So, you’re excited about the M1 processor, and so you should be! The huge improvements in performance and battery life far outweigh anything we have seen before. You’ve held out this long, and you want a new M1 Mac, great! But before you jump in head first, here are a few things you need to think about.
How old is your current Mac? What O/S are you running?
If you are using Sierra (10.12) or older, migration might not be as simple as usual, and some manual tweaking will be required.
What apps do you use? While in general, migrating to an M1 Mac is hassle-free. If you are using any exotic or particularly old apps, it’s worth checking if they are 64 bit, as M1 Macs and Mac OS Bug Sur are 64 bit only. The transition from 34 bit has been coming for a long time, so most app developers are well and truly on top of it, but there are still some stragglers out there, and that is something you’ll want to know before you find you can’t run a much-needed app.
What do you plug into your current iMac?
Most M1 Macs are USB-C or Thunderbolt only. Are you using an external hard drive for Time Machine backups? It is probably USB-3, so you will need an adapter or hub to be able to connect it. Or perhaps you might get a new USB-C cable to connect to it.
Another easily overlooked consideration is how old your printer is. If it is quite old, it may be time to upgrade for compatibility reasons. Printer manufacturers do not release updated drivers for old printers, so you may find that your old printer may not be compatible with your new M1 Mac.
Futureproof your M1 Mac.
Lastly, it’s important to note that the newer Macs are not upgradable. You will need to make sure you get the correct machine with enough RAM and a big enough SSD for your current needs and what you think you may need in the years to come.
If you’re unsure about this or any other aspects of upgrading to an M1 Mac, why not reach out to Jeffrey, our Accounts Manager. There’s nothing he doesn’t know about Macs, he was even so excited about the recent Apple event, that he set his alarm for 3 am Australian time to catch all the details as they went live. Jeffrey’s vast Mac knowledge will ensure you end up with precisely what you need to meet your needs. Whether it be one of the standard spec Macs, or a custom MAC with additional RAM and a larger SSD, making sure you get the most suitable and futureproof Mac for your home or office.
