Bye, Bye for now Apple, it has been fun!

[Technerd108]

There are a number of things Apple does which are not in customers' interests and betray the California mindset however I see colleagues struggling with Windows and Android problems with updates stalling, drivers not working properly and virus ridden downloads that I would never go back. The kicker for me is support and the fact you can go into any US Apple Store and get help and advice (Not so much in the UK where the folks in the few stores are not interested).

California mindset?? WTF is that? DO you think I live in California??? What an odd thing to say. Are all customers interests tied to California mindset?? Your first sentence is hard for me to understand what you are saying or mean?

On the second point, your colleagues having issues is one I have heard so often. Like when I had my air and a person was telling me why the MBP was better than the MBA and how he tried a colleagues air and it was terrible compared to his MBP. So when I hear the, "my colleagues have such huge problems line I think they are just trying to confirm bias by saying things like this.

I know some old folks who are tech illiterate who manage to run and update Windows computers without drivers not installing and all the other BS people who haven't used what they are talking about in a long time say about Windows devices.

Apple store support? First you need to be near an Apple store then book an appointment, wait, then explain everything to an Apple expert who will then tell you whether or not they will cover or fix your device and good luck if you are out of warranty or don't have Apple care. Then the decision on how much you will pay will entirely depend on the Apple expert. You may get a nice one and Apple will cover you or you might not and have to spend hundreds.

If I have a surface product I can go to a Microsoft store. Samsung has same day service on laptops if you buy the warranty. HP offers very fast repair turn around and you don't have to go anywhere. If you buy any of the extra warranties then you will get same day service and a loaner for repairs. I had an HP Spectre a few years ago and two months out of warranty the mother board died. Called HP and after a couple agents they decided to fix the laptop free of charge and UPS picked it up next day and a couple days later I got a loaner that was similar to my laptop until I got the replacement. I didn't have to go anywhere and I was out of warranty and HP fixed my laptop and provided me a loaner commensurate with what I was using. I don't see how you can top that? So good customer service is not limited to Apple. I do like Apple customer service and have had good software support out of warranty but never had a hardware problem fixed out of warranty so I don't know. I have had issue with other items and general Apple expert advice or support. But overall Apple is good. My point is so are others.

 

[Technerd108]

yes, it's a classic projection—he wrote a book justifying it to themselves.

Like this is the go to response. He is justifying blah, blah, blah.

It is very similar to when I got my air and sold my 16" MBP and complained about the issues with the 16" MBP and why I liked the air better and a bunch of MBP owners took it upon themselves to tell me I was just projecting and justifying my purchase which I wasn't. Again I was trying to explain something and see if other people may have experienced something similar and what they would do in the future.

I can get anything I want. I am not forced into one platform or another. I am making an educated choice based on personal experience over years not oh I can only get this so I have to project my insecurities on my new bought stuff by complaining about what I used to have so I won't feel bad I don't have it. Sorry. That is not what is happening.

I will use a Mac again. I am a multi platform user and will always be. However, at this point I am deciding or choosing to move away completely from Apple temporarily until I feel things have changed enough. They may not change and they may even make things worse. So I am prepared to wait. But I may at a certain point say, screw it, I don't care about the price, lock in, or arbitrary lack of certain features and just buy a Mac again. But the thing is I will be in the same boat I am in now unless as I said in the first post I go all in on Apple. I just don't see that happening.

But I never say never. Tech space changes fast. Today I like Windows and 6 months from now maybe Apple will be in a different place altogether. You just never know. So my post wasn't about an absolute forever change but a wait and see approach. For now, Windows and Android just serve my personal needs better but that can change.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

The difference is, Apple gives me the choice if I am ready to reboot or not. Yesterday while I was literally in the middle of editing a word document on windows 11, the computer froze on me, the screen got distorted and it rebooted itself right into a firmware update. no warning. just boom. no exaggeration.

Weird, I haven't had something like that happen in well over a decade of using various PCs. In fact, the last time that happened to me it was on a Macbook when the drive failed. Back then I could just replace it with another one myself, so I didn't worry too much about it.

Now I would be done. Can't replace the drive, heck you can't even boot from an external drive.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Like this is the go to response. He is justifying blah, blah, blah.

It is very similar to when I got my air and sold my 16" MBP and complained about the issues with the 16" MBP and why I liked the air better and a bunch of MBP owners took it upon themselves to tell me I was just projecting and justifying my purchase which I wasn't. Again I was trying to explain something and see if other people may have experienced something similar and what they would do in the future.

I can get anything I want. I am not forced into one platform or another. I am making an educated choice based on personal experience over years not oh I can only get this so I have to project my insecurities on my new bought stuff by complaining about what I used to have so I won't feel bad I don't have it. Sorry. That is not what is happening.

I will use a Mac again. I am a multi platform user and will always be. However, at this point I am deciding or choosing to move away completely from Apple temporarily until I feel things have changed enough. They may not change and they may even make things worse. So I am prepared to wait. But I may at a certain point say, screw it, I don't care about the price, lock in, or arbitrary lack of certain features and just buy a Mac again. But the thing is I will be in the same boat I am in now unless as I said in the first post I go all in on Apple. I just don't see that happening.

But I never say never. Tech space changes fast. Today I like Windows and 6 months from now maybe Apple will be in a different place altogether. You just never know. So my post wasn't about an absolute forever change but a wait and see approach. For now, Windows and Android just serve my personal needs better but that can change.

I figure anyone talking about projection is just projecting themselves. I liked your post.

 

[AlixSPQR]

If you have an Intel Mac. Good luck with Linux on M series. You can get Yellowdog Linuxbut I don't think much else will get everything working on a Mac vs Windows where you have a wide variety of Linux distro's to choose from. If you wanted to have the longest possible lifetime with a device and Windows based device will last longer using Linux than a Mac counterpart generally speaking with less hardware issues.

I would NEVER buy a Mac to run Linux---I am replacing my Unix system with a Unix copy system with hardware tailormade for Unix? I don't know but if I have a Mac I want MacOS ONLY but that is me. Windows is easily replaced with Linux but I prefer Windows over Linux generally speaking and would never use Linux on a nice Windows laptop unless it came with Linux pre-installed. Generally I use Linux on the desktop and it works great. Laptops I tend to stick with the OS that came with it because a lot of hardware functionality can be lost in Linux and other issues. Desktops generally don't have those issues.

I mean I would rather run an unsupported version of MacOS an an obsoleted Mac any day over any Linux install but that is just me.

I have Intel Macs, two of which are running unsupported macOS via OCLP. Sonoma and Monterey, respectively. I have two older Intel Macs with Ubuntu, and they work perfectly. I could technically install unsupported macOS on them, but they would be too slow. When any viable macOS is Apple Silicon only, I'll move to Ubuntu, I guess. I have a couple of Windows laptops when I need to do Windows only tasks (a few).

 

[Technerd108]

I have Intel Macs, two of which are running unsupported macOS via OCLP. Sonoma and Monterey, respectively. I have two older Intel Macs with Ubuntu. I could technically install unsupported macOS on them, but they would be too slow. When any viable macOS is Apple Silicon only, I'll move to Ubuntu, I guess. I have a couple of Windows laptops when I need to do Windows only tasks (a few).

Running Ubuntu on Apple Silicon Macs is Possible - OMG! Ubuntu

Ubuntu Asahi is a community project that brings a full Ubuntu desktop experience to Apple silicon Macs. If you're familiar with efforts to get Linux

www.google.com

Yes you can run Ubuntu on Apple silicon but it's through Asahi Linux. I believe it has a fee model and it is not free?

Not sure how hardware compatibility is but if the fee is low and it works it is a solution but I don't use Linux as my main driver for a reason. I think the same reason I am assuming you prefer MacOS.

I don't know, maybe it is me but spending so much for a Mac is MacOS. Like I can't use a Mac without MacOS. I just would not like the experience. On a Windows laptop, Linux just feels better suited and I don't feel the sane way about a Windows device in terms of software and hardware the same as with Apple products.

But if it works for you I am all for it. The longer you can extend the life of your Mac's the better and I feel it is commendable and a quality I wish I had. My respect to you!

 

[Ctrlos]

Ive tried many times to attempt leaving the ecosystem but often find there are just too many compromises to bother. Google make brilliant phones but all my data is then on their servers with no option for localised sync. I could go with Samsung and then plug the gaps with Microsoft but their photo editing options are rubbish and I have tried many times to love OneNote to no avail. I could go all-in on 3rd party apps but do I trust my data with a company that might go bust next year?

