My Issue with the New iMacs...

[joshwithachance]

These are powerful, very unique looking devices that will no doubt serve their purpose for years to come, BUT... we're already halfway through the M1 processor cycle. As early as this summer we will most likely start seeing the M2 so this next gen MBP (and possibly MBA) will outperform the just released iMac just a few months after release... Thoughts?

Side note: I'm WELL AWARE that "something better is always around the corner". But that better thing is like RIGHT around the corner...

 

[imdog]

We will certainly not see the M2 this summer lol

 

[joshwithachance]

We will certainly not see the M2 this summer lol

We could most definitely see the M2 (or M1X) in August or September. And that still doesn't negate my point that we're already AT THE MINIMUM halfway through the M1 cycle.

 

[tomtad]

I don't think it's right round the corner for this class of device. The M1 was only released at the end of 2020 and has just been released on the iPad which will have at least a year until a refresh.

We may see an M1X or M2 but it will either be in a new MacBook Pro or iMac Pro. Also Apple usually has longer refresh cycles on Macs.

I can see the M1 being around for some time.

 

[MistrSynistr]

The M1, even on 8gb of RAM (you can see all the video reviews on YT) does literally everything. Even 8k video editing.

You would have to be animating Pixar movies or just absolutely have to have the 'new chip' to worry about M1 performance. 99.8% of all people are fully covered for 10 years on these things.

 

[za9ra22]

I would simply wonder why it matters? This processor either does what you need it to do or it doesn't. If it does, then the fact a newer one is possibly coming this year makes no difference at all.

And why then limit it to this year? An upgraded processor will be coming next year for sure. Maybe just 18 months away at most, so why get one of these rather than wait for one of those?

The fact is there could be several M-whatever processors during the expected life span of this 24-inch iMac, so whenever you buy one, it will always be 'out of date' at some point during your 'investment cycle'.

Why on earth would that matter, assuming that you'd bought the computer you need in the first place? And if you didn't buy the computer you need, then you have a bigger problem than the fact a new processor will be out sometime, one day.

 

[thingstoponder]

This isn’t a concern for me. The M1 will still be fast as hell for years. M2 probably won’t feel any faster in basic tasks. Does the iPhone 12 feel faster than the 11? Not really.

In the future I wonder if they will update their new devices more rapidly after a new chip comes out. It would be cool if all the new M1 devices come out in a month or two span. It makes sense that the iMac came out so long after because it was a new design, but that won’t be an issue in the future when updating it.

 

[trip1ex]

there is always a faster cpu on the horizon.

 

[jz0309]

We will see a M2 in the 2nd half, my estimate is Q4, and, it will not make its way into the 24" iMac at first, maybe in a year or so at the earliest ...

 

[Anonymous Freak]

These are powerful, very unique looking devices that will no doubt serve their purpose for years to come, BUT... we're already halfway through the M1 processor cycle. As early as this summer we will most likely start seeing the M2 so this next gen MBP (and possibly MBA) will outperform the just released iMac just a few months after release... Thoughts?

Side note: I'm WELL AWARE that "something better is always around the corner". But that better thing is like RIGHT around the corner...

Pretty much standard for Apple in transitions. The first PowerPC models used the very inferior PowerPC 601, when the second generation used the much better 603 or 604; and they used the older NuBus architecture instead of the superior PCI.

The first systems to be able to run Mac OS X (beige Power Mac G3 and second-generation PowerBook G3) were both cut off from Mac OS X support after only version 10.2.

The first round of Intel systems used the 32-bit "Core Duo" chips, when the 64-bit Core 2 Duo chips came just later that same year.

 

[Maconplasma]

I think the OP needs to get the Intel mentality out of his head. Moving forward Apple will no longer be on Intel's release schedule so we don't have to deal with these silly threads about Coffee Lake, Sandy Lake, Sandy Bridge, Water Loo all other nonsensical processors that have very little increase in performance. The M1 is far ahead of anything Intel currently makes in it's class so Apple won't be updating it nearly as often as Intel updates theirs. Furthermore the next Apple Silicon will be introduced for the Pro-level machines. There will be no more upgrades to the M1 for the rest of the year.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Chasing the next tech is a waste of time and money.

 

[BarredOwl]

Chasing the next tech is a waste of time and money.

Yes, and yet we do just that. I stand by the principal of buying the best available when you have a use for it.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Yes, and yet we do just that. I stand by the principal of buying the best available when you have a use for it.

I agree with that principal so long as you don't spend outside of your means.

 

[Eso]

OP is right by the way - there’s a very good chance that Apple’s laptop computers will outperform this desktop computer within 6 months. That‘s a hard pill to swallow, and doesn’t exactly endear themselves to anyone but those that diefy the most profit-driven company that’s ever existed. We‘ll soon see their product roadmap, but if this is what Apple ends up doing it’s pretty irresponsible and consumer hostile on their part.

 

[za9ra22]

OP is right by the way - there’s a very good chance that Apple’s laptop computers will outperform this desktop computer within 6 months. That‘s a hard pill to swallow, and doesn’t exactly endear themselves to anyone but those that diefy the most profit-driven company that’s ever existed. We‘ll soon see their product roadmap, but if this is what Apple ends up doing it’s pretty irresponsible and consumer hostile on their part.

Why on earth would it matter?

I have a 2016 MBP which outperforms my 2012 iMac by a long way. Doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to either machine, or to me.

If people buy what they need, whatever happens next in production is unimportant.

