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Apple's ARM developer transition kit was a loaner "beta version" of an ARM Mac that you paid $500 for up front. After you returned the hardware, you got a $500

Apple's ARM developer transition kit was a loaner "beta version" of an ARM Mac that you paid $500 for up front. After you returned the hardware, you got a $500 credit that you could apply to any Apple hardware, including the shipping version of the M1 Macs. Qualcomm and Microsoft don't seem as serious about getting as many developers as possible on board for the transition.

aaronbrethorst 2y ago
Apple offered a garbage deal to developers who spent $500 to receive an M1 DTK. They only increased the offer to $500 after getting a ton of blowback. https://www.theregister.com/AMP/2021/02/04/apple_demands_return_of_dtk/ https://www.theregister.com/AMP/2021/02/04/apple_demands_ret...
- KingOfCoders 2y ago
  Thanks for the link, "Apple, to smooth things over, is dangling $200 credit to be used against the purchase of an M1 Mac. Again, this hasn't been well received." "After you returned the hardware, you got a $500 credit that you could apply to any Apple hardware, including the shipping version of the M1 Macs." We live [...] With rewritten histories and a fictional past - Master Race, New Model Army
  - GeekyBear 2y ago
    Microsoft refused to offer warranty repairs for failed XBox 360 units, despite the issue being their own design flaw. There were famously customers who had paid out of pocket for the same repair three or more times. Should we still be claiming that Microsoft never changed their mind and decided to eat the cost of repairs, despite knowing the truth years later? > On February 5, 2021, following developer backlash, Apple sent out another email that increased the discount code to US$500 and expanded the discount to be used on any other Apple devices. In addition, the code expired at the end of 2021, instead of May. https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_Transition_Kit https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_Transition_Kit
    - KingOfCoders 2y ago
      "Should we still be claiming that Microsoft never changed their mind [...]?" No don't claim that!
  - aaronbrethorst 2y ago
    I’m not clear about which part of my comment you are trying to call bullshit on. I’d love clarity so that I can better defend my first hand experience.
    - GeekyBear 2y ago
      Perhaps it wasn't clear to you that I replied to someone else's comment and not yours?
      - aaronbrethorst 2y ago
        Oh, now I see. HN thread reply indentation is way too small on mobile devices, imho
    - KingOfCoders 2y ago
      Me: "Thanks for the link" You: "I’m not clear about which part of my comment you are trying to call bullshit on" Me: <Confused>
_mlbt 2y ago
I think a big difference here is that everyone knew that Apple was going to completely replace Intel Macs and eventually phase out Rosetta 2, like they have with previous architecture changes. For Microsoft this is going to be just an additional niche platform. Microsoft has tried this dozens of times in the past without success. Windows NT was originally intended to run on several architectures, such as Alpha, MIPS, and PowerPC. I am not surprised that developers are very lukewarm about porting to Windows on ARM.
- GeekyBear 2y ago
  I'd say the difference is that Apple made an effort to keep costs down for developers looking to add support for their new architecture. That $500 DTK loaner included some major amenities: > code-level technical support, access to one-on-one labs with Apple engineers https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_Transition_Kit https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_Transition_Kit Qualcomm and Microsoft don't even seem to be offering a major discount on the hardware.
  - goosedragons 2y ago
    I mean, compared to alternative ARM mini computers with 32GB of RAM and 512GB storage and comparable performance they're offering a several hundred dollar discount...
    - GeekyBear 2y ago
      Microsoft and Qualcomm aren't even offering to sell hardware below cost, much less loaning hardware and then issuing a store credit for the full amount you paid to join the program. It doesn't show anywhere near the same level of commitment to getting the software in their ecosystem ported over to their new architecture.
      - goosedragons 2y ago
        I don't think you get it. You get to keep the hardware. $900 gets you the hardware forever. You don't send it back after a year to buy a similarly equipped model with a credit from the deposit you put down. You just get a 32GB 512GB roughly M2 Pro performing machine for $900. Apple wants $1700 for that!

aaronbrethorst 2y ago

Apple offered a garbage deal to developers who spent $500 to receive an M1 DTK. They only increased the offer to $500 after getting a ton of blowback. https://www.theregister.com/AMP/2021/02/04/apple_demands_return_of_dtk/ https://www.theregister.com/AMP/2021/02/04/apple_demands_ret...

KingOfCoders 2y ago
Thanks for the link, "Apple, to smooth things over, is dangling $200 credit to be used against the purchase of an M1 Mac. Again, this hasn't been well received." "After you returned the hardware, you got a $500 credit that you could apply to any Apple hardware, including the shipping version of the M1 Macs." We live [...] With rewritten histories and a fictional past - Master Race, New Model Army
- GeekyBear 2y ago
  Microsoft refused to offer warranty repairs for failed XBox 360 units, despite the issue being their own design flaw. There were famously customers who had paid out of pocket for the same repair three or more times. Should we still be claiming that Microsoft never changed their mind and decided to eat the cost of repairs, despite knowing the truth years later? > On February 5, 2021, following developer backlash, Apple sent out another email that increased the discount code to US$500 and expanded the discount to be used on any other Apple devices. In addition, the code expired at the end of 2021, instead of May. https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_Transition_Kit https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_Transition_Kit
  - KingOfCoders 2y ago
    "Should we still be claiming that Microsoft never changed their mind [...]?" No don't claim that!
- aaronbrethorst 2y ago
  I’m not clear about which part of my comment you are trying to call bullshit on. I’d love clarity so that I can better defend my first hand experience.
  - GeekyBear 2y ago
    Perhaps it wasn't clear to you that I replied to someone else's comment and not yours?
    - aaronbrethorst 2y ago
      Oh, now I see. HN thread reply indentation is way too small on mobile devices, imho
  - KingOfCoders 2y ago
    Me: "Thanks for the link" You: "I’m not clear about which part of my comment you are trying to call bullshit on" Me: <Confused>

_mlbt 2y ago

I think a big difference here is that everyone knew that Apple was going to completely replace Intel Macs and eventually phase out Rosetta 2, like they have with previous architecture changes. For Microsoft this is going to be just an additional niche platform. Microsoft has tried this dozens of times in the past without success. Windows NT was originally intended to run on several architectures, such as Alpha, MIPS, and PowerPC. I am not surprised that developers are very lukewarm about porting to Windows on ARM.

GeekyBear 2y ago
I'd say the difference is that Apple made an effort to keep costs down for developers looking to add support for their new architecture. That $500 DTK loaner included some major amenities: > code-level technical support, access to one-on-one labs with Apple engineers https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_Transition_Kit https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_Transition_Kit Qualcomm and Microsoft don't even seem to be offering a major discount on the hardware.
- goosedragons 2y ago
  I mean, compared to alternative ARM mini computers with 32GB of RAM and 512GB storage and comparable performance they're offering a several hundred dollar discount...
  - GeekyBear 2y ago
    Microsoft and Qualcomm aren't even offering to sell hardware below cost, much less loaning hardware and then issuing a store credit for the full amount you paid to join the program. It doesn't show anywhere near the same level of commitment to getting the software in their ecosystem ported over to their new architecture.
    - goosedragons 2y ago
      I don't think you get it. You get to keep the hardware. $900 gets you the hardware forever. You don't send it back after a year to buy a similarly equipped model with a credit from the deposit you put down. You just get a 32GB 512GB roughly M2 Pro performing machine for $900. Apple wants $1700 for that!