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The real test comes when trying to load up all your software and doing everything you’re accustomed to doing. That’s the price of m1.

Apples stuff will probably be ok. You’re good with safari. But at some point you’ll actually need worthwhile software or want to connect devices. Photoshop? Sometime next year you may see a lite version of it. Some iPad crap may run on it.

Good luck.
Yeah, I'm not expecting it to be a beast, I still have a 15" Intel MacBook Pro and trash can Mac Pro (both 8 core). A little extra performance should be enough to handle Xcode and Lightroom for casual use, those are the only heavier apps I sometimes run on the laptop and for both of them I tend to see only burst performance peaks rather than extended time maxing out all the cores. I'm sure for something like Cinema4D or Final Cut the Air would not be ideal, but I'm not going to run those on it.
 
But I can't run any of my software. It's just and iPad with even less support.
 
I noticed Apple specifically mentioned video calls during the battery life section. I hope this works in reality. My 16" MBP goes through 40% battery during a one hour Teams call. I know this might might relate to the app but I have similar issues with Zoom and other video calls (with and without dedicated graphics switched on).
 
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The battery life is enough for me to upgrade but I’ll wait for 2021 and the unibody redesign
 
As they plan to use AS for all machines, and we can only assume the Mac Pro, I have to assume they will have the option to have expandable RAM.

For the iMac, I can see them getting away with a 32GB RAM option in the chip and you have to go Mac Pro (or the rumoured '1/2 Mac Pro') for more.

16GB they currently have is likely enough for 99% of people, but a 32GB option would be my choice
 
I think that all of those disappointed by the amount of RAM will have a very frustrating future with Apple from now on.
It is a completely different architecture and I don't think it is useful to make judgements based on the ordinary requirements of an Intel CPU.
 
Another nice advantage is you only need a 30W charger instead of the older 45W or 61W gigantic ones. You could use the Anker 30W Compact with these and travel very light.

Good point. I also wonder how far one will get with the new 20w chargers (the not included ones in iPhone land).
 
But I can't run any of my software. It's just and iPad with even less support.

You don’t have any compatible software?
It is certainly not an iPad but the same computer as before with a different chipset inside.
 
I think that all of those disappointed by the amount of RAM will have a very frustrating future with Apple from now on.
It is a completely different architecture and I don't think it is useful to make judgements based on the ordinary requirements of an Intel CPU.

I think it’s less CPU requirements but more knowledge of the files and file sizes one works with.
 
The real test comes when trying to load up all your software and doing everything you’re accustomed to doing. That’s the price of m1.

Apples stuff will probably be ok. You’re good with safari. But at some point you’ll actually need worthwhile software or want to connect devices. Photoshop? Sometime next year you may see a lite version of it. Some iPad crap may run on it.

Good luck.
The future of software looks a bit bleak right now, but I believe it will improve in the coming year. I'm going to guess that Adobes full suite of apps will work using Rosetta. Since it is able to recompile x86 games, CAD programs and run them smoothly, I don't see why those programs would be a problem.

I guess we will have to wait until the first units reach the hands of reviewers to test it out. 🤷‍♂️
 
I think that all of those disappointed by the amount of RAM will have a very frustrating future with Apple from now on.
It is a completely different architecture and I don't think it is useful to make judgements based on the ordinary requirements of an Intel CPU.
An image stays an image
If you work on an image you will at some point needs to load it into the RAM

Also, having a lot of RAM is an incredible advantage for computers.
They can "pre-load" things, so the system is snappier.

If there is less RAM it's just because of the price, fast RAM is expensive, Apple cut cost here.
 
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I just ordered the new Air to replace my 2007 13" MacBook Pro. It'll be faster (probably by a lot since mine is only a dual-core), slightly lighter, and totally silent without a fan (big problem on the MBP). Additionally it'll have the more reliable scissor switch keyboard (although I personally haven't had a problem with the butterfly design)

Did you mean 2017?! I think so given your comment about the butterfly keyboard!

Still, you are right — it will be a spiffy AND quiet upgrade!
 
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I'm so tempted to update to the AS 13" MBP, from my now ancient 2013 15" rMBP, but that would give me two ~13" devices, since I've been using my iPad Pro as my primary device, and simply use the 15" rMBP for the additional screen real estate. My wife just got a new 13" MBP (base model) from her work and it feels small to me when I've helped her set it up.

