Silence and unified memory: Macs for novelists.

Apple's secret: unified RAM

On a Windows PC, memory is split: RAM for the system and VRAM for the graphics card (which handles the AI).

On Macs equipped with Silicon chips (M-Series), memory is unified. If you buy a Mac with 24 GB or 36 GB of unified RAM, LocalProse's local AI can use almost all of this memory! This is what makes Macs particularly interesting portable machines for tech-savvy writers.

MacBook Air or MacBook Pro: which one to choose for writing?

It's the classic author's dilemma. The MacBook Air is the historical favorite of writers: ultra-light, thin, and above all Fanless (no fan). It offers absolute silence, perfect for concentration. With the M-Series chips, it is now powerful enough to handle a local AI, provided you choose one with at least 16 GB of unified RAM.

The MacBook Pro, on the other hand, is for authors who need a larger screen (the 14 and 16-inch models are exceptional for visual comfort) and who want to run heavy artificial intelligence models. Its active ventilation (which remains inaudible during word processing) allows it to maintain peak performance during heavy narrative audits. Moreover, if you plan to use your Mac mostly at home, pairing it with an external monitor and an ergonomic or mechanical keyboard will turn your laptop into a true sedentary workstation.

Our Mac selection for local AI

The nomad's tool

MacBook Air M5 (16 GB)

• Chip: Apple M5
• Unified Memory: 16 GB
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• Screen: 13.6" Liquid Retina
• Battery life: Up to 18 hours (Fanless: 0 decibels)
• The LocalProse perk: The latest generation Apple chip in a fanless chassis. Silence guaranteed. Its 16 GB of unified memory is the perfect entry point for running a fluid local AI in your favorite cafes.

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Absolute versatility (renewed)

MacBook Pro 16" (M1 Pro 2021 chip - 32 GB)

• Chip: Apple M1 Pro
• Unified Memory: 32 GB RAM (the sweet spot for large novels)
• Storage: 1 TB SSD
• Screen: 16-inch
• Battery life: Up to 21 hours
• The LocalProse perk: Don't be fooled by its release year: thanks to its 32 GB of unified RAM, this machine remains perfectly tailored for local AI. It allows you to comfortably run powerful language models, while benefiting from the extensive workspace of a 16-inch screen.

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Technological independence for the novelist

Investing in a MacBook with high unified memory means making a strong philosophical choice: that of digital sovereignty. By running the LocalProse writing software on an Apple Silicon architecture, you bypass opaque subscriptions and the monetization of your drafts by cloud services. Your machine becomes an airtight literary vault where every word typed remains your exclusive property.

Weaning yourself off the Apple cloud (iCloud) implies taking responsibility for the physical security of your texts yourself. To avoid losing a manuscript in the event of a breakdown or theft of your Mac, we recommend adopting a strict local backup strategy (via encrypted SSD or Mini-NAS).