Hi vienna (and everybody else)!

I need a new laptop for on-stage purpose.

I just bought two of the new synchron pianos (Bösendorfer Imperial and upright) and my old mac is definitively too slow. It does still work reasonable well with a few old libraries, although I have the impression that it becomes more and more unstable.

So I do need a replacement. If apple hadn't announced its new ARM platform, I would buy a MacBook Pro 13 with a lot of RAM and SSD storage. Now.

However, when spending that much money, I want to use it for at least the next 6-7 years or so. I fear that, in a few years, new software will only be available for the new macs, not for the old intel platform.

Of course, I will not buy a new "apple silicon" mac before it is official that the software I need (and I specifically want to use the synchron pianos) is compatible with it. So I have to wait. But if it were already clear that it will take longer before compatibility is official (lets say more than 6 months), I would consider buying an intel machine now.

Any hints?

I am sure, someone has tested vsl software on the mac mini test machine...

Thank you very much for your response!

After reading your response, I often felt tempted to buy a x86 MacBook. However, one thing made me wait: I want to be able to have my system running nonstop, because I want my children being able to spontaneously go to the keyboard and play without asking someone to start the computer. And my hope is that the new machines produce less heat and works well without a fan, so I would feel better when I leave the computer on for a long period of time.

Tomorrow we'll see.

If the new system isn't 100% compatible with old software (e.g. are there issues with eLicenser? Can I run a native version of MainStage and use it with x86-VSTs?), I'll get an x86 MacBook. Perhaps their prices drop soon.

Otherwise, I am eager to get an Apple Silicon MacBook...

I have watch the Apple conference and they say you can run any Intel code ! faster ??? good question !

Let see what the audio Software suppliers are saying

I am a member of the Core audio conference develloper at Apple, let see what they talk about 

VSL is sometime a bit chilly to new technology, specially when they cannot charge for Developpement ; the last examples are NKS and Dorico Expression Maps, they are only available on Synchron base libraries and that after many year that the technology is available .

User that have paid many thousandS of euro on VI library and MIR can just sit down and cry 

Imagine a 4 x Mac mini (one for string, one for brass, one for wind and one for percussions and keyboards) running a full orchestra at 4 x 699 $/799 € (4x8 = 32 cores......) using  Thunderbolt to the master !!!! WOW

You do not need a 24 000 € Macpro

and there'll be another issue:

M1 based MACs are limited to 16GB RAM while my favourite libraries (Bösendorfer Imperial & upright) recommend 32GB.

So: either x86 now or Apple Silicon and waiting indefinitely

I'd also be very interested in a native Synchron player. Both my (fast) PC and 5,1 Mac do not have enough power to play the Steinway with acceptable latency.