Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Does anybody consider buying Intel Mac now?
- Thread starter cltd
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
No, and it also made me put off buying a Dell XPS. I was planning on treating myself to a new laptop for Christmas, but the M1 rollout was impressive enough to make me hold off until the next round of Macbook Pros are released next year.
My trusty 2015 MBP is gonna have to hang in there just a little longer!
My trusty 2015 MBP is gonna have to hang in there just a little longer!
I seriously thought about it, then decided I would wait (very impatiently) for Apple to release an ARM Mac Pro. I've always bought desktops (not iMac though) which is why I will wait.
A significantly discounted i7 Mini or iMac would be tempting. I need support for dual monitors and Windows. Much of the software I use is not ARM native yet so I'd see little real-world performance gain. Then again a $669 M1 mini and a cheap small PC or AWS workspaces wouldn't be so bad either...
I can see some wanting an Intel machine because of the need to run windows.
Also many people might still be uncomfortable with a first gen product and would want to either hang on to what they have a bit longer, or buy something tried and true. I still think Intel macs are a good investment and will retain good resale value as a lot of people use them to run windows.
That being said, my personal opinion is that you should probably wait until the next gen "M" processor comes out hopefully with redesigned macbooks.
**Edit: typed "retail" instead of "resale" by mistake
Also many people might still be uncomfortable with a first gen product and would want to either hang on to what they have a bit longer, or buy something tried and true. I still think Intel macs are a good investment and will retain good resale value as a lot of people use them to run windows.
That being said, my personal opinion is that you should probably wait until the next gen "M" processor comes out hopefully with redesigned macbooks.
**Edit: typed "retail" instead of "resale" by mistake
Yes... Bought a tricked out i9 iMac just last week.
Sure, the benchmarks look good for the M1 MBA/MPB/mini, but no significant real-world evaluations yet. IMO, the true evaluations for real use case for an M1 beyond web surfing and email is probably at least 6-9 months away.
It may be the technology break through for the future of Apple... But I chose to stick with the tried-and-true Intel processors for now.
I've heard my whole life (> 60 years) to never by anything with a low serial number...
Yeah, anyone still wanting a Mac to also run Windows and an office full of legacy software. I get project files often enough that contain files from this or that old program from some defunct software company that hasn’t existed since 1998, and I need to pull up a vm, install the old program, get in there, and get what content the client needs out of it or recreate it or create more of it, to incorporate in a current project. A powerful intel Mac with a variety of ports, and its ability to run any kind of OS from over the last 30 years simultaneously & every application known to mankind within them, is a Swiss Army Knife able to meet whatever needs a professional has without limitations. Apple and Microsoft have quite a lot of work to do yet before the M-series macs are going to be this useful and given Apples recent statements about the ball being in MSs court, A sounds pretty careless about doing it, so it doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence that the Mac will still be a choice we can make a convincing argument for. Processor speed is great, but it’s not everything.
Last edited:
I purchased a 2020MBPr 16 maxed out last week. Shipping Dec 9 - 13. (needed the extra couple of inches of screen size more than speed - used for development... and typing in forums).
I purchased an Asus G14 (4900hs) for portable VR about a month ago. That little laptop is pretty amazing.
If my MacBook Pro were to randomly die, and I needed to get a new computer right now, I'd probably consider going Intel again. Nothing against the M1 based machines, they seem to be amazing, but it's one of those things where I'm going to be using this computer for 5+ years, and the Silicon machines have enough compromises and unknowns (for me personally) that I can't really justify them. Not to mention that I'm a bit hesitant to move over to Big Sur right now.
I have updated to BigSur (GM) on my all my dev platforms / environments: IntelliJ, PyCharm, Visual Studio Code, Docker, Android Studio, Aseprite, Figma, Pixelmator Pro, Transmit, ect; run with no issues.
Last edited:
Apple will space out the next offerings of M silicone macs in order to sell through their contract and surplus with intel. If people need macs other than the first M1’s (Air, mini etc.) then people will have to buy.
Fortunately, my cycle (demand) allows me to wait for the M2’s, but daily I am fighting temptation..