Now maybe the iPhone doesn’t have the gimmicks of Android devices and maybe Apple short-change their lowest spending customers. But at the end of the day it all comes down to software. Apple still have the most comprehensive first party offering I make use of together with unrivalled access to premium one-purchase applications. ASUS could build a laptop with the best keyboard ever devices but what’s the point without Ulysses? Samsung have a fantastic stylus in all their top-end phones but lack something like ProCreate to make better use of it.

Hardware matters very little and app parity is everything.

 

[j26]

Ive tried many times to attempt leaving the ecosystem but often find there are just too many compromises to bother. Google make brilliant phones but all my data is then on their servers with no option for localised sync. I could go with Samsung and then plug the gaps with Microsoft but their photo editing options are rubbish and I have tried many times to love OneNote to no avail. I could go all-in on 3rd party apps but do I trust my data with a company that might go bust next year?

Samsung photo editing is quite decent now, but yes I have spent too long trying to like OneNote. Samsung Notes is decent, but they have that locked down to Samsung devices, as bad if not wrose than Apple Notes.

 

[Technerd108]

Ive tried many times to attempt leaving the ecosystem but often find there are just too many compromises to bother. Google make brilliant phones but all my data is then on their servers with no option for localised sync. I could go with Samsung and then plug the gaps with Microsoft but their photo editing options are rubbish and I have tried many times to love OneNote to no avail. I could go all-in on 3rd party apps but do I trust my data with a company that might go bust next year?

Now maybe the iPhone doesn’t have the gimmicks of Android devices and maybe Apple short-change their lowest spending customers. But at the end of the day it all comes down to software. Apple still have the most comprehensive first party offering I make use of together with unrivalled access to premium one-purchase applications. ASUS could build a laptop with the best keyboard ever devices but what’s the point without Ulysses? Samsung have a fantastic stylus in all their top-end phones but lack something like ProCreate to make better use of it.

Hardware matters very little and app parity is everything.

I don't think call screening or text to speech that works or a smart assistant that can actually do things hands free are gimmicks but quality of life improvements. Since you don't experience them on iOS you wouldn't know. The moment I put my Sim in an iPhone from my Pixel I am reminded why I like call screening when I get a spam call.

App quality is good on Android but I do agree a lack of professionalism art creation software on Android sucks. I have family with iPad and Procteate and it is amazing what they can do and no Andriod app does everything it can do. But all platforms have their niche or software only available on it. It doesn't mean app quality sucks because there is no procreate in Android. It means Android needs either Procreate to port over and charge or another Android developer needs to create something similar. I think the demand is there.

Please with the data.

 

[TechRunner]

As you can tell by the list of items in my signature I'm pretty OS agnostic. I use MacOS and Windows 11 daily, and find them both to be solid yet occasionally frustrating. At work, I have an iPhone 14 in one pocket (work issue) and my Z Flip in the other and bounce back and forth between them with ease. I currently have an iPad but have used Android-based tablets in the past. And, of course, Garmin and Shokz for watch and headphones.

Having said that, I've occasionally longed for the ease of learning/using one system instead of being a jack of all trades, master of none. I've always been a proponent of buying what I construe is the best tool for the job, which is how I've ended up where I am with an assortment of tech that does what I need it to do and does it well. Still, it would be nice to have one system where I could dig in at a granular level and get everything set up just so and have it mesh together (almost) perfectly. At this point in time, that's pretty much only Apple. Then price and perceived value enter into the equation...

 

[theblackadder]

Very good reads and replies.

My 2¢: All companies are in it for the money no matter how much we love or dislike their products or business practices.

Customers (you, me, everybody) should be of the same mind as the businesses: make ourselves happy with whatever choice of product we want without regret. We get to change our minds with our dollars.

 

[Technerd108]

As you can tell by the list of items in my signature I'm pretty OS agnostic. I use MacOS and Windows 11 daily, and find them both to be solid yet occasionally frustrating. At work, I have an iPhone 14 in one pocket (work issue) and my Z Flip in the other and bounce back and forth between them with ease. I currently have an iPad but have used Android-based tablets in the past. And, of course, Garmin and Shokz for watch and headphones.

Having said that, I've occasionally longed for the ease of learning/using one system instead of being a jack of all trades, master of none. I've always been a proponent of buying what I construe is the best tool for the job, which is how I've ended up where I am with an assortment of tech that does what I need it to do and does it well. Still, it would be nice to have one system where I could dig in at a granular level and get everything set up just so and have it mesh together (almost) perfectly. At this point in time, that's pretty much only Apple. Then price and perceived value enter into the equation...

I totally get it.

