Upgrading from an Older Intel Mac to Apple Silicon
Apple Silicon is the biggest leap in Mac performance in two decades. The transition deserves a little care.
Most apps run beautifully on Apple Silicon thanks to Rosetta 2. But some legacy software, especially older Adobe versions and any app with kernel extensions, won't make the jump. Inventory your critical apps and check each vendor's support page before you migrate.
Boot Camp doesn't exist on Apple Silicon. If you've been running Windows on your Intel Mac with Boot Camp, you'll need Parallels or VMware Fusion plus a Windows for ARM license going forward.
External devices that worked fine on Intel sometimes need driver updates for Apple Silicon. Audio interfaces, scanners, and older printers are the usual suspects.
Battery life on M-series MacBooks is genuinely transformative. Expect 12 to 18 hours of real work between charges. After your first day on a new MacBook Air or Pro, you'll wonder how you tolerated the Intel era.
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