You make a compelling case, with a grandma needing more than 8 GB of RAM but doesn't know how to change RAM.
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Memory in New $1099 iMac is Soldered and Not Upgradable
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You make a compelling case, with a grandma needing more than 8 GB of RAM but doesn't know how to change RAM.
and if this is like the iphone 5c, it'll be a massive failure and apple will learn from it.
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Coming from someone who volunteers at schools often, i can tell you that 8gb of ram will last a long time.
In the last few years RAM requirements have planed out, luckily it's no longer the 1990s when upgradeability was vital and hardware went obsolete the minute you walked out of the store with it. In most cases 8 GB should last for the expected economical service life of the machine for the target market. For example, most apps the average corporate or home user use have been running fine on just 4 GB for the last few years.
Although not as much of an issue with an all-in-one as for a laptop, soldered RAM also actually increases reliability because there is no socket for vibrations/humidity/whatever to affect and the chips themselves rarely fail.
I know geeks care about upgradeability and would prefer having everything modular and easily accessible, but this machine is clearly not aimed at that market. Apple will probably sell lots of these but obviously not to the type of user that would want to upgrade.
Although not as much of an issue with an all-in-one as for a laptop, soldered RAM also actually increases reliability because there is no socket for vibrations/humidity/whatever to affect and the chips themselves rarely fail.
I know geeks care about upgradeability and would prefer having everything modular and easily accessible, but this machine is clearly not aimed at that market. Apple will probably sell lots of these but obviously not to the type of user that would want to upgrade.
1) False. When things start to exhibit slowness and problems even normal consumers do. They may not think about it at the outset but it is in the minds later on.
2) How do you know? You could say that was the case with the eMac but have you seen this officially stated?
3) Hard to stomach but yes, I suppose this is an option. Gonna be nice to see how you react when the options dont suit you any longer.
Why would a school want to upgrade the RAM in their Macs that would just be used for text editing and web browsing? It would only be useful to change the RAM if the stock RAM were to break. Actually, taxpayers shouldn't be happy about a public school buying >$1000 iMacs in bulk in the first place when cheap PCs running LinuxMint or Windows would do the job fine and wouldn't need to be replaced from one part being broken by some foolish kid. It would only make sense to upgrade the RAM in a Mac used for video editing or something, in which case they wouldn't buy this model at all whether or not the RAM were upgradeable.
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4GB of RAM wouldn't be enough to browse websites? Maybe in the year 2030 AND if Google or MS get to decide all the future web standards. Again, I'd only see changeable RAM being useful on this machine if the stock RAM were to break. It would be a shame to have to trash an iMac just because of broken RAM.
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Promoting Electronic Waste
You know what would actually make Apple "green"? Engineering its products to be productively useful for longer periods of time. That's why this new iMac is so terribly disappointing. The 8GB limit means these machines will be tossed into the trash (and mostly not recycled -- let's be honest) that much sooner.
Thanks, Apple, for creating more e-waste.
You know what would actually make Apple "green"? Engineering its products to be productively useful for longer periods of time. That's why this new iMac is so terribly disappointing. The 8GB limit means these machines will be tossed into the trash (and mostly not recycled -- let's be honest) that much sooner.
Thanks, Apple, for creating more e-waste.
How can they do things like this and still get an ok from greenpeace. It seems really short sighted.
I suppose if 90% of people that buy these machines will never upgrade the ram (and they probably won't), then they've saved material. So.. there's that. I mean the performance is low enough I doubt you'd want to do stuff that requires more than 8gb ram on it anyway.
I suppose if 90% of people that buy these machines will never upgrade the ram (and they probably won't), then they've saved material. So.. there's that. I mean the performance is low enough I doubt you'd want to do stuff that requires more than 8gb ram on it anyway.
This is true. But since it's cheaper for Apple to solder on the RAM and shouldn't matter very much for the product's target audience, I can see why they did it. More money for them. But the ghetto processor that actually costs more than better ones confuses me. Is that purely to prevent cannibalization?
But that's wrong. Soldering the RAM is not "cheaper" nor is it "easier to produce". It's literally an extra step.
It is cheaper. Normally the RAM chips are soldered onto the RAM modules and the RAM sockets are soldered onto the logic board.
By soldering the RAM chips directly to the logic board Apple are saving the expense of the RAM modules and RAM sockets plus removing one soldering operation and the cost of fitting the RAM modules during assembly.
wow...you're total pessimistic aren't you? True nobody has to buy...but the way they conduct their business...it's unethical..
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maybe you shouldn't care what others think.
Whatever the steps it is more profit margin to do it this way than removable memory.
Remember Apples primary goal is maximizing profits.
They will continue to take steps that will maximize profits.
And Apple just keep adding reasons for me never to buy their products again.
Forced obsolescence is now the key driver for profit it seems.
Apparently the next Apple "feature" will be a tiny LCD on the side of all its products with a count down on it , when it reaches zero the device will only display the Apple Store website and directions to the nearest apple store with a message that its now time to buy a new model.