I had been thinking that I would update my 2018 iPad Pro when they release the latest A14 version of it, but I do like the idea of the MBP offering such long battery life, it makes it a tougher decision now.
 
The future of software looks a bit bleak right now, but I believe it will improve in the coming year. I'm going to guess that Adobes full suite of apps will work using Rosetta. Since it is able to recompile x86 games, CAD programs and run them smoothly, I don't see why those programs would be a problem.

I guess we will have to wait until the first units reach the hands of reviewers to test it out.

Let’s not jump to conclusions on Rosetta running x86 programs smoothly.

I believe things will improve over time as well but then why not wait for better hardware until they actually do?

People were quick to say it’s no problem to recompile things for m1. So why is photoshop sometime next year? (Plus Adobe would obviously have early access to these). So it’s not trivial. Is the potential m1 customer base worth doing so? It’s made up of some preorders right now vs several millions of intel macs.
 
"The prior-generation model lasted for up to 11 hours when browsing the web"

Has anyone ever tested this? Can you really turn on your MBA on 9 a.m. and continue to browse the web all the way to 7p.m. before the battery dies?

No. Why do people keep saying this? The M1 may be the same chip but it will be able to operate much faster for longer periods of time with the fan in the Pro. Also, the screen, battery, speakers, mic, and charger are much better on the Pro as well. It takes all of 15 seconds to figure this our for yourself.

Screen, battery, speakers, and mic are not PRO specs. Its more like higher-end model spec. A Pro spec should be something that makes you able to do more for computer professional work like render videos faster, transfer files, compile computer code, edit 3D graphics on the fly...whatever the professionals do.

I am excited for the new M1 and the future of Mac, but I don't see there is much difference between the Air and MB PRO power wise. Maybe they should have Air '11 and '13 for consumers, and waiting for '13 PRO devices a bit.
 
Unfortunately because of the low RAM it's a no for me this year

There is no problem with RAM, apart from in the minds of people who do not understand tech.
1)Due to the complicated and inefficient design of X86 architecture more RAM is needed to do quite a few tasks these days.

2)ARM architecture is more efficient and thus can do more with less RAM (up to 16GB configurable). This is reflected in the name, unified memory architecture.

So trust me there really is no problem.
 
Let’s not jump to conclusions on Rosetta running x86 programs smoothly.

I believe things will improve over time as well but then why not wait for better hardware until they actually do?

People were quick to say it’s no problem to recompile things for m1. So why is photoshop sometime next year? (Plus Adobe would obviously have early access to these). So it’s not trivial. Is the potential m1 customer base worth doing so? It’s made up of some preorders right now vs several millions of intel macs.
Like I say. I think we have to wait and see, of course, but if Rosetta can run a complex 3D game and Maya, I don't know why I wouldn't be able to load and comfortably run Lightroom.

Anyway. The potential ARM Mac customer base could well be a large portion of those current Intel Mac users in the future since Apple intend on transitioning their entire Mac lineup, so yes. I think it is worth Adobe and other big software suppliers getting on board now.
 
"The prior-generation model lasted for up to 11 hours when browsing the web"

Has anyone ever tested this? Can you really turn on your MBA on 9 a.m. and continue to browse the web all the way to 7p.m. before the battery dies?



Screen, battery, speakers, and mic are not PRO specs. Its more like higher-end model spec. A Pro spec should be something that makes you able to do more for computer professional work like render videos faster, transfer files, compile computer code, edit 3D graphics on the fly...whatever the professionals do.

I am excited for the new M1 and the future of Mac, but I don't see there is much difference between the Air and MB PRO power wise. Maybe they should have Air '11 and '13 for consumers, and waiting for '13 PRO devices a bit.
I agree on the screen, speakers, battery, and mic. The "pro" meaning is definitely watered down there at best. However, what you're describing with professional workloads is exactly the idea behind the fan remaining in the Pro. My theory is that they could have kept a fan in the Air, too, but they took it out to provide more difference/incentive to get the Pro (otherwise performance would have been too similar). I think the Air will really struggle with some sustained heavy workloads compared to the Pro due to the lack of a fan.
 
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