This approach does make some sense though. You may really want a larger amount of RAM and didn't realize at first that the CPU you chose didn't allow for that. If they didn't show the larger RAM option you may think you are just out of luck on getting more RAM when in fact you can have it IF you change your CPU choice. There are other ways they could have handled this but none are "perfectly simple".
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Apple Changes How You Order a Mac
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Gengar
macrumors 65816
Sucks that you can’t buy two or three years of AppleCare anymore. That’s what I always did when buying computers for my younger siblings (as graduation gifts).
I don’t think anything is actually different except for the new linear feature selection sequence.
I personally thought the three column good/better/best layout was clearer and easier to compare on a computer display, but whatever.
Ughhh….. no version for the iMac and Mac Pro? They really don’t get shown any love these days do they… 😅
macduke
macrumors G5
Anyone notice that Apple's memory prices are actually competitive with PCs nowadays? Like for the M4 Pro, I selected 48GB and that's an extra $400. If I go on Amazon and type in 48GB RAM, it comes up with dual 24GB kits that are $600. Isn't AI wonderful? Thanks, Micron.
I bet that shoe is about to drop once they release new Macs. Honestly getting a decently spec'd M4 Max system isn't a bad call right now if you need a lot of memory. Especially since BTO options go away once the new models come out. I never see really highly spec'd Macs at retail.
I bet that shoe is about to drop once they release new Macs. Honestly getting a decently spec'd M4 Max system isn't a bad call right now if you need a lot of memory. Especially since BTO options go away once the new models come out. I never see really highly spec'd Macs at retail.
chars1ub0w
macrumors 6502a
They should have a shortcut. Suppose, you got $3,000 to spend, this is how much MacBook Pro you can get. Then offer price points above and below, e.g. $4,000 gets you this much more, $2,500, this much less. Then, like binary search, you zero in quickly on how much you are willing to spend.
capamac
macrumors 6502a
Not a bad idea at all. It couldn't give a definite answer all the time, however. Coz suppose for your $3k budget you could get a Macbook with a lot of ram and modest SSD, or you could get minimum ram and a very large SSD, or a Macbook with minimum RAM and minimum SSD but with all the included software packages, etc etc. So it could deliver a list of options for that budget.
Neil J. Squillante
macrumors 6502
On the contrary, Apple now hides memory and storage upgrades behind an Edit button instead of showing all of them. The cheapest option is the only one visible. Yes, the app also shows upgrades that require a higher end CPU but you must first click/tap Edit to see any of these options. I think it’s fine to add the display size to the selector but I won’t be surprised if Apple returns to showing all options instead of hiding them behind an Edit button because of reduced revenue and higher returns from configuration errors.
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They have something similar to what you mentioned, although it in itself could use some work.
code-m
macrumors 601
Get consumers comfortable when the M6 drops with touchscreen being an option just like Nano texture is an option. Who knows if OLED will be an option.
It seems Apple is slipping into its old ways before the second coming of Jobs to Apple. Hope this doesn’t mean the dreaded 90’s.
Just Oliver
macrumors newbie
Looks like this is a soft price hike, at least for the MacBook Air. You can no longer get the 10-core GPU option, or config with 24GB of RAM, without also bumping up storage to 512GB. It effectively makes every config beyond the base model $200 more expense. Super scummy.
iMacDragon
macrumors 68020
Sounds about right, I seem to recall that with the old configurations the medium configs tended to be slightly better value than taking a base and upgrading it.
MacHeritage
macrumors 6502a
Not a fan. I much prefer the old way for the Mac. Old way is easier to understand at a glance and this takes forever to get to the bottom line to find out what the price and shipping times are. I've never liked it for other Apple products.
chars1ub0w
macrumors 6502a
Cool. Though I'm shocked how little SSD and memory I get for $3,200.Mac - Which Mac is best for me?
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They have something similar to what you mentioned, although it in itself could use some work.
The other match is a 16".
capamac
macrumors 6502a
I just checked the Lenovo Thinkpad T14 for comparison: Picked the fasted CPU option, maxxed the RAM to 32GB, maxxed the SSD to 1TB and the price came to $1,958.
Another one: Thinkpad T1g (16"), 64GB RAM, and 4TB SSD for $3,256.
And, for me, I never much worried about this difference in hardware value for the dollar between PC and Mac coz I liked MacOS so much. But with Tahoe and Liquid Glass, Apple's software advantage is eroded/neutralized, and the PC value-per-dollar becomes significant.
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So Apple "secretly" raised the Mac prices again. At least we now have many alternatives. Like for example the Linux Arch based Steam Deck for $399, a powerful gaming and desktop PC, with quad core Zen 2, 16 GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, OLED screen, etc. A MacBook now costs over $1200+ to reach those basic specs.
Parowdy
Suspended
Pretty cynical. In that case they could just have changed the first spec’d models available on the initial page, as most people I presume would rather spec up instead of down, so they’d chose what‘s presented to them and then see if they want tu upgrade anything else.
To me this seems like they want to streamline the experience and make people buy what they actually want or need and NOT too much, so contrary to what you think. Why else start from zero and make people build up their system instead of offering what they think people should buy.
I don’t see your argument making any sense.
iMacDragon
macrumors 68020
Because the mid tier prebuild options that had a little bit of saving vanish.
Keep in mind that this is to go from 24GB to 48GB so you must compare to single 24gb, not dual.
That's my concern as well - what happens to the prospect of pre-built options sold via third-party channels like Amazon?
I've already decided that I want a 24GB/1TB MacBook Pro configuration and when pricing that up based on the M4 prices last year before the currently only M5 MacBook Pro was released it turns out that going from a baseline M4 chip to an M4 Pro was only an extra $200/£200 (I'm in the UK hence the £200 figure) because to get 24GB/1TB on the non-Pro chip needed a spec-ed up configuration on the Apple web site sold at full retail price whereas for the M4 Pro MacBook 24GB/1TB was a standard configuration so could be quite easily be found at a $200/£200 discount to Apple retail pricing reducing the price premium vs the non-Pro model to only about $200/£200 and sometimes even less. (This is for the 14" models.)
Even if that cost saving option disappears and I have to pay full price using the configurator on the Apple web site I'm still going to wait for the release (I hope!) of the M5 Pro MacBook Pro and buy the 24GB/1TB version of that (14") because I think that's going to be a real beast and, providing that Apple doesn't bump up the prices vs the equivalent M4 Pro model, still compelling value for money even at full retail price for a machine that should last me for many years.