Will Apple's March Event be a big splash for M2?

[rezwits]

I don't know I am going with this logic:
1) 27" iMac (Pro) and 27" iMac (Max) [Model#1]
2) MacMini (Pro) and MacMini (Max) [Model#2]
3) MacBook (M2) w/colors, [Model#3]
The MacBook could be Airs, but I think they are going to secretly consider the M2 (nothing) not nothing and internally relate the chips like this:
M2 (Air)
M1 (Pro)
M1 (Max)
With this, the MacBook would basically now be:
12" MacBook M2 (Air) essentially...
Leaving them with 12", 14", and 16", for the "MacBook" line all wrapped up in a pretty bow.
and then the 27" iMacs they don't have to "colorize" which is kinda expensive, IMHO.
2¢

 

[darngooddesign]

...Also, I would like it if they used an external power brick with Ethernet like the iMac and give the mini a slimmer case.

I think they will use the iMac data/power plug on the new Mini, but it may not result in a slimmer case. That being said, the rumors are saying will be slimmer.

 

[MajorFubar]

Would you really upgrade the machine for two more USB-C ports and slightly better performance (maybe only 5-10% CPU improvement) ? Why not just get a USB hub or a dock? That would be cheaper than the cost of selling and buying a new one.

If you discount those people who are hoping the M2 fixes some M1 technical issues which are showstoppers for them (incompatible monitors, sketchy bluetooth), I agree it's almost never worth upgrading one version. Wait at least two. But some people just have pots of money and absolutely need to have the latest gear, particularly in the Apple universe.

 

[BigPotatoLobbyist]

Will the average user care though? The only mainstream use for much faster graphics would be gaming, no? Far as I know gaming is nonexistent on the Mac. Is this a play to change that?

Man, are you under the impression gaming is the only use for a GPU's massive parallelism? Moreover, the ease of porting existing iOS titles - now a complete one-step application relative to porting previous X86 Windows titles or AArch64 titles from iOS to X86 macOS - means we may see some nontrivial titles ported over that many would be interested in playing.

Also, expanding the core counts - as is rumored by 25-28% per the 8 and 7 core model upgrades to 10 and 9 cores, respectively, is a boon to energy/power efficiency pretty much ipso facto with massively parallel applications, because a given task can be run with less voltage and frequency, since these are not single-thread applications. That's before we even get to upgraded microarchitectural benefits or the new process node technology's benefits in the way of power.

So yeah, I do think it's likely to be impressive and will see real utility.

 

[thenewperson]

Man, are you under the impression gaming is the only use for a GPU's massive parallelism?

Gamers do generally give off that impression unfortunately.

 

[UBS28]

Gamers do generally give off that impression unfortunately.

To be fair, gaming and crypto is the biggest use case of GPU's, which MAC's are not good at all.

Stuff like video editing is a smaller subset of the market.

 

[UBS28]

If you discount those people who are hoping the M2 fixes some M1 technical issues which are showstoppers for them (incompatible monitors, sketchy bluetooth), I agree it's almost never worth upgrading one version. Wait at least two. But some people just have pots of money and absolutely need to have the latest gear, particularly in the Apple universe.

It is not even worth upgrading 2 version. With the iPad Pro, people have found no difference in performance between the A12Z/X vs M1 (which is basically the A14X) in regular use.

 

[UBS28]

On the Macbooks, my feeling is that Apple will add M2 to the 13" MBP and keep the design the same - no 4 USB ports, no Magsafe; possibly the Touchbar will go. The price will stay the same at $1299.

Then, later in the year when the redesigned MBA comes out I think the new MBA takes up the $1299 price point and the 13" MBP looses the touchbar (if it hadn't already) and the price drops to $999 to maintain that price point (possible in conjuction with a rebrand to MacBook).

Thus you have the following laptop range

$999 - MacBook - old design, no Magsafe, old display but the current M2 chip (a MacBook SE, if you will)
$1299 - MacBook Air - new design: Magsafe, miniLED screen and M2 chip
$1999 - 14" MacBook Pro
$2499 - 16" MacBook Pro

Yes, there is a price gap between the MBA and the MBP, but I think the options on the MBA (CPU cores, RAM, SSD) will help it fill that gap.

The 13" MBP looks super outdated. Just put the M2 in the 14" MBP and sell it.

The only reason to keep the design the same is if Apple has too much inventory still of the old model, which they hope to get rid off by putting the M2 in it.

 

[gradi]

I watched this video recently. Of course, it is speculation, but probably close to correct with regards to performance.

M2 vs M1 Pro vs M1 Performance

If you want to skip past the first 3 minutes that is rumors of what will be announced on March 8th I have it cued up to the beginning of the performance comparison stuff:

 

[rezwits]

To be fair, gaming and crypto is the biggest use case of GPU's, which MAC's are not good at all.

