[AppleInsider] Apple may abandon Intel for its Macs starting with post-Broadwell

[Eug]

Isn't IPad Pro confirmed already for H1 this year.

No, nothing is confirmed. My hope is for some sort of ARM hybrid tablet/laptop. iPad Pro with an Apple-sanctioned keyboard, with better iOS support for external keyboards, with a trackpad.

But it's just a hope... and it's not a Mac either if it's running iOS.

I post in the EXACT same manner the intel crew posts in. I only give back what I get from you guys, the difference is that suddenly you have somebody you don't agree with, and you don't like that!

Neither does any of the rest of the people here who constantly state that it's impossible for intel to be beat in anything, despite them getting beat multiple times before from the lowely likes of AMD.

You guys cannot handle criticism. You freak out, and then whine to the mods when I insult you back. I don't have time to report all your attacks, I have a life, but you guys all seem to find the time to report even stuff that is totally inoccuous.

I'm one of the biggest Apple fans here. I've been using Apple computers since the 1980s, and bought into the Mac koolaid again as soon as OS X officially came out, in 2001, with my purchase of a brand spankin' new iBook. I've been on the Mac ever since. Right now, in my house I have 8 iOS devices, three Mac laptops, and five Mac desktops... for just two adults (and two kids under the age of 3).

And I'm using my iPad Air 2 right along side my work computer here in my office today. I also have another Mac desktop here that I'll take home too, a nice Core Duo iMac.

However, even to me, your posts seem delusional.

 

[coercitiv]

Broadwell 1H 2015 -> Apple does not launch new laptops -> Skylake 2H 2015 -> Apple launches laptops with ARM

They are aiming really high.

And if this roadmap gets confirmed my bet is we'll see the new MacBooks in the summer, sporting Skylake.

 

[Fjodor2001]

And if this roadmap gets confirmed my bet is we'll see the new MacBooks in the summer, sporting Skylake.

15 W Skylake U for next MBA you mean? No fanless 4.5 W MBA?

 

[lopri]

It makes no sense for Apple to "switch," and it won't happen.

What might happen is Apple introducing a "new" kind of device that is not currently mainstream, using A series SOCs. Like what they did with iPods, iPads, and iPhones. Each of them pioneered non-traditional user experiences for personal computing. There is no indication that Apple will go backwards for keyboards and there is no reason for Apple to upset the current laptop-desktop landscape that is already shrinking.

As for a "new" type of device (quotation marks because Apple do not invent anything new, but tend to refine existing tech for UX) I am guessing they might introduce some sort of a drawing & writing device. Touchscreen has not been great for finer, accurate inputs, and despite efforts by many voice commands are still slow and resource-heavy.

So accuracy and productivity have been problems with touch screens, but it is highly unlikely that Apple will resort to keyboards and mice. They will leave those to laptops and desktops for the time being and look for something new, and that's where drawing/writing (or some other user interface) might come in.

If things work out in that direction, desktops and laptops will live on but they will largely be relegated to glorified word processors for the general public - you know, where they began. :biggrin: Most of their computing needs will be satisfied on iOS devices other than typing, some of which drawing/writing devices can compensate or replace.

That is how I see it. There is not much to gain (but a lot of risk) for Apple by turning to ARM for their existing x86 products. They can, however, gain a lot by shrinking x86's influence, and they will go about it in the same way they have always done.

 

[North01]

It's going to be hilarious when Apple reveals this an I'm the only one on this whole tech forum who saw it coming

Well, here we have it.

No "ARM" SoC inside and the chassis is much thicker than "7.5-7.8 mm".

2015 MacBook:

• 12" 2304x1440 display
• Intel Core M
• 13.1 mm @ thickest part
• 2 lbs
• 9 hour battery life
• $1,299 starting price

 

[witeken]

Well, here we have it.

No "ARM" SoC inside and the chassis is much thicker than "7.5-7.8 mm".

2015 MacBook:

• Intel Core M

Core M in a fanless design while they have their own fanless SoC? Someone should start a new thread:

"Apple may abandon Apple for its iPads starting with post-A8X"

I think Intel might do some aggressive pricing offerings if Apple is interested in Skylake iPads.

 

[Arachnotronic]

That new MacBook is gorgeous.

 

[III-V]

That new MacBook is gorgeous.

I was completely confused that you were calling it a "MacBook," because the MacBooks were previously their discontinued budget line. Strange move.

 

[tviceman]

Core M in a fanless design while they have their own fanless SoC? Someone should start a new thread:

"Apple may abandon Apple for its iPads starting with post-A8X"

I think Intel might do some aggressive pricing offerings if Apple is interested in Skylake iPads.

