MacQuadra840av

The M1 does have a faster single-core score (by only 450 points), but that's it.  As Marvin (the board moderator) pointed out, Apple still sells the higher end and more powerful Intel models.  I can't figure out why people are excited about a 16GB memory cap, when not long ago they were complaining about Apple having MacBooks with only 16GB.  Less ports, less storage, less memory, less features.  That is what the M1 gives you.  But somehow people are all hung up on the single-core score.  What good is the speed when all the features are gone?  My 2012 MacBook Pro can drive two external 4K monitors.  The M1 MacBooks can't even do that.  And somehow people are all excited about it.  So the next Apple Silicon might offer up to 64GB of RAM?  That is half of what the current iMac 27" model supports.  And be ready to pay Apple's high price for that non-upgradable RAM.  Apple charges $1,000 for 64GB (third party is about $325).

Here is what people conveniently ignore.  The multi-core scores of the Intel processors are significantly faster than the M1.  The iMac 2020 with the 10-core i9 and 64GB RAM is over 2,000 more points on multi-core than the M1 (even more with 128GB).  Even the base model iMac 27" 2020 with the i7 CPU is faster than the M1's multi-core.  But here is where the M1 really falls short.  Graphics.  The iMac 27" 2020 with the AMD Radeon Pro 5700XT scores over 60,000 on Metal.  The M1 barely breaks 20,000 on Metal.  And people are all excited about this.  The M1 is faster than integrated graphics, but can't compare to dedicated graphics.  Even the 21.5" iMac with the Radeon Vega 20 scores 6,000 more points on Metal than the M1.  But the reviews conveniently left out the fact that the prior model iMacs with dedicated graphics had better graphics performance.  Only one article here at AppleInsider mentioned it, when they compared all the iMac models.  Even Apple cleverly states that the 24" iMac is faster than the 'standard' iMac, the one without dedicated graphics.

The Intel Macs, especially the iMac 2020 with the 10-core i9 and Radeon Pro 5700XT is a blazing fast Mac.  It is faster than the 8 and 10-core discontinued iMac Pro and 8-core Mac Pro, and faster than the M1 in most operations.  Most people ignore the first generation product, especially with a processor transition.  They have a lot of software invested and can wait 5+ years for that transition to be well over and all the bugs ironed out before switching.  That is why Apple is still selling Intel models.

It will be funny when people claim they hear a difference in sound quality through their mediocre AirPod/AirPod Max products.  Bluetooth is compressed audio through a specific protocol.  You are not going to get high quality music through Bluetooth.  Never have.  A wired connection with a good DAC is required.

Second, the HomePod is not an example of high quality audio.  Why?  Apple prohibits the user from any tone control.  Not even simple bass or treble is allowed.  Still can't figure out why Apple does not allow this when iTunes 2.0 had a user-adjustable EQ.  The HomePod is a boomy mess.  It never sold well and it was never sold out, which is why Apple killed the product.

Maybe AppleTV through HDMI to a Dolby Atmos receiver might be the only solution available to actually listen to Apple Lossless and the small amount of Dolby Atmos files.

Meanwhile, Amazon Music just upgraded all their users to Amazon Music HD at no extra cost, available today.  What is Apple waiting for?

Finally, iTunes Match does not apply (it would be awesome if it did!).  The lossless files are only available from Apple Music.  You'll have to continue to rip your own lossless files from CD.

Ridiculous that Apple discontinues the space gray accessories when they sell space gray MacBooks.  But they are on sale at Amazon so I picked up a new space Gray keyboard to keep sealed and use as a replacement when my existing one wears out.  Not a fan of the 24” iMac and if that trend carries over to the bigger iMac, no thanks.  

The article intentionally leaves out the scores for graphics performance.  The M1 performs better than Intel integrated graphics, but it does not perform better than dedicated graphics cards.  This has been well documented on various sites with the Metal scores, including here at AppleInsider.  The iMacs with upgraded dedicated graphics cards are faster the M1 in graphics performance (especially the 27"), but now the articles currently being posted leave out that information.  Even Apple only claims the M1 is faster than the 'standard' iMac 21.5", but not the ones with upgraded graphics.  

The chip shortage definitely has something to do with it because even the 21.5" models offered upgraded options, but now the M1 24" iMacs offer no upgrades at all, except for 16GB RAM and up to 2TB storage.  But it is fine for a base model iMac, but if someone wanted a smaller screen iMac and still wanted a graphics card upgrade, they no longer have that option.

You would think if Apple had been planning for this change for years, they would have the higher performance chips ready, but other chip shortages are causing an issue.  

Apple better have something better in pipeline because 16GB RAM, 2TB storage, and limited ports is pretty weak.  And not long ago, people were complaining about Apple and limited RAM and now everyone thinks it is great?  Makes no sense.

fastasleep said:

charlesn said:

Apple faces an interesting and increasingly difficult challenge in convincing people to continue buying new desktops, laptops and tablets when the Apple products that the vast majority of people already own are WAY more than capable of handling their computing needs for many years to come. What's the point of 3X faster when you're already not waiting on your computer for anything? So I expect to see new form factors and colors of existing products being used increasingly to drive upgrade cycles in advance of actually "needing" to upgrade. While Apple has always existed at the crossroads of technology and fashion, I expect "fashion" to become a more important driver of sales than ever before.

Unadulterated bullshit. Apparently you missed last quarter's earnings report in which Mac sales were up 70.1% and iPad was up 78.7%. There is no "increasingly difficult challenge" as you describe.

"What's the point of 3X faster" is laughable when even the very first reports of M1 Macs focused on how quick everything was, even for menial everyday tasks. Even more laughable when you consider a not insignificant chunk of the market actually is waiting on their computer to do things. Maybe you don't, but I sure as hell do working in video, animation, batch image processing, 3D, etc. 

It seems like you are getting upset over something silly.  Apple seems to be more interested in fashion and less features with the M1 Macs.  They are more interested in colors than Macs that have useful features.  The quarter reports mean nothing since hardware sales have been up because of the pandemic and more people working from home.  Doesn't mean people are upgrading Macs.  If you really did video, animation, batch processing, 3D, you obviously are not buying an M1 base model Mac.  Because if you did any of that, you would be using a higher powered Intel Mac with dedicated graphics.  So you really would not be interested in any of these base model colorful Macs.