16 GB of RAM for a Pro device is not okay

[Dirk Pieters]

I’m not saying skimp on ram or storage. But don’t try and anticipate and buy for 5 years out because it’s just spending more for worse experience over the long run.

At no point in time have I thought “my 7yr old mbp feels too slow”

In fact, that’s why I’m tempted to just keep using it until it dies.

Some people buy a new car every few years. Some people drive their car until it dies. There is no right or wrong, different strokes for different folks.

 

[throAU]

Every use case is different. For someone who edits and exports 8k movies you’re probably right.

So what is your use case?

 

[Phineasgage1848]

At no point in time have I thought “my 7yr old mbp feels too slow”

In fact, that’s why I’m tempted to just keep using it until it dies.

Some people buy a new car every few years. Some people drive their car until it dies. There is no right or wrong, different strokes for different folks.

Right. @throAU wants to just argue about why he’s right and you’re wrong to keep or not keep your machine that he thinks you “overspent” on.

 

[Phineasgage1848]

I don’t mean overspending as in over extending yourself.

I mean overspending because you’re clearly running the machine way beyond its intended life because you spent so much on it.

Unless you need max spec at all times - you’ll get a better experience (performance) over the long run from flipping machines that are specced for 3 year service life (ie basically what you need today) rather than trying to spec for 5-10 years and having non upgradable components like CPU /gpu/wifi/bt/port speeds go out of date anyway.


I’m not saying skimp on ram or storage. But don’t try and anticipate and buy for 5 years out because it’s just spending more for worse experience over the long run.

Thats what I mean by over spending.

If you actually need max spec today - buy it. But if that’s the case you’ll probably need or want max spec in a year or two as well and keeping that old machine is still stupid.

In no way does the term “overspending” mean “keeping a machine beyond its lifespan.” 🤣 If someone wants to buy high specs and keep it who cares? Move on man.

 

[Phineasgage1848]

This almost makes me want to get a 16GB MacBook to compare how “compromised” it is/isn’t compared to my 24GB MBP and 128GB Mac Studio. I bet I (wouldn’t) be surprised at just how capable it is.

Agree! I bet in most average user cases you wouldn’t notice!

 

[maflynn]

Agree! I bet in most average user cases you wouldn’t notice!

Head over to the Mini subforum here, and you'll see people saying how the base model Mini is a great buy and the ram/storage is completely adequate for the majority of consumers.

I also consider upsizing to a be a good move, it definitely will add years to your usage - provided you're the type of person who will hold on to a computer for years. For me, I seem to be getting 5 years out of any given computer. My PC before being replaced was close to 5 years. My M1 MBP was about 5 years when it was replaced by the Thinkpad T14s last year.

I opted for the base model M4 Max studio, in part because of the increased ram, some of tasks had pushed ram utilization in the yellow, so I have no regrets in selecting the Studio over the M4 Pro Mini. I got more CPU cores, more GPU cores, more ram and better cooling.

 

[capamac]

Well, again, none of those things would have made me more money.

Every use case is different. For someone who edits and exports 8k movies you’re probably right.

The use case for 8k is essentially nil: https://yedlin.net/ResDemo/

 

[Happy_John]

The use case for 8k is essentially nil: https://yedlin.net/ResDemo/

This came up recently.

The use case for 8K as Compton media is nil, but there’s lots of use cases where there’s good reason in record in 8L, do you have raw footage at a very high result ion, which can be edited an outputted as 4K.

The only display uses for 8K is essentially very big screens with a short viewing distance - eg. A Vision setup like Star Wars and other studios use instead of a green acreen.

 

[throAU]

In no way does the term “overspending” mean “keeping a machine beyond its lifespan.” 🤣 If someone wants to buy high specs and keep it who cares? Move on man.

You do you.

If you want to waste your money on a worse experience, be my guest.

🤷‍♂️

 

[Plutonius]

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.

The "Pro" in the name is just Apple marketing. It doesn't actually mean a pro device.

Apple is just using the name to indicate that it is a step up from the model below it.

Instead of pro, max, and ultra, they could have called it ok, good, better, and best .