fix/#:~:text=This message occurs because Apple,your iOS or iPadOS device.
• or just google this search term: "the maximum number of free accounts have been activated on this iPhone"

If you doubt this, just contact AppleCare, and ask to speak to a TIER TWO specialist since the less experienced people will probably not know this information.