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Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

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Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#361

Post by commandersaki »

Someone1234 wrote: post #44

If Apple continues with the budget Neo brand into a 12 GB iteration, I can see this becoming more realistic (rather than a novelty). That being said, Parallels may need to review its licensing with a budget tier in mind. Few will buy a cheap computer and then pay what Parallels charges for a license (regardless if one-time or subscription). They need to introduce something below the Standard license targeting the Neo…

That being said, Parallels may need to review its licensing with a budget tier in mind.

The budget tier is UTM. (Also recommend any users of UTM that find it useful should consider donating, preferably through Github sponsors.)

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#362

Post by commandersaki »

littlecranky67 wrote: post #204
spullara wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can also use UTM to run Windows for free and it is open source. https://mac.getutm.app

Because I was fed up with parallels subscription model and they make me pay for the upgrade the non-subscription version with every new macOS release, I dropped parallels for UTM. I barely need windows, only every other month or so and often just for some small tasks. UTM is nice, but performance running windows is waaay below parallels. It is free, however, so I won't complain.

The performance story doesn't really make sense as both UTM and Parallels use Apple Hypervisor Kit which pretty much is the hypervisor running Windows. It should be identical.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#363

Post by littlecranky67 »

benoau wrote: post #141
alwillis wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wrote about how Unified Memory, SSD directly attached to the SoC and Apple's use of real-time compression saves memory, reduces power consumption and wear on SSDs [1]. [1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47354705

In practice I think this is going to be very specific to your data being good for compression and not already compressed - so not gaming, where textures can fill up the Neo's 8GB very fast depending on the game: Cyberpunk, Robocop, Bioshock and Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmarks are showing 9 - 10 GB of RAM used at just 720p. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOe-Ock4pnw

Having completed SotTR on my MacMini M2 8GB, the game plays fluent at 1080p around 40-60fps without any issues. There are youtubers showing Cyberpunk on the Neo on lowest settings running around 50fps. Cyberpunk being somewhat special as it is visually so beautiful, that I would not recommend to complete it on a Neo.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#364

Post by josephg »

dawnerd wrote: post #312
josephg wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good. So many software developers have gotten so lazy with RAM usage in the past few decades. I hope the Neo is a kick in the pants to get everyone in the Apple ecosystem to take memory usage seriously. More efficient software benefits everyone.

It's really quite bad. 'Telegram Lite' is using 1.16GB with just a single chat vs Signal using 193MB. Somehow vscode (including their renderers) manages to come in pretty low compared to even Apples native apps.

> vs Signal using 193MB

That’s still an order of magnitude worse than it should be. You don’t need 200mb of ram for a chat app.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#365

Post by Dylan16807 »

nelsonic wrote: post #344
auggierose wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know. Both of my macs are over 7 years old, and have at least 32GB of RAM. Certainly would not buy an 8GB one now.

I daily-drive a base level MacBook Air M1 with 8GB RAM for writing docs and some light coding in VIM/VSCode. Never had any issues. When I need more I offload tasks to a remote VM (usually AWS/GCP). I can easily afford a top spec Mac but chose this because I want to have a “entry level” device that I don’t mind my kids breaking or getting stolen at public co-working space. Plenty of people will get MacBook Neo and nev…

Could they have even used the same CPU with 16GB? I'm skeptical of italics-easily.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#366

Post by lostlogin »

amelius wrote: post #193
roody15 wrote: post #131

MacBook Neo is going to sell like crazy. In the education market, educators, students, aides... nothing close at this price point. With memory and SSD prices so high I don't see how Dell, Asus and others are going to be able to compete. Unless the build quality is significantly worse than a M1 macbook air not sure budget PC makers will be able to compete.

Apple is going to cannibalize their own laptop market.

They famously ate their iPod market. It was the most successful consumer electric product ever and they destroyed it.

The iPhone has done well.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#367

Post by Dylan16807 »

serf wrote: post #327
pants2 wrote: post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might be surprised, with NVMe swap 8GB is surprisingly capable. ~1.6GB/s Read/Write.

the slowest DDR4 is capable of 12.6GB/s~ish per channel . nowhere near the same performance.

The ratio between RAM speed and SSD speed is unimportant. Useful swap just needs a fast drive.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#368

Post by moffkalast »

GeekyBear wrote: post #208
moffkalast wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the EU it costs $200 more so it's more like a low to mid range laptop. I have a feeling these are aimed at the same sector as the Framework 12, school provided laptops for kids meant to be bought in bulk by institutions. But there they're competing against $150 Chromebooks and neither is even close.

In the EU, you don't need to buy an extended warranty, since existing consumer protection laws require the sort of extended repair coverage Americans have to pay extra for. Taxes are also included in the EU price, but not the US price.

I always wondered why nobody's ever tried to reach me about an extended warranty despite it being such a meme. I guess that's why, pretty fucked up ngl.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#369

Post by EagnaIonat »

pxmpxm wrote: post #269
roody15 wrote: post #131

MacBook Neo is going to sell like crazy. In the education market, educators, students, aides... nothing close at this price point. With memory and SSD prices so high I don't see how Dell, Asus and others are going to be able to compete. Unless the build quality is significantly worse than a M1 macbook air not sure budget PC makers will be able to compete.

My 13 year old mac desktop is sitting here with 14.82gb used with nothing but messages and firefox. Really dount that 8gb will cut it.

That would put your mac as an Intel one, as ARM only came out in 2020.

Intel doesn't even remotely compare to ARM. Even an M1 8GB would far outperform what you have now.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#370

Post by cj »

auggierose wrote: post #338
cj wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if your only use case is using Chrome?

Especially if that is my only use case.

Strange. I'm still using a i5 powered 8gb ram Pixelbook for day to day browsing. Honestly works great.

But I'm also not one of those people who feel the need to keep 300 tabs open all the time.

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