So it happened,

during yesterday's Apple keynote, 13" MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro and MacMini, all powered by Apple-designed ARM chips were announced,

all share same "entry-level" SoC, apparently limited so 16GB ram is max. compatible (and costs 200 bucks extra over base 8GB), and can handle only two Thunderbolt 3 ports (which are USB-4 compatible) with only one external display through thunderbolt, no support for 4TB storage or 10Gbit ethernet either,
all use legacy entry-models chassis, and share same relatively high prices,

performance-wise, Apple compares their M1 chip to their entry-level previous models, such as 1.4GHz i5 or 3.6GHz i3, superior graphical performance which I see as hardware accelerated encoding/decoding at best, and stunning battery duration of over 16 hours claimed (luckily 30W charger is included with Air and 61W charger with Pro version of MacBook),

you can order right now, shipping starts next week,

no signs of any DAW software except Apple's own Logic/Garageband screenshots,

I'm personally waiting for proper real use benchmarks next week, but I'm rather skeptical so far,
so, what do you think?

 

Last edited: Nov 11, 2020

same here, I keep my eyes on it but keep my current Hackintosh build as long as possible.
Btw I installed big sur as test (on a spare ssd) to see if presonus studio one performance better graphic wise, result nope as shitty as on any previous mac versions.

 

No more DAW laptops for me but i would grab new macbook Air for office stuff and internet use, maybe some mixing mastering but no production. now they merge iOS and macOS, there will be only one App Store for apps and plugins, they want that 30% badly, full os lockdown greedy cunts, i think plugin developers might drop mac who knows, annual updates are planned obsolescence, just buggy software and doesn’t bring anything new. i will never forgive them for dropping redmatica (still have partition of el capitan) mac just works until it doesn’t.

 

Last edited: Nov 11, 2020

Not ready to give up my 2014 MacBook Air just yet. Was hoping the Mac mini would allow for at least one internal storage add-in of some kind. Also not impressed with the lack of a 10G Ethernet option.

Still 2 to 2 1/2 times more expensive for memory & SSD

Then there is USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A instead of the top tier USB 3.2 2x2 Type-A but, like the release of USB4.

Maybe the refresh will see better packaged features along with better add-in options.

 

Who cares?
It's a fully NON-upgradable laptop with an ARM processor that's 98% faster than a cheap CELERON from 2016.
And all this in a "13 laptop that "only" costs 1500€.
Also, was made to run iOS apps instead of normal software.

 

As a techie PC user I'm very interested in Apple's new ARM computers, but I think you have to take this first batch almost as experimental laptops.
I wouldn't like to be in the shoes of an Apple user. Especially desktop ones.
So yes, like you and many other people just waiting to see real 3rd party benchmarks.

I also wouldn't be extremely pessimistic because Apple, ARM and imminent ARM's owner, nVidia, are big battle-tested companies. But the transition period is probably gonna be tough.

 

Want my thoughts? Really? Everything is going to a Shitland. Next we get a medal for a "society of the light year" from Ferengi government.

In other news, HP is selling their ink on subscription.

Fun, fun, fun in the Amsterdam... know that Kraftwerk song?

 

this is the last computer they will sell
So who cares ?

Seen global growth rate recently ?

 

This makes sense but seems redundant if the laptops aren't touch screen. Are these new macs actually going to be able to run iOS apps but with trackpad/mouse support?
And yes, I know you can use a mouse and keyboard with iOS already but it kills the flow of apps that make use of multitouch.

I'm seeing now that major developers are opting out of this unified App Store. It's a cool idea I guess but it needs their support otherwise it'll be a fraction of what it could be.

https://developer.apple.com/mac-catalyst/

 

Last edited: Nov 11, 2020

Basically, yes.
Linus from LTT already mentioned that these new laptops are just iPad pro with a keyboard and the same old 720p camera, but you can't upgrade any element, as the GPU and RAM are inside of the ARM chip.

 

I hope they know what they're doing. I still have a love for their OS (never used Big Sur) even though I migrated to Windows. Apple has some really cool ideas but their implementation comes off as capitalist and almost fascist sometimes.
The capitalist part I can kind of understand.

 

Its been awhile since any Apple laptop was upgradable in any way, and no those were spec'd against the current Intel line, not Celerons from 4 years ago.
Not sure where you got it was made to run iOS and not 'normal software' either. It runs MacOS just like every other Mac does.
Besides this is the first test run, if you really think Apple is getting rid of their current Intel line for these 3 models, man you've got some head issues that need to be checked. Besides that, these aren't even out in the real world until the earliest next week, none of us have any clue how they actually perform yet.

(And no its not an iPad Pro inside either. Doesn't even run the same SoC the iPad does)

 

I think those saying Apple didn't have a clue and that there's no way they will beat Intel might have to eat their words since single core speed outperforms an i9 in geekbench tests and multicore the new Air is almost as powerful as the 8 core 2019 Mac pro - mental.

https://www.macrumors.com/2020/11/11/m1-macbook-air-first-benchmark/

 

Wow. I hope they're accurate, looks cool.

 

They're from Geekbench so I think it's as decent a baseline performance test as you could want in terms of CPU peformance which is what counts for DAWs. I'm genuinely surprised especially with its the Air which was historically always a bit crap in terms of performance!

 

Yes it's a trustworthy test, but let's wait to confirm the interrogants that still remain. Overall they seem fast for sure.

 

No upgrade for the 16inch damnit, I was counting on it. It's the last time of my life I'm using a 13inch, it's too small.

Does that mean the newer 2020/2021 13inch will be more powerful than the latest 16inch MBP equivalent?

 

The Air is faster than the i9 MBP so seems likely but I think you'll need to wait for proper benchmarks on the MBP but in theory with the fan it should be faster than the Air as it has always been.

I suspect Apple will launch the 16 inch next year with the M2 or whatever next gen of their ARM CPU with a massive fanfair. From a marketing perspective it doesnt make sense to drop too many new models all at once.

 

everything is clear without benchmarks. this is sad...
Apple falls lower and lower. this year, they announced the release date for the new OS just two days before the release.
TWO. DAYS!

 

i've just bought a mi 2020 I7 27" imac and I had hesitated to wait for silicon. But as other said, I was afraid of softs compatibilty and relieability of this new architecture.
Apple said, CPU is 3 times faster, I can't see why it will be interesting for me.
I can run hundreds of tracks in Logic pro and plugins on my I7 Imac. I will never need 1000 thousand tracks.
If I can make a comparison, if I bought a car with can run 200 mph but the next gen will be abble to go above 500 mph, do I really need it ?
In the other side Battery life is X2 on macbook but I don't need one.
I think it is interersting for demanding pro designer or coders but what for the common user ?