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I usually get my Apple computers from B&H. They regularly stock models with minimum RAM and everything else maxed out. Saves time compared to a BTO from Apple.
 
It's hard to fathom why Apple even try to charge this much for commodity RAM, unless they think we're too stupid to realise.

Exactly 3 years ago I bought a new iMac with everything maxed out except the RAM. I paid 4,800 euros direct from Apple. It's still a great machine, in perfect condition. Yesterday I thought I'd see how much they would give me for it via their buy-back scheme, before deciding whether or not to buy this 'last intel' iMac. The price they offered has convinced me that Apple don't respect their users. 280 euros, less than 6% of what I paid.

Thanks Apple, I'll keep this iMac and spend my money elsewhere.
 
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I once had a family friend offer me $50 to 'install' RAM he bought online into his new 27" iMac - I did it in front of him and asked him to buy me a coffee instead 😉

Some people have no idea or would even dream of doing a search for the process...
 
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32Gb for only $400, a bargain compared to European prices :eek:

Furthermore : 8Gb in a 2020 machine o_O This is the top spec 27" by the way.

View attachment 940779


Edit! Just saw on the Apple US page that it's not $400 but $600 to go from 8 -> 32Gb. Explains the Euro prices (a bit) but is another 50% more for the US as well...
 
Although RAM on the 21.5 is not easily user accessible it’s still likely cheaper to install your own third party RAM by opening up the computer much like those who have installed SSDs on older iMacs.
i yet to replace the base 8 gb . survive but not as good as my macbook 16 gb. The problem was whatever you give em memory it will cache till choke. As seen 4gb mac mini vs 4gb or 16 gb macbook 2011 and imac 2017 8 gb. Some people crazy would said if not max ram so not usefull while old developer try to squeeze as little as possible while newbies java get em all max it up til crash
 
This is the corporation ethics of Apple and Tim Cook team.
 
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It's this kind of stuff - especially in the laptops where this is not an option, that really sours me on Apple. It's profiteering (hey, I run a business too - but I run a "reasonable" profit and do things pro bono when I feel it's right)
But enough customers pay for it. If RAM upgrades tanked the pricing would change.
 
If in the United States it is a fraud in Europe it is a double fraud, since here Apple don't pay taxes (pays less than a decimal fraction).
In Europe, for 128 GB of RAM, Apple extort – imprudently – over 3,250 €.
 
Apple's 3 step method:
1: Charge 3x the market price for RAM
2: Solder it in
3: Profit!
 
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It's hard to fathom why Apple even try to charge this much for commodity RAM, unless they think we're too stupid to realise.

Exactly 3 years ago I bought a new iMac with everything maxed out except the RAM. I paid 4,800 euros direct from Apple. It's still a great machine, in perfect condition. Yesterday I thought I'd see how much they would give me for it via their buy-back scheme, before deciding whether or not to buy this 'last intel' iMac. The price they offered has convinced me Apple that don't respect their users. 280 euros, less than 6% of what I paid.

Thanks Apple, I'll keep this iMac and spend my money elsewhere.
Don't use Apple for buy back. Their offering is sort of acceptable for phones but it's totally pointless for Macs. Just Google for a computer buyback specialist in your area if you don't want the hassle of using eBay. You'll get a lot more than 280 euro.
 
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Also if you upgrade 3rd party it means you get to keep the 8GB of RAM that comes with the system and since there are 4 slots you can always keep the 8GB in and have additional RAM.
 
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Don't use Apple for buy back. Their offering is sort of acceptable for phones but it's totally pointless for Macs. Just Google for a computer buyback specialist in your area if you don't want the hassle of using eBay. You'll get a lot more than 280 euro.

You are right of course. I think Apple would be better off not offering the buy-back service with these prices. The over pricing of RAM and under pricing of buy backs leaves me with a very negative impression of the company.
 
Am I seeing this correct? You can't upgrade the storage space on the entry 27" model? You're stuck with 256GB and would need external drives?
 
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