Fortunately, my cycle (demand) allows me to wait for the M2’s, but daily I am fighting temptation..
I need to update my 2014 iMac 5K at some point, and honestly if I saw a great deal on a 2019 or 2020 Intel model I'd pull the trigger. Power consumption isn't as important on a laptop, and really I just don't do much that requires massive amounts of raw power. Hell, the 2014 is still pulling its weight for graphic design, light video editing, video conferencing, and plenty of other day to day stuff. So I'd imagine a new Intel machine, particularly an i7 or i9, would do just fine and with some better I/O and a brighter and more color-accurate screen than I have now. And assuming I got a good deal on it, I'd just apply some of that savings to maxing out RAM and ride that machine out for a few years until whatever next-gen Apple Silicon Mac is out at that time.
I purchased a 16-inch MacBook Pro with upgraded CPU/RAM and the venerable 5600M GPU a few weeks before Apple Silicon was released to ensure that, A) I was getting an Intel system before the transition in the event the 16-inch Intel systems were discontinued, and B) I could avoid Big Sur and instead use Catalina. It was the most I have ever spent on a computer. I am very happy with the decision. Depending on usage scenario, the decision I made might be a great one or might be completely nonsensical for others.
I needed a system capable of running a lot of software that might or might not work well on Rosetta and might or might not ever see a native AS update, I regularly use VMs and need to use x86/64 versions of multiple Windows releases, and I prefer to use 3 displays when using the laptop while docked. I also wanted a more mature OS on a platform that had been out for longer where its flaws and limitations were better known.
That said, M1 systems are awesome and I plan to buy a Mac Mini for a Christmas gift to myself. The CPU in the $699 Mac Mini plays ball with the 2.3 GHz i9 in my $4,000 MBP and in some situations it vastly outperforms it...I mean...how can one NOT be absolutely blown away by this? (Generally I am hesitant to buy first generation devices but $700 isn't that great of a financial commitment.) In several years I will probably be very excited to buy an AS system for work, but for now Intel works best for me.
I needed a system capable of running a lot of software that might or might not work well on Rosetta and might or might not ever see a native AS update, I regularly use VMs and need to use x86/64 versions of multiple Windows releases, and I prefer to use 3 displays when using the laptop while docked. I also wanted a more mature OS on a platform that had been out for longer where its flaws and limitations were better known.
That said, M1 systems are awesome and I plan to buy a Mac Mini for a Christmas gift to myself. The CPU in the $699 Mac Mini plays ball with the 2.3 GHz i9 in my $4,000 MBP and in some situations it vastly outperforms it...I mean...how can one NOT be absolutely blown away by this? (Generally I am hesitant to buy first generation devices but $700 isn't that great of a financial commitment.) In several years I will probably be very excited to buy an AS system for work, but for now Intel works best for me.
I think they might also sell surplus models as refurbs if the release date means more income and/or increasing their market share. The release date of these M1 Macs was unquestionably very strategic and it likely means millions of additional devices will be sold...surplus CPUs from Airs and 2-port Pros are probably just being built out as new computers and sold as refurbs.
Not many I should think, I am gutted about the M1 being so good if I hadn't,t bought a second-hand iMac 6 months ago I would get the M1 Mac Mini now. I paid over the odds for it I just had to have an iMac I wish I had waited.
If i sell it I will get a lot less for it as who is going to buy it after seeing the M1 Mac Mini. Most Mac users will be gutted.
You have a point about Windows.
Will you be able to run Linux on an external drive on the M1 Mac Mini?
And Mac OS on an external drive if you only buy the M1 with 256GB?
I have a 2017 IMAC 3.5 24GB 256ssd which I only bought 6 months ago, I would miss the iMac screen and being able to put Windows on there. I think I will probably stick with my iMac for the near future.
Should I sell it now and get the M1 Mac Mini before the price goes down on my iMac?
I am peed off I did not wait for the new Mac,s, I had no idea they would be so good and just for the base modal am really gutted.
I have an APPLE Thunderbolt display would I be able to use it with a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter with the M1 Mac Mini?
Last edited: