New MacBook Pros Max Out at 16GB RAM Due to Battery Life Concerns

[Altis]

Exactly. Most probably come from a Windows world, where memory management sucks, and the OS eats every available free byte of memory by design.

Realistically, I think Windows is quite a bit better on memory utilization at this moment.

I have a 2010 MBP with 8GB of RAM and El Capitan is performing pretty poorly, especially when I start really getting into a workflow.

But I can boot that same machine into Windows and have it run really well and not struggle nearly as soon. In fact, I often boot a lightweight Linux distro in VM from the Windows side whereas the OSX side has a really hard time with it.

I could put 16GB of RAM in since it's user-upgradable, but OSX only supports 8GB on my 2010 17" while Linux/Windows boot fine with 16GB installed. Just my rotten luck.

Having said all that, I'd like to see 32GB as an option since I don't know what my needs will be in the next 5-10 years, but if I'm going to shell out north of $4,000 for a laptop, I would like to be able to avoid that bottleneck.

 

[norrismantooth]

This shouldn't be called Pro machine then.

Sorry. Apple you have confused direction.

Consider who the people designing the machines are. They're engineers, not graphic artists, video editors, etc..
Just goes to show how out of touch Apple is with the people using them. A majority of users just use them to take notes in college classes. So why make something that professionals would use if their majority market share are people who don't do that?

 

[bobdobalina]

edit

 

[bcc9]

This laptop is priced as a desktop replacement. My virtual memory working set often breaks 16GB on my desktop. This will be true more&more often in the next couple years as programs trade off space for time, since CPU performance improvements are not keeping pace.

When using a laptop as a desktop replacement, I'm plugged in to wall power and don't care about my battery life.

The 16GB limit is a deal breaker for me. I would have pre-ordered if I could have configured a 32GB option.

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

No ddr4 and no 32gb option doesn't make any sense. No matter how you spin it.

You DO realize, of course, that DDR4 memory is actually SLOWER than DDR3, right?

 

[frozentundra]

The limitation of only 16 GB is a hinderance to production. While every other facet of computing has continued to progress the MacBook Pro has remained with a 16GB limit for over a decade.
Production and speed matter far more than battery life. We can always plugin.

 

[Hyloba]

In an alternate universe: sorry we can't make the device thinner, it would compromise battery life and we won't be able to put 32gb of ram in it.

 

[ImaxGuy]

If you are willing to plug in to use 32GB of memory, then buy a Mac Pro with 32GB or 64GB of memory. Then have a MacBook Pro when you're on the road. Apple is giving you options. People are just filtering the truth to make an argument.

I'm not paying $4000 for a machine that hasn't been updated since 2013!!! If they announced updated Mac Pros yesterday I would seriously consider one, but I need to replace my aging 2013 rMBP ASAP and next year, if at all, is too far away.

 

[ddrulez]

16GB isn't enough for Pro work. Open Lightroom and Photoshop eats up the ram very quickly for example. I can't see how this can be a Pro laptop with a 16GB limit.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

Let the user decide how much battery he needs. Idiots. Or hey, I don't know, maybe a low power mode and high power mode? Like iPhone 7s tech? I mean, it's not hard to figure this out to give power users what they want. Maybe the ram powers down to super slow or even half of it OFF when needed? Want full power, plug it in. I mean there's a dozen slick ways to handle this. They've done it already with the phones and tablets.

OH WAIT. APPLE ISN'T IN THE MAC BUSINESS ANYMORE.​

 

[CyberFriar]

I like how they mention it being for professionals and then saying wanting to have 10 hours of iTunes or web browsing. Because thats what professionals who buy a $3k laptop want, 10 hours of iTunes and web browsing. I would think an Air could satisfy those requirements and give you 12 hours.

Let professionals decide what they need. Bring back the SODIMM slots so professionals can add more RAM if they need it. I think professionals cares that they shaved 30mm off the height of the laptop to sacrifice the capabilities of the system.

 

[Count Blah]

My apologies if this has already been answered, but I didn't see anything about this specifically.

Do we know yet if the components are soldered in so they can't be upgraded after the fact, like with other recent models? My older MBP wasn't, and I was able to buy upgraded RAM and a bigger HD and install it on my own to circumvent Apple's insane upgrade costs. But I know with other recent models they have made that impossible. Is that the case here again? I would assume so, since Apple want's to be able to charge an arm, a leg, and your firstborn just to get a reasonably-sized HD in an already $3k machine.

You're joking, right? This is Tim's Apple, the one addicted to super high BTO margins on all Macs. Do you honestly think they are going to give up that gravy train? Not on your life. Look at what they did to the Mac "Pro" and especially the Mac Mini - Glued in to purposely for people to pay super high BTO margins, when the form factor of the mini didn't change. That, along with no quad core CPU option, were the biggest FU/Middle finger to the Apple consumer I can think of, in the last decade.

 

[cube]

Let me get concerned myself.