Forced obsolescence is now the key driver for profit it seems.
Apparently the next Apple "feature" will be a tiny LCD on the side of all its products with a count down on it , when it reaches zero the device will only display the Apple Store website and directions to the nearest apple store with a message that its now time to buy a new model.
That can't be quite right, since Apple isn't selling this model with more RAM.
Computers with changeable RAM have RAM doors, pins, and/or levers, and these iMacs do not. I can't imagine that those cost any significant amount more to produce. User manuals and customer support for changing the RAM might make a difference, though.
And I thought what happened is that people don't upgrade anymore, because the computer they bought is fast enough and stays fast enough. I expect buyers of this computer to use it until it breaks and cannot be repaired anymore.
I'm worried that iMacs will be thrown away just because of broken RAM chips. I think you can still replace RAM chips by removing the solder and re-soldering new ones on, but even if that's possible, I'm sure a lot will just go into the dumps. Hopefully the RAM chips won't break. I've only ever heard of this happening to laptops (unless you count my mom's iMac RAM that died by sitting in a bag).
You think the iPhone 5c is a failure. I think it sold an awful lot of 5s phones. All the people moaning on this thread, at least those who want a desktop computer, I mean at least those who want a 21" desktop computer, while buy the quad core model, and Apple wins.
For 99% of the customers there is no difference between a broken RAM chip in a socket or one that is soldered in. They either throw away the computer, or they bring it to a shop to be repaired. No difference. And I must say I've never seen a computer where the RAM broke outside the warranty period. In the EU, Apple must be able to repair it outside the warranty period; not being able to get a computer repaired is a fault that was present when the computer was sold. Australia has even stronger laws.
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You're overreacting to this. Who upgrades the RAM? Only techies and people who actually need extra RAM. Not that many people are going to need to upgrade the RAM over an iMac's lifespan. 8GB is plenty. I only have 6GB in my Mac Pro and don't see the need to upgrade it.
By the way, the number 1 killer of old computers is new web standards and new websites that use them (thanks Google et al.). It's the only software that updates itself. New software is almost always programmed less efficiently and requires more CPU and GPU usage. Flash has gotten even slower, HTML5 was always a pig, and all these new web elements and useless social media "integration" on websites slow any old computer to a crawl. Just to give you an idea, simple Google search lags on an iMac G5!
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Fixable. Durable. Modular. Upgradable.
Not in Apple's vocabulary.
The throwaway fast food of tech.
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My MBP came with 4GB. I upgraded to 8GB, later ebayed that RAM, and maxed out to 16GB.
It came with a 500GB 5400 hard drive. It now has a 1TB SSD.
It's meant in practical terms that a machine over 3 years old is still running all the latest stuff at a decent speed.
If I'd bought and all-soldered product it have been struggling after a year.
Not in Apple's vocabulary.
The throwaway fast food of tech.
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My MBP came with 4GB. I upgraded to 8GB, later ebayed that RAM, and maxed out to 16GB.
It came with a 500GB 5400 hard drive. It now has a 1TB SSD.
It's meant in practical terms that a machine over 3 years old is still running all the latest stuff at a decent speed.
If I'd bought and all-soldered product it have been struggling after a year.
I can see the argument for a Windows based PC but for a Mac? Unless you are doing some really intensive work, 8GB would be fine for pretty much 99% of the tasks.
I had 8GB in my MBP since 2010 and it's still runs fast. I have no reason to upgrade. Same for the majority of users. It's something to boast about I suppose. I have 16GB ram, I have 32GB ram. What do you use? iTunes and email. Hmmmm.
I think No RAM slots makes the Mac cheaper to make, and gives it a slimmer profile. It works the same as an iPhone, iPad. There are 16GB, 32GB, 64GB options. Pick the one for your budget, needs. It looks like iMAC's are going the same way.
The only dis-advantage. And this is a big one. I used to repair laptops and memory used to fail a lot. It's easy to replace a stick of RAM compared to replacing the whole Mainboard (Logic board).
I believe ESD is the biggest killer of RAM. It's more sensitive than you think. The less someone touches it, the better.
I had 8GB in my MBP since 2010 and it's still runs fast. I have no reason to upgrade. Same for the majority of users. It's something to boast about I suppose. I have 16GB ram, I have 32GB ram. What do you use? iTunes and email. Hmmmm.
I think No RAM slots makes the Mac cheaper to make, and gives it a slimmer profile. It works the same as an iPhone, iPad. There are 16GB, 32GB, 64GB options. Pick the one for your budget, needs. It looks like iMAC's are going the same way.
The only dis-advantage. And this is a big one. I used to repair laptops and memory used to fail a lot. It's easy to replace a stick of RAM compared to replacing the whole Mainboard (Logic board).
I believe ESD is the biggest killer of RAM. It's more sensitive than you think. The less someone touches it, the better.