jacebot
As I predicted in a former post on why they haven't updated their hardware line up... "using their T2 chip..."
This is them leaving their dependency and insecurity of Intel and AMD.
Good luck to them. I do remember a time when their ARM G series CPU's out performed x86 cpus on all things creative.
They're building their own chip for desktops. Wait... let me hypothesize and break it down for you one time.
One, the recent privacy concerns and backdoor built in for AMD and Intel chips. They riding that we care about your data train.
Two, their homegrown Axx chip is in all new mobile devices. Whats to stop them from making a bigger one or use the same one for desktops? Probably why the new Mac Pro has been delayed as well as other device refreshes. And letting the profit of the under spec'd overpriced Imac Pro fund them in the mean time.
Three, their recent poaching of Intel employees and hiring of linux devs too. I would assume for low level engineering. Maybe even integrated graphics too?
Four, Macs originally used to have their own custom ARM chip, so Apple has a history of being self contained. One of the adages to tech is build, partner, buy. You usually do one until you can do one of the others.
I suspect you will see them release a new desktop(s), running their newly made chip, possibly with integrated graphics like they do now for the mobile devices. Some abilities to upgrade, so they can get you on the over priced upgrades and accessories. Like RAM, HDD, and maybe, just maybe CPU. That last one I am on the fringe with, I know.
Again this is just my observation, and hopefully I can look back on this post some day and either laugh or be like I told ya'll so.
Thanks for reading this post.
I have been leaning towards some of the same ideas and laptops. You may want to check out System76 if you haven't already.