By SteveJack
On June 22, 2020, Apple announced the Macintosh’s transition from hot, slow, inefficient Intel processors to vastly superior Apple Silicon that the company explicitly stated would be the “beginning a two-year transition.”
Well, two years elapsed on June 22, 2022. Apple is now 3 months and 18 days (and counting) late.
Specifically, Apple is still selling a Mac mini sporting an Intel Core i5 and, most glaringly, the routinely ignored Mac Pro still fully hamstrung with Intel processors. We also seem to have lost the option of a larger iMac along the way as well (the current 24-inch iMac attempts to straddle between the former 21.5- and 27-inch models). I’d much prefer for Apple to offer customers a choice between the current 24-inch iMac and a new 32-inch iMac option.
But I digress. The point is that we’re coming up on two and a half years since the beginning of Apple’s “two-year transition” to free the entire Mac lineup from Intel dreck by upgrading to superior Apple Silicon.
So, how much longer do we have to wait, Apple?
SteveJack is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer, and contributor to the MacDailyNews Opinion section.
I would LOVE an iMac Pro – 27″ or larger. I am running a late 2012 iMac, and it’s still chugging away excellently, to be honest – I work on it many hours a day. However, I’d like to run the latest OS with an Apple chip, and have more power. Here’s hoping for that!
If you want newest OS, check out OpenCore patcher for Mac! So easy to install newest versions! I use this on my MBP mid 2012 and Monterey is butter smooth and so far without problems at all!
I suppose they could blame Covid? I’m wondering about M2 smaller iMacs too. Should be time but no rumors mention them for this fall.
“Apple plans to ship the first Mac with Apple silicon by the end of the year and complete the transition in about two years.”
I would interpret the statement to be 2 years from the end of 2020 when the first Mac shipped with apple silicon. Either way I expect them to be late as it is very unlikely the Mac Pro will be shipping this year
I believe that Apple has done a pretty good job of going through their transition, I find their approach to “connecting” M1 chips (hinting of future M2 and M3 chips) to be mind blowing,
There are also unexpected covid related issues impacting component production and assembly. At least Apple has pushed ahead, continually investing in their future. I’m still waiting for a couple of upgrades as well as saving cash for what else Apple will announce!
Apple is waiting for human brain evolvement to be able to handle the increased performance. Right now, the ones they have in the lab run so fast that it operates in a dimension that we cannot see. We just hear a faint buzzing sound. STOS reference.
All kidding aside, it’s probably taking longer because the Mac Pro design point requires internal expandability (graphic cards????) that the other Macs do not. It’s going to have to move the needle beyond the Studio in a significant way if they expect any appreciable market for it.
I’m not a candidate for a Mac Pro. All I wish is that there was a good virtualization solution for Windows X86 running on Mac silicon. I just don’t have any choice in the matter if I still want to use a Mac.
I agree with you on this one. I was saving up for a Mac Pro, but when the Mac Studio came out, it met my needs and the Mac Pro was a bit overkill for what I needed. I think there will be a small market for the ultimate, but it might not be big enough for Apple to allocate a lot of resources to the project.
I truly believe that a world wide pandemic and a shortage of silicon to create chipsets with is the cause of them missing their deadline and not because they are dragging their heels or failing to execute as planned.
Not going to join the Apple APOLOGIST Cult. They have more money than they know what to do with and unfortunately, a weak virtual signaling CEO that distracts from his Apple deadlines.
That said, the minute the MacPro laptops go on sale with the latest chips, hopefully this Autumn, pull the trigger on a fully loaded 14” laptop running a huge LG monitor.
Bring it on, Apple…
Amen on the larger iMac. I am still running a late 2010 iMac waiting on a Mac silicon 27” replacement. 32” would be acceptable 🙂
iMac lovers ought to move on. The Studio is a much better package. Better repair ability, better performance, better monitor choices, more convenient ports.
Mac Pro coming, $15,000! What a Deal!! Inflation! Mac mini M2?? Only $1000! Fantastic Price! Mac OS 13? Subscription service, NOT FREE ANYMORE! Gotta Sell your kidney for it to work! Has 500 Running Services(FEATURES) that you can’t disable that’s sucking ram and slowing down the computer. Remember when 10.2 came out you can add the Amazing thing called THEMES to the Mac, Make it unique? Apple yanked that away because they were lazy. The Some features Apple added Other people came up with it in their own apps, so was Apple innovative? No! Thieving. Remember Soundjam MP? Wonder what that turned into? hmm.
Can I assume you won’t be buying one anytime soon?
One presumes TSMC’s delays with its 3nm process is the main driver of these delays.
The new gen chips have been stuck with 5nm process, while that doesn’t influence Mac mini it certainly would in creating the MacPro that they want to sell as a game changer. Larger iMac possibly so too though less critical in such a requirement so that’s a bit of a mystery unless they see it as competing with Studio as a product so a marketing rather than a technical issue perhaps.
I think the “two years” began when Apple released the first M1 Macs (Nov. 2020), since we’re marking the completion of transition when the next Mac Pro arrives. That’s November 10th as the two-year point in the transition (not back in June). If there’s an Apple Event in early November, it’ll probably include release of M2 Mac mini. The M1 Mac mini and Intel Mac mini may continue in lineup. AND if the Mac Pro is far enough along for it to be announced for later release (in 2023), that would “complete” the transition for all Macs. Well, sort of… 😉
I agree that the transition actually began with the introduction of the first M1 Macs. I bought the 13.3” Macbook Pro when it came out in October. As far as I’m concerned, they have until the end of this year. And if they miss it by a bit, so what?
Anything worth having is worth waiting for
Cherry picking does no one any good, and it just becomes slant…
What do I mean by that?
The media isn’t nearly as great at lying as they are at omitting. In this article, it talks about the Mac Pro and and a still legacy Mac Mini as Intel offings.
However, SteveJack commits that Apple developed an all-new Mac, called Mac Studio with a M1 Ultra processor, the only Mac in Apple’s lineup to sport such a crazy powerful chipset.
It is true that Mac Mini’s with Apple silicon exist, thus, if Apple keeps Intel versions for legacy buyers, who cares? You have the transition to M-series chips and you have choice if you want.
True enough, the iMac Pro was dropped. But again, SteveJack did not admit to it essentially being replaced with the Mac Studio and a new display.
Just lay it all out and don’t slant please to make a point. It takes away completely.