Parallels user with an iMac 2013 - Should I just give up and go PC?

[Karlitr0s]

Hi all,

Up to now, I've been using an iMac 27" 2013 late september which has:

i7 3.5ghz
32gb ram
3tb fusion
nvidia geforce gtx 780m 4gb ddr

I do windows development for work, and have been using the mac with a parallels vm using windows 10.

My Macbook pro has an ssd which opens VMs a lot quicker, and i wanted to speed up my imac by replacing the fusion drive with an SSD, but I've since realised that my iMac is too old to ugprade to Big Sur without somehow forcing it.

I'm thinking that while Catalina is still an OS supported with security patches, I should sell the iMac and get something more suitable.

I love the Mac ecosystem, and would be a bit sad to get a Windows machine, but I'm attempting to think pragmatically.

Should I get a windows machine for my dev life, or should I get something like a new iMac M1 / Mac Mini M1 with a nice big Thunderbolt 3 NVMe external SSD for the windows VM? I'd need to get a new screen either way (if Mac Mini or PC).

What are thoughts on VM Windows dev on more modern Mac machines? I read Parallels isn't quite there on M1 chips too, so just looking for some advice / experience.

Cheers all.

K

 

[Boyd01]

Have you seen this thread? IMO, saying that "Parallels isn't quite there on M1 chips" is an understatement.

Considering M1 iMac, NEED Windows for Work

Hi everyone, I'm strongly considering purchasing one of the new iMacs announced last week. It seems like a perfect fit for my family BUT I need Windows for work. I see that Windows (ARM-based?) is now available (in a way) on M1 Macs through, I believe, Parallells. How does this work? Does this...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Karlitr0s]

Have you seen this thread? IMO, saying that "Parallels isn't quite there on M1 chips" is an understatement.

Considering M1 iMac, NEED Windows for Work

Hi everyone, I'm strongly considering purchasing one of the new iMacs announced last week. It seems like a perfect fit for my family BUT I need Windows for work. I see that Windows (ARM-based?) is now available (in a way) on M1 Macs through, I believe, Parallells. How does this work? Does this...

forums.macrumors.com

LOL - You may have instantly made my mind up for me there.

It's a shame, but Windows is a must-have for me.

 

[DJ Rob]

Perhaps just get a newer Intel Mac? That will address your concerns about upgrading to Big Sur and updates/patches, while still allowing you to run your Windows VMs in Parallels.

I specifically bought a well optioned 2020 13" Intel MBP specifically to extend the use of my x86/x64 Windows VMs for many years to come. There's a lot of debate/concern on the forums about how long Apple will support the Intel-based hardware, but I'd guess it to be at least 5 years from the discontinuance of the last Intel Mac. By that time, I'd hope that Windows VM support on Apple Silicon get sorted out. And if that situation does not improve (doubtful), my MBP will still run my Windows VMs just as well then as they do today.

 

[Karlitr0s]

This had occurred to me with the mac mini, but it looks outdated for what it is.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-m...processor-with-turbo-boost-up-to-4.5ghz-256gb - this would be a possibility I guess, as the screen would be a decent upgrade, and Thunderbolt 3 ports would open up nice fast VM storage via an external NVMe SSD.

I'd have to shell out to increase the 8gb RAM to 32gb, but I'd be upgrading from DDR3 to DDR4 too which would be good.

 

[DJ Rob]

That 27" Intel iMac looks like a good option and the RAM is user upgradable.

I do dev work too, primarily need Windows for LabVIEW/Vivado, and got on fine with 16 GB RAM (8 GB to the VM), but now have 32GB in the new machine and allocate 16GB to the VM. I don't notice much difference in use, but I'm sure it doesn't hurt.

 

[James_C]

@Karlitr0s Apple is moving to Apple Silicon. I don’t see the point of investing in a new Intel Mac in your use case. I would buy a suitable PC for your work, and a M1 MacBook Air for your personal stuff and mental well-being

 

[Karlitr0s]

I see your point @James_C but when I bought my last Intel mac in 2013, it lasted nearly 8 years, and has only really been deprecated by Apple's MacOS roadmap.

I guess the one way that an Intel Mac from this year would be a bad investment would be if Intel Macs are immediately phased out for support via MacOS in future releases < 7 years in the future, but I can't see that happening.

 

[James_C]

I think you will get 3 years of Mac OS Releases that will support intel, with security updates for a further 2 years or so. It all depends on how quickly Apple Silicon is adopted. I suspect Apple will want to move away from Universal Binary as soon as they can justify it. During the last transition Apple only released one more version of Mac OS X that supported PowerPC after the initial Universal Binary release. However back then the OS was only updated every 2 years or so, rather than annually now. Of course just because you are stuck with a particular OS does not make the machine less useful.

If you are a Windows Developer it makes more sense to work on a PC, given the Intel Macs are coming to an end. I just would not recommend anyone buying an Intel Mac now unless that had some legacy Mac tools that won't run either in 64 Bit or Apple Silicon.

 

[The_Interloper]

I see your point @James_C but when I bought my last Intel mac in 2013, it lasted nearly 8 years, and has only really been deprecated by Apple's MacOS roadmap.

I guess the one way that an Intel Mac from this year would be a bad investment would be if Intel Macs are immediately phased out for support via MacOS in future releases < 7 years in the future, but I can't see that happening.

I have to agree with @James_C above. I was unlucky enough to go through the PowerPC to Intel transition (I bought one of the last PowerMac G5 towers) and it still gives me night sweats thinking about it. Apple couldn't wait to get rid of it and developer support dried up long before the OS updates did (and even those were painfully rapid).

You are in dreamland if you think Apple will support Intel machines for 7 more years. They will drop it as soon as they can, 2-3 years from now IMO. Even then, again, you may find programs are no longer packaged or updated for Intel anyway. And how long before Rosetta 2 is pulled? The original lasted just 2 OS revisions (and was only an optional install on the second!).

Intel is dead and buried on the Mac now. People should be quickly trying to offload their machines, not buying new ones.

 

[Boyd01]

Got my first Mac in 1985, had an Apple ][ since 1978. Also went through the PowerPC transition with a G5, no night sweats here. You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but Apple has a published policy that conflicts with it. They support vintage hardware for 5 to 7 years, and the clock doesn't start running until a model is discontinued.

So, even if Apple discontinued all Intel Macs today (which they clearly aren't doing), they would be supported until at least 2026 unless they change the current policy. You also have to consider that Apple would continue to sell refurbed Intel Macs after they are discontinued, and they would be eligible for AppleCare.

IMO, Apple will not be dropping Intel support for quite a few more years.

Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty - Apple Support

Learn about your options for getting service and parts for Apple devices that are past their warranty period.

support.apple.com

 

[Fishrrman]

After 8 years, it's time for a new Mac, if you WANT a new Mac.

Since you are dependent on Intel and Windows, you DO NOT want an m-series Mac.

I'd suggest one of the last Intel iMacs:
2020 27" iMac.

Get 8gb of RAM, it's still easy to add more if you want it with this one.
(I don't believe ANY of the m-series Macs will come with expandable RAM)
Get a drive size that's adequate for you. They're ALL SSDs now, and ALL are fast.