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Apple really needs to stop being petty like this in 2023 and make 16 the base. Reminds me of the 16gb base model iPhone days. Come on.
8 GB remains fine as the base because it saves some cost for granny with her email and others with absolutely minimal needs. However for most buyers even the 16 GB level is too low for the life cycle of a 2023-2028 Macbook Pro; intentionally limiting a strong expensive box with inadequate RAM is bad planning even though the Mac OS will cope.

MR says "Tests like these present a dilemma for customers looking to purchase a new MacBook Pro" but I say it is just required hardware; no dilemma. The need to support Macs by buying pricey RAM has been a cost of personal computing for more than 30 years; simple pay more to get more rather than a dilemma. In the past we usually added the pricey RAM aftermarket, but even third party RAM cost $400 for 2 MB at one point IIRC. IMO +$400 to add 32 GB of baked-on UMA RAM to an MBP seems fair after what past RAM prices were.

The lesser-in-every-regard MBA models are more appropriate choices for folks intending to limit RAM available to the system for cost reasons.
 
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Yes, once you click the link the word Professional doesn't appear until the user reaches the 16GB recommended use cases.

"Casual" and "Everyday Productivity apps" being highlighted just confirms the entry model is a flat out contradiction to the rest of the product line.

It's a MacBook Air with a better screen and extra ports.
It's still clearly stated, right? So they aren't lying or trying to hide anything.
 
So the chip, that can run faster with more ram is the bottleneck? Uhhhhhhhhh no.
If your cars engine can run faster on 4 wheels than 2. It’s the wheels.
That's not what I said? Go back and read the post again.
 
This thing with 8 GB is basically last years MacBook Pro (with TouchBar) with a big price increase but Apple makes everyone believe they actually lowered the price, just because they put it in the "new" casing
Don't forget though, mini-LED screen, more ports (although limited one external display still) and some people think not having the touchbar is actually feature. That said, it should have been 16 GB, they could have at least made it 12 as the new bare minimum.
 
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This. 8GB of ram make the longevity of these devices crash and burn. In 2 or three years these systems will be crawling with pro software. I guess it’s how apple keeps its entry level consumers in a constant upgrade loop.
Where as people who spend a little extra get more time with their devices as demands increase.

Most entry level consumers probably pretty much stick with the entry level programs, which hold up uite well beyond 2 or 3 years.
 
There's no such thing as "defending" a consumer product. You either buy it or you don't.

you're the one turning this into a quasi-religious discussion.

If you don't find value in Apple's products, don't buy them. If you do, then your argument is moot.
Right, it's like all of these people think they are the only ones buying Apple computers, and their needs are the only needs. My dad who is in his 60s and in real estate only needs 8gb, and he LOVES his Apple silicon MacBook Pro, especially the battery. He doesn't need anymore RAM for his PROFESSIONAL job. lol.
 
I'm saying buy the $200 upgrade of more RAM if you think that's what you need. And if that $200 is too expensive for you, the "Pro", then perhaps you need to analyze your chosen profession.
Eh, I would disagree. "Pro" can mean lots of things and a Pro could be a small business owner, startup, etc.. There are large swaths of folks that fall in the definition of a "pro" or "professional" that would be using these laptops.

It's not all about how much memory you need RIGHT NOW it's also about how much you will need in the future. Folks buying a MacBook tend to expect a longer return on their investment (due to the increased cost). Users have historically been able to upgrade memory to extend that device longevity. This is not even an option on Apple's Desktop workstations anymore.

Add in the fact that Apple memory upgrades are sold at a pretty significant premium.

Mac Pro 128GB RAM = +$800
MacBook Pro 128GB RAM = +$1,000
128GB Desktop RAM Kit = $300 (on average)
And yes, I understand that Desktop to Laptop RAM comparison is a bit of Apples to Oranges comparison.

But you look at other RAM configurations the fact that Apple Memory sells at 2x - 4x the cost holds up.
Mac Studio 64GB RAM = +$400
Mac Mini 32GB RAM = +$400
MacBook Pro 64GB RAM = +$400
64GB Desktop RAM Kit = $140 (on average)
64GB Laptop RAM Kit = $155 (on average)

Oh, and a 16GB Laptop RAM kit runs around $30, so that's an almost 7x premium for the Apple memory upgrade.

It just might not be in every "Pro's" budget at the time of purchase. RAM and Storage are two of the most upgraded components of a computer. Not everyone has that "unlimited' corporate budget.
 
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Junk “test”. Of course a 16GB RAM M3 MACBOOK will be faster than an 8GB RAM M3 MACBOOK!!! That’s not even what Apple was talking about. What Apple said is that the 8GB RAM M3 MacBook runs as well as a similarly priced 16GB RAM Intel machine, and that actually is true. MaxTech is just making clickbait here. “Windows PCs should come with a base RAM of 1TB, because it’s so much faster in benchmarks than the current options.” It’s not sound logic, and it’s a false comparison.
 
