Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport Owen Darrell paid tribute to the late Tony Bari. Minister Darrell said, “On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Tony Bari. “Mr. Bari’s captivating jazz, big band, and rhythm and blues performances of […]

[Updated with video] The Classic Old School Soca Fete was held this weekend, as one of the many events put on for the Carnival festivities. You can view photos from the event below, we will have additional coverage of the festivities all weekend, and you can view all Bernews coverage of the Carnival festivities over the years […]

The Tino Martinez Quartet [TMQ] will hold a Jazz in the Park event at Barr’s Bay Park on June 23 to honour Juneteenth. A spokesperson said, “Don’t worry if you missed the last Jazz in the Park, because you’re in luck. 2024 Best of Bermuda award winner TMQ is hosting their second jazz event in […]

Fire Wayne, Donquili, Rikkai Scott, Yesha Townsend, Troika and T’aja Williams will take the stage for the 2024 Premier’s Concert on Sunday. A Government spokesperson said, “A memorable night of entertainment is anticipated on Sunday [June 30], when local artists, Fire Wayne, Donquili, Rikkai Scott, Yesha Townsend, Troika and T’aja Williams take the stage for […]

Collie Buddz – who was nominated for a Grammy earlier this year – performed at Snorkel Park just prior to the Cup Match holiday, serving as part of his international “Take it Easy” Tour. For extensive coverage of Cup Match spanning over a decade, visit our website BernewsCupMatch.com, the island’s most comprehensive resource on the Cup Match holiday. Over […]

Southlands Park in Warwick was bursting with vibrant energy this weekend as a lively crowd of people gathered to celebrate at the Jab J’Ouvert event early in the morning. Paint, music, and dancing filled the air as attendees enjoyed the festivities. Related Stories Photos & Video: TMQ Jazz Event At Victoria Park Photos/Video: Summer Sunday […]

Bermuda Craft Brewing announced BEERMUDA, a festival of live music, beer tasting, food and fun at the National Stadium North Field on September 27 and 28. A spokesperson said, “Local brewery, Bermuda Craft Brewing, is excited to announce BEERMUDA, a festival of live music, beer tasting, food and fun at the National Stadium North Field […]

Bermudian actor Nicholas Christopher is set to star in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre in New York. Mr Christopher and Sherie Rene Scott will step into the roles of the unlikely lovers, Seymour and Audrey, respectively, beginning on October 22. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s hit musical will […]

[Written by Dale Butler] The fifth Pastoral-Parishioners’ Anniversary took place on the grounds of the Christ Anglican Church, Devonshire, on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 6.00pm with a very appetizing dinner by Kenny’s Kitchen and water donated by John Barritt & Son Limited; an exceptional night of entertainment followed. The tent, lighting, and stage backdrop […]

Bermuda Craft Brewing hosted the BEERMUDA event, a festival of live music, beer tasting, food, and fun, at the National Stadium North Field this weekend. “BEERMUDA will showcase top international and local musicians while offering guests the chance to taste more than 40 specially selected craft beers from around the world. On tap beers will […]

Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport Owen Darrell, joined the community on Saturday evening to pay tribute to one of Bermuda’s greatest musicians and educators, Professor Eddie Ming, at the Drum School’s Vegan Jazz & Percussion Gathering. A Government spokesperson said, “The event, hosted at Professor Ming’s renowned Drum School in St. Georges, showcased the […]

Former Premier of Bermuda Dr. Ewart Brown paid tribute to the late Quincy Jones, recalling that the celebrated musician and producer “loved Bermuda.” Dr. Brown said, “Meeting Quincy Jones and spending time with him was awesome. When I lived in Los Angeles, every single person I met who was in the entertainment industry recognized him […]

[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 Economy and Labour Jason Hayward addressed members of Sandys Rotary Club and “shared information on Bermuda’s job market in 2024 and the Government’s strategies to strengthen the workforce.” A spokesperson said, “Minister Hayward spoke about the following: Challenges of an Aging Population: Bermuda’s shrinking working-age population presents challenges, including labour shortages, pressure on […]

[Updated] Following the passing of Government Senator Leslie Robinson, the Premier expressed his ‘profound sadness’ and said it is heartbreaking to mourn her loss. Premier David Burt said, “This is an unimaginable tragedy which has shocked so many of us to the very core. Bermuda has lost an eminently qualified professional woman who had chosen […]

