Switching from M1 MacBook Air to M5 MacBook Air?

 The new M5 MacBook Air models have been introduced.

 I'm still running on a refurbished MacBook Air that I bought in 2022.  It's still reliable but games and graphics software are less smooth than they should be.  Plus, 1TB of storage is not exactly enough.  How anyone is okay with 256 GB or 512 GB and doing more than browsing and e-mail is beyond me. 

 The base M5  MacBook Air comes with 512 GB of storage, 16 GB of RAM, 10 CPU cores, and 8 GPU cores for US$1099.  My current M1 MacBook Air has 1 TB, 16 GB of RAM, 8 CPU cores, and 8 GPU cores.  I paid US$1359 for a refurbished machine.  If there is any doubt, I'm using a 13.3 inch machine and looking at a 13.6 inch machine.

I wanted to configure a MacBook Air with more storage and more RAM.  My current 1 TB seems to be under 100 GB regularly, and I've moved games to a separate 16 TB drive that seems really slow.  It's actually a HDD.

 

Given that you cannot change the storage or RAM with Apple Silicon machines, it's important to buy everything at once.  Windows machines are somewhat more flexible, but my ASUS ZenBook Pro has some soldered RAM.  Apple makes configuring a lot of upgraded RAM and/or storage expensive.  That hasn't changed.  However, with AI processing pushing up prices, Apple seems to be holding the line. 

Is US$1899 outrageous in 2026?  Is it worse than US$1359 for a refurbished M1 MacBook Air in 2022?  I tried a similar configuration of the 14 inch MacBook Pro and it was US$400 more.  Is one fan and a better display worth that much?

I'm not sure that the 24 GB of RAM is enough, especially with so many extra cores.  I use graphic design software and play games, so 32 GB of RAM might be more appropriate.

My M1 MacBook Air will have trade-in value.  It was at US$300+ the other day.

If I was making money with my equipment, would there be a question.   I'd still wait until they were available, but the last time I jumped to buy a machine was the 1998 Wall Street G3 laptop computers.  I regretted that one so much, I gave it to someone else.  That was US$2659, as I recall for a 233 MHz, passive graphics display, and a 66 MHz bus.   Then again, there was the IBM L40SX with Intel 486SX CPU.  I got that for 25% of the original US$6000.  It lasted a few months and the mouse port broke and the extended warranty company told me that the motherboard cost more than the price of the computer.  I settled with them and bought my first Mac.  It's amazing that you can go to a store like Costco or Sam's Club and buy a US$500 machine that's more impressive than most of what we used to have.

Let's see what happens.  Will there be a new MacBook Air here this month? 

Is Yelp relevant in 2026?

 After my adoptive mum died in 2011, I joined Yelp and started contributing.  I made such a splash that the Community Manager bumped me up to Elite status.

 I've spent time making truthful reviews.  I don't like surprises the first time I visit a restaurant or store, so I would rather avoid places that have a negative experience attached.

 A few times when I've written a review, I've been threatened.  It's a little surprising because I didn't cause the business to treat me poorly or serve me bad food.  It happened for whatever reason, and I was just telling about my experience.

Yelp had some heavy-handed tactics about advertising and I found that when I moved to my current location.  The furniture store where I bought some furniture was marked Closed.  My review suggested that they were quite open.  My spending a few hundred dollars confirmed that.

The other day, some local friends, an elderly couple and I went to an Italian restaurant.  I've been wanting Italian food since I left Philadelphia, where there are probably 150 mom-and-pop Italian restaurants.  It didn't quite work out.

 

 I wrote my review and tried my best to be nice.  The restaurant got 8202 views since my review, and 2659 views since my three photos were uploaded.  How did I have that much of an impact?  I have a handful of Yelp friends and a few more Followers but none in the thousands.   Only one of my Yelp friends even noticed it enough to respond.

 I have around 1800 reviews all over the country and around 2300 photos, none of which has gotten more than a few responses.  Maybe, it's a calculation error, 10 times what really happened.

I'll continue to write reviews.  Who knows what will happen? 

Windows 11 Pro to SteamOS on a laptop computer?

 For just more than two years, I've been running Windows 11 Pro on an ASUS ZenBook Pro.  With each update, the performance becomes worse.  The newest releases are invasive in the name of AI.  I have little interest in AI.  I've generally been using that computer for photo processing, gaming, and watching videos.  I have an M1 MacBook Air that is more capable for processing photos and videos from previous years.

I'm considering switching the ZenBook Pro to SteamOS, as I've found SteamOS on the Steam Deck to be quite capable with a keyboard and mouse.  I'm a little concerned that the combination of AMD 5800H and RTX 3050Ti may not be the best platform.

