Want To Buy A Mac? : What You Need To Know
July 5, 2020Apple made big waves at its World Wide Developer Conference on June 22nd, when it announced that it would be moving from Intel CPUs to ARM ones. Since 2005, Cupertino has relied on Intel to power its computer-based product line. The move to ditch its trusted partner and embrace an unfamiliar platform, is a bold one.
However, this will help bridge the gap between Mac and iPad, cultivating a sense of convergence that will eventually unify their app ecosystem. During the big announcement, Apple introduced Rosetta 2. This will allow apps coded for Intel based Macs to run unhindered, on ARM based ones.
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This will not only reduce app development time significantly, but will allow for cross platform compatibility as well. Apple has even made a Transition Developer Kit available to loan for $500. Developers can rent this kit, which consists of a Mac Mini ruing the latest iPad’s A12Z bionic processor, and get accustomed to the switch to MacOS Big Sur on ARM.
Its ARM based CPUs, which Apple has coined – Apple Silicon, have their own advantages over x86 chips such as those from Intel. First, they are extremely power efficient. This allows them use battery power frugally, resulting in at least 20 hours of battery life. In theory, you could go several days without having to charge your Mac.
Besides this, Apple is an expert resource management. That is why, iPhones and iPads do not need copious amounts of RAM to operate smoothly. Sadly, this isn’t the case with Android devices, which are far beefier and more resource hungry. And since it can now control what chips go into Macs, Apple can replicate the same synergy for its computers.
Does that mean that its pointless to buy an Intel based Mac right now? No, that simply isn’t true. Even Apple admitted that the company would need two years to fully migrate its Macs to Apple Silicon. During this time, it will still be launching Intel based Macs, which it will be obligated to help maintain for years to come.
Apple Silicon is unproven tech, there’s no guarantee that it will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Intel based equivalents in terms of raw computing power. In areas that require raw graphical computing performance, x86 based CPUs still have the upper hand, and that probably won’t change any time soon.
Depending on your requirements, both CPU architectures have their own benefits and drawbacks. But if you simply must have a Mac right now, an Intel based Mac is a fine choice. Remember, it will take Apple and developers some time to workout the kinks with the new platform. And by the time its sorted in 2-3 years, you’d probably be looking for a new Mac anyway.
