I really don’t understand how 16 GB of ram is default in the MacBook Pros! I should at least start from 32 GB of ram to be considered a Pro Device for that price.
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16 GB of RAM for a Pro device is not okay
- Thread starter MrWayne
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You can always buy the one with more RAM.
Be happy that it's not 8GB anymore. I wonder, if MacRumors was like that back in 2006.
"2GB of RAM isn't enough for a Pro device".
I don't know… I have 8GB and it doesn't bother me one bit. All of the computers I've owned have worked well and RAM has been least of my issues.
I've used Blender and Unity quite a bit too. Makes me wonder what Pro things do people do on their computers.
I bet if I bought a brand new M4 MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM I'd be happy with it and at the performance. I still think processors are more important. I have 2 Android phones with 3GB of RAM and Samsung Galaxy A20 is way snappier than whatever Motorola I have. I don't know. Makes me feel a bit bad, since I'm happy even with my 8GB MBA M1 and it works better than the Windows laptop I have at work and it has 16GB of RAM. ChatGPT lags on it but doesn't lag on my MacBook Air M1 and responses are faster.
And when Apple will make 32GB a base model, then you'll complain that 32GB isn't enough. Is it one of those never ending cycles?
When MacBook Air's were released with 16GB of RAM as a base model then I saw comments on Reddit complaining that it's not enough, even though the year before that they were complaining that 8GB isn't enough. I don't remember seeing people complaining that 1GB isn't enough on a base MacBook either. It seems like a recent trend and I see posts about it daily on reddit.
It's like people asking if they should get 32GB MacBook Air M3 or 16GB MacBook Air with M4 and when I responded M4 my phone blew up of notifications and I received hundreds of downvotes. Based on my experiences with Apple they drop the support based on your processor, not RAM.
People post their Activity Monitors and on Windows PCs as well, just idling and posting: "It's sitting on a desktop and using 10GB of RAM. How do people survive?", but they forget that available RAM is a wasted RAM.
If I post this there will be hundreds of quotes to me like "OMG, Look how much swap it has used". But I don't care. I bought my Mac for use and it does more than I need.
I bought my Mac to be used and I use it. I don't care if Memory Pressure goes yellow or red. It just works and I've never experienced any slowdowns since Big Sur that it shipped with. When I got my MacBook Air it used to shut down randomly it just rebooted itself. It could be sitting on a desktop and just reboot itself and get a kernel panic, even with a brand new installation. Ever since Monterey I haven't had any issues and I've been happy ever since. If I posted this today with Tahoe people would probably reply that 8GB isn't enough or something even though that wasn't the issue. I got my MacBook Air in 2020 I believe, when it was new and 16GB wasn't available in my country yet, but I needed a new computer fast and I wanted something reliable. It was a big disappointment when it started randomly restarting itself. People were saying it's a hardware fault and some asked me to check what Intel apps I have installed. I don't think it was either of that since things just work since Monterey.
I wonder if it'd still shut down on Big Sur. I don't even want to look back nor think about Big Sur. People complained about Lion and Tahoe etc but Big Sur for me is by far the worst release ever and I don't want to even think about it.
I don't know. It's just I don't get what you're trying to achieve with that post and I don't believe that many Apple employees read this forum or that your feedback matters on this forum. This is not ill intended, but there are so many topics on that subject and I know it's difficult to find sometimes past threads on this forum. It has happened to me too, but believe me, there have been many people complaining about the RAM.
Have you contacted Apple directly: https://www.apple.com/feedback/ if you think it's not enough?
Be happy that it's not 8GB anymore. I wonder, if MacRumors was like that back in 2006.
"2GB of RAM isn't enough for a Pro device".
I don't know… I have 8GB and it doesn't bother me one bit. All of the computers I've owned have worked well and RAM has been least of my issues.
I've used Blender and Unity quite a bit too. Makes me wonder what Pro things do people do on their computers.
I bet if I bought a brand new M4 MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM I'd be happy with it and at the performance. I still think processors are more important. I have 2 Android phones with 3GB of RAM and Samsung Galaxy A20 is way snappier than whatever Motorola I have. I don't know. Makes me feel a bit bad, since I'm happy even with my 8GB MBA M1 and it works better than the Windows laptop I have at work and it has 16GB of RAM. ChatGPT lags on it but doesn't lag on my MacBook Air M1 and responses are faster.
And when Apple will make 32GB a base model, then you'll complain that 32GB isn't enough. Is it one of those never ending cycles?
When MacBook Air's were released with 16GB of RAM as a base model then I saw comments on Reddit complaining that it's not enough, even though the year before that they were complaining that 8GB isn't enough. I don't remember seeing people complaining that 1GB isn't enough on a base MacBook either. It seems like a recent trend and I see posts about it daily on reddit.
