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Apple Teases M4 Mac Announcements Next Week

My guess of order

Monday: iMac with Magic USB-C peripherals

Tuesday: MacBooks

Wednesday: Mac Mini.
 
darthbane2k said:
It's Thursday, way too late to announce an event for next week. There will be daily press releases.
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I believe it, just saying I find it weird, when the Pro/Max variants have warranted a major promo after each M(x) release. Including the M3 which was, especially with the gimped Pro, fairly pedestrian. I expected M4 Pro/Max to be a tock.

OK that it's not, but it probably means it's not that exciting an update.

Could be wrong ofc, am regularly.
 
pksv said:
Heavy and I'm hoping for a redesigned keyboard. I really don't like the feel of it.
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having just bought a 16" m3 I'm fine with the weight but would love if they used the full width of the top to add a number pad to the keyboard in instead having big (to me) unnecessary speakers
 
rehkram said:
My first reaction to this news is that the future of the mac is looking very good so I'm happy to see this.

If Apple announces, and implements, a long term strategy of continuous improvement of macOS stability across all the hardware platforms now available I will be more than pleased. As we used to say with monotonous regularity to the marketing guys back when I worked as a dev for a few software houses, "hey man, it's the steak, not the sizzle".
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right, give me snow leopard
 
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spatlese44 said:
How about they take away the HDMI port on the Mac Mini? I’m ok with that BTW. I already use a dongle for one of my monitors. It’s not a big deal. We keep hearing that it’s going to get thicker. What’s the basis for that claim again?
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How about no ports at all?

All bluetooth and AirPlay with a wireless power dock*

Get started today by paying the Apple Annual Usage & Activation fee**

A macOS "rental puck", with Apple Intelligence***


* sold separately... you know.. for "the environment" ;)
** discounted with an active Apple One subscription, of course
*** coming some day hopefully
 
reyesmac said:
Apple can and most likely will us AI to cut off many macs that are just a few years old. Maybe they can say 12gb is the minimum spec needed for AI. In any case, they have the chance to give very little in terms or hardware speeds and mostly make it a system requirement thing if you want some Mac OS goodies. The higher benchmarks will come from the higher ram in the system and maybe they might put a fast HD in them too. But if all the AI was available to the lowest end M1 macs, there would be little reason to upgrade. Thats why they will cut them off from getting the same software the new systems get. I will be surprised if they don't go in this direction.
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You opine that Apple will use AI to cut off many macs that are just a few years old. I disagree that Apple uses something like AI to "cut off many macs."

Certainly newer app and OS software always requires more RAM and stronger hardware as time goes on. Always. Go back and read my posts over years arguing with folks here claiming it was fine to put lesser RAM in new Macs, despite Apple clearly telegraphing the future by offering up to 96 GB RAM in M2 laptops and then 128 GB RAM in M3 laptops.

AI liking more RAM should not surprise anyone, it was no secret. In fact it is SOP, what Macs have consistently done for 40 years. Folks who chose to equip Macs with lesser RAM should expect lesser future performance. If it was not due to AI it would be due to something else.
 
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I’ll be interested to see what is released (a week of press releases rather than an event probably means the updates are going to be fairly minor), but I don’t see myself upgrading my M1 Max MacBook Pro until there is a redesign.
 
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I think Apple doesn't want to set a precedent where they can remotely lock your Mac if it wasn't stolen from an already active account (you know what I mean). That would probably be very bad PR.
 
pksv said:
This is actually the first time I've read about such a problem. If so, then indeed, faceID makes sense for some people.
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pksv said:
I'm also entertaining the idea of 15" Air instead of 14" Pro. Of course, you always want as much power as possible, but if the M4 Air had the option of 32GB RAM it should be enough for me. On the other hand, if there is a redesign I would stay with the Pro. The redesign is confirmed, but there is an option that it will be postponed to 2026 if Apple wants to release it with OLED.
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Do note that the MBP is better than the MBA in every regard except weight. If all one cares about is power and finds the MBA RAM adequate then MBA is a good cheaper choice. Personally I find MBP speakers, display and available RAM essential.
 
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pksv said:
I'm also entertaining the idea of 15" Air instead of 14" Pro. Of course, you always want as much power as possible, but if the M4 Air had the option of 32GB RAM it should be enough for me. On the other hand, if there is a redesign I would stay with the Pro. The redesign is confirmed, but there is an option that it will be postponed to 2026 if Apple wants to release it with OLED.
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At this point, I'd go with a 15" Air for my general use computer. My work computer is an M1 16" Pro and I don't have any complaints with it, but I'd be much happier to cart around a lighter computer for myself.

My 2019 15.4" just gave up. I'd hoped to hold out for an M4 15" Air, but looks like M3 will be in the cards.
 
Bring M5 with Thunderbolt 5 and USB5, as well as new 27-inch standalone display. Also wired Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and Magic Mouse.
 
nathansz said:
doubtful

I just bought a refurb m3 16" last week

I knew full well m4 was coming next week but highly doubt there's going to be enough of a difference to not save $500
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There might be. If M4 comes out, existing brand new M3s will go down in price resulting in refurbed M3s going down in price. Might be worth returning.
 
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johnalan said:
right, give me snow leopard
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I can't comment on that, having jumped into Macs with Mountain Lion in 2012. That was the last paid upgrade, the os being no charge from that point. Which was good timing for me from a cost point of view.

But it may have affected how much resource was allocated to quality control going forward I guess.
 
CalMin said:
I sold a 15" M2 Air a few weeks ago and ordered the M3 with EDU discount. I wanted dual external display support and sold the M2 for close to what I bought it for. The 16GB/1TB 15" Air sitting in the Apple Store waiting for pick-up, but I'll see what these announcements bring. I think the Airs won't get M4 until the spring.

As for 15" Air vs 14" it's really tough. I love my 14" MBP, but the 15" Air screen was excellent for productivity and aging eyesight. My M1 Pro lives mostly docked and on the road for work. The Air was around the house and for non-work stuff. Truthfully, the Air is easily powerful enough for my workflows including Multicam 4K FCP projects. A 15" Air with M4 and 2-4TB of SSD would be close to perfect for me.
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I do not understand the comment "the 15" Air screen was excellent for productivity and aging eyesight." I find the MBP's brighter, better XDR display far superior for aging eyesight.
 
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