The only point that you are “wrong” on is that the good will they gain would be worth it. Nobody who is complaining about the base configuration having 8GB RAM is going to spend their money on a non-Apple alternative.
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Is 8GB of RAM Enough for a Mac in 2024?
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yes, an MR is NOT AT ALL a representation of the average Apple customer/user, most users are "geeks", people with tech knowledge ... and believers in benchmarks, whenever a new product is released - we are bombarded with benchmarks left and right.
There are a few here who share their experience (example: I spent 2 months on a base M2 Mac Mini
and yes, this topic has been discussed more than sufficiently ...
They are even worse. They're even cheaper for Apple to buy! But Apple want the new purchases from people who filled up their old MacBook and want a new one.
What's also overlooked is how many Macs are appliances.
They run a single specific, app like a print server or image compiler, or a zoom room, etc.
These base model devices are purchased by corporations and integrators because they've gotten tired of Windows updates and abandoned the once thriving theory of a NUC or other slimline PCs because the OS became overbloated and would autoupdate at the worst possible time.
They run a single specific, app like a print server or image compiler, or a zoom room, etc.
These base model devices are purchased by corporations and integrators because they've gotten tired of Windows updates and abandoned the once thriving theory of a NUC or other slimline PCs because the OS became overbloated and would autoupdate at the worst possible time.
Gotta love how so many here presume that they know what others need/want. I have Many many users that need/want the CPU and extra port etc with the pro. Or heck, even the Space Black color option (remember we used to pay extra for the polycarbonate black MacBook and nothing else!). They are perfectly fine with the 8GB and NEVER know the difference. Just because YOU don't want to pay for it, doesn't mean that someone else doesn't. That's all that matters!
I've never once seen a MacBook used like that in England or Germany... Maybe in the US? 🤷🏼♂️
Vote with your wallet and send Apple a message. There are loads of computer choices out there.
8GB is barely enough to load macOS into memory and move the cursor around for a bit. It can easily gobble up near double figures doing next to nothing.
So no. No it's not.
So no. No it's not.
"Is 8GB of RAM Enough for a Mac in 2024?"
For most people? Yes.
For all people? No.
Should Apple include more RAM in the base models? Yes.
For most people? Yes.
For all people? No.
Should Apple include more RAM in the base models? Yes.
That wasn't on his list... But still, I haven't seen that either. Maybe a good way to repose an old MacBook, though...
This is not accurate. I did extensive work with a base model M1 Air that went well beyond basic browsing and work like that.
Again, way more than just basic school work and Microsoft Office. I don't use that computer currently because my child needed a computer for school and I turned it over, but RAM was never an issue in months of heavy scientific computing.
First, gotta take a moment to shudder at spending $500 on a Chromebook.
Second, an entry MBA is not much more than a low-mid-range windows laptop, and is of significantly higher quality materials... plus if you're deep in the ecosystem, the integration w/ iOS and iCloud should not be underestimated. If you're really pinching pennies on a super tight budget, then sure, any random Acer or HP laptop is "fine." But if you're not, and you've got any combination of iCloud, iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, or AirPods.... then it's really not as simple as a spec-sheet comparison. An entry-level MBA is a great primary computer for light users, and a great additional device for a power user to have on the living room end-table.
I wonder how many of these people who say 8GB isn't enough have actual experience to back this up.
And how many people who like to think they're power users do, at the end of the day, really just use the Macs for browsing, email, Netflix and cropping the occasional photo or editing the family holiday video.
I think this is like when people get hung up buying cars based on track performance when they can't bring themselves to accept that they'll just be driving it to work and back at 40mph every day.
And how many people who like to think they're power users do, at the end of the day, really just use the Macs for browsing, email, Netflix and cropping the occasional photo or editing the family holiday video.
I think this is like when people get hung up buying cars based on track performance when they can't bring themselves to accept that they'll just be driving it to work and back at 40mph every day.
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Amen. It makes for some fun reading though. For every "you can't do real work on 8 GB" comment I look at my reality and chuckle. What the internet lacks in imagination it sure makes up for with solipsism.
Well and succinctly said. If you are an MBA buyer, you are probably not doing a lot of video editing since it is a fanless laptop. So, 8GB is fine for most students, office workers, and home use. These people spend most of their time using: safari, mail, messages, iWork, MS Office, Photos, calendar, contacts, and occasional iMovie. Also, they probably download some data/documents from a corporate or school servers. All works just fine. At least this has been my experience with my base M2 MBA. No problems at all. Very smooth. So, we need to dispense with these hyperbolic statements that 8GB is only good for TiK Tok and web browsing. It's just not true. Plenty of folks are getting a lot of work done with base configuration MacBooks.
However, if you are doing significant video editing and other memory heavy application, then I would get a MBP with more memory. The extra memory is essential for some of these "Pro" application.
Do I wish Apple provided higher specs at no extra cost? Sure.
True, but a MBA gets you a really nice experience. And that's what most people do buy Apple for - a really nice experience whilst doing basic stuff on your laptop, tablet or phone.
Thanks for sharing your average computing life - and I don't mean that as an insult.
Plenty of people here say 16GB is not enough and we find that they are really pushing their MBAs to the limit - so much so that they'd be better off with a MBP.
You just described my use case for my laptop. Plus GeForce Now - which 8GB is totally fine for if all other apps are closed (which is a good idea when running that, whatever the RAM you have).
Now I'm thinking that the base M3 13 or 15 is going to be totally fine for me.