President of the Azores José Manuel Bolieiro is set to visit Bermuda to help celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the first arrival of Portuguese emigrants to Bermuda. A spokesperson said, “The “175th Portuguese Commemorations Committee” wishes to let the public know that the President of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, will be visiting Bermuda to help […]

President of the Azores José Manuel Bolieiro arrived in Bermuda today [Nov 2] to help celebrate the 175th anniversary of the first arrival of Portuguese immigrants to Bermuda. A spokesperson previously said, “The ’175th Portuguese Commemorations Committee’ wishes to let the public know that the President of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, will be visiting […]

One Bermuda Alliance leader Jarion Richardson and Warwick candidates will host a town hall on November 14 to discuss the OBA’s platform and community issues. A spokesperson said, “Join One Bermuda Alliance leader, Jarion Richardson as he and Warwick candidates host a town hall meeting on Thursday, 14 November 2024 at the Warwick Workman’s Club. The […]

The government is expected to announce that a $100 monthly personal allowance to cover the cost of personal care items will be added for people on financial assistance and the Ministry of Transport will reduce the number of vehicle inspections required in the first five years for a new vehicle. In advance of tomorrow’s reading […]

The Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda issued a response following the government’s Throne Speech. A spokesperson said, “The Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda commends the government for the focus of today’s Throne Speech on early intervention and prevention, cost of living reduction and ongoing collaboration with the Third Sector. “Continued emphasis on education reform as well as development of […]

The Bermuda Public Services Union [BPSU] says that it expresses its “support for several ambitious initiatives outlined in the recent Throne Speech” and added that “urgent action is needed to stem the tide of rising healthcare costs” and also noted that pension reform is “another growing concern.” A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Public Services Union […]

Climate change is a huge topic and often debated across the world. We continue to burn fossil fuels and ignore our charge toward human driven climate change but while our behaviour never seems to improve, something else does! For the last few decades we have been pumping chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere causing a hole in …

Continue reading "Good News, the Ozone Layer Hole is Continuing to Shrink"

The post Good News, the Ozone Layer Hole is Continuing to Shrink appeared first on Universe Today.

A town in the Austrian Alps might not seem like the most conducive place to come up with daring space missions. But, for the last 40 years, students and professors have been gathering to do just that in Alpbach, just north of the Lichtenstein/Austrian border. One outcome of the Alpbach Summer School this year was …

Continue reading "A Mission to Triton and Neptune Would Unlock Their Mysteries"

The post A Mission to Triton and Neptune Would Unlock Their Mysteries 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.

In This Episode Erin and Weer’d discuss: the journal of the Covenant school shooter; a school shooting in Georgia, and not only was the shooter arrested, but so was his father; the Ninth Circuit has stuck down some, but not … Continue reading →

In This Episode Erin and Weer’d discuss: bodycam video of the Georgia shooter and his father being interviewed last year, and it might surprise you; a defensive shooting at a pro-Israel demonstration in Newton, MA where the defender was arrested … 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.

A man has been transported to hospital following a collision in Sandys this evening. A police spokesperson said, “Around 9:25 PM on Friday, 19 July 2024 police and other first responders were dispatched to a report of a serious single vehicle collision involving a motorcycle, on Somerset Road in the vicinity of Scaur Drive, Sandys […]

A 30-year-old male motorcycle rider was injured in a collision in Pembroke early this morning. A police spokesperson said, “Shortly before 12:45 a.m., on Monday, July 29th, 2024, police and Emergency Medical Services personnel, were dispatched to a reported single vehicle road traffic collision, involving a motorbike, near the junction of West Park Lane and North […]

A car driver was injured after crashing into a wall in Southampton last night. A police spokesperson said, “Around 9pm on Friday, August 2 2024, police and other emergency services were dispatched to a report of a single vehicle collision on Middle Road near the junction with Lighthouse Road, Southampton. “Details are limited at this […]

[Updated] A motorcyclist was injured in a collision in Southampton this morning. A police spokesperson said, “Around 9am Monday, 23rd September 2024, police officers responded to a reported two vehicle collision at the junction of Middle Road and South Road in Southampton. “Early information indicates that a tractor trailer truck driven in the eastbound lane […]

A 30-year-old male motorcycle rider was injured in a collision in Warwick this afternoon [Oct 7]. A police spokesperson said, “Around 1:25 pm on Monday, October 7, 2024, police and other first responders attended a serious single vehicle collision involving a motorcycle at the junction of Middle Road and Ten Pin Crescent, Warwick. “Upon arrival, […]

