Backing up data is an essential part of owning a computer. At its most basic level on a Mac, it's as easy as attaching an external drive and allowing Time Machine to run continuously in the background.
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New 27-Inch iMac's Storage Affixed to Logic Board, 4TB and 8TB Configurations Have Expansion Connector
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Backing up data is an essential part of owning a computer. At its most basic level on a Mac, it's as easy as attaching an external drive and allowing Time Machine to run continuously in the background.
it’s all about the Environment. Instead of replacing single parts over time, you just throw out the whole computer
/s
It hasn't been, ever I believe. A few 21.5" models did but not anymore (although you still have to take apart the case), but this is about the 27".
Not true. Extremely likely that the 4 and 8 TB SSD out perform the 256GB here. Also not significant impact on security. Similarly the iMac Pro and Mac Pro... Not any substantively less secure and no real speed issues what so ever.
There is no "design" sense here. It is about putting more money in Apple's pockets as much as anything else.
It is a similar issue of why there is no GPU choice first two standard configurations. Apple is in part limiting choices so a substantive number of folks are forced to move up the configuration ladder to get what they want. Apple more than covers the inventory and production variances by pushing folks into products where the net margin is substantively higher. That results in filling the Scrooge McDuck money pit to a deeper levels.
In z-height confined laptops there is some justification for soldering down the NAND. In the iMac family and Mac Pro zone there are no z-height constraints that should be impactful. Shouldn't be any in the Mac Mini either with some small adjustments.
But that’s not absolutely the case, is it?
For speed: They’re not specifically fast due to this: Third party options can be faster, and I guess we’re going to find out again that some configs/capacities run at half the speed of others.
For reliability: If soldering is so much more reliable than a socket or connector; why add that ‘unreliable’ feature to the larger / more expensive options?
For security: the socketed versions demonstrate that the T2 doesn’t need the storage to be soldered after all - just paired.
And if you’re concerned about the spyS getting physical access to the innards (after placing all the bugs and keyloggers); they can now stick an inline intercept in the storage port or unplug / clone on-site, or simply have a bunch of solder-less terminals to analyse when taking the whole thing.
tl;dr: Apple flash storage has to be soldered for T2, speed, security, reliability. Except when Apple doesn’t solder it.
Actually, the bondi iMac is very easy to work on, it’s one or two screws and the whole computer essentially comes out in a tray with easy access to everything. Not much harder on the newer iMac G3 either.
Can anyone who is saying this increases speed or security elaborate on that point?
From my perspective, you have a logic board with as bunch of traces going from one chip to another. You can either solder memory directly to that board or you can solder a connector to the traces and then plug the memory into the connector.
Can someone explain how the first method introduces any security or speed improvements that are otherwise lost in the latter?
From my perspective, you have a logic board with as bunch of traces going from one chip to another. You can either solder memory directly to that board or you can solder a connector to the traces and then plug the memory into the connector.
Can someone explain how the first method introduces any security or speed improvements that are otherwise lost in the latter?
The relatively comatose , non-Retina model borrows from the MacBook Air internal design and still does. It has a laptop CPU in it so basically just copy the rest of the Mac laptop design standards.
Retina models were trying to track Mac desktop standards so the so-DIMMs where (and are ) there. But as laptop myopic focus takes over Apple gratuitous laptop stuff in a desktop could creep in further.
Jokes are supposed to be funny though
expect you're right on the RAM.
False, reinstalling macOS and before on OS X does not wipe Userspace, it installs in place, you have to chose to wipe the disk if you want a complete new system.
The System almost never gets damaged, unlike for instance on Windows, if the registery is messed up you are in bad luck.
I am on OS X/macOS since the very first beta, I never reinstalled, I always upgraded and until now my system still runs smoothly, even with a file system (APFS) change.
As far as I'm concerned, all hard drives live on borrowed time.
Because in 2020 data safety is more important than being able to repair a drive that never dies.
Not being able to install a bigger drive is definitely a bad thing, but not compared to data safety.
Given the security benefit, I think it's hard to argue that this change is "screwing us over." Plus, internal storage simply isn't as important as it once was given the ability to very quickly access files store on an attached USB-C SSD.
I don't see how this changes the relative desirability of an extended warranty or the potential for out-of-pocket expense.
Your argument (if you actually are being serious) falls flat considering the Mac Pro has user accessible memory and SSD. Nobody is calling the Mac Pro any less secure.
I think a major part of this decision is also ease and cost of computer assembly. Soldering a memory chip onto the logic board can be done quickly with a robot, while a HDD or SSD that needs to be plugged into a connector on the logic board must be assembled by hand.
The average iMac user rarely needs expansion beyond storage. I'm still using my MacBook Pro from 2012. I haven't added on anything. Works great like it did the day I bought it. I'm also still using my 2009 Mac Pro, albeit sparingly. The only thing I did with that one was replace the platter drive (default option) with a SSD. Nothing else was changed.
Buy the best configuration you can afford and don't look back. The iMac has every expansion port you'll likely ever need and TB3 makes adding super fast storage stupid easy. OWC sells a tiny TB3 box that can house 4 NVME m.2 sticks.
Buy the best configuration you can afford and don't look back. The iMac has every expansion port you'll likely ever need and TB3 makes adding super fast storage stupid easy. OWC sells a tiny TB3 box that can house 4 NVME m.2 sticks.
In my experience as a consultant, no its not very common among your average consumer and even some small to medium size businesses. Even if they did have a backup system odds where it wasn't up to date. However, cloud storage/syncing/backup has improved the probability of retrieving data in recent years.
2012 MacBook Pro - all fine. RAM upgraded to 16GB. Original HDD swapped out to SDD (and that's been increased in size over the years) and CD connector used for a large HDD. This computer is 8 years old and is running with 16GB RAM and 1.5TB storage. Better than lots of current machines – the majority?
The problem with everything soldered down; is that RAM and storage that is currently prohibitively expensive (e.g. 64GB RAM or 8TB storage) will likely become quite affordable during the lifetime of the machine – but you're prevented from using these cheaper, future prices due to the use of these soldered components within the machine.