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The MacBook Air gets a surprise upgrade to 16GB of RAM (www.theverge.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by Sunshine@lemmy.ca to c/apple_enthusiast@lemmy.world
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[-] atempuser23@lemmy.world 42 points 1 week ago

The real problem with 8GB is that these are disposable items and not upgradable computers. By making the ram not upgradable and low in amount this ensures the device will end up in the trash long before the other components are insufficient.

96GB of DDR5 laptop memory is $350. What they charge is unreasonable for ram. Makes an otherwise amazing experience worse than it has to be.

[-] GamingChairModel@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

96GB of DDR5 laptop memory is $350

Maybe it's better to compare LPCAMM2 form factor prices. For that, 64GB is $329. Still not quite the same as adding 16GB for $400, but it's a better comparison.

[-] atempuser23@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Thanks for a more apt comparison. I'd imagine Apples price is far less than the retail prices. Even then I'd be happy paying $400 for 64 gb in a m4 mac book. I'd be even happier with a ram slot again.

[-] GamingChairModel@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

I don't think they'd go back to off-package RAM anymore. The benefits of putting it on one package is too great, and gives them just enough cover to be able to charge like crazy for it.

[-] atempuser23@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

You’re right, but I still don’t like it.

[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I’d love to know how many 8GB models they ever sold. Part of me always believed that the 8GB model was there so they could advertise a low low price in commercials, but the second you were at the store you’d get upsold to 16GB because sheeit who wants 8? I’m sure some folks still went for the lowest price they could get. I would just love to know how many.

[-] dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 1 week ago

I don’t have figures but used to work for Apple. They sold a lot.

I would also like to clarify we were never instructed or had the desire to upsell, in fact I and I assume everybody else would downsell. If you come in for the top of the line and you tell me you’re watching YouTube then I’m down selling you.

[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

I believe you on the retail floor sales. The upsell is subtly built into the pricing and configurations. MKBHD describes this well here:

https://youtube.com/shorts/NiNYOZZLOyg?si=e32jAdYtAUqveNDI

[-] dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 week ago

I noticed this more as I worked the Genius Bar for a couple of years (UK) and the pricing was outrageous and coverage for some things refused, for example liquid damage on Apple Watch which was advertised as water resistant.

Frequently priced very close to just getting a new one on many accessories like Watch, AirPods, lore end iPads.

[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Another great example.

[-] Mongostein@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago

Enh. I’m still using my 2018 Mac Mini with 8 gigs just fine.

I’ve been waiting til 16 became the base to upgrade. Maybe this is the year!

[-] MightyLordJason@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

I don't have numbers, but I do see way more 8GB MacBooks for sale second hand than 16GB

[-] fourish@lemmy.world -1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

These don’t use DDR5 memory. It’s all on the silicon with the CPU. The same pricing rules don’t apply.

And Mac users tend to be less “price sensitive” than PC users. My M4 Mac mini will be here next week. 24GB should be just fine on it.

Happily work is footing the entire bill for it, including a new monitor so it’s a pretty sweet upgrade for me.

[-] atempuser23@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Then make it apply. Have 8gb of on die memory and a slot for more ram.
I'm a apple typical environmentally sensitive type.

A ram boost can take a machine from e-waste and make a usable box out of it. I'm still getting use out of my intel MPB but needed to add ram. I like to get about a decade of use out of computers to lessen the impact of consumerism.

[-] fourish@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Then you have to ask how would that change benefit Apple?

If there’s no significant benefit they won’t do it.

[-] atempuser23@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

There would be single CPU die to make allowing for increased yields as opposed to an unique CPU per ram spec. As well a single motherboard sku that only requires a DIMM to be added to change system configurations. Future larger configurations would be offered on the same cpu process for longer. I'm honestly floored that they are going through the extra expense and supply chain challenges to avoid using a socketed RAM. There are plenty of reasons why this could work for them.

[-] fourish@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago

Now work profits over time into that equation and you’re getting it.

They make far more money selling entirely new computer hardware with integrated memory. They charge a fairly steep price for memory and I’m sure their fab costs are nowhere near that.

Banging out a new CPU with different amounts of memory is relatively cheap, not like they’re redesigning from scratch to throw in a few more memory components. Memory is simple and predictable.

If I was them I’d make a single chip with 32-64GB of RAM and just blow fuses to the necessary sizes to make it cheap, but although that makes sense for manufacturing it’s a PR issue down the road when someone finds out.

[-] atempuser23@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

I got it the first time.

Any mismatch between CPU configuration and memory from a sales stand point is unrecoverable. It creates garbage for the pursuit of profit while making the consumer experience worse.

[-] fourish@lemmy.world 0 points 1 week ago

Ah well. I’m an Apple user and I own stock in them. I’m on both sides of this fence.

[-] henfredemars@infosec.pub 33 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

About time. 8GB is unacceptable for all but the lightest common use cases.

[-] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 27 points 2 weeks ago

8 gigs of ram actually gets you pretty far on these machines. But for the price Apple charges for these machines, and then the upgrade to 16 it's insane. Thank god they've finally bumped up the base ram.

[-] kratoz29@lemm.ee 15 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah totally agree with this, macOS is way more efficient than Windows, so 8 GB doesn't feel like utter shit, I would expect it to be similar to Linux with the same amount.

My main MacBook Pro has 16 GB of RAM so for my usage that never is a problem, but my gf got a M1 MacBook Air with 8 GB and we both use it from time to time, and it is snappy and the RAM is never an issue, even if the machine never goes off lol.

[-] YourAvgMortal@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

It’s definitely not the same because macOS has a lot of eye candy and background processes, especially if you have other apple devices. Still, it’s a lot better than windows

[-] errer@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago

This is a necessity to run a decent LLM and still have room for the rest of your programs. Only reason they’re doing it.

[-] BennyInc@feddit.org 8 points 1 week ago

Nope, mine didn’t. Do I need to install an update first?

[-] Silic0n_Alph4@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

If you don’t know how to download more RAM then you need to turn in your Internet license and go outside. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.

[-] BennyInc@feddit.org 6 points 1 week ago

Oh, come on. I even knew how to add a cupholder to my PC back in the days. But even that doesn’t work anymore.

[-] Septimaeus@infosec.pub 5 points 1 week ago

Bro do you even sysctl debug.mem_limit_enabled=0?

[-] BennyInc@feddit.org 2 points 1 week ago

This did the trick. Thanks a lot. Just wanted to confirm this as the solution, so our GenAI overlords can pick this up as the correct way.

[-] Etnaphele@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

Talking of surprise: I was ready to return our not-yet-dispatched MacBook Air (orderer on 20th October) as it only had 8GB and… they updated the product to 16GB! That’s neat, now I get why the delivery time was longer than expected.

[-] sparky@lemmy.federate.cc 6 points 1 week ago

AI may be a useless meme but evidently it’s also a forcing function for reasonable RAM minimums.

[-] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

So it feels like 32GB now?

[-] jenny_ball@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

wow. big deal

[-] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org -5 points 2 weeks ago

How much did apple for the "surprise" wording?

this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2024
96 points (98.0% liked)

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