But I actually disagree in the ecosystem part. I will agree that Apple's ecosystem is more seamless and takes less work to get it up and running but having used Samsung and Windows and Samsung phone and Samsung Windows laptop that the level of integration is close. You don't have a FaceTime app equivalent already set up like Apple but everything else is there. File sharing, Screen mirror on tablet from PC, Dex, texting, calling, etc. from any device and a lot more I can't remember. We have a password manager across all devices as well. The difference you don't need a Samsung device to get most of the same functionality. I can use a Pixel phone or HP laptop and everything works the same except for the second screen but most features work regardless of brand. That is nice.

I also get using the best tool for the job regardless of hardware or OS. I think that is a very smart if not, the smartest strategy. Any time you are too invested in any ecosystem the harder it is to get out.

 

[lcseds]

So much frustration with folks trying or switching to Windows is they only give it a few hours of use and compare it to MacOS instead of treating it as it's own. If more effort was given to the learning of Windows, there would be a lot less hate. Can't use a Mac for twenty years, then try Windows for a few hours. You're bound to be disappointed. So many Windows horror stories from 10 years ago. Crazy.

 

[LeeW]

So much frustration with folks trying or switching to Windows is they only give it a few hours of use and compare it to MacOS instead of treating it as it's own.

Of course, it's the same in reverse; many try macOS and, within a few hours, regret it and change back to Windows. Often, a change is initiated by something going wrong and/or frustration, not a real willingness to want the change or give it time to adapt.

As said before, the vast majority just want tech to work for whatever purpose they have. Once you're a Windows user, you generally stay a Windows user, and the same is true for Macs, Android and iPhone.

Also, to be fair to most Apple users who don't join a forum like this, their attitude is that it's a device, nothing more, no superiority, no hate on what else is on offer. Only when they join a forum like this, many Apple users develop the attitude that Apple is superior and Windows is the devil.

 

[TechRunner]

I totally get it.

But I actually disagree in the ecosystem part. I will agree that Apple's ecosystem is more seamless and takes less work to get it up and running but having used Samsung and Windows and Samsung phone and Samsung Windows laptop that the level of integration is close. You don't have a FaceTime app equivalent already set up like Apple but everything else is there. File sharing, Screen mirror on tablet from PC, Dex, texting, calling, etc. from any device and a lot more I can't remember. We have a password manager across all devices as well. The difference you don't need a Samsung device to get most of the same functionality. I can use a Pixel phone or HP laptop and everything works the same except for the second screen but most features work regardless of brand. That is nice.

I also get using the best tool for the job regardless of hardware or OS. I think that is a very smart if not, the smartest strategy. Any time you are too invested in any ecosystem the harder it is to get out.

I forgot to mention I do use Windows and Samsung phone link on occasion and it does work pretty well. Maybe if I bought a Samsung tablet (instead of considering the upcoming 12.9" iPad Air) the integration would get me closer to where I'd like to be. Something to think about, for sure. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[dmr727]

Very good reads and replies.

My 2¢: All companies are in it for the money no matter how much we love or dislike their products or business practices.

Customers (you, me, everybody) should be of the same mind as the businesses: make ourselves happy with whatever choice of product we want without regret. We get to change our minds with our dollars.

I'm a big fan of this take. I've enjoyed what Apple has done for a long, long time, but lately they've made some decisions that have me looking elsewhere. It's nice reading other people's experience with this.

 

[Ethosik]

I’m on the opposite side. I have always used Mac’s but they were always secondary computers. PC hardware has been pushing me away along with Windows. I have had to run DDU three times now as my GPU drivers keep corrupting themselves on my gaming system. I have spent thousands trying to diagnose the issue (replacing parts on my custom built PC - I was able to RMA a couple of items but they want more proof on some items). This never happened on Windows 10.

The heat output is just insane these days. My ex-production PC (custom built as well and DOESNT have non stop driver issues) is a 13900k and a 4090 GPU. Just turning it on and sitting idle at the Windows login screen heats up my office to very uncomfortable temperatures. Let alone if I want to render a video or work in 3D modeling. I have already tried undervolting, downclocking, power limiting, etc. It doesn’t help the heat output. I have downgraded that to be my new gaming PC as my M1 Ultra, let along M2 Ultra, Mac Studios are much better than this PC. I can have my M2 Ultras render videos all day every day and it barely increases the temperature in my office.

