Do reviewers already have M1 Macs? If so, why can't they post reviews?

[Fomalhaut]

As per the title, I'm curious as to why reviewers, assuming some have had early access to the new machines, have a review embargo in place before the machines are available to the public (assuming 17th November)?

Given the fact the cat is out of the bag after the Apple announcement, and the early GeekBench results (possibly from reviewers themselves), why the embargo? Wouldn't positive reviews drive an increase in orders?

 

[Sanpete]

Good question. Builds anticipation, but I'm not sure that's the reason.

 

[markiv810]

By the end of this week, I expect many to upload unboxing reviews and benchmarks. Lets wait and see.

 

[boss.king]

1. Reviews take time to make.

2. Embargoes. Sticking to an agreed upon date gives reviews a fair deadline to work towards, which theoretically should result in a less rushed and overall better review.

 

[Lightning Cable]

I'd expect...review embargo lifted on Monday. Launch on Tuesday. Gives Apple two days of headlines/publicity.

If not, these machines are going to be in people's hands on Tuesday anyway. So we'll have a pretty good idea in a day or two either way.

 

[Fomalhaut]

1. Reviews take time to make.

2. Embargoes. Sticking to an agreed upon date gives reviews a fair deadline to work towards, which theoretically should result in a less rushed and overall better review.

That makes sense - thank you!

 

[Ocnetgeek]

As per the title, I'm curious as to why reviewers, assuming some have had early access to the new machines, have a review embargo in place before the machines are available to the public (assuming 17th November)?

Given the fact the cat is out of the bag after the Apple announcement, and the early GeekBench results (possibly from reviewers themselves), why the embargo? Wouldn't positive reviews drive an increase in orders?

Not sure that any of them have Macs to review yet. Was watching Luke Miani after the Event and he was placing his orders for systems at the same time we were able to.

 

[PortoMavericks]

I’m sure iJustine and MKBHD already have those Macs.

Brands don’t want to even let those people tease an upcoming review. Why?

Because a lot of people within those audiences will go and say: “good! I was about to place a pre order but now that I know that MKBHD is going to review it really soon I’ll wait”.

 

[Joseph C]

Could be 9AM EST, 2PM EST or if not, I guess tomorrow.

 

[deeddawg]

Not sure that any of them have Macs to review yet. Was watching Luke Miani after the Event and he was placing his orders for systems at the same time we were able to.

As I understand it with Apple:

Reviewer systems are loaners.

If a reviewer wants a system to keep, they gotta buy one just like the rest of us.

 

[LonestarOne]

As per the title, I'm curious as to why reviewers, assuming some have had early access to the new machines, have a review embargo in place before the machines are available to the public (assuming 17th November)?

Given the fact the cat is out of the bag after the Apple announcement, and the early GeekBench results (possibly from reviewers themselves), why the embargo? Wouldn't positive reviews drive an increase in orders?

Reviewer 1: “Hey, Apple. I’d like to have a detailed review ready to go when the new machines hit the US. How about sending me a machine early so I can spend the next week writing it?”

Reviewer 2: “Hey, Apple. I want to beat everyone else by posting the first unboxing video on YouTube. How about sending me a machine right now so I can post some pictures?”

Which one would you take seriously, if you were Apple?

 

[Joseph C]

Clasping at straws - could they drop at 12PM EST (35 minutes?) or maybe 2PM? 😂

Is there precedent for Apple not allowing reviews until the products have arrived with customers? I can't remember a time there hasn't been early reviews at least a few days before.

 

[KPOM]

Not sure that any of them have Macs to review yet. Was watching Luke Miani after the Event and he was placing his orders for systems at the same time we were able to.

Some reviewers get loaners. I expect we’ll see reviews from the likes of Joanna Stern in the WSJ, CNET, etc. tomorrow morning.

 

[dogslobber]

Reviewers are embargoed.

 

[KPOM]

Clasping at straws - could they drop at 12PM EST (35 minutes?) or maybe 2PM? ?

Is there precedent for Apple not allowing reviews until the products have arrived with customers? I can't remember a time there hasn't been early reviews at least a few days before.

What’s unusual this time is that orders are arriving starting on Tuesday. iPhones and iPads usually launch on Fridays, so lifting the embargo Tuesday morning (after pre-orders have already started) allows them to be published before units are delivered. Lifting the embargo on Friday would not have left reviewers much time (since most of them would have had to write articles about the event, in addition to the reviews of the machine itself).

 

[Joseph C]

What’s unusual this time is that orders are arriving starting on Tuesday. iPhones and iPads usually launch on Fridays, so lifting the embargo Tuesday morning (after pre-orders have already started) allows them to be published before units are delivered. Lifting the embargo on Friday would not have left reviewers much time (since most of them would have had to write articles about the event, in addition to the reviews of the machine itself).

When did those first Geekbench scores start popping up? As that'll be when the reviewers had them.

I hope we get some early reviews today.

 

[handymanuk]

There was a glut that popped up today.

 

[Gru]

Reviewer 1: “Hey, Apple. I’d like to have a detailed review ready to go when the new machines hit the US. How about sending me a machine early so I can spend the next week writing it?”

Reviewer 2: “Hey, Apple. I want to beat everyone else by posting the first unboxing video on YouTube. How about sending me a machine right now so I can post some pictures?”

Which one would you take seriously, if you were Apple?

The one with the higher number of subscribers.

 

[Joseph C]

There was a glut that popped up today.

A good number appeared last week though. Presume they will be reviewers.

 

[drubwrubnat]

And if they come you better post it here
Cant wait ( ?? )

 

[handymanuk]

A good number appeared last week though. Presume they will be reviewers.

True. But we had 6 post today specifically, and only 7 in the past few days before that.

 

[AnthonyHarris]

A good number appeared last week though. Presume they will be reviewers.

I imagine you're right.

Marques had a Space Grey MacBook Air on the desk behind him during his HomePod Mini review. Wouldn't be surprised if it was the M1 version.

 

[ascender]

Apple say its being released tomorrow so I'm guessing that's when embargoes lift.

 

[Ocnetgeek]

The one with the higher number of subscribers.

iJustine has almost 7 Million subscribers so I would expect that she would have gotten one using that criteria.

 

[Joseph C]

Apple say its being released tomorrow so I'm guessing that's when embargoes lift.

Normally press reviews come a few days before a product launches to the public.