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And if you're correct, Apple will suffer in the market place. Is that happening? Or is your argument absurd?
Well, MacBook sales are going down and they did a rush job to get this out before the holidays. They will always have the sheep that will buy anything just because it has a shiny apple logo on it. I bet a lot of their fanbase is just like iJustine. Oh my god look at this color it is so pretty lol
 
Yes get everyone to grab those 8gb models that will never be enough let them even be sold by third parties on sale. Then when you realize you need more you can only go one place that will never offer a discount and is going straight to the big pockets with no middleman. But yes please defend it.

There is no magic in Apple memory chips. They lock the higher memory and storage to themselves with massive markup of pure profit because they can.

Anytime a new Mac comes out no one should talk about the base model price just skip it and add the 400 bucks or so to get a usable machine then talk about price and affordability.
I agree that "Anytime a new Mac comes out no one should talk about the base model price just skip it and add the 400 bucks or so to get a usable machine then talk about price and affordability."

But you are incorrect when you say that "There is no magic in Apple memory chips." The Unified Memory Architecture is faster and changes all kinds of things. Everyone should read up on UMA. My guess is that UMA will mean apps and OS engineers will find use of RAM in operations to be even more attractive than it has been in the past, and that RAM demands by OS/apps will continue to increase like it has for almost 40 years now, perhaps even faster due to UMA.
 
Do we have proof the base M3 beats an i7 14th gen?
Why would it need to beat the i7? It wouldn't matter. Benchmark Single core speeds are within a couple of hundred points, certainly close enough to compare if the 8gb of ram in a Mac is really as efficient as Apple say it is vs a PC.

Simply Compare a comparable notebook like the Acer Nitro 16GB running Windows to a Macbook Pro M3 8GB and we'll get some more realistic results which will nullify or confirm Apples statement.
 
Before reading, I can guess that the information specifically highlights apps over 90% of current Macs don’t have installed and would never be installed on those Macs? And there may be a lower level app used, but it’s being used at levels 90% of people would ever use.

If people want to continue to pad Apple’s bottom line, they’re free to continue telling folks to purchase more memory!

Update: Article above mentions Final Cut Pro and Lightroom Classic. :)
Yuryev decided to perform several real-world tests on two 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro models, one with 8GB and the other upgraded to 16GB of unified memory. The embedded video above has all the results.
“Real-world tests” means absolutely any test done in the real-world. According to Apple, at the very MOST, FCP is installed on 30% of Macs. So, a real world test conducted using an app that doesn’t match what the majority of real world Macs have installed. Cinebench, Photoshop, Blender, Apple’s indicated that only 15% of folks use a pro app frequently, another 15% use a pro app as low as a few times a month. During that once or twice a month the user is in Lightroom Classic and happen to be doing PRECISELY what they were trying to do here, that’s an additional 4 to 8 minutes a month they’d have to wait for that task to complete. The rest of the time, they’re not using any performance intensive apps.

Is it worth a user’s money to spend more to save (again IF they’re doing tasks like they’re presenting here) 8 minutes a month? Maybe? Then again, this test was rigged to get youtube views, NOT to replicate how an average person buying a Mac is most likely to actually USE that Mac. So, the likelihood that the person using a Pro app a couple times a month would ACTUALLY see a 4 minute hit in a month is also pretty low.

Some people will always keep their cast iron skillets in the oven, some will always recommend folks have more RAM. It’s the same “I’ve always done it” kind of thinking. :)
 
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So I suppose that 8GB on a Mac are not equal to 16GB on a PC.

Apple actually went and claimed that. I felt so ashamed as an Apple Silicon user.
Perhaps read up on Unified Memory Architecture before presenting flawed sarcasm about Apple silicon by comparing Apples and oranges [pun intended].
 
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This should be obvious. If you shoot in 8K or even know what Pro Res is, then you are an idiot for even considering 8 GB of RAM, or even 16.

And you shouldn't be complaining about the cost of RAM...your camera cost far more than the entry level "point and shoot"...does that mean the CEO of Sony, Canon, or Nikon is a money-grubbing, Tim Cook wannabe?

Notice they didn't run tests with 4K. There are plenty of professionals who shoot in 4K where the MacBook "Pro" moniker still fits and perhaps 8GB of RAM is enough for Prosumer level work (which was Pro-level work just a few years ago). As always....YMMV.

However, people paying consumer prices aren't entitled to pro features or pro performance. The fact that Apple even comes close (in most regards) is a testament to their engineering. And they SHOULD make money doing it...so they can keep doing it.

And if you want a cheaper PC because you can save a few hundred dollars...then you deserve the PC experience. Enjoy your fan noise.

Sorry...haven't yet had my morning coffee. I'll start being nicer now....
^^This
pick the right tool for the job
 
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