By whose definition? There have always been trade offs to achieve that portability. Processing power has always been one mainly due to the electrical power demands. We're just now getting to battery tech that is impressive. We've taken this long to get to processing abilities that didn't require being attached directly to a power line to idle.
If "supposed to be" means we all have been "hoping and wishing one day" it might be possible, then sure, "supposed to be" it is.
>Processing power has always been one mainly due to the electrical power demands. We're just now getting to battery tech that is impressive.
The M1 Mac laptops are using the same battery tech as everyone else.
What has changed is the ratio of performance to power draw, and leaving behind the almost immediate thermal throttling you see in x86 laptops.
>The chips here aren’t only able to outclass any competitor laptop design, but also competes against the best desktop systems out there, you’d have to bring out server-class hardware to get ahead of the M1 Max – it’s just generally absurd.
M1 Max Macs that have enough memory and processing power to be a mobile workstation can use their battery in 1 hour if running at 100% CPU usage so if you need all that performance then you will still need to be close to the wall power outlet.
If you don't need all that performance then there are other laptops (not Apple) that can last long enough between charging too.
M1 Mac is currently an excellent laptop for regular users but real power users either have to be close to the wall or use desktop CPUs to run their workloads...and no, web and software development does not require a lot of CPU power, I know, I am a developer and I develop software for people who do need to run 100% CPU for hours and hours and M1 laptop will not last them any longer than the i7.
>there are other laptops (not Apple) that can last long enough between charging too.
The reviews don't agree that the "not Apple" laptops have anywhere near the same performance and battery life.
>the new MacBook Pros with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips are incredible — the fastest laptops we’ve ever tested in some tasks, with some of the longest battery life we’ve ever seen.
>can use their battery in 1 hour if running at 100% CPU usage
But I'm okay with that. I can be working at home/work and then move, pickup at new location, and go right back to work without losing peformance. Just need a plug
A laptop that doesn't throttle down when unplugged from the wall, yet still maintains an all day battery life is hardly a niche.
Laptops are supposed to be a portable computers that work anywhere, not just luggable computers that must be plugged in to work.