I have 7 computers in my workflow, two PCs and the rest are Mac’s. I’m at the point where I’m dropping Windows and those PCs in general except gaming only. Everything else I can do on Mac and some I can do better. I have always preferred macOS UI, especially current versions, compared to Windows. The heat output is driving me away from gaming as well. I have re-purchased games on PS5 so I can play in comfort.

 

[Technerd108]

I’m on the opposite side. I have always used Mac’s but they were always secondary computers. PC hardware has been pushing me away along with Windows. I have had to run DDU three times now as my GPU drivers keep corrupting themselves on my gaming system. I have spent thousands trying to diagnose the issue (replacing parts on my custom built PC - I was able to RMA a couple of items but they want more proof on some items). This never happened on Windows 10.

The heat output is just insane these days. My ex-production PC (custom built as well and DOESNT have non stop driver issues) is a 13900k and a 4090 GPU. Just turning it on and sitting idle at the Windows login screen heats up my office to very uncomfortable temperatures. Let alone if I want to render a video or work in 3D modeling. I have already tried undervolting, downclocking, power limiting, etc. It doesn’t help the heat output. I have downgraded that to be my new gaming PC as my M1 Ultra, let along M2 Ultra, Mac Studios are much better than this PC. I can have my M2 Ultras render videos all day every day and it barely increases the temperature in my office.

I have 7 computers in my workflow, two PCs and the rest are Mac’s. I’m at the point where I’m dropping Windows and those PCs in general except gaming only. Everything else I can do on Mac and some I can do better. I have always preferred macOS UI, especially current versions, compared to Windows. The heat output is driving me away from gaming as well. I have re-purchased games on PS5 so I can play in comfort.

I think you should do it. If you get a MacBook Pro with M3 Max and 32gb ram you should have enough gpu to game on and Apple is slowly starting to get into the market.

If you keep one gaming PC I would recommend selling both of what you have and getting a meteor lake gaming laptop with latest Nvidia or 8th gen amd ryzen. Both will not be toasters and perform very well and last you a while. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ethosik]

I think you should do it. If you get a MacBook Pro with M3 Max and 32gb ram you should have enough gpu to game on and Apple is slowly starting to get into the market.

If you keep one gaming PC I would recommend selling both of what you have and getting a meteor lake gaming laptop with latest Nvidia or 8th gen amd ryzen. Both will not be toasters and perform very well and last you a while. Just my 2 cents.

My M2 Ultra with 128GB doesn’t do the best at gaming. This is why I moved primarily to PS5. But I still use Windows for some games like fps where keyboard and mouse are best.

Regarding the laptop. How is the performance and heat output and fan noise?

 

[HiVolt]

I stopped buying Apple laptops since they started soldering everything on, and charging an arm and a leg for basic 8-to-16gb and 256-to-512gb upgrades. I would re-consider if they didn't rip people off.

iPhone, well i upgrade every 3 years or so. since 2008 i've amassed a lot of useful apps that i dont want to re purchase, some dont exist on android. So yeah, I'm locked into that. my iPad is 7 years old and i don't feel a need to ugprade because the OS is still the same no matter what iPad.

For main desktop, i've been building my own PC's since the early 90's. I'm not giving up the freedom of choice of hardware. Laptops too i've been using Lenovo's for over 10 years that at the very least have ram & ssd upgrades.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I’m on the opposite side. I have always used Mac’s but they were always secondary computers. PC hardware has been pushing me away along with Windows. I have had to run DDU three times now as my GPU drivers keep corrupting themselves on my gaming system. I have spent thousands trying to diagnose the issue (replacing parts on my custom built PC - I was able to RMA a couple of items but they want more proof on some items). This never happened on Windows 10.

The heat output is just insane these days. My ex-production PC (custom built as well and DOESNT have non stop driver issues) is a 13900k and a 4090 GPU. Just turning it on and sitting idle at the Windows login screen heats up my office to very uncomfortable temperatures. Let alone if I want to render a video or work in 3D modeling. I have already tried undervolting, downclocking, power limiting, etc. It doesn’t help the heat output. I have downgraded that to be my new gaming PC as my M1 Ultra, let along M2 Ultra, Mac Studios are much better than this PC. I can have my M2 Ultras render videos all day every day and it barely increases the temperature in my office.

I have 7 computers in my workflow, two PCs and the rest are Mac’s. I’m at the point where I’m dropping Windows and those PCs in general except gaming only. Everything else I can do on Mac and some I can do better. I have always preferred macOS UI, especially current versions, compared to Windows. The heat output is driving me away from gaming as well. I have re-purchased games on PS5 so I can play in comfort.

