rob53

Why stop at 32 cores. The current TOP500 supercomputer is comprised of a ton of Fujitsu A64X 48 compute core CPUs based on ARM v8.2-A. Cray is also working on changing to the ARM architecture. The current implementation is only running at 2.2 GHz using a 7nm CMOS FinFET design. This is on one chip! (ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujitsu_A64FX, also https://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/SUPER/a64fx/a64fx_datasheet.pdf)

Apple is already fabricating at 5nm and there's no reason why they couldn't build something similar, although I expect it to be a larger SoC than the current M1. The Fujitsu CPU appears to be more or less a standard size package, although it's only the CPU. (ref: https://www.anandtech.com/show/15885/hpc-systems-special-offer-two-a64fx-nodes-in-a-2u-for-40k)

Apple isn't the only major computer company going ARM. It's good to see Apple finally expand to the Mac line. Those performance charts everyone's used to seeing with a simply curve are going to be amazed at how steep the jumps are once Apple really gets going. I ordered an M1 MBA simply because I've ordered ver 1 of several Apple Macs before. Crazy thing is this entry level Mac is faster than my current iMac. Talk about a steep performance curve!

Note: I keep confusing ARM with AMD so previously I might have commented about the Fugaku supercomputer being AMD-based. If I did, my mistake. 

We did and used our one free overage so next time it will cost. We have gigabit service and because of COVID we’ve been watching too much TV. Big Sur is a 12GB download so we’ll eat up a bunch with that. 

youngjm said:

Did anyone see the Tweet from VMWARE announcing their support?  Details forthcoming:

So excited for todays announcements from @Apple! ;

While we're not quite ready to announce our timeline, we're happy to say that we are committed to delivering VMware virtual machines on #AppleSilicon!

https://twitter.com/VMwareFusion/status/1326229094648832000

dewme said:

I really hope VMWare jumps into the M1 camp with Fusion. It's been a solid product and a great value for Mac users who want to run Windows, Linux, and macOS virtual machines on their Mac. I keep a VM with macOS Mojave around just to support 32-bit apps that no longer run on Catalina. Works great.

I don't think a lot of Mac owners fully realize the great deal that the VMWare Fusion Player 12 (for non commercial use) represents for Mac users. The feature set of the free VMWare Fusion Player has one important feature, Snapshots, in the free version that Windows users do not get with the equivalent free version for Windows. To get Snapshots on Windows you'll have to pay for the VMWare Workstation 16 Pro version, which is $199.00 USD. 

This would be nice but again, I think most Fusion users want virtualization for Windows not for unix/linux and Apple has said they won't include or allow any x86 emulation.

Checked out RedHat enterprise and found this:

--ARM architectures
While IBM Power and z Systems are not "new," ARM, specifically the 64-bit ARMv8-A architecture, is new. As an example of our multi-architecture enablement efforts, over the past two years Red Hat has delivered Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server for ARM as a Development Preview to partners designing and building systems based on 64-bit ARMv8-A architecture. This has helped to consolidate, stabilize and standardize ARM hardware support in the base operating system and move it forward to a more mature level.
--

https://www.linux.com/training-tutorials/4-fine-linux-arm-distros/ Lists four free linux distributions that run on ARM. It would be interesting if Apple tries to recompile Bootcamp for ARM linux distributions or if they simply want users to use virtualization software. It would be nice to see linux running native under Bootcamp making use of the M1's advanced security architecture.

Other reading material:

https://www.parallels.com/blogs/parallels-desktop-apple-silicon-mac/ Not really a lot of information other than they're building a universal app. They mention the Windows blog listed below.

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2020/09/30/now-more-essential-than-ever-the-role-of-the-windows-pc-has-changed/ "We are working closely with Acer, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and Surface to bring these Windows 10 on ARM innovations and products to our shared customers." No mention about "Apple" in this blog

I thought Apple said they will not support any x86 emulation on the M1 chip. If Microsoft tries to build a Rosetta-type emulation software, I have to wonder if Apple will even allow it. If Microsoft is able to somehow create an emulation layer in front of Windows 10 that would run using Apple's Rosetta-2 it would be a miracle since Microsoft has problems writing any software that runs well on a Mac.

22july2013 said:

Maybe the future of all apps is through a browser, especially if HTML starts supporting app-like user interfaces. And since streaming apps already exist, then maybe that's our window to the future of desktop apps, not just games. That may be the approach for big companies that dislike Apple's App Store interface. I suspect Google and Facebook are discussing whether they can bypass the App Store by using streaming for all their apps for Apple Silicon. Just a guess.

Disagree. I’d rather have local apps that have been security tested than having to rely on the browser to protect everything. I don’t trust websites and don’t trust running their apps. Already seen abuse on medical and commercial sites that just don’t want to run on Mac browsers.