It's like people asking if they should get 32GB MacBook Air M3 or 16GB MacBook Air with M4 and when I responded M4 my phone blew up of notifications and I received hundreds of downvotes. Based on my experiences with Apple they drop the support based on your processor, not RAM.
People post their Activity Monitors and on Windows PCs as well, just idling and posting: "It's sitting on a desktop and using 10GB of RAM. How do people survive?", but they forget that available RAM is a wasted RAM.
If I post this there will be hundreds of quotes to me like "OMG, Look how much swap it has used". But I don't care. I bought my Mac for use and it does more than I need.
I bought my Mac to be used and I use it. I don't care if Memory Pressure goes yellow or red. It just works and I've never experienced any slowdowns since Big Sur that it shipped with. When I got my MacBook Air it used to shut down randomly it just rebooted itself. It could be sitting on a desktop and just reboot itself and get a kernel panic, even with a brand new installation. Ever since Monterey I haven't had any issues and I've been happy ever since. If I posted this today with Tahoe people would probably reply that 8GB isn't enough or something even though that wasn't the issue. I got my MacBook Air in 2020 I believe, when it was new and 16GB wasn't available in my country yet, but I needed a new computer fast and I wanted something reliable. It was a big disappointment when it started randomly restarting itself. People were saying it's a hardware fault and some asked me to check what Intel apps I have installed. I don't think it was either of that since things just work since Monterey.
I wonder if it'd still shut down on Big Sur. I don't even want to look back nor think about Big Sur. People complained about Lion and Tahoe etc but Big Sur for me is by far the worst release ever and I don't want to even think about it.
I don't know. It's just I don't get what you're trying to achieve with that post and I don't believe that many Apple employees read this forum or that your feedback matters on this forum. This is not ill intended, but there are so many topics on that subject and I know it's difficult to find sometimes past threads on this forum. It has happened to me too, but believe me, there have been many people complaining about the RAM.
Have you contacted Apple directly: https://www.apple.com/feedback/ if you think it's not enough?
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They have made it like that so they could sell you the upgrade for $200
It wasn't that long ago MBP carried 8GB as standard.
The shot
.. and the chaser provided by Tim Cook
Absolutely yes the Pro machines should be starting with a higher baseline.
The only reason they don't is exactly what @SnowPenguin said above.
.. and the chaser provided by Tim Cook
Absolutely yes the Pro machines should be starting with a higher baseline.
The only reason they don't is exactly what @SnowPenguin said above.
Ok, then pretend that MacBook Pros are $200 more expensive and buy the "base model" with 32GB of RAM. Just pretend that 16GB doesn't exist.
Bet if Apple raised their prices people would still post: "Nooo Macs are cheaper than ever due to inflation" In four years we'll read that 32GB isn't enough. Not so long ago, when I was little my family had a desktop computer with 32MB of RAM. All of us survived. People should be grateful what they have today + there are many alternatives available.
The number one reason it's frustrating that the base models aren't spec'd better (to me) is that one can't go grab them at 3rd party retailers (w/o the markup).
I don't buy anything direct from Apple, as they are a straight ripoff on their own products (vs 3rd parties, or certainly preowned)
Aren't these the baby MacBook Pros? It seems like the pricing and options are more centered around the CPU than the model line.
The “Pro” monicker needs to go anyway. It’s subjective and more psychological than anything especially when it comes to iPads and iPhones.
I think apple is fine now, the real pro model with the m4 pro chip starts at 24gb of ram and the base M4 one at 16gb run well almost every task… (I have this mac and no problem with 16gb)…
MacBook Pro is not only about performance but also has a way better screen than the MacBook Air and a ton of other advantages such as more ports, a fan, better battery, base 512gb of storage and more !!
Don’t forget that a 15 inch MacBook Air with 512gb of storage is only 200$ less than the base MacBook Pro… So this is an option that people can chose if they want the Pro Display and the other advantages… If you are really a guy who needs 32gb of ram… I think you might wanna pick M4 pro MacBook Pro or something…
PS: MacBook Pro m5 coming
MacBook Pro is not only about performance but also has a way better screen than the MacBook Air and a ton of other advantages such as more ports, a fan, better battery, base 512gb of storage and more !!
Don’t forget that a 15 inch MacBook Air with 512gb of storage is only 200$ less than the base MacBook Pro… So this is an option that people can chose if they want the Pro Display and the other advantages… If you are really a guy who needs 32gb of ram… I think you might wanna pick M4 pro MacBook Pro or something…
PS: MacBook Pro m5 coming
You only need 16 GB if you are buying a MacBook Air and plan to be one of those people that do everything in a full-screen browser.
