Apple Testing ARM Based iMacs, Mac Minis, and MacBooks?
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Posted May 26, 2014 at 5:23pm by iClarified
Apple is reportedly testing ARM based iMacs, Mac minis, and MacBooks for a possible transition of its hardware away from Intel processors, reports MacBidouille.
A 'reliable' contact told MacBidouille that company has made significant progress on developing ARM versions of its hardware and even has what the site calls 'OS XI', the equivalent of OS X for ARM.
Apple is reportedly testing several lines of prototype machines: ● iMac which have 4 or 8 ARM 64 processor with four cores, ● Mac mini which have 4 ARM 64 processor with four cores, ● a portable 13" MacBook with 4 or 8 quad-core ARM 64 processors.
These machines are reportedly accompanied by a new keyboard that features a larger trackpad. Despite being nearly ready to launch, Apple is said to be hesitant to pull the trigger on such a major change.
Back in 2011, Intel indicated it was worried that Apple may be considering the switch to ARM processors for its future MacBook computers. Apple had told the company that it better drastically slash its power consumption or it would likely lose their business.
How do you feel about a switch to ARM processors? Should Apple stick with Intel? Let us know in the comments.
They would be crazy to make such a change. There are many companies purchasing the apple hardware and running Windows on them. Also VMware virtualization would be a thing of the past on a Mac. If they make that change, bye bye Apple for many companies.
I really hope this day never comes! ARM in a desktop? Thats a terrible idea. Moving to intel was the whole reason I bought a mac in the first place. Being able to use windows and osx on the same machine is the biggest selling point for people switching from windows to mac. Take that away and you will loose that entire market.
Apple still should capture lot of mainstream program development on the desktop arena if want to shoot the move. If Apple switches to ARM, my mac no longer could support bootcamp with the ugly but still necessary WinAPI OS that still run lot's of financial analytic programs that in my case I need, or install those fancy games that apple still do not attract to its cocoa enviroment. Only a drastic price reduction in the hardware vs intel based line could put me in consideration to adopt it's new hardware. The way to go IMO, is to transform the AIR brand of OSX's, into an "hybrid" new system and make it a native OS-X platform that can handle iOS apps as well, and let the customers decide for this new environment.