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Apple announces it will switch to its own processors for future Macs

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Re: Apple announces it will switch to its own processors for future Macs

#421

Post by djhworld »

Assuming they build the new Macs around the SoC - does this effectively kill any hope of dual boot support for Linux/Windows etc. It's not just the ARM processor in there, those SoCs have a bunch of Apple proprietary stuff (inc. GPU) that I very much doubt will have open source drivers.

I know the 2016-2020 macs are pretty much terrible for Linux anyway due to hardware issues (audio, keyboard, wifi....) so it's no surprise there - but I fear this shift to "Apple Silicon" effectively kills it.

Re: Apple announces it will switch to its own processors for future Macs

#422

Post by mcphage »

AgloeDreams wrote: post #392
cbmuser wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> there were no actual products announced. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they also didn't announce any actual hardware when they introduced Intel Macs. Interestingly, for the PowerPC->Intel transition, they also had an Developer Transition Kit: https://www.macstories.net/stories/this-is-not-a-product-the...

To be honest, this entire plan looks like copy-Paste, kinda like how Star Wars Episode 7 is kinda a remake of A New hope? Rosetta 2, Universal 2, The DTK Program demo on ARM,, it's the same plan.

The last time it went very well, so following the same playbook seems a good idea.

Re: Apple announces it will switch to its own processors for future Macs

#423

Post by monocasa »

hanche wrote: post #349
ogre_codes wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know that Apple ever really talks the fact that their chips are based on ARM during this kind of event.

It's funny how that works. This story may be only tangentially related, but here goes: A few years back, I was visiting the local ARM offices in Trondheim, Norway. I happened to mention something about the iPhones using their processors, and my host immediately said, “I am not allowed to comment on that”. But everybody knows it, I said. In response, he said yes, but he still can't talk about it. Possibly, he broke th…

FAANG NDAs can be crazy. I've been in a position where, yes, everyone knew something, and the other company openly talked about it, but because of the way the NDA was written there'd be heavy financial penalties for us to talk about what everyone seemed to know anyway.

Re: Apple announces it will switch to its own processors for future Macs

#424

Post by pram »

chx wrote: post #404

I searched this thread for Thunderbolt and USB and nothing. The only way this can work if they implement USB 4. That's earlier than expected but not by much. USB 4 came out last September and everyone was guesstimating 18 months before the first systems ship with it. AMD shipping it with the Ryzen 4xxx laptop chips would've been a really big win but apparently it was too early. And now, as with Thunderbolt, it seems…

You can have thunderbolt controllers without an Intel processor, there’s nothing that precludes it from working.

Re: Apple announces it will switch to its own processors for future Macs

#425

Post by monocasa »

minhazm wrote: post #320
ogre_codes wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm surprised we didn't get any performance numbers. It's the CPU in the iPad Pro, performance numbers are out there in the wild. The only big change is the RAM. This isn't a retail product, it's a developer kit. When they release retail Macs I'm sure there will be some performance numbers.

There's still a huge difference in TDP. The iPad probably has a TDP of maybe 10 watts? The Mac Mini Intel CPU's have 65 watt TDP's. They can deliver more power and cooling to the 12Z than in an iPad and it should result in much higher performance.

Less throttling is probably the big one here.

Re: Apple announces it will switch to its own processors for future Macs

#426

Post by zelly »

sschueller wrote: post #298

They will lock down their PCs like the iPhone. Good luck booting anything other than macos or getting you Mac fixed anywhere other than Apple. No thanks, switching back to Linux. I'm done with this crap.

Thank you Apple for bringing the Year of the Linux Desktop

Re: Apple announces it will switch to its own processors for future Macs

#427

Post by radiator »

QuixoticQuibit wrote: post #303
ianai wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Intel has either squandered the tech and we will see drastic improvements soon or possibly they’ll fall closer toward the dustbin of history. I suspect the later since they’ve been stuck at various points of specifications for a decade plus. Or they do something novel for once. I wouldn’t count them out of a breakthrough into new architectures/fab processes entirely.

My comment was meant to be more general than Intel. I’m even including AMD here. x86 has no presence in mobile (that ship has sailed) and again I’m seeing quite a lot of innovation on ARM side wrt server-class processors. Not sure how traditional PCs will play out but Macs are going to split off from x86 within years.

I totally agree, I think it would be a good thing if x86 were to be replaced by something newer. Intel could even adapt and continue to play a leading role, that is another question.

Re: Apple announces it will switch to its own processors for future Macs

#430

Post by kevindong »

The terms of receiving a transition device are now available [0]. As expected, receivers of the device essentially sign away all rights to show/benchmark the device.

> Section 2.2 No Other Permitted Uses

> ... You agree that neither You nor Your Authorized Developers will:

> ...

> (d) display, demonstrate, video, photograph, make any drawings or renderings of, or take any images or measurements of or run any benchmark tests on the Developer Transition Kit (or allow anyone else to do any of the foregoing), unless separately authorized in writing by Apple;

> (e) discuss, publicly write about, or post any reactions to or about the Developer Transition Kit (or Your use of the Developer Transition Kit), whether online, in print, in person, or on social media, unless separately authorized in writing by Apple;

[0]: https://developer.apple.com/terms/universal-app-quick-start-...

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