I feel like i'm alone to dislike M1/what is it good for (Merged Mega Thread)

[subjonas]

Hey everyone,

I recently had a M1 Mac Mini, 1TB Storage, 16 gb of RAM. I never had M1 Mac before, just "Classic" Intel Mac. ?

And you know what ? I kept it 2 months, and sold it.

I have a really "mixed" feeling about that M1 chips.

Of course, M1 chips have really very great performances. I was impressed to see a Mac Mini with such perfs.

But there a couple of things i really can't stand with that M1 chips.

1/ Zero upgrade possiblity.

Let's be clear, i always hated that apple decision to solder components, BUT i can admit it gives advantages about performances.
But what i feel is like Apple saying "You won't touch inside our machines. We will do everything possible to make it non-upgradeable. Don't touch our computers. You should pay 2X or 3x times the normal price with our configuration."

Look at the poor Luke Miani who had a hope when he opened his Mac Studio... He tried swapping the modules and got 100% locked by Apple. I could feel hope in his eyes, but reality came back very fast ?

Of course, Apple was never reputed for making upgradeables machines. We all know that Steve Jobs didn't want this.
But at least, most of machines before 2012 could be upgraded with RAM and new Hard drives. I think it was really the minimum Apple could offer to customers. And i'll be honest, i always enjoyed that.
Look at 2020 iMac, memory was still accessible.

In my mind, i really can't stand to be stuck with my machine. I know if i want to change anything in my machine, i have to change the whole machine. And i really feel sad about it.

I feel like : Having a very great machine but being prisoner of it.

2/ Lack of compatibility

Of course, Rosetta is good, and ARM chips are just like the transition from PowerPC to Intel in the mid 2000's. It's totally normal that it lacks of compatibility.
However, i've been so much used to run multiple systems like Linux or Windows, additional to MacOS that it frustrates me a lot.
I won't expand on this topic, i think it's useless.

BTW, i feel very mitigate about M1 Computers, and i feel very alone. Everyone seems to love it so much.
Anyone feeling like me ? ?

Not me personally though.

 

[K two]

Good thing that the SSD isn’t soldered? Just socketed.

With the commoditising of devices and computers, no wonder device as a service is likely coming.

NVM-e SSDs are soldered down.

 

[Apple fan from Korea]

I use M1 when I need the performance. But I know that their non-upgradeable/replaceable parts mean they will all die one day.

All machines die one day. If your BS argument is true than 90% of pre-assembled computers being sold right now would ‘all die one day’ ?

 

[Pilot Jones]

While your concerns are legitimate, these are arguably some of the most basic compromises all Mac buyers who do a standard amount of research find out.

I feel you, but both of these grievances should've been crystal clear way before the machine actually reached you.

 

[Spirosgmanis]

Actually I do not dislike new m1 Mac , I am happy that the progress is essential now, but I am an engineer civil and electrical engineer and my software for my work needs definitely windows, and I had the two world combined in one machine, macOS is a great operating system and windows software it was the perfect combination of all worlds. Sadly the perfect order broke, I have an iMac i9 and a MacBook Pro 16 inch i9 and I will keep them as long as they broke to do my job. I do not know what I will do next , I want to avoid maintaining four !!!! different machines macOS and windows, I hope windows on arm sometime will run in a future Boot Camp. I was a client on windows environment which droped in macOS ecosystem, felt the magic ang now I feel like I’ve been kicked off the back door , anyways Life goes on in the good things don’t last forever

 

[Richu]

Hey everyone,

I recently had a M1 Mac Mini, 1TB Storage, 16 gb of RAM. I never had M1 Mac before, just "Classic" Intel Mac. ?

And you know what ? I kept it 2 months, and sold it.

I have a really "mixed" feeling about that M1 chips.

Of course, M1 chips have really very great performances. I was impressed to see a Mac Mini with such perfs.

But there a couple of things i really can't stand with that M1 chips.

1/ Zero upgrade possiblity.

Let's be clear, i always hated that apple decision to solder components, BUT i can admit it gives advantages about performances.
But what i feel is like Apple saying "You won't touch inside our machines. We will do everything possible to make it non-upgradeable. Don't touch our computers. You should pay 2X or 3x times the normal price with our configuration."