 

[redscull]

The battery life argument doesn't even make sense. If you need more than 16GB RAM, it's not like the machine just stops functioning. No, you start swapping to "disk." So is he saying that you actually get more battery life having to swap RAM with SSD vs it all being in RAM? Cause that's exactly what he implies. And that's non-sense.

 

[bobdobalina]

edit

 

[ImaxGuy]

Anybody who needs 32GB of RAM needs a desktop. You would need an incredible reason to need 32GB, like scientific 3D modelling, or full-fledged filmmaking (towers, towers, towers). There is no point. I'm siding with Apple with this, even keeping ECC LPDDR3 with a nice bump to 2133mHz. This machine is going to be bulletproof.

Personally, I'm all in. Polaris alone sold me on it.

15", 2.7GHz+8MB/512GB/16GB/460+4GB. Arrives end of November. Woot.

Engineering. Amazing.

Space grey 15", 2.9GHz/512GB/16GB/460+4GB. 2x USB C to TB, 1 USB C to USB adapter. Arrives end of November. Wish I could have has 32Gb ram option for massive ProTools sessions - portability is key as I move from home studio to mix studio. I'm NOT spending $4500 on a machine built in 2013 - looking at you, aging MacPro.

 

[JamesPDX]

I don't want to take away from the important of battery life. HOWEVER, is the MacBook Pro not designed for the Pro? Graphics Arts perhaps engineering etc. In those circumstances memory is important. Dell, HP, and others are offering not only 32GB of ram but XEON processors for an engineering grade laptop. While I agree Apple has superior quality if they can't continue to perform in the pro market then they are out. I'm disappointed in the update. I really had high hopes this year for the Macbook Pro.

Apple seems to be in this middle ground between Pro and Consumer. Not really consumer but not really Pro. What gives Apple?

For engineering, don't forget those sweet BTO Boxx machines: http://www.boxx.com/solutions/architecture-engineering

 

[cube]

Anybody who needs 32GB of RAM needs a desktop. You would need an incredible reason to need 32GB, like scientific 3D modelling, or full-fledged filmmaking (towers, towers, towers). There is no point. I'm siding with Apple with this, even keeping ECC LPDDR3 with a nice bump to 2133mHz. This machine is going to be bulletproof.

Personally, I'm all in. Polaris alone sold me on it.

15", 2.7GHz+8MB/512GB/16GB/460+4GB. Arrives end of November. Woot.

Engineering. Amazing.

32 GiB is so 2014.

 

[mytdave]

Hate to burst Phil's bubble here, but things like this really do matter outside of the reality distortion field. Our company uses HP computers. 32GB is the new baseline in this level of machine. Engineers who really hit development hard (while being mobile) can get theirs configured with 64GB.

A 16GB config. is sooo 2 years ago. I don't know why Apple sticks its head in the sand and insists on being a generation (or more) behind, particularly when they don't have to. Make the damn laptop 1mm thicker for a wee bit bigger battery, and put the friggin SO-DIMM slots (qty 2, side by side not stacked) back in!

 

[sofila]

But he's such a demonstrably bad, marketing guy.

Does anybody believe anything this guy says anymore?

I don't like him, I remember him explaining why removing light sensor from iPod was a good idea and suddenly hating him, but he's obviously very good in his job. A good marketing guy and truth don't have to walk the same way

 

[JamesPDX]

60 minutes of 4k Motion JPEG, lol!

More like several hours of 4k that has to edited down to 1 hour. Not only should you have courage, you will also need CPU/GPU grunt and 32GB RAM or more.

 

[Larry-K]

I don't like him, I remember him explaining why removing light sensor from iPod was a good idea and suddenly hating him, but he's obviously very good in his job. A good marketing guy and truth don't have to walk the same way

I remember the last mini announcement, that was an embarrassment.

Maybe he is a good marketing guy, he's just not good enough to fool me.

 

[oldmacs]

Don't call it a MacBook Pro then. 32GB of ram should be an option for those who need it - this machine is aimed at the high end. Let people make the desicison if they want less battery life (even throug that explanation sounds fake).

 

[JamesPDX]

More like several hours of 4k that has to edited down to 1 hour. Not only should you have courage, you will also need CPU/GPU grunt and 32GB RAM or more.

That being said, has anyone here ever put two 16GB sticks into a i7 2012 Mini and have it work? There's gotta be a fix, right? I like an ass-ton of RAM for my VSL instruments on one machine and Pro Tools on it's brother.

 

[jwdsail]

Does Apple think we're idiots?

The Skylake processor can work with DDR4 RAM, which uses less energy than DDR3.

Why not give us the choice, we're not asking for *GOD FORBID* user upgradable RAM like the XPS 15, which btw supports 32GB Ram

Well, *I'm* still asking for user upgradable ram, and storage....

Not that I expect to ever see it in another product Apple sells, but what the Hell? Can't hurt to ask?

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