This week, I was reading that the latest Linux kernel has updated Nvidia drivers included.  I should probably wait for that kernel to be included in SteamOS.  Maybe obviously, SteamOS might run fine on the AMD 5800H and its inbuilt GPU but that GPU is far out of date and even had trouble with Unreal Tournament 2004.  I've been running much more intense graphics than that.

CachyOS seems to be the best choice for a Linux distribution that supports gaming AND Nvidia cards, although a few others like Nobara and Manjaro were mentioned.  I might just risk it.  I still have my MacBook Air but my Windows machine seems less capable because of Windows.  It was also running very hot today, while active CPU use was under 10%.

Update 2026.02.06: CachyOS looks like it's going to be a bit of "fun" to install.  I wonder if I should install Ubuntu or another easy distribution and then, install CachyOS.  I'm not quite as agile lately, and I don't want to make a huge error.  I've waited this long.  I can take more time to plan.

Panasonic Lumix 35-100mm f/2.8 Mk II is here

 In 2012, I bought the Panasonic GH3 and the Lumix X 35-100mm f/2.8 in order to get started with micro Four-Thirds.  It was a rough start.

The GH3 EVF had the wrong color and the 35-100mm f/2.8 was subject to horrible flare with the lens hood in place and the sun out of the frame.  The OIS also had terrible stutter during video recording, even after a specific firmware update designed to fix the problem.

 

Besides that, it just didn't measure up to the US$1400 price or my Olympus ZD SHG 35-100mm f/2.0.   $1400 vs $2499 makes it seem as though the Panasonic lens was priced too high.  It took time to come to terms with micro Four-Thirds but I was using the system most days in 2015 and 2016.

Today, January 15, 2026, I received a used Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 Mk II.  I spent about US$500 on it.  The Panasonic G97 isn't as big as the GH4 that I was using daily but it has similar capabilities and IBIS (in-body image stabilization) that the GH4 did not have.  With most Panasonic lenses using OIS (optical image stabilization), they will be combined in what Panasonic calls Dual I.S.  I considered the Panasonic 135 Format 70-200mm f/2.8 instead but it's over US$2000.

 

Ugly flare with sun out of frame 

The second photo was taken with the sun out of frame, similar to the first, but look, there is no ugly flare.  Hopefully, it's not just that it was later in the day.

 I took the lens for walk of about 5 miles.  It feels like the earlier lens and it also felt surprisingly like a brand new lens.  Considering that it was used and coming from a rental company, I feel that my choice was good.

 

Color cast is non-existant.  I'll see if I can do a video test because I've been told that the OIS stutter still exists, even in the Leica-branded lens.  I hope it's been eliminated. 

 

Update 2026.01.25: Yesterday, I was at the Korean church and the person who photographs for the church had the Sony body and 70-200mm f/2.8 out on the dinner table.  I took out the G97 and 35-100mm f/2.8 Mk II.  There is a slight difference in size, and yes, I know, it's a lovely photo.  I took zero minutes to arrange things.  I didn't put the lens hood in place and the Sony has the lens hood in place.

 

Update 2026.03.01: Went out last evening with the G97 and 35-100mm f/2.8 Mk II.  The Dual I.S. performed admirably for such a middle of the range camera body. 

Mozilla Monitor and removing your personal information from the internet

 Since time began, people have been trying to get the most out of someone else's misery.

I remember people saying that J. Edgar Hoover (head of the FBI and a cross-dresser supposedly), had a file on each of us.  I didn't doubt it.  While we live in a free country, it has rules and spies.  Mrs. Pyle down the street from my grandmother used to feed me cookies and milk to learn all the secrets of my grandmother's household.  My grandmother did the same thing.  Spies were everywhere.

 A little over a year ago, I bought an annual plan for Mozilla Monitor to remove my information, as much as was possible.  The thing is, once it's out there, it isn't easily removed and there is always another to take advantage of your situation.

 Mozilla Monitor found my information in loads of places and sent requests to remove the information.  For each one completed, another two or three would arise.  It's like pulling weeds.

A few weeks ago, they renewed my subscription.  About a week later, they sent an e-mail to tell me that they were discontinuing the service.  I asked when I would get my refund, and they said that it would wait until the service was discontinued, about 3.5 weeks later.

 I got an e-mail from them after that to enter my PayPal information.  I don't have PayPal.  They sent that by mistake, apparently, and they sent me another form to enter my banking information.  They HAD my banking information when they took my money. 

It looks like a scam to clear out my bank account.  I never expected Mozilla to be so sloppy.  I'm not usually so protective but these days, it feels as though trust is also a commodity in short supply. 

Update 2026.01.21: Mozilla Monitor, which is supposedly out of business, alerted me to a data breach.  Sadly, my trust is gone. 

Solo Leveling: Arise another month gone, 2 years on the horizon

 It doesn't seem that long but the other day, I was finding when I only had three Hunters and was struggling every time I played.