Stuff like video editing is a smaller subset of the market.

Regular people still have like a "little PC with a 'silly' GPU" and are miners still? and make money?
This isn't 2016 dawg... more like 2022! They have things known as MINING FACILITIES, here take a look:

here's a funny page too:

Mining Rig for Sale on eBay
$1000 per month!

I am not trying to really blast you, but all I am saying is, bringing in personal MINING into the conversation in "daily" verse about standard PC usage is really OFF-BASE...

I mean people don't USE GPU's for MINING, people use WAREHOUSES & FARMS!! LOL

It's totally an irrelevant to the conversation really, unless you wanna talk about people that like losing money?
Burning their energy, or making $25 from a $700 power bill?

IDK moot? is that the word? Stick to the PC Gaming versus Mac Editing, I suggest...

 

[staypuftforums]

Man, are you under the impression gaming is the only use for a GPU's massive parallelism?

For the average user, absolutely.

 

[leman]

Man, are you under the impression gaming is the only use for a GPU's massive parallelism? Moreover, the ease of porting existing iOS titles - now a complete one-step application relative to porting previous X86 Windows titles or AArch64 titles from iOS to X86 macOS - means we may see some nontrivial titles ported over that many would be interested in playing.

For a consumer-targeting platform like Mn? Yes, absolutely. Gaming is the primary use case for GPU here and Apple is very obviously trying to get parity with the mainstream entry-level gaming laptops in this area.

 

[shoelessone]

Does Apple normally release same day they announce for Macs, or is there normally a waiting period?

 

[Realityck]

Does Apple normally release same day they announce for Macs, or is there normally a waiting period?

When Apple announces a product, then it is available for immediate pre-order (or pre-order in a few days), then about a week or two weeks later, they appear in Apple Stores worldwide in limited quantities.

 

[MajorFubar]

No March 8th event then, unless it's going to be virtual again and they drop it on us with next to no notice. Gurman should get a job with the rest of the ten-a-penny fortune tellers on Blackpool promenade, his predictions are about as accurate.

 

[MayaUser]

No March event if invites are not send today..not virtual or in person because of what is happening in the world now

 

[VaruLV]

War might have something to do with it, perhaps Apple will postpone and do it on a different date, in a later month?

 

[richest]

Could they not announce some kits and pieces without an event ,ie just a fancy press release?

 

[thenewperson]

Could they not announce some kits and pieces without an event ,ie just a fancy press release?

They definitely could. They could do like 2019 where they basically held up a whole week just by releasing press releases for like 4 out of 5 working days of that week. And then they had an event the next week.

 

[gradi]

March 8th is confirmed.

iPhone SE, iPad Air, new Macs expected at u2018Peek Performanceu2019 event on March 8

iPhone SE, iPad Air, maybe a MacBook Air and an M2 processor could make an appearance.

www.macworld.com

 

[macacam]

No March 8th event then, unless it's going to be virtual again and they drop it on us with next to no notice. Gurman should get a job with the rest of the ten-a-penny fortune tellers on Blackpool promenade, his predictions are about as accurate.

Aged milk. Cheesy, but not cheese.

 

[jjcs]

To be fair, gaming and crypto is the biggest use case of GPU's, which MAC's are not good at all.

Stuff like video editing is a smaller subset of the market.

Gaming has had the side benefit of making graphical workstations affordable. Didn't use to be so.

 

[deconstruct60]

Does Apple normally release same day they announce for Macs, or is there normally a waiting period?

For a "brand new" , never shipped this Mac product before and/or radically re-engineered product ... it is usually announce. Sometimes a pre-order. ( super thinned out edges iMac transition, "I shrank the Mac Pro" 2013 , "set for Gigantor mode" Mac Pro 2019 , etc. )

A straightforward evolutionary upgrade then usually start taking orders right away.


If Apple stuffed a M1 Pro/Max into a classic Mac Mini case called it "Mini Pro" then probably the latter (as case was 'old'/'classic')

Brand new insides (new SoC haven't sold before ) and outsides (new case/product category ) then probably the first.

 

[MajorFubar]

Aged milk. Cheesy, but not cheese.

Ha yeah that didn't age well did it. Frustration on my part i guess, my kit is already well past retirement age and I'm pretty eager to see what is or is not coming so I know what the heck i'm buying.

 

[richest]

No March 8th event then, unless it's going to be virtual again and they drop it on us with next to no notice. Gurman should get a job with the rest of the ten-a-penny fortune tellers on Blackpool promenade, his predictions are about as accurate.

He was accurate with this one then.