There is quite a bit of discussion about software support on Apple Silicon with Rosetta 2 and early developer access. How about support for Intel compatible applications? My previous MBP lasted 7 years. I just replaced it with the MBP16 late last year. Will software (other than MacOS) continue to be supported/updated/revised for the Intel based Macs for another 6 years? That would be well into Rev 5 or 6 of Apple Silicon. My gut tells me the expense of two different code sets will be too much for many developers (understandably). Any thoughts or opinions based on reports or experience?
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Should I Buy an Intel Mac Today or Wait to Buy an Arm-Based Mac?
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I plan on using my 2017 MacBook Pro at least as long as it's supported. By the time I upgrade, Arm should be well established.
My entire business is based on Macs and my software does not appear likely to updated anytime soon. I will buy Intel Macs until the end. I am excited for innovation and I understand Apples decision but it will very difficult for me to find solutions for all the things I take for granted today. I have been through all the transitions and they have always led to a few years of consternation for me. But you can't stop innovation.
Personally, I’d like to have an Intel-based refreshed 14” MBP.
It’s great Apple is getting their own silicon, and in a few years I’ll jump on the bandwagon. But meantime I just need to get stuff done.
It’s great Apple is getting their own silicon, and in a few years I’ll jump on the bandwagon. But meantime I just need to get stuff done.
My take on this is either wait for arm Macs or just get a windows laptop if you need the os.
If budget is no concern, having one of each truly is the best solution.
My 2018 13” MBP will be my last Mac for the time being. I need to run windows, although I hate it and would even use Linux if the software I need (mainly autodesk stuff) wasn’t windows exclusive.
If budget is no concern, having one of each truly is the best solution.
My 2018 13” MBP will be my last Mac for the time being. I need to run windows, although I hate it and would even use Linux if the software I need (mainly autodesk stuff) wasn’t windows exclusive.
Not a fan of gen 1 and Apple will never release the ultimate hardware design then either. Like said, release 3 or 4 will get the best roi.I can't wait to see how great ARM macs will be.
However I think pretty much every single person here can agree on one very true point which has repeated itself with Apple products over many many years even going back to well into Steve Jobs time.
Expect any new Apple product, to get VASTLY better by the time the 2nd and 3rd models come out.
1st model (generally always issues)
2nd model fixes most of these problems, as they HAD to ship the 1st one and could not fix everything before launch so the 2nd one has all the things they really wanted to do with the 1st one.
3rd model, they'd had time to have a rethink and look at the good and bad points, and give it the love and polish to really make is a good well rounded product.
So will apps be built for both intel and arm? Or will there be apps that can’t be run on an old Mac because it was built for arm?
"But after the first ARM macs, there will be even better ARM macs around the corner." 🤣
In any event, as the primary goal is transition, it seems plausible that some first-gen ARM macs will be pretty indistinguishable from the intel counterparts. The second-gen could feature more tangible improvements and redesigns.
In any event, as the primary goal is transition, it seems plausible that some first-gen ARM macs will be pretty indistinguishable from the intel counterparts. The second-gen could feature more tangible improvements and redesigns.
I'm a software developer (and didn't get in on getting the preview Mini), so I'll buy one of whatever macOS ARM products they offer first, if it's affordable (Mini, Air, 13/14 Book), to use for app testing. I also just purchased a new MacBook Pro so I'll have a long life expectancy x86 test machine as well. It would be funny if I ended up with 2 identical and identically working MacBooks, the only way to tell them apart by which one is spinning its fans the loudest (likely Intel, not Apple Silicon).
That seems to no longer to be the case; check out arm.com and you'll see they no longer to refer to "ARM" in upper case any more - for company or product.
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On Intel based Macs; you can install Windows, Linux and BSD among many other operating systems.
Yeah, I'll certainly wait out the 1st-gen ARM Macs because
- First-gen Apple products tend to have lots of issues
- I'm going to want to see how they actually perform (people seem to think they're gonna scream, but I'm not going to take that on faith)
- I want to see how bumpy the shift is when it comes to porting the applications I rely on
- I'm a bit concerned Apple may take this opportunity to lock them down the way they lock down iOS/iPadOS devices
I also think it's going to take longer that anyone thinks for AS to be fully available and fully tested. Buy what you need when you need it.
Buy now if you're needing it. Logic dictates skipping the first generation of the new machines, so it could be a while.
I've got my 2015 MacBook Pro dual-booting macOS and Linux Mint.