Look at the poor Luke Miani who had a hope when he opened his Mac Studio... He tried swapping the modules and got 100% locked by Apple. I could feel hope in his eyes, but reality came back very fast ?

Of course, Apple was never reputed for making upgradeables machines. We all know that Steve Jobs didn't want this.
But at least, most of machines before 2012 could be upgraded with RAM and new Hard drives. I think it was really the minimum Apple could offer to customers. And i'll be honest, i always enjoyed that.
Look at 2020 iMac, memory was still accessible.

In my mind, i really can't stand to be stuck with my machine. I know if i want to change anything in my machine, i have to change the whole machine. And i really feel sad about it.

I feel like : Having a very great machine but being prisoner of it.

2/ Lack of compatibility

Of course, Rosetta is good, and ARM chips are just like the transition from PowerPC to Intel in the mid 2000's. It's totally normal that it lacks of compatibility.
However, i've been so much used to run multiple systems like Linux or Windows, additional to MacOS that it frustrates me a lot.
I won't expand on this topic, i think it's useless.

BTW, i feel very mitigate about M1 Computers, and i feel very alone. Everyone seems to love it so much.
Anyone feeling like me ? ?

Totally makes sense for your preferences and use case!

I bet there’s a lot of people like you. But I think Apple made the right choices for the vast majority of the market, even most pro users.

Upgradability probably isn’t as important as it’s made out to be
It’s probably like 0.1% of the user base who would bother upgrading individual components. Any feature has tradeoffs, including upgradability, and imposing those tradeoffs on the other 99.9% seems like a bad idea. These 0.1% sound like a lot of people due to the internet ”aggregating” all of their opinions in Linus Tech Tips, et. al.

Over the decades I don’t know one single case of a friend actually bothering to upgrade a partial component of an upgradable windows laptop. People tend to just get new computers when they’re bothered. I’m a software engineer and have lots of friends and family who are ”savvy” enough to do it, and even more who aren’t. Despite that, it’s just not that common.

Even amongst the people who built their own desktop windows computers (me included), there’s only rare cases of swapping out an individual component in the desktop machine. Usually you go for the whole ”shebang” of components, new motherboard, graphic cards, etc. And a new chassi, because, why the heck not? (Or compatibility issues with new motherboards)

 

[NotTooLate]

I must confess as a PC & MAC guy for years (30 years now) , I never ever upgraded my PC , I buy what I need with a bit of headroom , use my PC for 5+ years , then when I need to upgrade (some cycles I didnt need to upgrade of 6-7 years) , its a new computer all together , this is because when I want to upgrade the memory is usually on a new tech , the GPU will move to a new standard , the CPU wont be compatible with my mother board , the PSU feels old (though my seasonic never broke) , case feels outdated for me and I want a fresh one.

upgradeability is a nice concept to have available , but the reality is that once you start upgrading stuff , its usually most of the internals that you go for.
I would wager over 99% of PC users wont upgrade a single component in their machine before switching to a new machine all together , but if you fall in the " I upgrade non stop " , sure go for it.

Note - that if the computer does everything you need now with a big overhead , you will be happy with it down the road as well , and when its time to start upgrading Apple gives a great trade in and then you can get another super fast Mac.

Good luck getting into the PC rat race , been there , not fun , dont let them persuade you to upgrade that often , its a money sink for a few more points in Geekbench, LTT and Nexus gamers livelihood is by advertising and getting clicks on new stuff coming out and making it seems like you are missing out by not having it.

My old I7 (on the PC side) is running like a champ still with the games I play on it , and my 580X is doing work still.

 

[TiggrToo]

I won't expand on this topic, i think it's useless.

Then it's obviously not a problem, then.

 

[Freeangel1]

Best to have a HOT and COOL and UPGRADABLE and REPAIRABLE ALDER LAKE i9 PC

And buy a cheap USED M1 or M1 Pro or M1 MAX machine so you can live in APPLES GATED GARDEN TOO!

