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Have no problem dumping Intel chips. I don't own or run any Microsoft tech. Presumably Microsoft could sell a Windows Something compiled for Apple ARM computers... after all they are in the business of making money.
 
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As far as price drop for the Mac Pro - unlikely without a corresponding drop from suppliers like Intel. The trashcan Mac Pro had the same price for the longest time - long after it was relatively obsolete - until it was 'refreshed' (i.e. same Mac Pro but refreshed by eliminating the computer beneath it mostly). They will not cut the margin that they usually aim for.

16" Macbook Pro just dropped $400.
 
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16" Macbook Pro just dropped $400.
Sorry, Amazon or another company cutting their price does not count - that is just a retailer taking a smaller margin for a sale that is currently on - not Apple cutting the price.
 
I love Apples new buy a Mac with the Apple Card. So in three years when my AppleCare is depleted, I will see how Apple progressed with the switch to ARM. Trade in my old MacBook Pro 16 and get a new model if things look good with the new system. Yes I think it is a great time to buy a new MacBook Pro 16 with a i9. Lots of horsepower over the next 4 years and then I can turn it back in to Apple, maybe with a hefty trade in value, Apple could do to encourage users to upgrade to the new system. So get a MacBook Pro, love it for three years with AppleCare and turn the unit in for credit with Apple.
 
I just ordered a Mac Pro after wavering on the fence for the past few months. It will be a relief to be able to watch the Arm transition from the comfort of the sidelines with a fast machine that can still handle my business needs for virtualization and Docker development. When the industry finally catches up to Apple's trailblazing into the world of Arm (whenever that happens) I can re-evaluate.
 
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First generation iPad was announced in 2010.
And it was a dud, to be honest.
Severely underequipped in RAM, which resulted in obnoxious reloading of Safari tabs. Also, after being announced in early 2010, 2011's iOS 5 release was already the end of the line - which did limit useful life of the product considerably. Additionally, compared to its successor, the 1st gen iPad's case was extremely clunky and bulky.

The iPad used to be one of the best examples of why it's better to wait for 2nd gen. instead of buying first.
I think if you're comparing those, you'd have to include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen. iPads in that category. All of them worked well at running the iOS version of the time, but as iOS got bulkier, it was clear they were underequipped to run iOS upgrades several generations later and everything slowed down. My iPad 3 has been essentially a ebook reader for probably 4 years.
 
Echoing what many others have said - Living through the PPC/Intel transition, I was glad I held on to my G5 for a few years before taking the plunge with a 2013 Macbook Air. The original Intel models were Core Solo/Core Duo, and Apple was seemingly reconfiguring the hardware around them with every release while making major revisions to OS X.

Just bought the Early 2020 MBA in April, and am incredibly delighted with it (some of the heat-related issues notwithstanding), AND, I need to emulate Windows for at least the foreseeable future. I reason that by the next time I'm seriously looking to replace it in 3-5 years, the ARM Macs will have a lot of "unknown unknown" issues ironed out, and will be just as delightful of an investment as my new MBA.

I was part of the cadre speculating on the "PowerBook G5" vs. an Intel-based notebook, and in retrospect, I think that a chip architecture switch in those days was much more of a substantial thing than it will be in 2021, even if it bunks Windows emulation, aside from the .NET-dependent stuff, of course.
 
Anyone who owns the current iPad pros knows how good Apple silicon is. There is no way I would buy a new Intel Mac today.
Unless you are a production house with work waiting to get done, I would seriously wait. I have no doubt the new Macs will blow away the Intel Macs.

Considering this is a step backwards in terms of ability to run other OSes and apps, it better.
 
i read many posts but did not read all of them, so I apologize if this was commented on already, but what many fail to point out is that when the new iMac comes out it will have the new T2 chip, and from what i have read, it will put a damper/stop on the ability to add external storage means so that one can run the OS from an external SSD device?? For many this has been a big bonus to help them with a slow/slowing Imac etc...SO THIS MAYBE A REASON TO BUY NOW! For 90% or more of the consumers, they really do not need all of the bells and whistles, and are not even able to detect in most cases the subtle differences in new or added hardwear! For people that take the time to read macrumers they are tech enthusiasts and tech professionals who do higher end computing and would benefit from better insides...but most likely would be just as well served by the current specs available.
 
