Berkeley Lab IT did some recent software compatibility testing of Big Sur with common applications used at LBL. Tests run on a MacBook Pro 13” with new M1 chipset and macOS Big Sur 11.0.1. Results listed below:

Test Steps

Test Results

Downloaded Latest Chrome

Installed Chrome

Chrome prompts user to select between “Intel” or “M1”

Browser installed, no issue                                                                                                                                                                             

Downloaded Latest Firefox

Installed Firefox

No prompts presented to user, auto downloads compatible version corresponding to system

Downloaded Zoom version for M1 Macs

Installed Zoom

Zoom provides a specific installer for M1 systems

Download Link:

https://zoom.us/client/latest/Zoom.pkg?archType=arm64

This will install Zoom v.5.5.2

Downloaded MS Office 2019

Installed MS Office 2019

To run MS Office 2019 on M1 systems Rosetta 2 is required

DisplayLink Drivers (necessary for Dell D6000 Dock)

Release 1.2 supports M1 systems

Download Page:

https://www.displaylink.com/downloads/macos

Last reported known issue:

Screen rotation on Mac with Apple M1 chip is not supported on macOS Big Sur 11.0.1

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

To run Acrobat Pro DC on M1 systems Rosetta 2 is required

Google Backup

Compatible

Google Drive File Stream

ALERT: As of 11/25/2020 Google notes that it does not yet support M1 systems, expected support Quarter 2/April 2021.

Google Sync

Compatible

Druva InSync

Version 6.8.2 supports M1 systems

Cisco VPN 4.9.05042

Installs on M1 systems, connects to LBL VPN, no issue reported

BigFix

Installs on M1 systems, no issue to report

VMWare Fusion

VMWare Fusion 12 Pro supports macOS Big Sur

Macs with M1 Silicon chips - VMWare no release date on compatibility with Fusion 12 Pro, this recent blog post from VMWare Communities shows users asking when plus mentions many challenges VMWare has to make VMWare Fusion 12 Pro work with M1 systems.