Just hope to GOD it never BREAKS! ???

 

[TiggrToo]

MACOS is built on Linux to begin with

I agree with most of your post but this: MacOS is based upon BSD, which is a Unix derivative. BSD was out long before Linus Torvalds probably even touched a computer keyboard.

Your bog standard Linux distro is Unix like but it's not Unix certified (there are two or three that paid the blood money to do so, but they're the exception rather than the norm).

MacOS is certified Unix.

 

[TiggrToo]

Mistake or not, it is still offered by Apple to this day on Intel Macs, for which I praise Apple. I have just one use case for Windows, and it is VB Script and Macro based Excel sheets that I provide for my clients. Nothing else, but it is a tick mark on the wall, and I like and value that my Intel based Macs can do BOOTCAMP.

Pretty sure you can still run VBScript macros on a Mac using Excel. Granted it doesn't support every last call, but last I was playing around with it, that all worked.

 

[breather]

Hey everyone,

I recently had a M1 Mac Mini, 1TB Storage, 16 gb of RAM. I never had M1 Mac before, just "Classic" Intel Mac. ?

And you know what ? I kept it 2 months, and sold it.

I have a really "mixed" feeling about that M1 chips.

Of course, M1 chips have really very great performances. I was impressed to see a Mac Mini with such perfs.

But there a couple of things i really can't stand with that M1 chips.

1/ Zero upgrade possiblity.

Let's be clear, i always hated that apple decision to solder components, BUT i can admit it gives advantages about performances.
But what i feel is like Apple saying "You won't touch inside our machines. We will do everything possible to make it non-upgradeable. Don't touch our computers. You should pay 2X or 3x times the normal price with our configuration."

Look at the poor Luke Miani who had a hope when he opened his Mac Studio... He tried swapping the modules and got 100% locked by Apple. I could feel hope in his eyes, but reality came back very fast ?

Of course, Apple was never reputed for making upgradeables machines. We all know that Steve Jobs didn't want this.
But at least, most of machines before 2012 could be upgraded with RAM and new Hard drives. I think it was really the minimum Apple could offer to customers. And i'll be honest, i always enjoyed that.
Look at 2020 iMac, memory was still accessible.

In my mind, i really can't stand to be stuck with my machine. I know if i want to change anything in my machine, i have to change the whole machine. And i really feel sad about it.

I feel like : Having a very great machine but being prisoner of it.

2/ Lack of compatibility

Of course, Rosetta is good, and ARM chips are just like the transition from PowerPC to Intel in the mid 2000's. It's totally normal that it lacks of compatibility.
However, i've been so much used to run multiple systems like Linux or Windows, additional to MacOS that it frustrates me a lot.
I won't expand on this topic, i think it's useless.

BTW, i feel very mitigate about M1 Computers, and i feel very alone. Everyone seems to love it so much.
Anyone feeling like me ? ?

Not trying to defend Apple like a simp, but you must have know these issues before you bought your M1 Mac so why buy it?

 

[Lihp8270]

You can argue that for a laptop. It's not really an argument for a wall powered desktop.

But it’s running the same SoC as the laptops, and thus has the same limitations.

Sure they could switch it up for their desktop machines, but the prices would go up for both laptops and desktops as they now have more stock and SKUs to maintain. There would be a performance drop in the desktop version compared to the laptop, and then there’s the fact that most users don’t upgrade their RAM throughout their usable lifespan.

The only people who do upgrade are a niche group of enthusiast users who like to tinker, and people who want to save money by buying the base model and upgrading themselves.

 

[throAU]

I agree with most of your post but this: MacOS is based upon BSD, which is a Unix derivative. BSD was out long before Linus Torvalds probably even touched a computer keyboard.

Your bog standard Linux distro is Unix like but it's not Unix certified (there are two or three that paid the blood money to do so, but they're the exception rather than the norm).

MacOS is certified Unix.

It's not even really built on BSD. It's built on Mach, but runs BSD utilities on top of it. Either way it is 100% most definitely nothing to do with LINUX what so ever.