And apple will be blocking that fix on every update! Again, The point being is there is no need to worry for 90% or greater for the the average person. Apple moving away from Intel chips is more about money then about computing specs! We have more then enough power in today’s computing and what do people complain about the need for more?
 
And apple will be blocking that fix on every update!

I don't know what you mean. It's not a "fix" it's just a feature of the boot protection on T2-equipped Macs. Apple are the ones who enabled it, why would they block it? You seem to want to find a conspiracy where none exists.
 
I don't know what you mean. It's not a "fix" it's just a feature of the boot protection on T2-equipped Macs. Apple are the ones who enabled it, why would they block it? You seem to want to find a conspiracy where none exists.
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Not looking for a conspiracy theory just pointing out things! I have all apple products. Decisions in big business comes down to money!
 
Not looking for a conspiracy theory just pointing out things!

That article has nothing at all to do with booting off external drives, which was your original complaint. As I pointed out, the T2 does not block booting off external drives. You just have to change that boot security setting, because by default it is more restrictive.

If your position is that people should prefer pre-T2 machines because they need to be able to boot off external drives, you should be relieved to learn that your assumption was incorrect. That is not blocked by the T2 security chip. This is where most people would just be thankful that the situation isn't how they thought it was.

Instead, you ran straight to a search engine and desperately linked to the first article that seemed like it would allow you to maintain the conspiracy theory and sense of persecution. I'm not sure why.
 
That article has nothing at all to do with booting off external drives, which was your original complaint. As I pointed out, the T2 does not block booting off external drives. You just have to change that boot security setting, because by default it is more restrictive.

If your position is that people should prefer pre-T2 machines because they need to be able to boot off external drives, you should be relieved to learn that your assumption was incorrect. That is not blocked by the T2 security chip. This is where most people would just be thankful that the situation isn't how they thought it was.

Instead, you ran straight to a search engine and desperately linked to the first article that seemed like it would allow you to maintain the conspiracy theory and sense of persecution. I'm not sure why.
I am relieved, but i would still go back to another argument i made that, for more then 90% of apples buyers this new chip is not going to mean a thing. you claim that i am a conspiracy hawk, but look at the comments, about complaints, what people would like to see etc. The new chip is not going to drastically change anyones life? we are not even sure if its going to compute to much better performance? It’s about money! And that s fine!
Persecution? Really. Please. I love a apple products, i am able to Think reasonably and not get ruffled when you think that someone is saying something bad about apple?
 
I am relieved, but i would still go back to another argument i made that, for more then 90% of apples buyers this new chip is not going to mean a thing.

It seems early to make that kind of prediction. On the mobile front if Arm is able to provide a cooler, more power-efficient experience with tons of custom, dedicated in-silica solutions that Apple leverages in their software then it's possible the Arm-based Macs will bring tons of benefits to consumers that aren't feasible on the homogenous Intel platform that Apple don't directly control. That's certainly possible.

We really need to wait and see what the Apple do with the potential of Arm before we can even begin to guess if they'll just use the move to cut costs or if they use the move to increase capabilities.

Think reasonably and not get ruffled when you think that someone is saying something bad about apple?

I only got ruffled because you said things that are factually inaccurate.
 
It seems early to make that kind of prediction. On the mobile front if Arm is able to provide a cooler, more power-efficient experience with tons of custom, dedicated in-silica solutions that Apple leverages in their software then it's possible the Arm-based Macs will bring tons of benefits to consumers that aren't feasible on the homogenous Intel platform that Apple don't directly control. That's certainly possible.

We really need to wait and see what the Apple do with the potential of Arm before we can even begin to guess if they'll just use the move to cut costs or if they use the move to increase capabilities.



I only got ruffled because you said things that are factually inaccurate.
I agree with you in part. I believe as many do that apple as well as most businesses look at both the consumer and cost? I brought up the second article because i remembered seeing it when i was looking for info on the T2 chip. I myself have a iPad Pro 12.9 and am looking to buy an iMac 21inch? The highest tier model in that group. i am on a budget and the 27inch is out of my range at this time, as well as configuring? So, the model has as you well know a fusion drive, that many have complained about and i would like to if need be hook up an ssd at a later time?
 