Linux works great on my Mac. Honestly the only tricky part about this setup is the boot manager - since Apple tends to overwrite things whenever the OS gets an update, I've had to reinstall it (not the whole Linux install; just fixing the boot handling).
I can't wait to see how great ARM macs will be.
However I think pretty much every single person here can agree on one very true point which has repeated itself with Apple products over many many years even going back to well into Steve Jobs time.
Expect any new Apple product, to get VASTLY better by the time the 2nd and 3rd models come out.
1st model (generally always issues)
2nd model fixes most of these problems, as they HAD to ship the 1st one and could not fix everything before launch so the 2nd one has all the things they really wanted to do with the 1st one.
3rd model, they'd had time to have a rethink and look at the good and bad points, and give it the love and polish to really make is a good well rounded product.
This seems like an overly cautious, super conservative approach to buying things, and maybe even to life in general. Come on, live a little! I’m not waiting around for years to see how it goes for everyone, I’m going for it. I’ve bought many first generation Apple products, I’ve always had a great experience, and it’s fun to play with the new toys. My first generation Intel based MacBook Pro, for example, was a terrific experience. It was so much faster than my PowerBook, and totally dependable. My first generation 2012 retina MacBook Pro 15” was also a terrific experience - it was a work provided one, so when I switched jobs and had to give it back, I immediately purchased a refurbished 2013 one from Apple. I used that thing until 2018 with no issues, finally sold it for $800 on eBay, bought a new MacBook Pro which I’m still enjoying.
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Sort of depends on how you mark the end of a transition. Snow Leopard, the first solely Intel OSX, launched in 2009.
I'd say there's no reason not to, i Purchased a Base Model 2020 Macbook Pro yesterday From Argos, and this is my first new mac since the intel switch in 2006!.. i say buy away!
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.
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.
I can't wait to see how great ARM macs will be.
However I think pretty much every single person here can agree on one very true point which has repeated itself with Apple products over many many years even going back to well into Steve Jobs time.
Expect any new Apple product, to get VASTLY better by the time the 2nd and 3rd models come out.
1st model (generally always issues)
2nd model fixes most of these problems, as they HAD to ship the 1st one and could not fix everything before launch so the 2nd one has all the things they really wanted to do with the 1st one.
3rd model, they'd had time to have a rethink and look at the good and bad points, and give it the love and polish to really make is a good well rounded product.
I agree. Sometimes it's even the 4th model that really hits that sweet spot. At least that's been the case with iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch in my opinion.
On the flip side, this might not hold true this time. Apple has been designing SoCs in-house since 2010, and designing SoCs with custom GPUs in-house since 2016/2017. Further, Apple has been making laptops, desktops, and all-in-ones since the beginning pretty much; in all sorts of designs and form factors. Unlike the iPod, iPhone, or iPad, Apple is not inventing a new type or category of device here. Rather, Apple is merging two mature technologies that they already have a ton of experience with. Unlike when Apple launches a totally new line of products, they already know how to built this category of products and already know how users will use them. So there will be fewer surprises and quirks.
This likely means the end of using Macs at my work, as most of the Mac software we use will likely not be updated and the windows software will not longer be able to run on Parallels.
However, I am excited for ARM for my personal Mac, although I will likely wait until the second generation.
However, I am excited for ARM for my personal Mac, although I will likely wait until the second generation.
I purchased a 16" MacBook Pro as soon as they dropped . . . No regrets, this thing is an absolute beast, love every bit of it. Maybe not the transition to usb-c, that's been a slight pain, but, progress. If you need a new machine, you won't regret the purchase, Apple silicone is just ramping up, you'll enjoy support for many years to come for your Intel box.
Also, if you are wanting to wait and need to run Windows, even though you can't boot directly into Windows, there will be virtualization option, I'm sure of it. It's just too big of a money maker to not see Parallels and VMWare to not do something. Apple never suggested there won't be a way to run Windows, just not able to boot into it . . . Instruction Set is different.
Also, if you are wanting to wait and need to run Windows, even though you can't boot directly into Windows, there will be virtualization option, I'm sure of it. It's just too big of a money maker to not see Parallels and VMWare to not do something. Apple never suggested there won't be a way to run Windows, just not able to boot into it . . . Instruction Set is different.
Your assumption is that they will work out the kinks in multiple processor configurations that include multithreading and many cores to match Xeon performance.
I'd say, Mac mini, MarBooks Pro, iMac, MacPro and definitely not all by the end of 2021.