How long before Intel software becomes unsupported?

[nabati]

I'm on the market for a new Macbook. Optimally I would get a M1 with 32GB of RAM, but since that's not out yet, my two options are

1. Wait until it's released, and no one knows how long that's going to take. Could take anywhere between 6-12 months to longer.
2. Buy an Intel Macbook Pro.

My biggest fear with getting 2) is that it will be rendered obsolete quickly.

My fears are:
1. How long will Apple continue supporting machines using Intel processors? Probably for quite long, given their record with iPhones etc.
2. How long will 3rd party developers continue supporting x86 software? This is a bigger "fear" for me.

What do ya'll think?

 

[greenmeanie]

I just have a feeling they won't be putting much effort into the INTEL machines anymore.

 

[eelpout]

I honestly don't think Intel based Mac owners have anything to "panic" about for at least 4-5 years. Apple said the ARM transition for new hardware would take a minimum of 2 years.

You can look at the previous PowerPC to Intel transition in the '00's as a rough guide. They supported PowerPC Macs in the OS for at least 5 years after the first Intel Mac shipped.

And last I checked, Apple is still actively selling x86 hardware, aren't they?

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Fear 1: I personally think macOS for Intel will be supported until 2027/28 (last selling of Intel in 2022, then plus 5 years - last new OS in around 2025, then three years of support).

Fear 2: It would be great if people with knowledge of development would chime in. I am a complete layman - as far as I understand, Apple at the moment wants to have "universal" apps that work with Intel as well as with ASi machines. If this is the way to go, meaning that developers can and should develop not specifically for a processor but for the Mac platform, then there could be Intel support sort of forever. With the cutback of course that in some years, Intel processors in Macs will no longer be powerful enough to run current software.

 

[hallux]

Did this thread not cover it for you?

When do you think intel will get dropped from support

Alright, so I want to hear y'alls speculations on when you guys think that intel macs will get dumped. Heres my speculation: The apple silicon transition will finish sometime in 2022. The macos that comes out at the end of 2023, which I'm guessing will be mac os 14, will be the last to...

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