 

[Apple_Robert]

So what if the new model outperforms the model you just bought. Your current Mac doesn't suddenly stop working or become instantly obsolete. It will still be able to do the work it was bought for.

Trying to buy the latest tech every time so you can brag or fulfill some insecurity within brings nothing but emptiness and a lighter wallet. Strangers on this forum really don't get what others havre or don't have.

Buy for what you need today and don't worry about tomorrow.

 

[thingstoponder]

OP is right by the way - there’s a very good chance that Apple’s laptop computers will outperform this desktop computer within 6 months. That‘s a hard pill to swallow, and doesn’t exactly endear themselves to anyone but those that diefy the most profit-driven company that’s ever existed. We‘ll soon see their product roadmap, but if this is what Apple ends up doing it’s pretty irresponsible and consumer hostile on their part.

So what? New computers are faster than old ones. Just because a laptop is faster doesn’t make the desktop slow. It will still be fast.

And how is it irresponsible? It seems like the iMac was delayed because of the rumors it was going to be one of the first Macs. Should they have pushed it six more months? You have to ship stuff eventually.

 

[familychoice]

So what if the new model outperforms the model you just bought. Your current Mac doesn't suddenly stop working or become instantly obsolete. It will still be able to do the work it was bought for.

Trying to buy the latest tech every time so you can brag or fulfill some insecurity within brings nothing but emptiness and a lighter wallet. Strangers on this forum really don't get what others havre or don't have.

Buy for what you need today and don't worry about tomorrow.

Reading some of the posts on this forum, would make me believe the 16” MBP I bought just over a year ago, has gone from one of the best laptops ever made, to an outdated, worthless piece of tat, because a new one is faster and they’ll stop supporting the chip with OS updates in a few years time (despite the fact I usually stop updating the OS after a few years anyway, as they’re optimised for newer machines, and usually knacker the performance).

Yet absolutely nothing has changed here - still looks lovely, battery life great, it’s fast, reliable....

 

[LFC2020]

Then wait for the M2 chip models, have no regrets purchasing my M1 MacBook Pro on launch day, most likely hand it down to my sister to replace her perfectly fine 2016 MacBook Pro and get the redesigned MacBook Pro. 🤦‍♂️😂

Good excuse to justify a upgrade lol.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Reading some of the posts on this forum, would make me believe the 16” MBP I bought just over a year ago, has gone from one of the best laptops ever made, to an outdated, worthless piece of tat, because a new one is faster and they’ll stop supporting the chip with OS updates in a few years time (despite the fact I usually stop updating the OS after a few years anyway, as they’re optimised for newer machines, and usually knacker the performance).

Yet absolutely nothing has changed here - still looks lovely, battery life great, it’s fast, reliable....

Don’t pay attention to those kind of posts. They are absurd and not even close to reality.

 

[nicho]

And why then limit it to this year? An upgraded processor will be coming next year for sure. Maybe just 18 months away at most, so why get one of these rather than wait for one of those?

I have a feeling that if we were going to see M1X, and M2 was to follow 12 months after M1, then M1X would be out by now.

Macs aren't a yearly upgrade item like cell phones. I have a feeling the M chips will follow the even-numbered A chips, and the beefed up "X" variants will follow the odd-numbered ones... after all, they are usually refinements of the even-numbered ones.

 

[jahin17]

The M1, even on 8gb of RAM (you can see all the video reviews on YT) does literally everything. Even 8k video editing.

You would have to be animating Pixar movies or just absolutely have to have the 'new chip' to worry about M1 performance. 99.8% of all people are fully covered for 10 years on these things.

Would you think the 8gb version would last for the next 5/6 years? Ordered the base config iMac with 8gb ram.

 

[biffuz]

The M1, even on 8gb of RAM (you can see all the video reviews on YT) does literally everything. Even 8k video editing.

You would have to be animating Pixar movies or just absolutely have to have the 'new chip' to worry about M1 performance. 99.8% of all people are fully covered for 10 years on these things.

No, they won't

In three years, the new macOS will make M1 feel "laggy" and "choppy", if not outright "buggy".

In five years, the new macOS won't support them anymore, youtubers will suggest to just buy a new one anyway because "look how fast they are", and will be relegated to grandma's facebook machines. Also, they will start to fail in numbers, and being so difficult to repair, they will end up in landfills.

In seven years, they won't get security updates any more, websites and apps will stop supporting them, and even the last die-hard owners will secretly crave a new one.

On contrast, the latest and supported Windows happily runs on 12 years old machines with slight upgrades, not to mention Linux.

That's what's going to happen: from now on, Macs will follow smartphones upgrade cycles, not PC's. Especially with first gen products like this.

In the end, if you want a desktop M1 Mac, get a Mini; at least you will have a replaceable, reusable monitor.

And never get a 8 GB machine, period. No matter what. It's a trick to make it last even less.

 

[za9ra22]

Would you think the 8gb version would last for the next 5/6 years? Ordered the base config iMac with 8gb ram.

In a way, Apple have tied their own hands by making the M1 non-upgradable. They have to continue supporting it for years, which means they are somewhat constrained by their own decision to release an 8Gb base version.

And developers will be too, not because they'll be under threat of class-action lawsuits for building planned obsolescence into their product, as Apple will, but because the market of Mac users will contain a very large number of 8Gb systems. Too big and profitable a market to ignore.

If there is one thing that I hope the M1 can achieve, at least in part, it is the inexorable bloating of OS, software and web development.