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Buying an Intel Mac after the announcement of 11.0
- Thread starter nnavas13
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Intel Macs are still in development, and the transition to the entire line will be a two year cycle. Apple will support macOS for Intel for several more releases to keep with their standard legacy support scheme. Big Sur supports both platforms, as will the next 3-4 releases.
The real question is, are there any features A12Z Macs will bring that you won't be able to live without?
I say, if you need a new Mac now, buy it. You should get a full useful life out of it.
If you are not in a rush, wait a few weeks to see what analysts say about what is coming (we probably only heard a fraction of what the possibilities are). The first Macs with A12Z won't arrive till the end of the year.
I didn't hear that in the keynote. Where are you getting 3-4 releases?
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I wouldn't recommend anyone buy the first iteration of a new processor platform.
The best person to answer this would be you -- not any of us.
1.) You fail to mention if and why your current Mac hardware is inadequate to do the tasks you need it to do.
2.) You don't bother to mention which applications you are running or your specific usage case.
3.) It's not like Adobe Photoshop on Intel Macs will immediately stop working the day the first Apple Silicon Mac ships.
4.) You provided no time frame on what you consider the expected service life of a new Intel Mac acquisition would be.
Apple explicitly noted a two-year transition for the full Mac product line to move from Intel to Apple Silicon.
Presumably, Apple would continue releasing Intel-compatible versions of macOS for at least a couple of years after the final Intel model's release. Apple also provides macOS security updates for the previous two macOS releases.
Add it all up and a 2020 Intel Mac will probably still be getting macOS updates in 2026. And even after you receive your last macOS-Intel patch ever, it's not like everything on your Intel system will suddenly freeze up.
So put in as much or little thought into your purchase decision analysis. In any case, Apple has a 14-day no-questions-asked return policy. If you buy a new Apple Silicon Mac and you don't like it, just send it back and continue on in your blissful Intel dreamworld.
I'm facing the same question. I am not worried about next year's models being faster (they always will be), but about how long before I can't update my software, Apple and third party.
On the positive side for buying a new Intel Mac, right now 100% of the installed base is Intel. Apple and third parties are not going to abandon them that quickly, and not everyone is going to run to replace their systems with the ARM ones.
On the other hand, when Apple switched from PowerPC to Intel, it only took two system iterations (10.4, 10.5) before native support was dropped, and one more (10.6) before emulation support was dropped. The first Intel computers came out in January 2006. Lion, without Rosetta, came out in July 2011, five years later.
Will this transition be faster or slower? Back then the PowerPC was stagnant, and Intel was innovating, so people had motivation to switch for performance reasons. This is not the case now, where Intel is certainly pushing hard to keep making better PC chips. I also wonder how long the bad economy will continue and if it will slow down people upgrading their computers.
On the positive side for buying a new Intel Mac, right now 100% of the installed base is Intel. Apple and third parties are not going to abandon them that quickly, and not everyone is going to run to replace their systems with the ARM ones.
On the other hand, when Apple switched from PowerPC to Intel, it only took two system iterations (10.4, 10.5) before native support was dropped, and one more (10.6) before emulation support was dropped. The first Intel computers came out in January 2006. Lion, without Rosetta, came out in July 2011, five years later.
Will this transition be faster or slower? Back then the PowerPC was stagnant, and Intel was innovating, so people had motivation to switch for performance reasons. This is not the case now, where Intel is certainly pushing hard to keep making better PC chips. I also wonder how long the bad economy will continue and if it will slow down people upgrading their computers.
What do they typically support now? Once a model is replaced, the clock ticks on retiring the old model. It seems to be about 3-4 years. And you can bet they will accelerate new models to complete the transition in two years since some models like Mini and Mac Pro seem to typically go longer than 2 years between updates.
Apple said that to calm the consumers. Jobs said the same thing when Apple transitioned from PPC to intel, that Apple had some "great" PPC products in the pipeline. Lo and behold, Apple just went full steam ahead with intel instead and no new PPC Macs were announced.
So yeah, I would be wary believing Apple about them releasing more intel Macs after this. Maybe a silent refreshed iMac just to update the internals, but I think that's it.
I expect Intel Macs will be supported for the typical 3-4 years after they come out with a new model to replace the Intel version. That would be keeping in line with their legacy support policy.
From the sounds of it, Xcode will enable app makers to create both ARM and Intel versions of apps pretty seamlessly. So app vendors won't drop Intel versions any sooner than they have to.
Today, when a Mac is no longer supported for new OS releases, apps continue to be available for several years. Maybe no more updates, but they still work.
I don't expect the Intel Mac owners will be left in the cold any sooner than they would have been without the new chips, the real question is, are the new capabilities compelling enough to justify upgrading hardware sooner, or delaying a purchase until an ARM version becomes available.
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You may be right. Intel Macs already in the pipeline will finish their cycles, but Apple has to be eager to move on to ARM.
Speculation around ARM Macs was that Apple has grown frustrated with Intel's release cadence holding up Apple's cadence. Using their own chips may make Mac updates more regular. Certainly, margins would seem to stand to improve.
A transition like this has to be challenging for developers, and they do have existing Mac sales to worry about. They sound like they have taken lessons from the Intel transition, but it remains to be seen how effective it will be this time around.
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When Apple announced the switch from PowerPC to Intel in 2005 they promised to support it for many more years, and they also released some PowerPC systems just after, and by late 2007 all PowerPC users got was Leopard security updates until 2009. So they announced the switch, released more PowerPC Macs, then released only 1 more OS for the architecture, then acted like it never existed.
Also, in 2012 there was a serious security breach discovered in Leopard (the last OS that supported PowerPC) and Apple released an Intel only security update. Shameful.
