Should home user wait for AS?

[KyleSchultz]

Hi guys:

I’m currently running an i5-3570K desktop that I built from parts from Micro Center in 2012. As I’m now retired and don’t have the need to run MS-based apps, other than Excel/Word, I want to upgrade to an Apple computer to more seamlessly integrate with my iPhone, iPad, and iCloud storage.

I really like the 2020 27” iMac but have serious reservations about investing in an Intel machine as I probably will again keep this computer another 8 years or so. I’m concerned lack of OS support from Apple will disable the machine sooner than I would wish.

Future AS machines, especially laptops, sound exciting. But I think I would be better served with a desktop. Right now I think perhaps the new 24” AS iMac that may show up later this year would probably be the best fit for my needs. Cost and reliability obviously unknown at this time but I do have a fair amount of trust in Apple.

Should I wait for what might be over the horizon or is the 2020 27” iMac the smart buy for me? Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[iAFC]

If you want long-term support, you'll be better off with an ARM Mac.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

My 27" iMac is 6.5 years old. I am waiting for an AS 27" iMac (or maybe it'll be 29-30", which would be fine with me). I figure it'll be close to a year before the larger AS iMac appears, considering the 27" Intel refresh that was just released. My Mac is working well, so I have no immediate need for a new machine. I'd rather have the new technology so I plan to wait, but if I needed to buy Intel today I also wouldn't be worried.

There are the risks to adopting new technology, and there are risks to sticking with old technology.

As to the new? Apple has been building products and OSes for AS for many years, so they have plenty of practice (iOS, Apple TV, Apple Watch). While there are certainly differences between those and Macs there are plenty of similarities, so it's not like the first-generation AS Macs can be considered to be experimental - I think the first-generation risk will be small.

However, I don't think there's a huge downside risk in buying the Intel iMacs that were just released. You hope for 8 years of useful life, I think you'd get a minimum of 7 years.

Hardware support isn't going to differ between Intel and AS - Apple has a standard Vintage/Obsolete policy for hardware that is applied to all product lines. Apple stocks parts and offers repair service for a minimum of 5 years from the last date of sale for a model, and if they don't run out of parts they will offer repair service for up to 7 years.

The only question in my mind is the length of software support (new versions of macOS and security patches on older versions). I'd expect there will be new versions of macOS for Intel for at least 5 years from the last date the last Intel Mac is sold by Apple (which could be two years from now - a total of 6-7 years for an Intel Mac sold today). As with many Mac models over history, I wouldn't count on being able to install the newest version of macOS on a machine older than 7 years (my Late 2013 27" iMac runs Catalina, but will not run Big Sur). There's not much harm in running a 2- or 3-year-old OS - Apple has typically issues security patches for 2- and 3-year-old OSes, so while a 7- or 8-year-old Mac might not get the newest feature updates, it should still be OK on security.

For my situation, a 24" display would not be satisfactory - I'm too used to using larger displays, and my eyes aren't getting any younger. I can afford to wait for a 27"-30" AS iMac (may lightning not strike my current Mac in the meantime). But if you can't wait for a 27" AS and you won't spend 8 years regretting having a smaller display, by all means, get the 24" when it arrives.

 

[MarkC426]

Hi guys:

I’m currently running an i5-3570K desktop that I built from parts from Micro Center in 2012. As I’m now retired and don’t have the need to run MS-based apps, other than Excel/Word, I want to upgrade to an Apple computer to more seamlessly integrate with my iPhone, iPad, and iCloud storage.

I really like the 2020 27” iMac but have serious reservations about investing in an Intel machine as I probably will again keep this computer another 8 years or so. I’m concerned lack of OS support from Apple will disable the machine sooner than I would wish.

Future AS machines, especially laptops, sound exciting. But I think I would be better served with a desktop. Right now I think perhaps the new 24” AS iMac that may show up later this year would probably be the best fit for my needs. Cost and reliability obviously unknown at this time but I do have a fair amount of trust in Apple.

Should I wait for what might be over the horizon or is the 2020 27” iMac the smart buy for me? Thanks in advance for your advice.

First generation machines can be a gamble though.
In reality things may work perfectly fine with the new Architecture.

Whereas a 2020 imac is tried and tested and should be fully bug free.

 

[glenthompson]

Another option is to pick up a used/refurbished Mini which you can use with your existing peripherals until the desired ASi Mac becomes available. It would give you time to get used to macOS before getting your new machine. that’s what I did, used an older MBP for a year before I retired then picked up my 2011 MBP that I’m still using.

You do have an advantage moving to the new architecture since you’re not running any existing apps that may not transfer easily.

 

[techwarrior]

They won't abandon it, they won't disable it. I still have 10-12 YO Macs that still work, albeit older OS versions.

They will support it with new OS for 3-4 years after a replacement model comes out, like with any Mac. Then, they will support security updates for several years. A new Intel Mac today will still work 10 years from now, but it may not have access to some new features.

I don't think they would abandon Intel Macs, there are still a few PPC Macs in the wild running 10.3 or 10.4 or something, but they never bricked them.

 

[4sallypat]

They won't abandon it, they won't disable it. I still have 10-12 YO Macs that still work, albeit older OS versions.

They will support it with new OS for 3-4 years after a replacement model comes out, like with any Mac. Then, they will support security updates for several years. A new Intel Mac today will still work 10 years from now, but it may not have access to some new features.

I don't think they would abandon Intel Macs, there are still a few PPC Macs in the wild running 10.3 or 10.4 or something, but they never bricked them.

Correct, I still have an old 2005 mac mini that still runs the PPC OS just fine. Can't do much with it these days except it plays music just fine.

My oldest machine that is current is a 2013 iMac that runs Catalina and is a champ with an external TB SSD boot drive.

 

[psingh01]

There is a good chance that an AS Mac released this winter won’t have full OS support in 8 years anyway, but even so, I’d wait 6-12months for the first AS iMac if I were you.

 

[KyleSchultz]

Is it accurate to say that AS will have a bigger impact on laptops than on desktops? I’m guessing it will.