M1 Macs: Should you upgrade?

We’ve had our hands on the new M1 MacBook Pro for awhile now, and we’re finally ready to answer the question: Should you (or your IT department) upgrade your MacBook to a new M1 Mac? Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld senior writer Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss their experiences with the first generation M1 MacBook Pro. They discuss the issues with having few USB-C ports, battery life and overall performance as compared to previous MacBooks. Plus, Ken explains what IT teams should consider when deciding whether or not to upgrade existing Apple users. If you have any specific questions, let us know in the comments.

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[derenleeson]

I absolutely love my BRYDGE dock for MacBook Pro. Makes "to-go" so easy and looks great!

[vernearase]

Most people are looking at these first Apple Silicon Macs wrong - these aren't Apple's powerhouse machines: they're simply the annual spec bump of the lowest end Apple computers with DCI-P3 displays, Wifi 6, and the new Apple Silicon M1 SoC.

They have the same limitations as the machines they replace - 16 GB RAM and two Thunderbolt ports.

These are the machines you give to a student or teacher or a lawyer or an accountant or a work-at-home information worker - folks who need a decently performing machine with decent build quality who don't want to lug around a huge powerhouse machine (or pay for one for that matter). They're still marketed at the same market segment, though they now have a vastly expanded compute power envelope.

The real powerhouses will probably come later this year with the M1x (or whatever). Apple has yet to decide on an external memory interconnect and multichannel PCIe scheme, if they decide to move in that direction.

Other CPU and GPU vendors and OEM computer makers take notice - your businesses are now on limited life support. These new Apple Silicon models can compete speed-wise up through the mid-high tier of computer purchases, and if as I expect Apple sells a ton of these many will be to your bread and butter customers.

In fact, I suspect that Apple - once they recover their R&D costs - will be pushing the prices of these machines lower while still maintaining their margins - while competing computer makers will still have to pay Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and nVidea for their expensive processors, whereas Apple's cost goes down the more they manufacture. Competing computer makers may soon be squeezed by Apple Silicon price/performance on one side and high component prices on the other. Expect them to be demanding lower processor prices from the above manufacturers so they can more readily compete, and processor manufacturers may have to comply because if OEM computer manufacturers go under or stop making competing models, the processor makers will see a diminishing customer base.

I believe the biggest costs for a chip fab are startup costs - no matter what processor vendors would like you to believe. Design and fab startup are _expensive_ - but once you start getting decent yields, the additional costs are silicon wafers and QA. The more of these units Apple can move, the lower the per unit cost and the better the profits.

So ... who should buy these M1 Macs?

If you're in the target demographic - the student, teacher, lawyer, accountant, or work-at-home information worker: _this is the Mac for you._

If you're a heavy computer user like a creative and don't simply want a light and cheap computer with some additional video and sound editing capability for use on the go - I'd wait for the M1x (or whatever) later this year. You'll probably kick yourself when the machines targeted at _you_ finally appear.

[pedroknife]

our much loved family late 2013 MBP 13" just got battery bloat and replacement is 300$ so the debate was chuck it and get a new M1 cause its really just for writing and surfing I think the 300 $ dont sound so bad right now, I can still sell it for more later (!!) and see what the 2nd gen M1 brings or as ya'll suggest grab a 1st gen for cheap as first adopters dump theirs to be first adopters anew (:

thanks for this ! very helpful !!

and, totally agree with +Verne Arase; these first gen m1 replace bottom tier machines. its a test balloon. really looking fwd to what will replace the 'old' (!) 2020 MBP 16".

[vernearase]

Use a Thunderbolt dock with charging (and Thunderbolt pass thru if you need it).

[iblackfeathers]

no virtualbox + lack of bootcamp are dealbreakers. hopefully, there will be other options later.

[DigamberPradhan]

Just curious what are the better thing dell, acer etc laptops are doing ?

[sabestek]

It's weak and it sucks for consumers because Apple is doing a power grab wants complete control of both software and hardware that's bad for consumers. Also past history tells us that Apple supports for i.e Intel for 2-3 years and that's it, cuts off support completely so you're left with a still new Intel mac that is basically junk now because no more official support from Apple and open to security exploits, so yes people are FORCED to upgrade like it or not. peace ✌

[nqobilemahlangu]

Hey guys, please send me your old 😜 16inch MacBook.