Why you shouldn’t buy a new MacBook in 2020

Courtesy of Apple.com

Living in self-isolation: Lots of Zoom calls, downloading and deleting TikTok, boredom and eating carbs, Uber eats, and buying unnecessary things that you think you need. Who can relate?

Case in point tie dye everything and a new laptop. But if you could hold it off for just a couple more months or even till next year, you will be in good shape. Why? Well, Apple announced they will be coming out with their own processors called ARM and all existing Intel-based processors will be cut from production (sorry Intel, 2020 has been horrible to all of us). Since 2005, Apple has been outsourcing their processors from Intel.

So what does the new ARM mean? 

Courtesy of MacRumors

Apple will finally be producing their own processors and optimize their products even further. However this will come at the cost of their existing models. The new processor is estimated to roll out at the end of the year to replace previous intel-based versions. 

AKA pre-existing models will be subsidiary to the newer versions; instead of getting the most recent software updates or malware protection from the developers at Apple, older and Intel-based versions of the MacBook will slowly become irrelevant. With the OS being one of the most sought after programs to hack, buying an Intel-based MacBook right now is not only a waste of money but also a huge risk. 

Sure, you can argue that the transition from Intel to ARM processors might take years to complete but lets not forget Apple’s track record. Even their 2012 MacBooks are no longer compatible with the current Catalina Mac OS system. When you pay a couple thousand for a Macbook Pro, I would assume it’d last you at least a decade. BTW the latest 16” MacBook Pro costs almost $3000. My first Nintendo GameBoy (that cost my parents $53) still runs all its games properly and is 15 plus years-old. 

My smart advice would be to hold off any upgrades for now, especially during this economic and uncertainty, hello recession- if you’re reading this, please come back another day.

If your current desktop still functions fine but has  minor inconveniences then you should just save your money for the next MacBook launch. But if your laptop can’t even turn on, then go get yourself a laptop before your boss fires you from WFH. Try a Microsoft.