I think the desire for EU companies to have direct access to NFC chip is twofold. 1) they don’t want to pay Apple to be included in the Wallet app.  But more importantly 2) they want access to data!!!  They don’t like that the transactions are tokenized and that they can’t build a profile of their customers. That’s the real reason why they’re raising such a stink. 

MisterKit said:

So let’s face it. If Apple changes the keyboard mechanism, it is part of making their products idiot proof.

“A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools”

If I may ask, how many of you who are expressing the need keep x86 are currently using a MacBook or MacBook Air?  What percentage of that 35% of AI readers would that be?  And what percentage of the total Mac user base would that be?

I think the vast majority of coffee shop surfers wouldn’t even notice the difference. Only that there are more of them because the price point would be a bit lower. 

ARM based Macs will be a bottom-up endeavour rather than a top down. Apple is happy to run 2 versions of IOS. It would likely be equally happy running 2 versions of Mac OS. 

Pro laptops and all desktops would remain x86 while the consumer level mobile machines move to ARM. Heck, they could even make an entry level  iMac on ARM for schools and such. Maybe we would even see the return of the $500 Mac Mini. 

sflocal said:

Seriously slick stuff.  

Android could never get this kind of cohesion between devices.

Yes, they could.  It would just be encrypted and easily accessible by identity thieves and intelligence agencies. 

rogifan_new said:

It seems like there is legitimate criticism that Apple left out a segment in the middle that doesn’t want a sealed all in one design but the newest Mac Pro is way more than they need or are willing to spend. That market is probably bigger than the market for this device but those users don’t have enough clout to get on Apple’s radar.

Close.  My gut says Apple simply believes that the iMac Pro does fill that middle segment. Many WANT a mid-range configurable ‘pro’ machine, but only a small segment really NEED one.  And keep in mind Apples “it just works” philosophy. They’ve never catered to the tinkerer, regardless of how professional they were. Unfortunately, those will have to look elsewhere. 

I wonder if low trashcan sales numbers were the driving force for pushing the definition of ‘pro’.