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New 2014 Mac Mini Has Soldered RAM, Not User Replaceable

"limited to 16GB of RAM"

This world is getting out of control. The problem with providing massive specs to solve performance problems is that the performance problems just get worse because developers are lazy, so more specs are needed, and it's an endless cycle. The pressure needs to be put onto software developers to create lean, mean software, not bloated messes like what Adobe puts out. Don't blame Apple here.. 16GB is a LOT of RAM to be working with. Contact your favourite software houses and demand that they ensure they are using RAM as efficiently as possible. Make noise in that arena.
 
So 100US pricing usually makes for 150NZD pricing... but we only get a 100NZD discount for a lower performing CPU, a slow 5400rpm drive and goddamn fixed ram...

that aint no goddamn discount thats a waste of time.

I was waiting for the CPU update and they go and do this crap...

My plan was to work towards an all apple household. Replace the remaining PCs with macs - three laptops and a server/tv computer.

Now... who knows. newegg time i think.
 
I bought a 2012 mini with a quad-core i7 three months ago because I was worried the new ones would have soldered RAM and only SSD as an option. I was right about the RAM and wrong about SSD-only drive options, but I didn't expect the quad-core i7 to be completely dropped.
 
Huh?

It was clear since yesterday when Apple updated their website that the RAM was non-userupgradable.
 
coolfactor said:
"limited to 16GB of RAM"

This world is getting out of control.
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I know that I posted a bit of an emotional response. I see now that the new iMac only comes with 8GB of RAM. For such a powerful machine, I, too, think they should have included 16GB if it can't be upgraded. But more than 16GB? That's getting a bit crazy, I think.
 
CFreymarc said:
From talk with Apple Store folk who's observations I respect, the Mac Pro had a very good start when released by the sales have been soft since then. Thus, Apple does not want a higher version of the Mac Mini to bite into Mac Pro sales.
Click to expand...

How about another theory? Sales may "be soft" because Apple hyped up a 4K system and didn't bother releasing 4k displays (and jacked the prices, a decent PowerMac ran ~$1950 and was a powerhouse at the time). Instead, they list overpriced, mediocre non-Apple displays. Then, adding insult, announce a 5k all-in-one with mobile parts. Not even a 4k in almost a year. Even if they release a 5k display, it would require a new Mac Pro.

You know what I miss? Choice. The choice to have, say, more than one display size. Oh, Apple did that w/ 20", 23" and 30" CCFL LCD's, that were excellent - 10 years ago.
 
Wait for the refurbs...

I'd wait six months for the refurbs of the new models. I was able to save 200.00 on the mid-range rMBP.
 
altaic said:
Well that sucks. I was hoping to buy the new Mac Mini and sell my old iMac, but 16 gigs of RAM is barely enough for what I do now. If they'd updated the Mac Pro as well, I'd be tempted, but I'm not gonna shell out top dollar for a year old machine. Despite Apple's declaration of their best product pipeline this year, they're a bit disappointing. :/
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You could get the retina iMac, this is what Apple wants you to do. And to be fair it is pretty amazing.
 
I don't know what to make of this. I spoke to sales twice yesterday and both sales reps assured me that the RAM is user upgradable. Later in the evening I spoke to tech support on an unrelated issue and asked him also. He put me on hold and came back a few minutes later to also say that it was indeed upgradable.

The source in the OP only says that it's "looking like" the RAM is soldered. That's a lot different than confirming. In fact he didn't confirm anything.
 
Have to say it, this is not an upgrade from the prior version...whether its the dual core only CPU (Intel should be ashamed of selling anything labled i7 that is dual core) to this now soldered on RAM, to the elimination of the server version (and I believed they reduced available drive sizes as well)....Apple is ensuring that the sales trajectory of the mini will only go down - which is really sad.
 
DeanLubaki said:
If it's because normal RAM takes too much space because of its connectors, why not create a new one, just like they did at the beginning for the SSD drives in Retina MacBooks?
It's becoming annoying to see everything being soldered and not replaceable!
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god damn apple, skrew you for not letting me upgrade my ram in my iphone!

with all the small things, ipods, iphones, ipads, macbooks, and mini, they make it soldered to decrease the size. imac and mac pro still let you upgrade ram, let us be happy for that while it lasts.
 
I guess people are going to have to start using sane amounts of RAM again... It's not even as cheap as it was anyways for upgraders. You used to be able to get 16GB for like 75 bucks, now it's twice that.

If only Apple would half their RAM upgrade prices.. they would still make profit and everyone would be happy. It shouldn't cost 200 to go from 8 to 16 GBs. 100 would be fine with me though.

Also Apple needs to make SSDs or fusion drives standard in every mac.
 
ThisIsNotMe said:
Huh?

It was clear since yesterday when Apple updated their website that the RAM was non-userupgradable.
Click to expand...

How is that clear? It says that BTO is only through the Apple online store. But that has always been the case. In other words not available in retail brick and mortar stores.
 
taptic said:
Apple... You aren't helping any PC versus Mac debates with this...
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IIRC Macs have recently been selling more than PCs so i doubt they care.

RAM is no longer cheap anyways and you still can't find 16GB modules at any decent price if at all. Consumer-level SDRAM has mostly hit a wall.
 
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AppleDavie said:
what a disappointment. :mad: I'll pass. Time to save up for an iMac 27" I guess.
Click to expand...

And this is why they do it, if people just move up instead of buying from someone else Apple makes more money. If everyone hates the new mini and instead of going to another manufacturer just buy more expensive apple models apple will be quite happy with that.
 
Stella said:
Wow.. that sucks. Soldered RAM is cheaper to produce.. Apple saving a few dollars to inconvenience its customers who would like to max out RAM, and increasing its profits???

The Mac Mini was a very nice machine... before this upgrade..
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Also costing other companies money by not allowing customers to buy their RAM modules for the mini lol.
 
I would accept this in the name of reducing the size of the device (not that its big now). However I believe its exactly the same size as the last model so they aren't gaining much by soldering it on other than you have to buy RAM from them up front and are screwed if you don't get enough.
 
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