Installing Ollama on a MAC or PC

There is really nothing to installing Ollama on your personal device. I have it running on several different devices and while it is slower on some it has worked with all of the smaller LLM’s available.

TypeCPURAM# of CoresYear
MacBook Proi9 – 2.3GHz16GB8 cores2018
MacBook ProM3 Max36GB30 cores2024
Ubuntu 24.04i5 – 2.40GHz32GB8 cores2020
table of computers I am running Ollama on

Of course the M3 is faster and can handle anything I throw at it, but the others although a bit slower still give a response on most tasks.

To install Ollama on your machine visit https://ollama.com/ and press the Download button.

From here it will take you too the download page where you can choose your operating system. The Windows version is still in Preview and I have not downloaded and installed it at this time.

For Linux:

There are additional instructions for installing on Linux here.

For MAC:

For Windows:

Following these instructions will get you up and running with Ollama. Keep in mind Ollama is a terminal application and you will probably want to use some kind of application to access the power of Ollama and we will cover that in the next installment of this series.

To use Ollama as it is installed just open your terminal and type :

ollama run llama3

This will start Ollama and give you a prompt to ask it a question.

Then ask it a question.

From there you can start your conversation. But that is just the beginning. We cover more as we go on. Good luck with your install and see you next time.

Pros and Cons of a Private AI solution and a Cloud based (public) solution.

  1. Pros of Private AI Solution
  • Data security and privacy – The company has full control over its data, ensuring that it is kept safe from unauthorized access or misuse.
  • Customization – The solution can be customized to meet the specific needs of the organization, allowing for greater control over the AI system’s performance and accuracy.
  • Investment protection – The company can avoid significant investments in infrastructure and maintenance by using a private AI solution.
  • Faster implementation – The private solution can be implemented quickly without waiting on cloud availability or capacity issues.
  1. Cons of Private AI Solution
  • Higher cost – Private solutions require the company to invest in its own hardware and software, which may not be feasible for smaller organizations with limited resources.
  • Lack of flexibility – The company is locked into using their private solution and cannot easily switch to a cloud-based one if needed.
  • Limited access – Only authorized personnel can access the data and AI system, restricting collaboration opportunities with other teams or external partners.
  1. Pros of Cloud Based AI Solution
  • Scalability – The company can quickly scale up or down as their needs change without investing in additional hardware or software.
  • Collaboration – The cloud-based solution allows for easy collaboration between teams and partners, enabling cross-functional work to be completed more efficiently.
  • Cost-effective – Cloud solutions are typically more cost-effective than private solutions, making them a viable option for smaller organizations with limited budgets.
  1. Cons of Cloud Based AI Solution
  • Security risks – As with any cloud solution, the company’s data is vulnerable to hacking and other security threats if proper measures are not taken.
  • Lack of control – The company has less control over their data when using a cloud-based solution than they would with a private one.
  • Compatibility issues – As more organizations move to the cloud, compatibility issues can arise when collaborating with those who have different systems.
  1. Conclusion

The decision between a private and cloud-based AI solution ultimately comes down to the specific needs of the organization and its priorities. While each has its pros and cons, it is important for companies to carefully weigh their options before making a decision.