Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacMelvin

macrumors newbie
Mar 4, 2024
4
2
Maybe what Apple should do is make the 16GB model the default. Then when you configure the computer you can get a price reduction if you remove 8GB RAM. It would cost Apple nothing and shut down all the complaints that 8Gb is not enough.

I can just hear it now if they made 16GB the smallest amount you can buy "Apple is forcing us to buy more RAM than we need, it is nothing but greed."

Changing the default amount could make everyone happy.

But you know what? Most people who buy the "pro" are not pros. They are only shopping on Amazon and watching YouTube. For a large segment of buyers, the Apple M-series of any model is overkill.
Have you looked at RAM prices? There is no discernible price difference for Apple to use 16 gb vice 8. Apple could buy 16 gb of RAM for $15, meaning their cost to move from 8 gb to 16 gb is probably $8.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mcru21

StoneJack

macrumors 68030
Dec 19, 2009
2,606
1,779
The point is that every other laptop on planet earth in this price range has at least 16 GB of RAM or more. There is no defending this. It’s Apple greed of the highest order.
I am not defending anyone. I am asking what not "pro" in my professional work on 8GB of RAM?
 

Chuckeee

macrumors 68030
Aug 18, 2023
2,635
7,474
Southern California
Have you looked at RAM prices? There is no discernible price difference for Apple to use 16 gb vice 8. Apple could buy 16 gb of RAM for $15, meaning their cost to move from 8 gb to 16 gb is probably $8.
It is not $8, it is $192. Resulting from the income reduction from losing the $200 RAM upgrade sale. It is still a financial decision to maximize profit, I’m just pointing out the magnitude of Apple’s decision.
 
  • Like
Reactions: john123

Chuckeee

macrumors 68030
Aug 18, 2023
2,635
7,474
Southern California
You can do that work on a toaster. That's not a workflow that requires a Pro laptop. 8 GB is not Pro. That is the point.
Just because Apple put a sticker that says “Pro” next to the nameplate doesn’t make the hardware any more Professional. It’s just a sales gimmick for gullible customers. That is the point.

If 8GB is insufficient, then it doesn’t matter what the sticker on the nameplate says.
 

LogicalApex

macrumors 65816
Nov 13, 2015
1,376
2,177
PA, USA
Not everyone needs what M4 brings.

In fact not everyone needs what M3 brings.

I'm sure there are many people, like me, who bought an M3 before the M4 announcement, to get off intel.
Absolutely, but this close to an imminent M4 launch. You would get serious M3 discounts arriving quickly after to move stock.

Accessing additional discounts is my point.
 

CausticSoda

macrumors 6502a
Feb 14, 2014
724
1,885
Abu Dhabi
I am not defending anyone. I am asking what not "pro" in my professional work on 8GB of RAM?

I can't see anyone has suggested that. I'm not sure what you are trying to argue. That is, unless you are saying that a "Pro" machine is needed to do professional work, and the fact you can achieve your professional work on an 8GB "Pro" demonstrates that 8GB is reasonable for a "Pro" machine? Did you get a "Pro" iPhone specifically to make any work-related calls?
 

Torty

macrumors 65816
Oct 16, 2013
1,224
938
M4 got the NPU of the “before AI” A17. It will not live much longer than M3.
 

lewchenko

macrumors 6502
Jun 8, 2004
402
621
I have an M1 Pro 16GB for home use and an M3 36GB for work use. (Development). In day to day operation , do not notice any difference whatsoever. Grab whatever makes sense financially, or for the port selection etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chuckeee

subjonas

macrumors 603
Feb 10, 2014
5,951
6,448
The point is that every other laptop on planet earth in this price range has at least 16 GB of RAM or more. There is no defending this. It’s Apple greed of the highest order.
This is false. It's also myopic to focus on one spec and ignore everything else that plays a part in price--but regardless, if you're referring to the $1600 - $1800 price range of 8GB M3 Macbook Pros, there are non-Apple 8GB laptops in the same price range or slightly more or slightly less:

- Lenovo $1850 (sale price)

- Dell $1470

(Dell also has a special rugged series that costs upwards of $3000 and comes with 8GB.)

All the examples also come with inferior processors and less storage than Apple's offering.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StoneJack

caioferrari

macrumors member
Oct 14, 2012
79
53
We know M4 is quickly coming around the corner. So hard to justify buying these even at the discounted pricing.
That’s why they are discounted.
Every year there is an upgrade, every years there are discounts.
If you know the actual machine is right for you and you don’t have FOMO, you get the discounted one and save money.
 

matt_and_187_like_this

macrumors 6502a
Dec 8, 2015
574
2,010
Every device from iPad to Mac Mini to Macbook is now more or less the same thing in a different box. Must have become fairly cheap for Apple to make them.
 

Cranslove

macrumors member
Aug 22, 2023
54
65
I write professional consulting reports on this 8GB Macbook Pro m3. What is not "pro" in my reports?
The fact that you need to claim writing prosessional reports is hilarious. I can do the same thing on an oldschool blackberry. And it’s not even my job. Writing “professional” reports isn’t pro nor professional. It’s just writing a report lol.
 

JimmyG

macrumors 6502
Oct 19, 2019
277
231
Hudson Valley NY
I smell an M4 Pro/Max coming this October 👀
The pace is afoot for even-smaller (≤2nm), power-sipping processors across the industry and Cupertino "will not be denied". Global per-capita energy consumption needs reversing ASAP and those players providing those low-energy/high-performance products will have the market-edge for that environment. No time for any computer/processor company to be resting on its laurels.
 

snipr125

macrumors 68000
Oct 17, 2015
1,916
2,974
UK
The base M3 Macbook Pro 14 should have been given the same RAM modules as the M3 Pro model e.g.

M3 Pro - 18 GB (3 x 6 GB RAM modules)
Base M3 - 12 GB (2 x 6 GB RAM modules)

Why they decided to give it the same 8 GB RAM as the Macbook Air is probably due to maximise profits and upsell to the M3 Pro chip models as we all know they love doing this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chuckeee

cwwilson

macrumors 68000
Jan 27, 2009
1,915
1,528
Oklahoma City, OK
Patiently waits for a base teir model with at least 12GB.

I was kind of thinking the same thing. If we get a Mac mini with M4 and it comes with 12GB RAM as standard, even with a 256GB SSD if it started at $699 I would seriously entertain getting one to replace my iMac 4K as I already have a Magic Keyboard and Trackpad so all I'd need to do is get a good monitor and I'd be set to replace it.

Keeping my fingers crossed! 🤞
 

John_Blackthorne

macrumors regular
May 4, 2024
112
123
Chiraq
There's nothing "Pro" about 8GB RAM. It's time for Apple to break the piggy bank and start defaulting to at least 16GB for a Pro desktop device. It's like they are sitting on a mountain of 4GB chips.
They sell the 8 gb “pro” machines to bulk purchasers who demand a machine with “pro” in the name.

Not everything is about regular, retail purchasers. Apple sells several markets, and we almost never consider that on these forms.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.