If you ever need someone to take that 4090 off your hands, I think I know a guy. In fact, better just give me the whole machine. I bet I can figure out what is wrong with it. Better stick with your macs...

 

[G5isAlive]

In fact, the last time that happened to me it was on a Macbook when the drive failed. Back then I could just replace it with another one myself, so I didn't worry too much about it.

yep. And so could anyone that stole your laptop… repurpose your computer which statistically speaking is more likely than a modern SSD failing.

 

[Technerd108]

My M2 Ultra with 128GB doesn’t do the best at gaming. This is why I moved primarily to PS5. But I still use Windows for some games like fps where keyboard and mouse are best.

Regarding the laptop. How is the performance and heat output and fan noise?

Very low to non existent most of the time. Even under heavy load I feel air and lightly hear air flow but it is never crazy.

But just like Ryzen 7th gen or better the fans still come on. It isn't silent like a MBA or even as silent as a M series MBP. The MBP has to really be pushed to start spinning the fans where as the Ultra 7 win spin more of the time depending on the mode. If on balanced fan noise will always be low to non existent but if on performance it changes a bit.

That being said there is a significant difference between prior generations. As I said max spinning is very low decibels on two different laptops.

But if you are used to m level of quiet and expect it to be exactly the same you will be disappointed. If you expect it to be a lot better than i7 13700h in terms of battery life and thermals then you will be happy.

Intel still has some tweaking to do with this node and needs to move to the next fairly quickly.

I feel once Intel hits 5nm or lower then we will start seeing m series battery life. But loud spinning fans and fans just running at idle are a thing of the past. The fans only run if I am doing something and only if I have perfect mode set on. If you use balanced mode you will never hear fans. Maybe a big update or serious multitasking and GPU intensive work, tons of tabs you might hear em. Again in performance mode it ramps the fans aggressively and that is the only mode I hear any fan noise and at Max I could push the machine it was never loud.

 

[Technerd108]

I stopped buying Apple laptops since they started soldering everything on, and charging an arm and a leg for basic 8-to-16gb and 256-to-512gb upgrades. I would re-consider if they didn't rip people off.

iPhone, well i upgrade every 3 years or so. since 2008 i've amassed a lot of useful apps that i dont want to re purchase, some dont exist on android. So yeah, I'm locked into that. my iPad is 7 years old and i don't feel a need to ugprade because the OS is still the same no matter what iPad.

For main desktop, i've been building my own PC's since the early 90's. I'm not giving up the freedom of choice of hardware. Laptops too i've been using Lenovo's for over 10 years that at the very least have ram & ssd upgrades.

Solid choice.

I was also thinking of a Mac mini setup with m3 when released but you can't upgrade the ssd or ram on a desktop anymore. I get the laptop. There are trade offs. I still think ssd should be user replaceable for a number of reasons.

On a desktop I think Apple should use a chiplet design like AMD and now Intel and have the SOC with GPU but ram and ssd user replaceable and upgradeable. Intel and AMD can do it with various tech and so could Apple achieve the same speeds and offer customers a longer usable lifespan. If Apple cares about the environment then they could and should figure out a way to use an SOC with user replaceable parts.

They can do what they want with the laptop because of space, battery and thermals which are constraints you just don't have on a desktop unless it is designed for form over function.

But the way things are now I don't know who would buy a desktop Mac unless they treat it like a laptop and think of it as disposable rather than repairable which is the biggest trick of Apple silicon so far.

That being said modern SOC are very reliable for at least 5-10 years with low failure rates. So it is very unlikely that you will have a SOC in a MacBook fail to a state of inoperability but it is possible and pretty bad if it happens. Cloud backup in real time is probably the only protection then you either replace entire SOC in laptop and use backup with some possible data loss or buy a new one and restore the backup with the same results.

I am sure Apple might have data retrieval tool for a failed m chip if needed but who knows?

 

[turbineseaplane]

For main desktop, i've been building my own PC's since the early 90's. I'm not giving up the freedom of choice of hardware

Speaking of this, I just made a tweak to my hack today. I switched macOS to iGPU only (fine for my needs) so I could go back to an Nvidia card for the windows side.

I don’t wanna be limited by AMD options that happen to work with Mac still

All of this is so silly. Apple could totally be continuing to do some Intel machines for people who want to dual boot.