Or, you can just buy a Macbook Pro with the M4 Pro chip or better. It comes with a base of 24 GB RAM which is pretty good for doing pretty much anything.
Or, you can just buy a Macbook Pro with the M4 Pro chip or better. It comes with a base of 24 GB RAM which is pretty good for doing pretty much anything.
the only people bothered by the “pro” moniker are the ones that think apple owes them something for calling a device pro.
There’s only two things that should matter, the price and the specs. If you ask me, the real “pro” device is the $1999 one.
There’s only two things that should matter, the price and the specs. If you ask me, the real “pro” device is the $1999 one.
I'm sure that Apple Marketing is eagerly awaiting your input.
Seriously, it is what it is. You don't like it? don't buy it. We've seen the same sort of RAM whinging for a base Air. The key point is "base". If you aren't a 16GB user, buy up. If you don't like the price, skip Apple. This isn't hard.
Ha I like to think of myself as apples favourite customer As I upgrade the ram and ssd.
I have a 32GB 15 inch air with 2TBSSD..
I love it but I’m aware I’ve gone over kill future proofing the ram but then i do keep my stuff for 7 years plus
MacRumors forum is always like this. I've been here decades in one form or another, back to the G4 days. I was genuinely surprised in the early days how much it was a coalition of moaners and the entitled. Some nice people too, obviously.
So is it the "pro"-ness or the price? Or both? Or are you just venting?
A lot of people want the nicer screen, nicer speakers and faster GPU but don't need more than 16Gb. For everything else, there's Mastercard.
If 16 is enough today, chances are.... it will be enough in 7 years. And if not, you will probably need a new CPU anyway. I don't really believe in "future proofing". But don't get me wrong, having 32Gb RAM and 2Tb drive space is certainly nice!
Wow, now that is a detailed response! Every time I read one of these fora titles I shake my head. I usually just use them as gateways to see my messages but seeing your massive missive made me pause and read.
While my own RAM use is absolutely not covered by 16GB RAM (that’s why I bought more, 32GB on my M1Max) not a single other person whose computers I administer (I’m the family IT guy, and a bit extended as the Mac tech guy for my non-Apple using friends) requires more than 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. Two of them would likely be fine with 4GB RAM and 128GB SSDs.
Okay, I lie. There is one: my photography mentor definitely needs the 16GB RAM that he has but nowhere near the 2TB SSD. (He inherited my old M1 Mac mini that I found insufficient)
Since I do want to dabble in development and ML my next machine will likely have substantially more RAM but 32GB fills my needs (24GB would likely suffice) for the photography and design work I do on the side.
Aside: I have noticed that the sole advantage a replacement system would have for me, at the moment, is GPU. The CPU maxes out solely when ripping discs (you go Handbrake! Use them cores) so the M1 generation with 8P + 2E cores meets my needs. Perhaps the “Neural Engine” but I’m a n00b in that space.
Whatchagonnado? Internet will internet…
They also sell a Pro device with standard M4 chip, not even a PRO chip. I guess that's also unacceptable to you.
Depends what you do. I was quite happy to have a $20k workstation with a whole 128Mb of RAM once and I do the same work now!
I'm perfectly happy with my 16GB base M4 MBP. It will do me just fine for the 5-7 years I plan on keeping it.
When it slows, it goes.
When it slows, it goes.
Of course you are correct. And that is precisely why Tim Crook decided to only sell Macs—both professional and consumer models—with soldered RAM instead of industry standard-sized user-upgradable RAM slots. That way, if customers (both pro and consumer) find themselves needing more RAM, they have to buy a new Mac instead of buying relaively inexpenisve third-party RAM. For Tim Crook, it's all about maximizing profits.
IMO the whole thing is just psychological manipulation - that we all choose to participate in.
Let's say I believe that the base MBP should be 24GB of RAM to be a true Pro machine. Currently, that costs $1799.
But because Apple wants to have a lower price point as a psychological anchor, they include a 16GB $1599 version in the lineup.
It's the $1599 price point that sticks to everyone's mind (it's what's quoted everywhere) and it gets people to consider buying one.
The $1599 price isn't for someone wanting a true "pro" laptop. That $1599 price is the shiny object designed to get us in the door.
What we are upset with Apple is not that the 24GB machine costs $1799, but because we first thought we could get it for $1599 and now we feel cheated when we realize we actually need to pay $1799.
We fall for the shiny object and then are dismayed when reality is more expensive than that.
Here we go people....
Not mentioning that 32GB RAM is available for Macbook Pros:
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