[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 […]

There has been a two vehicle road traffic collision involving a motorcar and a motorcycle in the area of Barnes Corner in Southampton Parish. A police spokesperson said, “There has been a two vehicle road traffic collision involving a motorcar and a motorcycle in the area of Barnes Corner, Southampton Parish. “Details are limited at […]

[Updated] “There has been a serious road traffic collision involving a PTB bus and a pedestrian at the junction of Bermudiana Road and Front Street in the City of Hamilton,” the police said this morning [Oct 30]. A police spokesperson said, “Details are limited at this time, however, the scene is currently being processed and traffic […]

[Updated] Emergency services responded to a collision on East Broadway today [Oct 30] involving a car that crashed into the gas station building. The 83-year-old driver was not harmed, however his wife, 81, was taken to the hospital following the incident and a person in the building was also injured. Update Oct 31, 4.10pm: A police […]

A road traffic collision between two motorcycles yesterday [Nov 3] left one man with injuries, while the second driver left the scene before police arrived. A police spokesperson said, “Shortly after 5:15pm on Sunday, November 3, 2024, police attended a road traffic collision involving two motorcycles near the junction of Parson’s Road and Crossland Lane, […]

[Updated] “There has been a serious road traffic collision involving two motorcycles on Blue Hole Hill, Hamilton Parish,” the police said this evening [Nov 7]. “The roadway is currently closed, with traffic being diverted through the Grotto Bay compound. Motorists heading into or out of the east end are encouraged to delay their departure, if possible […]

[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 police said there has been an increase in the number of motorcycles reported stolen, with 20 motorcycles reported stolen in the last week. A police spokesperson said, “In recent times, the Bermuda Police Service [BPS] has observed an increase in the number of motorcycles reported stolen. Last week, 20 motorcycles were reported stolen from various locations around […]

The Bermuda Police Service recovered stolen motorcycles in a Warwick search. A police spokesperson said, “On Wednesday 11th September, 2024, the Bermuda Police Service continued to progress Operation Athlestan. Members of the Serious Crime Unit assisted by the Gang Targeting Unit and Police Support Unit, executed a search warrant at a property located along South […]

[Updated] The police are appealing for the public’s assistance in locating a reported stolen car. A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a reported stolen car. “The vehicle involved, described as a royal blue and silver Hyundai Creta with licence plate 03028, was apparently removed from outside a […]

[Updated] The police are appealing for the public’s assistance in “locating a reported stolen car.” A police spokesperson said, “The vehicle involved, described as a grey Nissan Qashqai with licence plate 40639, was apparently removed from outside a Skyline Road, Smiths, residence sometime between 9:00pm Friday, 4th October and 9:15am Saturday, 5th October 2024. “Police […]

The Bermuda Police Service is reminding the public to “securely lock their vehicles before leaving them unattended” after four cars with keys left inside were stolen over the past nine days. A police spokesperson said, “Between Sunday, 29th September and Monday, 7th October 2024, four cars were reported stolen. Three of those vehicles were removed […]

[Written by Stephen Wright] Entrepreneur Shi-Vaughn Lee will celebrate the third anniversary of her online skincare business, Dove & Butterfly, by hosting a “Sniff and Shop” event on Friday and Saturday [June 23 and 24]. Created during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dove & Butterfly offers products made in Bermuda by Bermudians, including whipped […]

Online store Mika + Co. is offering a “thoughtfully curated selection of fashion, beauty, culinary, and home goods.” A spokesperson said, “Mika + Co. is making waves in the local retail scene with its thoughtfully curated selection of fashion, beauty, culinary, and home goods. This online lifestyle-concept store was founded by Kimberley Pearman-Dhingra, a fashion-forward […]

Tassel Bermuda has launched the “Adira” earring collection for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with 15% of proceeds pledged to support the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. A spokesperson said, “Tassel Bermuda, the local polymer clay earring business, is proud to introduce its latest masterpiece, the “Adira” collection, a collaboration with the Bermuda Cancer and Health […]

Davidrose Studio is inviting the public to its Front Street store on Friday [Dec 15] to celebrate its upcoming 11th anniversary. A spokesperson said, “Davidrose Studio is inviting the public to pop by its Front Street store on Friday, December 15 to celebrate its 11th anniversary. Guests will enjoy free sweet treats [no purchase necessary] […]