Exactly.
Now there is the argument that sockets and access cost money and more testing, but not that much more.
RAM soldered to the board is more reliable, but DIMM and SO-DIMM sockets are extremely reliable.
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Third-Party RAM for 27-inch iMac Still Far More Affordable Than Apple's Checkout Upgrade Options
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Exactly.
Now there is the argument that sockets and access cost money and more testing, but not that much more.
RAM soldered to the board is more reliable, but DIMM and SO-DIMM sockets are extremely reliable.
If sockets weren't reliable they wouldn't use them in critical servers.
Anyhow, I buy Samsung and Hynix made memory modules without the huge middleman markup. Usually the only difference with Apple memory is a black sticker otherwise it's the same PCB and ICs.
And yet, you are here.
End of 2021, Start of 2022. Air and Pros will go ARM. Mini may or may not, then iMacs. Pro's in 2022, maybe. Possible there's a 2021 surprise but I doubt it. Pro date likely depends on if the earlier chips have issues in the field.
Considering buying this myself. Easily replaceable RAM is huge and it's time to upgrade my Desktop PC. Having Intel is a benefit for BootCamp and virtualization still (niche uses, but I have them).
Read what I said " but DIMM and SO-DIMM sockets are extremely reliable."
I have yet to have a socket fail.
But by soldering to the board, Apple reduces cost and increases margin.
They charge a ton of money for memory upgrades, when you can do them.
Nothing new.
Now that is forward thinking. We can hope, can't we?
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I believe this is true on only the entry level (processor...) iMac.
You can't upgrade the internal storage in any all-SSD Mac apart from the Mac Pro. The RAM options on the iMac are only available when you order a new one. That's been effectively true for a while- even when the SSD isn't soldered in it's a proprietary Apple design rather than a standard M.2 blade. With the move to the T2 chip, the SSD controller is built in to the T2 chip, so that situation isn't going to change.
You're right that there's no option to order the entry-level iMac with more than 256GB. However, that would be at least $100 at Apple's prices and it's only $200 to get the next model up with the faster processor as well - if you're that price-sensitive then you're in the wrong shop...
Likewise I notice the mid-range model only goes up to 2TB while the top-end one goes up to 8TB.
I doubt there's any technical reason for this - keeping the number of options down just makes the logistics easier. Apple Stores and other retailers won't be able to stock every permutation of configuration options anyway - and even for direct sales, they'll want to keep the amount of actual "build to order" to an absolute minimum.
Even if the SSD is removable it will be a proprietary Apple format - and now they have a T2 chip in the iMac, the SSD will be registered with the T2 and you won't be able to change the SSD without Apple's blessing.
Still sucks from a repairability point of view. SSDs have a finite number of writes and are one of the more likely components to fail...
I keep thinking Apple will suddenly change and offer me a consumer gaming tower similar to the Mac Pro. It doesn't need the same specs. Just allow me to upgrade my own RAM, graphics card, and storage please. But with the release of this, I see they have no intention of moving in that direction. I don't know how anyone can even use this base machine STILL with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB hard drive. That's insane. The base should be at least 16GB of RAM with a 500GB hard drive. They've been stuck on an 8GB RAM budget offer for about 4 years now. And don't even get me started on the graphics cards. They could at the very least give a 4GB discrete graphics card to the base model and a 6GB one to the mid.
I'm seriously considering just making a hackintosh or going with Windows even though I loath the UI. Maybe some day Apple will make an affordable upgradable machine. But I'm tired of waiting.
I'm seriously considering just making a hackintosh or going with Windows even though I loath the UI. Maybe some day Apple will make an affordable upgradable machine. But I'm tired of waiting.
Mac Mini already had soldered ram, in the ill-fated 2014 revision. They brought back upgradeable RAM in the 2018 version, of course at the expense of soldered on SSD.
There was a time years ago when the base price was somewhat reasonable, and I was considering maybe getting a MacBook once my PC Laptop died, but then they bumped prices by hundreds...
I just wish there was a law that all computer manufacturers had to put a door / user accessible hatch for RAM & Storage or drop the bloody prices!
Yep, and I think it costs them in the long run. I haven't upgraded my 2015 MBP partly because the replacement cost would be so ridiculously high due to needing a minimum 16GB/1TB, but preferably 32GB/4TB (entirely since you can't upgrade it down the track). My 2015 model already has 16GB, and lets me upgrade the SSD (which I have done twice, from 256 -> 512 -> 1TB, and may well go to 2TB before I'm done with it. Admittedly, the other reason I haven't upgraded is all the MBP models since have had major problems. The 16" is the nearest thing, but it's still got issues, partly because you have to have Catalina, and can't put Mojave on it. Maybe the ARM 16" will be the one, but I'm not holding my breath, and the RAM/SSD sizes/prices will still be an issue.
And it's not just me, if you look at the sales chart for Macs since 2006, it shows a clear drop in growth from 2012 when SSDs were introduced and RAM became soldered, and again from 2016 when SSDs were soldered and the butterfly keyboard was introduced. Now of course, that chart is for all Macs, not just laptops, but it is a reflection of the mentality of Apple that went across the board for all Macs.
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So, Apple treats their loyal customers with respect and morality and succeeds... why would that bother anyone?
1) What’s your definition of extortionate?
2) Would you rather have Cheaper upgrades but higher base prices?
Because that’s the alternative to the current situation, where the upgrade prices some are willing to pay subsidize the entry level models.
Hi, video editor after advice please. So, could the highest spec version accept 2933Mhz? And would it be better to upgrade the RAM to 128GB using 2x64 or 4x32? (of the correct Mhz of course)
Some memory technologies such as LPDDR3 and LPDDR4/X must be soldered, there’s no socketed package available.
So the option is between slow, power hungry socketed RAM, or fast, power-saving soldered RAM.
What that chart mostly shows is that tablet computers started eating into the demand for notebooks computers. And Apple is ok with that.
Few care about the ability to upgrade storage, RAM or GPU/CPU, especially in the Mac target market. That’s a 90s/2000s thing.
Only if you don’t mind invalidating your AppleCare warranty.
I opened up my 27” to install an SSD, but only after the AppleCare had expired (and just before the fusion drive was about to die).
If Apple was serious about all their pro-environment stuff that’s exactly what they would do.
Do they need to be paired? I bought a single 32Gb, do I need another matching one?