Waiting for the ARM processor

I have a 2014 MacBook Pro with a 7 core (4 thread) i8 processor and 16GB of RAM. It happened to me by chance, I bought it used. The equipment was wonderful and barely had a year and 6 charge cycles on the battery. It was a top of the range that I would never have bought but given the chance ...

The fact is that the team has always worked very well, and to this day they continue to do so without problems. But I realized that my iPad performed many functions much faster and more agile, especially video processing.

How was it possible that this smaller device that didn't heat up, didn't make noise… was more agile and faster than that Mac?

Obviously the Mac had advantages but it came from its operating system rather than the hardware, advantages for me, who grew up with computers, and am used to using them in a certain way, I understand that for another type of user these advantages are not. they are such and it is more advantageous to use iOS.

Sometime later, perhaps in 2016 or 2017, it was already rumored that Apple might switch to using its own processors. So I thought to myself that the next computer I would buy would be the Mac with ARM because, if they were able to run so well in a much more battery-saving device and with a light OS, what I couldn't do? with the size and system advantages of a computer ?. In the meantime I would throw myself with my MacBook Pro. And the fact is that it does not need replacement, it works perfectly, but I must add that I use it little, I almost always use the iPhone and the iPad.

When Apple started including T2 processors in its Macs, I saw a possible Trojan horse. Its main tasks were to be managing disk encryption, audio and video compression (the most difficult task facing a computer), but also performing certain tasks to download to the main processor. And there was what interested me most. Why shouldn't I be able to run applications like email? Messenger service? What about other operating system applications? It could be the ARM input on a dual computer.

I kept waiting for that Mac with ARM and as AMD processors started to reap some advantages over Intel. What if Apple switched to AMD? Actually, what I found interesting from the point of view of technological curiosity was the switch to ARM.

And finally this week the mystery has been revealed and the rumors have been confirmed. But it happened in a very curious way, and that is that they did not present a processor adapted to the computer, much more powerful, but an A12 processor, which originally did not come out with last year's iPhone, but from the previous year and slightly modified to fit last year's iPad.

And it seems that this processor is more than enough, although they did not make the typical comparisons with performance graphics. Even so, they've proven that the most demanding software works flawlessly with that processor. I suppose when the Mac Minis for developers start reaching their users we will start to see the benchmarks and see how they perform at the synthetic test level. And even if I don't think those tests are the most important thing, I have to say I'm curious.

I think Apple reserves the processor it has prepared for computers for the launch of the first commercial computer. At the moment it gives the developers something already known so they can test but they reserve the surprise for when they have to sell the equipment, and then show off their performance.

Advances in software

One of the benefits we will experience is a great advance in iPad software. Now that the system is virtually identical, it will be easier for the software to have the same capabilities on all systems.

For example, I am missing some functions of the macOS app in the Photos app for iPad, it's not that comprehensive. But now, if they program the same software, it will be very easy for us to have the same capabilities in all places.

This decision will also benefit iPads.

What do you think of Apple's decision?

How do you think Apple's processors will perform? They will be above Intel in terms of performance They will be on par with Intel in terms of performance In home computers they may compete with Intel but in Pro they will be far below. Results Vote How do you think Apple's processors will perform? They will be above Intel in terms of performance 162 (49,24%) They will be on par with Intel in terms of performance 48 (14.59%) In home computers they will be able to compete with Intel but in Pro they will be far below 119 (36,17%) Back

How do you think Apple's processors are going to perform? They will be above the Intel in performance 162 (49.24%) They will be on par with the Intel in performance 48 (14.59%) In domestic computers they will be able to compete with Intel but in Pro they will be well below 119 ( 36.17%) Back