... I suspect either the M2 or M3 will raise the max RAM to 32. That would make the cheapest mini with it $1299. Unless they also use that opportunity to raise the base from 8 to 16, in which case it might end up being $1099.
(I wish there were a 32 GiB M1. I would have happily bought an iMac with that config earlier this year.)
That is a good point. As time goes on that RAM floor will raise... but in the past, the amount of RAM needed did as well. Maybe that won't be as much the case these days.
The big thing is having the available options though, and having them independent enough from each other. One should be able to get the lower core/GPU counts with more RAM, or more cores w/o needing as much GPU/RAM, etc. They are a bit too tied together right now, though I kind of doubt that is going to change too much.
I'm also needing a reasonable GPU, so I'd probably be looking at the Pro minimally (or I'd be taking a back-step on GPU power). Again, I really hope Apple brings back the eGPU in some form, whether that be AMD support, or their own eGPU units.
Plus, with the SSD, just get an external SSD. Typically not as fast, but much, much cheaper. Get ~512 GiB for your internal SSD — maybe 256, maybe 1 TiB — and then just add external storage. With Apple, the 1 TiB option is $400 on top of whatever the 256 GiB already costs. With Samsung, you can get a 1 TiB for $150 total.
With RAM, that's not an option, alas. Get as much RAM as you need. Not much more (because it's pricey), but not less. With the SSD, get as much storage as you always need with you.
Exactly. Unless we're talking about a laptop, the internal SSD can be almost OS + a few apps/docs, and then whatever scratch-space you need. On my mini, I have 256 GB SSD and usually have ~ 120 GB free at least. Then I have a couple external SSDs (one for Bootcamp, one for the Mac side for extra storage). While the internal SSD is faster, I don't really notice. I move projects to the the internal SSD when working on them.
I just don't need all that much expensive internal storage. I'm guessing most people are still stuck in the mentality of having their entire 'life' on that internal SSD, like we used to so with big, cheap spinning disks. Fortunately (I guess), I was too budget limited quite some time ago, so was forced to make that transition to not storing everything on the internal. It is a bit of mindset/organization shift, but once you make the leap, it saves a lot of money.
We actually have numbers.
Under Windows, laptops outsell stationary systems not quite 2:1.
Under MacOS we don't have as good numbers, but it has been estimated to be 5-6:1.
Stated a bit provocatively: Apples desktops would sell more if they sucked less.
I don't really know who came up with the holy product matrix Apple still seemingly adheres to, but there is little question that the desktop systems really got the dirty end of the stick. It is a bit unfortunate because statistics suggest that with minor modifications Apple could easily increase their sales by taking back desktop sales from Windows. But that would require for instance good I/O connectivity and monitor support. Being able to add something as simple as an m.2 SSD would help too as would being able to plug other devices into the typically nice iMac screens. (The last two being features that have been actively removed.)
I agree and disagree. I don't think the key anymore is so much the ability to modify and expand the build, so much as it is the ability to just get a good mid-high tier machine that isn't a Mac Pro (at Mac Pro pricing). The rest of Apple's line up is pretty powerful (at the top-end of consumer computing), UNTIL you need to do something a bit heavier.
That might be crunching your movie collection, some pro task like 3D rendering, or trying to do some gaming. Then, anything but the Mac Pro kind of falls apart. They can't handle the heat w/o taking damage and sounding like you installed a new A/C unit on your desk. Or, they can't do it at all (ie. no GPU with enough power available, or can't run said GPU in Windows w/o major contortions, etc.).
That world between the consumer and corporate pro might not be as big as it once was*, and certainly any where near the size of the consumer group. But, it isn't exactly a small group either. What always amazes and frustrates me, is how easily Apple could own that market, yet they don't seem to care (or maybe aren't even aware they aren't hitting it... one gets the impression they *think* their pro, non-Mac Pro machines are ideal).
The new 16" seems like it might hit that target, but it is kind of big and expensive. The new iMac Pro might, as well as the mini Pro, we'll have to wait and see. But, remember you can get a pretty competent PC these days a bit over $2k, even with the absurd GPU pricing. Apple *should* compete with that for under $3k. I've always been willing to pay the 'Apple Tax' but there's only so far I can go (or I'd have a Mac Pro under my desk).
(* It is actually bigger, I think, in terms of numbers of people. But, I mean more the machine. For a good while, the Mac Pro was more in financial reach to the non-corporate pros. Even a refurb Mac Pro with a reasonable GPU is over $12k Canadian these days. It might be a fantastic machine, but that's too much. Years ago, one could have a Mac Pro type box even for a few thousand to $5k or $6k. It's like we're back in the Mac IIfx days again, but at least their were better middle options back then.)
