Archicad, Meet Apple Silicon 2

This is a follow-up to a previous post on my thoughts and experiences using the M1 Macbook Air with an Archicad workflow and whether or not it’s “good enough”. It was and still is. A month later and I’m still very much happy with my setup. That said, Apple recently held an event and announced that the M1 chip has made its way into a newly redesigned iMac and a not-so-newly redesigned iPad Pro. So let’s talk about what that means.

New iMacs

Apple’s new 24” iMacs are quite colorful and eye-catching. They look like giant iPads on a sleek stand (without touch, of course, because…Apple). They have some nifty features such as a power adapter with an ethernet port and a magnetically connecting power cable that should make relocating this device just a smidge-bit easier—but it’s always been the small things like that that make Apple’s products a pleasure to use over the competition. They really add up. And as it is impossible to not notice, they come in an array of colors that (mostly) reflect the original rainbow Apple logo. Outside of the controversial white front—as physical products—they look pretty spectacular. I’m excited to see these start popping up in offices, small businesses, and media. The previous iMac design was lovely, but we’ve been looking at it for over a decade.

Internally, these machines are exactly the same as the latest Macbook Air. You have the choice between the 8-core CPU/GPU. Different amounts of storage. And 8GB vs 16GB of RAM. Those are the specs that matter as far as running Archicad on this architecture and they are exactly the same.

Cost-wise, the iMac does cost more. An iMac with the same specifications as my Air costs $1,899 compared to the $1,399 I spent. However, that being said, you do get a larger and better display in the 24” of the iMac. You also get a Magic Keyboard (love it) and Magic Mouse (hate it).

A couple other considerations for cost. I purchased a pricy Thunderbolt dock (~$250) to allow for the convenience of transitioning from laptop to desktop mode. I also have a very nice 38” ultra-wide monitor for additional cost. However, that said, I would want/need a larger display to go along with the 24” iMac regardless. 24” just isn’t big enough for me anymore.

So should you get an iMac or a Macbook Air?

This answer is going to be based entirely on workflow preferences. For me personally, I prefer the flexibility of having a laptop and a desktop, even if it requires a few more “parts” (dock, monitor). That said, there are definitely benefits to having a more stationary computer. I say “more stationary” because the lightness of this new design makes it pretty easy to move around the house or studio as necessary—providing there is access to power. The studio? A kitchen table? A coffee table whilst sitting on the floor? Sure, why not. Not only does it look fantastic and may be that pop of color that makes a space more of a pleasure to work in, but the 24” 4.5K Retina Display and included keyboard/mouse makes for a very simple all-in-one solution that many people actually want. It’s simple and it just works.

One other alternative. If you do prefer the stationary computer workflow but find a 24” monitor to be too small (or large, I suppose). Or if you already have one. The M1 Mac Mini (released at the same time as the Air) could be a great option for creating a setup that is easy to customize on the cheap (relative term). Just something to consider.

ALL THAT BEING SAID.

My interests are shifting towards the rumored Pro hardware coming sometime this year. I’ve seen many feeling frustrated that “Apple ditched larger size iMacs with black fronts”. Patience, patience. I believe they are saving those for the “Pro” series. 14” and 16” Macbook Pros are also in the queue for debut, according to the rumor mills. I’m assuming this series will have boosted internals (M1X or M2… not sure) and more “Pro” features (FaceID, higher resolution webcam, better speakers, etc).

I still believe in the advice I gave in the previous post: today’s M1 devices can replace most Intel devices. If it makes sense financially to get a little bit of equity for future devices or cash-in-pocket, I still say go for it! I haven’t regretted it. But if you’re not really going to financially benefit in the present or don’t have the immediate need for a new machine, I think we are at the point of holding on to see what hardware Apple defines for Pros like us. The next Apple event will be June 7 for WWDC. They have released hardware there before, but it may not be til later this year. I’m sure I’ll have thoughts, regardless, so be sure to check back here next month.

… One More Thing …

Apple also announced updated iPad Pros with the M1 chip inside them as well. My 2018 iPad Pro (12.9”) is arguably my most-used Apple device. Desk, car, construction site, couch, bed… it’s almost always with me. While it doesn’t do too much more than my phone and does far less than my Air, it does do certain things way better. Redlining, sketching, dropbox browsing, reading, dedicated video/music while working. It’s just always around me either being passively or actively used. I love it.

I’m not really sure what the M1 chip will add as far as practical functionality goes. I will say that the battery life has never impressed me, so I’m hoping to see gains similar to the M1 laptops. At present, it doesn’t seem like a new iPad will really bring anything immediately new to the table due to the limitations of iPad OS. That said I’m curious to see what WWDC brings. It could be that the functionality to do some really special new things is incoming in just 1 month. Having learned how supply constraints work in a post-COVID world, I did go ahead and order one out of hope. Release day, baby.

Could we see Apple Silicon-based Mac apps come to the iPad? Maybe. Would Archicad on an iPad be awesome? I don’t really know. Maybe, if the developers really lean in. I’m skeptical, but open. I think the real magic will come from new apps and features we haven’t even thought of yet rather than porting over existing ones. That said, if apps like Morpholio Trace simply get faster, smoother, and feel less like a hog… that alone will be a win.

Bonus content: take a look at this video from Eric Reinholdt on how he uses his iPad Air during the design process.