 The 16.0 live was just a few hours ago and you'll find the codes here, if you didn't watch.

More changes have been added and you'll see them when you enter the game.  The game is still a bit broken on Windows.

 They pushed my character level up twice, but I didn't really notice the maximum.  It's usually extended outward, as well.

Nothing much has changed with the hosts.

 

Happy holidays!

 

Update 2026.01.09:  I forgot to mention something.  I followed the seasonal story and it got the family to the shore to watch the sunrise, which is a typical Korean New Year's Day outing.  That was such a Korean thing to do.  Thanks to the developers for including that. 

Update 2026.01.27: Thinking about moving to a Linux-based OS.  CachyOS looks like a winner right now.  I wonder if this game will run but Lutris launcher seems to think it will.  I might try downloading it on Steam Deck, where I had the Steam-oriented SLA game Overdrive running.

 Besides, I just switched Guilds.  I joined a guild when guilds were new and there were two others.  Another joined and there were four of us.  I was the only one playing last week and the Guild Master barely played the week before that.  The guild I joined now has 50 members. 

 

Update 2026.02.11: I have codes from the latest livestream. 

Have You Played Where Winds Meet?

 Have you tried this game?

 I've been playing off-and-on for a few days and I'm starting to understand the complicated battle strategy.  Button mashers beware!

The developers, the artists, and everyone putting the game together have put their best into it.  It's obvious that they've worked hard on it.

 

The worst thing I've seen is the reaction to it.  People try to categorize it.  Don't!  It does so many things and you can do so many things that you should just enjoy it.  One moment, I'm in a battle.  The next moment, I'm solving puzzles.  That sounds like Genshin Impact or Wuthering Waves but it doesn't feel anything like those.  I even saw something about building a house.

I've been playing a bunch of games from China, South Korea, and Japan.  However, it's surprising to me that I'm seeing or hearing some of the same places mentioned.

I seem to find that playing one game that leads to another gives me a versatile viewpoint and I can switch to another game and find my way more quickly.  Then, I can return to the earlier games and solve problems that gave me headaches. 

This game has a Solo episode to start.  Apparently, there are co-op episodes.  It's funny how it feels a bit like real life.  However, I never thought that I'd play Mah Jong as a dog, but that has happened.  One thing I did was to activate all of the teleport/fast travel locations as soon as possible.  Trying to find the resources to finish a quest may require something far away.

 Hopefully, I can make some progress.  I've been spinning my wheels a bit on Wuthering Waves because the ability to level up the 5-star characters is a bit much using 4-star characters.  Solo Leveling: Arise is still interesting.  Finishing the stories can sometimes be too easy, especially since I've been playing from the first day.

Upgrading weapons and armour in WWM can require additional resources. 

 

 I haven't seen a need to buy anything.  I usually don't, but I did it for a while with Solo Leveling: Arise.  It made sense for a while.  However, WWM is something new and whether I will last or it will last are yet to be determined.  They supposedly had over 250,000 players on Steam at one time, but the average is lower.

 

There is a test of ascension via combat. Making it past level 20 is the trick right now.  I missed some snakes and was defeated.

Update 2025.12.14: Got through the ascension test and I'm at level 25 now.  I would tell you about what's happened but all I can say is that I'm not going to Kaifeng City yet. 

Oh, a couple of hours later, I'm at level 31 and had another ascension (breakthrough) test.  It's still weird seeing/hearing Qinghe because that's been mentioned in two other games I've played.  I've been able to tie up some loose ends and finish quests.

 

 

They sent me a survey request and I was pleased that the survey was so precise.  They asked me if I had any other suggestions and I mentioned that I'd like the iPad version to be modified to work on Mac, as Wuthering Waves is. 

 

Update 2025.12.16: I finished another breakthrough last night.  This time, it used the mausoleum trials.   I wonder if I finish trials levels 3-5 early, if it will help.  The latest only grants access to levels 50-55.

According to Steam, I have got 8 of 34 achievements.

Draining a lake was interesting. 

Update 2025.12.18: I have another breakthrough/ascension test to handle.  At this rate, I should be at level 1300 by next year (with only two weeks remaining) as long as I can surpass the tests.  I never expected that my knowledge of Daoism, Buddhism, and astronomy would be helpful in a game.

I'm not as slick with the battles and I have one battle with an angry woman in the lowest level and she isn't about to  be beaten.

Update 2025.12.24: This game is a bit of everything and should be game of the year.  It requires so much of a player, as it calls on knowledge that westerners might not have, and some extra keyboard combinations (macro time?) that I don't have in muscle memory.

 It's beautiful and sometimes disgusting, but you can see that the artists went 100% to get the look and sound that make you feel something.  Then again, I'm seeing a lot of that in the free-to-play games.