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Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

appleinsider.com

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Re: Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

#61

Post by scarface74 »

birdyrooster wrote: post #59
_ph_ wrote: post #32

I am torn, whenever I hear the rumors about the ARM Macs. On the one side, I am terribly excited from a technology perspective. I grew up with homecomputers in the 80ies, and in the 90ies, all Unix-workstations had several different, non-x86 architectures. So any disruption of the x86-monoculture is interesting. Also, looking at the performance of the iPhone and iPad, I think Apple has the potential to create some gr…

I wonder if we could see more mixed architecture like T2. What would it look like if you had x86 and ARM on board?

Apple won’t do it. There are so many architectural issues with it and you don’t get the power savings of ARM.

People asked the same question during both previous transitions.

Re: Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

#62

Post by ianai »

_ph_ wrote: post #32

I am torn, whenever I hear the rumors about the ARM Macs. On the one side, I am terribly excited from a technology perspective. I grew up with homecomputers in the 80ies, and in the 90ies, all Unix-workstations had several different, non-x86 architectures. So any disruption of the x86-monoculture is interesting. Also, looking at the performance of the iPhone and iPad, I think Apple has the potential to create some gr…

They could make an x86 daughterboard for the Mac Pro. Plenty of space for that and it’s been done decades ago. Or a third party could.

I wonder whether they’ve got any special killer apps in mind for the desktop and MacBook ARM machines. They could theoretically customize them greatly since they’re designing the architecture. Also wonder whether they view keeping the unix developer pipeline.

Re: Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

#63

Post by thomascgalvin »

_ph_ wrote: post #32

I am torn, whenever I hear the rumors about the ARM Macs. On the one side, I am terribly excited from a technology perspective. I grew up with homecomputers in the 80ies, and in the 90ies, all Unix-workstations had several different, non-x86 architectures. So any disruption of the x86-monoculture is interesting. Also, looking at the performance of the iPhone and iPad, I think Apple has the potential to create some gr…

I'm still mad about Apple killing 32bit support; I don't have a few extra grand a year to drop on Photoshop. If they drop x86 support, too, I might finally jump ship.

Re: Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

#64

Post by EduardoBautista »

_ph_ wrote: post #32

I am torn, whenever I hear the rumors about the ARM Macs. On the one side, I am terribly excited from a technology perspective. I grew up with homecomputers in the 80ies, and in the 90ies, all Unix-workstations had several different, non-x86 architectures. So any disruption of the x86-monoculture is interesting. Also, looking at the performance of the iPhone and iPad, I think Apple has the potential to create some gr…

ARM Macs are one of the things I don't want to be an early adopter of. I am going to stay with Intel as long as possible but I am excited about making the switch to ARM once it's shown to not be a hassle.

Re: Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

#65

Post by saagarjha »

scarface74 wrote: post #61
birdyrooster wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if we could see more mixed architecture like T2. What would it look like if you had x86 and ARM on board?

Apple won’t do it. There are so many architectural issues with it and you don’t get the power savings of ARM. People asked the same question during both previous transitions.

Note that Apple is currently doing this.

Re: Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

#66

Post by saagarjha »

strategarius wrote: post #60

I'm curious what Parallels going to do. Running Windows and Linux applications with almost native integration into OSX ecosystem worth a lot, especially with all benefits of hardware virtualization. In theory PC could be virtualized on ARM, however software virtualization only. Going to watch the process. In general, Windows and Linux support ARM as well, not sure if hardware virtualization for ARM exist though

Apple doesn’t have chips that support it, yet.

Re: Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

#67

Post by scarface74 »

wyre wrote: post #44

What does this mean for software companies whose consumer base is largely on OSX? Will Adobe, Sony, Avid, etc have to port their library of software over to Apple's new ARM architecture? Will this allow for greater freedom with ARM devices not running new OSX? It seems like Apple lately has very much internalized 'if you build it, they will come' even though it seems like it is heavily alienating their professional u…

You act as if this is the first time that Apple has done a transition or the first time that the aforementioned companies have made the transition.

Each of them have made the transition from 68K -> PPC -> OS X -> x86.

Re: Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

#68

Post by saagarjha »

raverbashing wrote: post #7

Still to be confirmed, I don't usually take "analyst predictions" too seriously but I found this interesting: "Apple will no longer be held to the whims of Intel" Apple switched to Intel because IBM couldn't ship a good enough G5 for notebooks and for scale issues. Given that Intel is not on track with 7nm and rumours of their CEO being seen in Taiwan the other day it seems history is repeating itself.

Kuo is extremely good with supply chain rumors.

Re: Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

#69

Post by jonas21 »

thomascgalvin wrote: post #63
_ph_ wrote: post #32

I am torn, whenever I hear the rumors about the ARM Macs. On the one side, I am terribly excited from a technology perspective. I grew up with homecomputers in the 80ies, and in the 90ies, all Unix-workstations had several different, non-x86 architectures. So any disruption of the x86-monoculture is interesting. Also, looking at the performance of the iPhone and iPad, I think Apple has the potential to create some gr…

I'm still mad about Apple killing 32bit support; I don't have a few extra grand a year to drop on Photoshop. If they drop x86 support, too, I might finally jump ship.

I'm confused. Why would you need a few extra grand a year for Photoshop?

Re: Apple to debut multiple ARM MacBook, desktop models in 2021

#70

Post by scarface74 »

mikhailt wrote: post #40
jshaqaw wrote: post #8

The question is as users should we care? If this is cheaper for Apple will they actually lower product prices or just enhance their own margins. Will this result in any superior performance on a cost-adjusted basis?

Of course, we should care. We are talking about losing the standard x86 platform support (which allows for Windows/Linux support if not total OOB support) to a custom Apple platform that may be more locked down to the point that Linux may not even care to add any support for it (T2-Macs have been difficult to add support in Linux). This drops the value a lot if you're not an exclusive macOS user. 1. We don't know wha…

Porting iOS to Macs don’t require ARM. Almost every iOS app started life running on x86. The iOS simulator runs iOS software compiled for x86 linked to x86 versions of the iOS framework.
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