People who think Intel Macs will be supported for many more years are simply delusional. Seriously.
Also, in 2012 there was a serious security breach discovered in Leopard (the last OS that supported PowerPC) and Apple released an Intel only security update. Shameful.
People who think Intel Macs will be supported for many more years are simply delusional. Seriously.
I would look to the last transition timeline to pretty much figure out how this one will go. I remember Jobs making the comment they still had some “great new PowerPC products in the pipeline“ and would support PPC for years to come, but in reality the transition happened quickly. I think they did one last iMac G5 and Power Mac G5 speed bump after they made the announcement and that was that. I don‘t see Intel support lasting much beyond 11.1 or 11.2. I have a fairly new iMac so I’m good to go for quite some time, but I would never get an Intel Mac after today’s announcement unless you absolutely need it.
As someone with a need for exactly two(!) Windows programs at home, it’ll be convenient to have an Intel MacBook around for the next handful of years with Bootcamp support. 🤷🏻♂️
Are you still within the return window and have something else to use until the end of the year? If so you might want to hold off because they claim the new processor will be ready in around 6 months. You’ll never get 5 years of support on that. More likely 2-3.
A timeline would have been nice for the release of the new devices. I still have my 2013 Macbook Pro and I wanted to replace it back in december with the new 16 inch.
I didn't and just wanted to upgrade now with the new gpu option. My 2013 still runs ok, but Final Cut is getting slow and it just doesn't feel that snappy anymore.
If a new 16 inch would be available at the end of the year...hell yeah, I would wait. But if they release the Macbook Pro in late 2021...that would be a long time.
I didn't and just wanted to upgrade now with the new gpu option. My 2013 still runs ok, but Final Cut is getting slow and it just doesn't feel that snappy anymore.
If a new 16 inch would be available at the end of the year...hell yeah, I would wait. But if they release the Macbook Pro in late 2021...that would be a long time.
Unless your current set up has major issues, or there is niche software you absolutely need to use (and might not be upgraded quickly or at all), I’d cast my vote with waiting.
The new ARM-based Macs should have longer battery life, run cooler, run faster, sport seamless iOS app integration, and have many new features.
I was looking at the 2020 MacBook Airs, but given the issues, especially with the i5, my sensitivity to noise, wanting a laptop I can rest comfortably on my legs in the summer, and that Word/Excel 2011 won't run on them, I decided against it. If I have to give up my workhorse programs, I may as well do it with an entirely brand new architecture that runs cool, fast, and long like my iPad Air!
The new ARM-based Macs should have longer battery life, run cooler, run faster, sport seamless iOS app integration, and have many new features.
I was looking at the 2020 MacBook Airs, but given the issues, especially with the i5, my sensitivity to noise, wanting a laptop I can rest comfortably on my legs in the summer, and that Word/Excel 2011 won't run on them, I decided against it. If I have to give up my workhorse programs, I may as well do it with an entirely brand new architecture that runs cool, fast, and long like my iPad Air!
I’m sending back or returning my 2020 and slogging on with my 2014 MBA. For those of us in the grey area of not *needing* a new laptop but fast approaching needing one and, thus, ”treating” ourselves to an upgrade while hoping for years and years of focus/support, I think there will be a lot of returning items purchased in the past few weeks.
May benefit those looking for a refurb.
May benefit those looking for a refurb.
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Yes, I am still in the return window -- in fact I have two different configurations (an i9 arriving in a few days) then I'd planned to decide between the two. I do need a new Mac (moving from windows), and absolutely love this 16 inch machine. But if it's going to be a brick in a few years.... that's not good. I've never spent this much on any computer. Like other posters have said... a timeline would be helpful. Alternatively I could buy a used Macbook 13 inch for like $500 from a dude on craigslist, but... ehhh.
My sense was that it would take quite some time for the ARM processers to begin to be used in MBPs, that implementation, and re-coding a lot of professional software would be very time consuming. I've seen other posts to that effect.
I did not get the feeling a new 16 inch ARM was coming out for at least a year or two. I can't really wait that long. 6 months, yea, maybe.
My sense was that it would take quite some time for the ARM processers to begin to be used in MBPs, that implementation, and re-coding a lot of professional software would be very time consuming. I've seen other posts to that effect.
I did not get the feeling a new 16 inch ARM was coming out for at least a year or two. I can't really wait that long. 6 months, yea, maybe.
Something to keep in mind everyone... as many of you seem to think it will take a while to get these chips into Macs. I don't get this logic. Apple has been working on this architecture for years. They're already VERY comfortable with it. Hence why they made the switch. How this is not obvious to everyone escapes me.
The 2 year transition is much more about still supporting Intel hardware with software updates.
The 2 year transition is much more about still supporting Intel hardware with software updates.
Well said - that is correct - my 2012 Mini Server was supported up to Catalina (8 years) and still going strong. Not worried about the lack of upgrade to Big Sur....
At a hardware level they get 3-4 years of support. Catalina (7 years later!) is the last OS 2012's will receive and they should get security patches until Catalina stops getting patches, should we expect the same longevity from Intel Macs supported by Big Sur?
I definitely don’t “need” a new Mac, but I’m a doofus that likes to buy a new Mac laptop or desktop every 1-3 years just to experience the new hardware and tech.
However, I will NOT be purchasing any more Intel Macs. Regardless of whatever the first ARM product is (either laptop, iMac or mini), I will almost certainly purchase one later this year just to fool around with it.
However, I will NOT be purchasing any more Intel Macs. Regardless of whatever the first ARM product is (either laptop, iMac or mini), I will almost certainly purchase one later this year just to fool around with it.
I'm kind of the same - my 2012 is plenty fast, but I like to keep up with software updates and since it won't get Big Sur it's time to replace it.