I agree with you in part. I believe as many do that apple as well as most businesses look at both the consumer and cost? I brought up the second article because i remembered seeing it when i was looking for info on the T2 chip. I myself have a iPad Pro 12.9 and am looking to buy an iMac 21inch? The highest tier model in that group. i am on a budget and the 27inch is out of my range at this time, as well as configuring? So, the model has as you well know a fusion drive, that many have complained about and i would like to if need be hook up an ssd at a later time?

If you can wait a few months before buying, the Kuo rumour suggests a 24" redesigned ARM iMac will be released in Q4, so maybe Oct/Nov. It'll almost certainly come with SSD.


A China Times rumour also suggested a lower cost 23" iMac was coming out this year, which may well be the same ARM iMac Kuo described since Apple processor is thought to cost 40-60% lower than intels. So there's a chance the ARM iMac may be set at a lower price than the existing 21.5 intel model and possibly by 1 or 2 hundred.


Apple have shown with the iPad and iPhone SE that they are willing to release lower cost devices to reach a larger market.
 
I don't think this is a particulary good time to buy a new Mac, especially if you are dependent on some special third party software. Apple si not really known to support old devices for a long time after switching architectures. They say "many years to come", but they don't want to say how many - this could mean only two/three years. On the other side, with buying first generation of completely new product you are basically "feeling lucky".

At this time, I might be willing to buy cheaper, probably used Mac, to last me a few years until second generation of new hardware comes out. Or if I would only use it for web browsing and such, maybe the cheapest Air/13"/Mini.
 
The only reason i would get an iMac would be if it’s faster and less expensive than the MacBook, which was mostly the case with Intel. But with the power efficiency of Apple Silicon, They may both be equally powerful. I may opt in for the MacBook if they are equally powerful.
Then Again, I love my iPad Pro. And the silicon in the iPad Pro is due for a refresh. I may just have to wait and see what the 2021 iPad Pro has to offer.
 
Being in the market for a laptop, and the current world climate, the 720p webcam genuinely made the choice for me. I can't invest into that product for those prices.

Will be patiently waiting for the ARM updates.
Completely agree -- I am ready to buy a new Macbook, but the 720p webcam coupled with the impending ARM transition makes me think we'll have a WAY better option in a year or so.
 
Hi All,

Great read. one item that caught my eye in the article is the below bit:

“....Microsoft does have its own native Arm version of Windows it uses on its Surface Pro X, but that is only available to manufacturers who resell Microsoft products under their own name and branding. As far as we know, there are no current plans make an Arm-based version of Windows available for Macs. Even if that were to become available for the Mac, it has its own compatibility and performance issues with traditional Intel Windows applications....”


OK, some questions for discussion:


Q1) Are Msoft and Apple going to play ball so there is an option to dual boot into Windows if wanted?
Personally, if I’m spending alot on a nice laptop, it would be good to use just the one laptop all the time, with everything in one place.

Is this initial stance just a jockeying for position and financial leverage, before any agreement between the two of them? I.e. If apple do really well with their ARM transition, then they can command lower reseller payments to Microsoft etc?


Q2) Why can’t the new Apple ARM laptops not dual boot?!
Is there some technical reason for this?
Or is it Apple holding back on features?



Q3) Is this never actually ever going to happen?
I.e. Is Apple looking to consolidate its “Walled garden” position with its new chipset?

I.e. Are Microsoft and Apple are both doing a land grab for the same space? Wanting to increase customer base into their subscription data clouds services?


Food for thought!

Be great to hear your thoughts ✌


Regards
Martin
 
If I need a Mac in a two-three years time, it doesn't really matter what it has as long as I can run the Mac programs I need.

Right now most of the stuff I use is platform agnostic so maybe it won't matter. But I expect by the time I need an upgrade the ARM Mac line-up should have most of its issues smoothed out.
 
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I tend to buy software that is platform agnostic.

Affinity apps. Zbrush. Poser Pro 12. Blender is for both platforms. So is Lightwave 3D.

Azrael.
 
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