I'm thinking about buying a MacBook with an M4 chip or something similar, but I'm worried about compatibility with some programs I use. Is it worth switching to ARM or should I stick with Intel/AMD? Does anyone have experience with this?
Don't fall into the trap of thinking ARM processors are inferior just because they're different. The thing is, Apple's M chips run practically everything you need for everyday use, and with energy efficiency that Intel/AMD can't even come close to. But there's a catch: it really depends on what you use. If your workflow is based on programs that only exist for x86 (like some old software or very specific engineering tools), then it gets complicated.
Compatibility has improved a lot in recent years. Most popular apps already have native versions for ARM, or they run via emulation with acceptable performance. Office, browsers, creative tools... everything works. The real problem is with very niche software or stuff that requires low-level access. So before you decide, list the programs you use every day and check if they have native support or if they run well via Rosetta (Apple's emulator).
If you're torn between an M4 (or any recent M chip) and an Intel/AMD machine, here's what I'd consider: the MacBook is more expensive, yeah, but it lasts longer, the battery is insane, it doesn't lag and keeps its performance. Intel/AMD has more software flexibility, but it runs hotter, burns through battery fast and the price isn't necessarily lower. The way to go is really to test in practice whether those 2-3 softwares you're unsure about run well, because if they do, ARM is totally worth it.
The real problem isn't ARM itself, but whether the specific programs you use have native versions for Mac or run well through Rosetta 2 (the compatibility layer). Like, if you work with design software, video editing, or development, most professional tools already came out with native support years ago - but if you depend on something more niche or very Windows-specific, then yeah it can be a headache. It's worth doing a test run: tell me which programs you use, because 90% of people can switch over without any problem and get a lot of battery life in the process.
What programs do you use most frequently? Because the answer really depends on that. The people above are right that ARM isn't inferior, and the M4 really is absurdly efficient, but here's the annoying catch: not everything runs natively. Like, if you work with very specific software (third-party audio plugins, some engineering tools, certain scientific software), you might run into problems even with Rosetta 2. Emulation works well for most things, but it's not perfect for everything.
The real question is: are you willing to spend some time testing everything before you buy? Because there's a trick a lot of people don't do: before you go out and buy it, download the MacBook simulator on your current machine (or go to an Apple Store and test it there) with your specific programs. Open everything you use regularly, let it run for a while, and see if it works well. Yeah, you can do this test without being stuck with Rosetta 2 if you have access to a Mac.
The thing is, for 90% of uses (browser, email, documents, basic productivity programs, Adobe Creative Suite has a native version), Apple's ARM is better than Intel or AMD because it uses less battery and runs cooler. But if you use that obscure software that only runs on Windows or need perfect compatibility with specific plugins, then it gets more complicated and maybe you should stick with Intel instead. So do this practical test first.
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