Lets see how the A9/ A9X (whichever ends up in iPad) stacks up in 6 months time. Chances are it'll be nipping at (or essentially tying) Intel's heals in CPU performance without the worry of heat/TDP throttling, while leapfrogging it in GPU performance.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Lets see how the A9/ A9X (whichever ends up in iPad) stacks up in 6 months time. Chances are it'll be nipping at (or essentially tying) Intel's heals in CPU performance without the worry of heat/TDP throttling, while leapfrogging it in GPU performance.

They would need a massive boost over A8/A8X then. The low fruit seems picked already. The question is rather, Will the next iPad be Core M based.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Guys, they are different formfactors, used for different purposes. I think it is quite possible they will continue to co-exist. As for performance, they are different architectures, so it is really hard to compare, and I think one can pretty much cherry pick benchmarks to show whatever he wants.

 

[Arachnotronic]

Apple isn't going to use Intel in iPads, IMO, but they're not going to kick Intel out of the Macs, either.

They co-exist just fine.

 

[exar333]

That new MacBook is gorgeous.

Looks good, but doesn't it just look like a current MB Air? Its not really that revolutionary...I mean the coolest thing IMHO are the new key switches. Not exactly water-cooler stuff.

Looks solid though...not trying to nay-say.

 

[North01]

A device, with a high price, requires accessories, with a high price.

USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter - $79 USD

The USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter lets you connect your MacBook with USB-C port to an HDMI display, while also connecting a standard USB device and a USB-C charging cable.

 

[erunion]

MacBook is fanless, but not the Air.

Is apple waiting for skylake to update the Air? Will it become a detachable?

 

[Arachnotronic]

MacBook is fanless, but not the Air.

Is apple waiting for skylake to update the Air? Will it become a detachable?

They did update the Air with Broadwell

 

[Qbah]

That Core M they're using is only 1.1GHz... perhaps it has no turbo? How much slower is the latest A8? I guess it's not order or magnitude difference vs a 1.1GHz Broadwell anymore, no?

 

[bullzz]

@Qbah - they do turbo to 2.6GHz. pretty sure these are faster than A8

i watched the video and lol-ed when Phil said "turbocharges" instead of "turbos"

 

[tential]

Why'd they wait so long if they were only going to release a Core-M product?

http://anandtech.com/show/8983/dell-xps-13-review

I'd like to see these 2 products side by side. Because that Macbook Air has to be mighty slender to be more impressive than that XPS13 is. I'd have to see it to make a judgement though but the XPS13 looks great.

I don't see myself paying $1300 though for such a laptop it feels too weak to justify a CoreM design but I'll wait to see the final batterylife measurements upon review.

Right now, I just don't see a laptop that has impressed as much as the XPS13 did on all accounts. If that laptop had been a convertible too, I think Dell would have just won the game. They would just become automatic PC OEM overlords =D.

 

[Arachnotronic]

That Core M they're using is only 1.1GHz... perhaps it has no turbo? How much slower is the latest A8? I guess it's not order or magnitude difference vs a 1.1GHz Broadwell anymore, no?

They're not being disingenuous by quoting max turbo here. They're quoting base.

 

[NTMBK]

They would need a massive boost over A8/A8X then. The low fruit seems picked already. The question is rather, Will the next iPad be Core M based.

Aha, no. They have the finest tablet SoCs on the market and multiple world leading CPU design teams.

 

[Qbah]

@Qbah - they do turbo to 2.6GHz. pretty sure these are faster than A8

i watched the video and lol-ed when Phil said "turbocharges" instead of "turbos"

Oh, didn't see that in the slides. Yea, a 2.6GHz Broadwell will slaughter anything ARM.

 

[NTMBK]

Why'd they wait so long if they were only going to release a Core-M product?

I presume waiting for 14nm yields to improve to the point where they can ship enough chips for the Macbook. It's a big seller, and Core M was trickling out to begin with.

 

[tential]

It's going to be hilarious when Apple reveals this an I'm the only one on this whole tech forum who saw it coming

Looks like you're the only person who didn't see it coming....

 

[Arachnotronic]

Why'd they wait so long if they were only going to release a Core-M product?

http://anandtech.com/show/8983/dell-xps-13-review

I'd like to see these 2 products side by side. Because that Macbook Air has to be mighty slender to be more impressive than that XPS13 is. I'd have to see it to make a judgement though but the XPS13 looks great.

I don't see myself paying $1300 though for such a laptop it feels too weak to justify a CoreM design but I'll wait to see the final batterylife measurements upon review.

Right now, I just don't see a laptop that has impressed as much as the XPS13 did on all accounts. If that laptop had been a convertible too, I think Dell would have just won the game. They would just become automatic PC OEM overlords =D.

As an XPS 13 owner, I find myself drooling over the aesthetics of this new MacBook. Unfortunately, it's a bit pricey for what I need it for, and I don't know if I could deal with the performance of a Core M. I also paid far less for the XPS 13 than the lowest configuration of this new MacBook.