The Hobby Machine: Moving Beyond the "Boring" PC

The "New" Old Pro: Why I’m Doubling Down on Apple Silicon

I’ll admit it: I haven’t learned my lesson about buying used hardware. But this time, I’m doing it with a bit more intentionality—and a lot more power.

I’ve just added a MacBook Pro M1 to my desk. This isn't for my day job; it’s a dedicated machine for my own time.

Breaking the PC Habit

I have always been a "PC guy," but times change. Nowadays, opening a Windows laptop feels a bit... boring. Every time I use a Mac, the experience feels more robust. It’s the little things that add up: the fans aren't spinning all day, the system stays superfast even with dozens of tabs open, and the battery life is leagues beyond any PC laptop I’ve owned.

Why the M1 Pro for My Hobbies?

I already knew the M1 architecture was capable. I used an M1 MacBook Air as my daily driver for work, and it performed beautifully. Since that machine stays strictly for "work," I wanted something of my own that shared that same reliability.

By picking up a used MacBook Pro, I’m getting that "Pro" build quality—better screen, better cooling, and a bit more sustained power—without the "brand new" price tag. I’m confident this will be more than enough for my needs for a couple of years.

A Dedicated Creative Space

There is something refreshing about having a machine that isn't for work. This MacBook Pro is my new "hobby hub." It’s where I’ll be:

• Building this blog and sharing my thoughts.

• Coding and designing new web pages.

• Exploring side projects that have been stuck in the "idea" phase.

Separating my work tasks from my personal projects on a completely different machine feels like a fresh start. Now, when I open this laptop, my brain knows it’s time to create, not just clock in.