 

[Ashbash75]

I agree too

 

[Lihp8270]

Macs should have never been able to run Windows in the first place. That was mistake #1. While I saw the benefits of it I am glad to be locked out of that option. Makes the Mac feel like a Mac again. The upgrade thing isn't a Mac specific and is the future like it or not.

Then MacOS would have to bring something game changing to the table.

The reality these days is that Windows is pretty damn stable.

Apples game changer now is Apple Silicone but for Intel macs what was the selling point if you remove the windows option entirely?

“Come by a mac where some of your software won’t work” vs “Everything that you can do on a Mac can be done in windows and more”

To overcome you need something special which apple finally has.

In advance, I won’t even consider the eco system as a valid selling point. It’s beneficial and a spectacular perk for apple users. But it’s not a selling point. “To make up for lack of Windows compatibility you can get good integration if you spend another £2k on apple hardware”

 

[Lihp8270]

I agree with most of your post but this: MacOS is based upon BSD, which is a Unix derivative. BSD was out long before Linus Torvalds probably even touched a computer keyboard.

Your bog standard Linux distro is Unix like but it's not Unix certified (there are two or three that paid the blood money to do so, but they're the exception rather than the norm).

MacOS is certified Unix.

“MacOS is certified Unix”

Source?

 

[throAU]

In advance, I won’t even consider the eco system as a valid selling point.

The ecosystem isn't going to directly sell a Mac straight up, but damn its a sticky proposition and creeps up.

A colleague switched from Android to iPhone. He's looking at a watch. he's waiting for the M2 air. He's gradually becoming assimilated.

 

[throAU]

“MacOS is certified Unix”

Source?

*was

It used to be all over Apple's website around the days up to Tiger or Leopard.

Maybe it is now, maybe it isn't.

But anyway, UNIX is dead. There's probably nobody left to certify it

The only derivatives that matter any more are Linux, BSD or MacOS now and they're all diverged, especially macOS and Linux. Maybe Solaris or AIX in enterprise, but definitely not for desktop. The rest are dead.

Largely for the better.


edit:
I say this as a long term (since the 90s) sysadmin of Solaris, Linux, FreeBSD.

 

[polyphenol]

An enormous number of years ago, my partner had an Acorn Archimedes.

To run Windows, she added a slot-in processor board (not at all clear of the details - must have had RAM). Then she could run RISC OS and Windows.

Just a touch of wistful memory.

 

[Lihp8270]

*was

It used to be all over Apple's website around the days up to Tiger or Leopard.

Maybe it is now, maybe it isn't.

But anyway, UNIX is dead. There's probably nobody left to certify it

The only derivatives that matter any more are Linux, BSD or MacOS now and they're all diverged, especially macOS and Linux. Maybe Solaris or AIX in enterprise, but definitely not for desktop. The rest are dead.

Largely for the better.


edit:
I say this as a long term (since the 90s) sysadmin of Solaris, Linux, FreeBSD.

Yeah,

I was being a little more passive aggressive ?

 

[throAU]

An enormous number of years ago, my partner had an Acorn Archimedes.

Jealous. I had an amiga. I wanted an archimedes. I now have a MiSTer and a replica Archimedes (and a bunch of Pis I can run RiscOS on)

 

[Lihp8270]

The ecosystem isn't going to directly sell a Mac straight up, but damn its a sticky proposition and creeps up.

A colleague switched from Android to iPhone. He's looking at a watch. he's waiting for the M2 air. He's gradually becoming assimilated.

Yeah, it keeps people in, and is great for selling additional product but isn’t a great selling point to somebody that has no previous apple investment.

 

[Kissmo1980]

I kinda have the feeling you were too much of an early adopter.
I got an M1 Max mac from work, replacing an intel one.
Obviously it depends on your use-case, but to me it feels a real upgrade.

If it doesn’t work for you now, it makes sense that you returned it, and it would make sense to revisit the options at some point in the future and re-evaluate.

 

[Warped9]

The only people who do upgrade are a niche group of enthusiast users who like to tinker, and people who want to save money by buying the base model and upgrading themselves.

This. The vast majority of users don’t even think about upgrading components even if it would extend the service life of their device—they just buy a new machine.