M1 chip - What about the old laptops?

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M1 chip - What about the old laptops?

My brother just purchased a 16” laptop 4 months ago - it was $4k aud. I’ve purchased an older 2017 MBP in 2019 (brand new at purchased date). These are both based on the intel chipset.

What seems like a decade or two ago, my then-not-so-old MBP became redundant shortly after Apple moved to the intel chips. Apple updates and more importantly third party software, all transitioned to the shiny new chipset leaving my then-not-so-old MBP in its dust and feeling left and abandoned.

What will be the transition experience this time around? Particularly for those who recently purchased the high end 2020 released 16” laptops? Seems rather inconspicuous that there had been no mention of the M1 chips until ~June this year.

Rosetta 2 only seeks to provide backwards compatibility for the newer silicon MacBooks. Not useful the other way around.

Based on my previous experience, I think they’ll have a 3-4 year lifespan before you need to throw them into the bin. Or maybe install Windows on them. At least we can do that this time around.

Posted on Nov 21, 2020 2:41 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 21, 2020 6:01 PM in response to browncamry

Your Intel Mac will continue to be able to perform every operation it could from the day you took out of the box, for as many years as you are willing to keep it in good repair.

In addition, Apple customarily provides some upgrades to MacOS and built-in Apps.

It has been their policy to provide Security Updates for the current version, as well as the two previous versions.

At this writing, there has been no announcement that MacOS will cease supporting Intel code. If/When that happens, you will likely have two more years of security updates beyond that.

I have Macs with 68000 processors -- they still run. I have Macs with PowerPC processors, they still do jobs for me from time-to-time. I have a PowerPC Mac that is on my network and provides packet forwarding and translation to 1/4 M bits/sec AppleTalk/LocalTalk, to connect to my older Printers. It runs all the time.

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Answer 2

browncamry Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 21, 2020 8:11 PM in response to Allan Jones

Perhaps it’s unreasonable to ask this here. Although taking it to an Apple employee is probably equally unreasonable. Anybody have Tim Cooks number?

Some of the things I’m expecting to see include mix support in the developer space. Java support and updates, docker, nodejs, etc. For a period of time you will be equally frustrated having an intel MBP vs an M1 MBP. For example, docker isn’t supported on a silicon MBP but is on an intel (even on Rosetta 2). Now I think about it, having hindsight before my purchase would probably create decision anxiety.

I think it is possible this time ‘round will be different as the Apple community is much stronger than it was when Apple moved to intel. It will probably force third parties to support both architectures.

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Answer 3

KiltedTim

Level 10

230,442 points

Nov 21, 2020 6:01 PM in response to browncamry

browncamry wrote:

The technical question is how Apple aims to support current laptop owners moving forward. What will be the transition experience? There are technical components to that question.

Yes, there are. None of which can be addressed here because we are all users just like you.

Speculation is prohibited by the Apple Support Communities Terms of Use.

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Answer 4

browncamry Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 21, 2020 3:40 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

The technical question is how Apple aims to support current laptop owners moving forward. What will be the transition experience? There are technical components to that question.

I dont know, perhaps something in the way of an emulator? Or is the expectation that these machines quickly become obsolete.

if this isn’t the right place to ask these questions then please provide a recommendation of where I can post it.

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Answer 5

Allan Jones

Level 10

80,594 points

Nov 21, 2020 6:39 PM in response to browncamry

if this isn’t the right place to ask these questions then please provide a recommendation of where I can post it.

There is not place on Apple.com to post this. Instead, get your concerns directly to an Apple employee using this feedback link:

Feedback - MacBook Pro - Apple

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Answer 6

browncamry Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 21, 2020 8:26 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I probably fit in a small % of users that require updates from Apple, third parties, and the open source community.

When Apple moved to Intel, among other things I stopped receiving Java updates for the PowerPC. The hardware still had a good 2-3 years in it at the time for my line of work.

It will be interesting to see how the open source community responds to this. The prospect of moving back to Windows is a frightening one.

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Answer 7

Nov 21, 2020 3:32 PM in response to browncamry

Readers here are other Users like you.

Did you have a technical question that needed help or advice? (if you did, I missed it.)

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Answer 8

sberman

Level 10

274,672 points

Nov 21, 2020 3:42 PM in response to browncamry

Intel Macs will remain viable for a few years.

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M1 chip - What about the old laptops?

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