And how will most "customers back up their files on a regular basis"?
With an unencrypted portable drive attached via usb.
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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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And how will most "customers back up their files on a regular basis"?
With an unencrypted portable drive attached via usb.
The upside of Fusion drives was that they had much more capacity ( slower , but more ). Coupled with Apple's $300-400 per TB pricing on SSD more than few iMac 27" users are going to push more data into smaller capacities.
Apple's prices are high. If Apple could show that uses were paying for a higher endurance rating ( getting MLC or better like endurance versus many other TLC ), but they hide the spec. Users could make more informed choices if had that spec also ( very high scratch space write rates ... go to separate drive ). Also perhaps some users would deliberately abuse the internal SSD less if had some idea of the cap.
Apple cares heavily about security and privacy. That includes physical security. It used to be that, if you could gain physical access to the computer, you would gain access to the contents/files of the drive. This is no longer the case thanks to the T2 chip. This doesn't necessitate the modules being soldered on, but there are likely performance benefits and manufacturing benefits to Apple, learned from the laptop lineup, and originally a goal of designing smaller and lighter laptops.
No, but Apple isn't going to make SKUs just for enterprise deployments. From their thinking: why not pass the benefit of physical security to everyone? This addresses the ask from enterprise customers who deploy iMacs, Macbooks, etc., reduces SKUs, and improves physical security for all.
So, I just ordered a new 2020 iMac with 4 TB SSD. Can someone explain to ignorant me: If I want to add more internal SSD storage in the future I can open the machine and install additional third party SSD in the available connector? Thank you in advance!
Vast majority of Macs are laptops. Not many users are hauling around their back up drives in mobile contexts.
But even in a desktop (literal or static laptop), house setting given the choice between stealing the $50 HDD and the $1,700 desktop which one is a they are going to steal? Unless actually information thieves , they will more likely take the more expensive device. Fencing a $50 device isn't going to buy much. Unless it is a relatively large 'crew' and/or had tons of time to leisurely pilfer the location theft is usually a relatively quick "snatch , grab, and go". The longer they linger the more likely they get caught.
Can also detach and put in a drawer or small safe an HDD.
If attach a new Time Machine drive in modern times it mentions if you want to encrypt it.
Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support
If you have a USB drive or other external storage device, you can use Time Machine to automatically back up your files, including apps, music, photos, email, and documents.
It is basically a simple checkbox now. ( if not checked already by default. )
Sure many people will skip it ( as many more will just skip doing the local backup ). But it is trying to point at a shrinking corner case.
If Apple wanted to they could keep the iMac Pro ( and NAND "modules") and 'Enterprise' price tag. Having the T2 ( or later T2 encapsulated inside Apple Silicon) doesn't mean they have to solder the NAND chips to the logic board. They already don't on the iMac Pro and Mac Pro.
It isn't all that necessary on the Mac Mini ( if its footprint was just incrementally bigger. and still use same 'modules' from the other two. )
As mentioned earlier in this story's thread, soldered only is more about robot labor ( i.e, cheaper for Apple, not the end user ) than in enhancing security.
You have your choice of Windows desktops to satisfy that particular itch.
Short answer is no. Apple doesn’t use the m.2 connector, they use a proprietary connector. Also, the SSD modules are simply NAND chips and probably buffer DRAM, with the T2 chip on the logic board acting as the SSD controller. No one else does it this way.
My only point on the topic is that repair-ability and being environmentally responsible aren’t connected in my mind. One is about “continuing to obtain useful life out of a system”, the other is about “how it’s made and how do you take care of it at the end of it’s life”. Somewhere between Use and Recover, the responsible person that will replace their RAM and recycle that old RAM or replace the SSD and recycle the old SSD is the same person that will take their computer back to Apple for recycling. As long as the computer gets back to Apple, there’s a chance for it’s materials to make it into another Apple product. Which is best for the environment, I think.
In between Use and Recover are a lot of folks that may dispose of computers improperly. Either they upgrade an aging system now and throw the old RAM in the trash, OR reach the useful end of life of the computer and throw the whole thing in the trash. But, for a responsible person, a system being unrepairable only means they buy a new system and properly recycle the old one. Apple is ABSOLUTELY making more money from people needing to buy a new computer, but that computer they buy is just as good for the environment as the last one. But, that only matters if the purchaser cares about the environment
it wouldn't be that difficult to have a trapdoor like cutout - similarly to the memory slots - that would enable one to access a m.2 or a proprietary connector to install/replace the SSD. it would not compromise the beauty of the machine - but it would increase manufacturing costs. i agree, adding fast storage to iMacs via tb3 isn't a big deal.
but remember to back up that data, on multiple formats, across different sites and online. Data theft never happens online.
Lucky you. On the 2015 mbp you an upgrade the drive with high speed NVMe drives, which is why I got one in 2018. Check out the guides in the forums.
Does anyone know why Apple forces you to have 256GB of storage on the base model? I mean, they don't offer any BTO storage options. But you can add 128GB RAM and 10Gb Ethernet. What kind of machine would have 128GB RAM and only 256GB of storage??
You’re talking about the Mac Pro, designed and intended to be the most expandable and configurable Mac. Every other product other than the Mac Pro (and G4 Cube) has been designed to be closed off.
Probably because they have set configurations for sale. There's been a virus in China and the rest of the world that's playing havoc with production. For $200 more you get double the storage (512 GB) and upgraded processor.
This was my first thought. What an ass-backwards setup. Hey, if you buy our BIGGEST models, you can make them even bigger!
Silly.
I kinda understand it. There’s the vast majority of folks that buy computers and never do anything, never add memory, never upgrade the drive, they just use it until they’re done, and go get another one. That’s who the low end ones are for. Anyone buying a 256G computer are doing so because it’s what they’ve always gotten as has always been enough. They probably never filled up the 64G on their LAST computer and are wondering why they’re being forced to buy so much!
Anyone that has already amassed more than 256G of data on their current drive is the kind of person that MIGHT actually take advantage of the ability to upgrade in the future as they continue to amass data. That’s still a big might, though. So, probably so Apple could standardize on a higher tier MB where the storage amounts differ for BTO purposes.
Unfortunately, the Mac Rumors posters are correct on both counts. Not sure why you're trying to make out like they are wrong.