How to beat Apple's upselling strategy?

[Jumpthesnark]

...the problem is that there are some design aspects of the current MacBook Pro 16" which I do not like and there would be new redesign in two years.

None of us know if and when a redesigned MBP will be released, and you have no idea whether things you don't like about the current design will be changed to your liking in a redesigned model. What if Apple releases a new one and you think it's worse?

If you "cannot decide whether to end up with a Mini or MacBook Pro as well as the configurations," that's a you thing and not an Apple thing, so don't lay it at Apple's feet.

Buy the device that suits you and your budget, or buy nothing at all. It's only an "upselling strategy" if you are being made to buy things you don't want, and you're not.

 

[TechRunner]

Funny, over thinking is part of what keeps the lights on at MacRumors and other sites. Imagine how simple life would be if we didn't know about product release cycles and the history of Apple products. We really could do what some of us, myself included, suggested: buy what you need and use it without resentment. And when an updated model is released a month after we purchased ours, we wouldn't know about it, LOL.

This was me in the beginning of my switch to Mac. I shopped by form factor and price, that's pretty much it. Now that I'm "in the know" I get decision paralysis for a few months before finally upgrading.

My base M1 Mini is up for replacement after the first of the year, and I'm tossing around three different possibilities. It makes me miss the days of my ignorance

 

[brofkand]

Perhaps easier said than done but resist the urge to over-buy to “future proof”. It’s a fools errand and just causes you to end up spending more. For example, rather than dropping $1200 on an M4 Pro mini - get the base model and hang an SSD off the back for more storage. The extra compute is lost on pretty much everyone.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

So you are not concerned that perhaps a year later, you may need more RAM?

RAM requirements don’t change with time, they change with software. I have a pretty good idea after owning & using computers for over 30 years what type of software I’m likely to use, it’s not going to sneak up on me. And of course if some radically different usage presents itself, then I’d be looking for hardware to support it.

 

[hajime]

None of us know if and when a redesigned MBP will be released, and you have no idea whether things you don't like about the current design will be changed to your liking in a redesigned model. What if Apple releases a new one and you think it's worse?

That is why I bought a MacBook Pro 16” with Nano-texture at the beginning and planned not to buy for the next few years. However when I looked at the things I don’t like about it and found that the much cheaper base Mini performs the same for what I do, I kind of regret spending that much money on the MacBook Pro given that I have to pay for additional higher tax and AppleCare+.

 

[CharlesShaw]

That is why I bought a MacBook Pro 16” with Nano-texture at the beginning and planned not to buy for the next few years. However when I looked at the things I don’t like about it and found that the much cheaper base Mini performs the same for what I do, I kind of regret spending that much money on the MacBook Pro given that I have to pay for additional higher tax and AppleCare+.

Buying into one form factor and later thinking another would be better is also common in these parts. Might be true or it also might be temporary, and there is no one answer. Yes, that 2024 Mac mini is a little disrupter. But it's the same with iPads. Lots of threads contain similar feelings about 13" iPad Pros purchased with pricey Magic Keyboards. iPad has different sizes and model features, so there's a lot of opportunity to jump around the line trying to find a way to make owning an iPad work.

 

[hajime]

Yes, this year's M4 is especially good. This makes the decision making harder. Not sure if Apple will allow the M4 Air to have three displays when the lid is closed.

 

[kitKAC]

That is why I bought a MacBook Pro 16” with Nano-texture at the beginning and planned not to buy for the next few years. However when I looked at the things I don’t like about it and found that the much cheaper base Mini performs the same for what I do, I kind of regret spending that much money on the MacBook Pro given that I have to pay for additional higher tax and AppleCare+.

What didn't you like about the 16" MacBook Pro?

 

[hajime]

What didn't you like about the 16" MacBook Pro?

- For the Silicon Mac MacBook Pro, the front edge is too sharp. It keeps scratching my wrists.
- Notch. Although it is no so distracting, I would prefer it is not there and we get higher resolutions.
- The smaller 16" screen. I am too used to those 17" of older models.
- Nano-texture is a joke compared with that in older models.
- As I have been using silver laptops since the PowerBook, I would prefer to try another color.
I like the look of Space Black but it is easy to get scratched to show the silver underneath
and the palm rest areas get dirty easily. Starlight version is limited to the Air and the current
silver does not look as good as that in the older models.
- The keyboard is not as comfortable to type as a 15+ years old MacBook Pro.
- Didn't test but probably like its former siblings, Mac OS messes up display settings when more than one external displays of the same model are connected to the Mac.

 

[Sami13496]

So you are not concerned that perhaps a year later, you may need more RAM?

Perhaps do what you mentioned or just buy the cheapest model whenever a new purchase is needed? Since the cheapest model is so cheap, there is no need of worrying about making a wrong decision?

I believe the right approach completely depends on a person’s needs, preferences, and budget, so there’s no single correct way to go about it. Anyone giving you advice will inevitably consider things from their own perspective as well, not just yours—because only you can fully think from your own viewpoint.

However, I can share how I do things. I always buy the cheapest basic model and use it for as long as possible, then upgrade to a newer model. This works for me because my usage is relatively light, so I don’t need to worry too much about things like RAM or the processor. I’d rather upgrade more frequently to a completely new model because technology evolves quickly anyway, and I usually get more new features than just more memory or a better processor.

For reference, here’s my Mac history:

• MacBook Air 13” basic model (2014–2019)

• MacBook Pro 13” basic model (2019–2024)

• MacBook Air 15” M2 basic model (2024–)

For example, I purposely bought the M2 version even though the M3 had already been released because I got it brand new for €500 less. For my needs, there’s absolutely no noticeable difference between the M2 and M3. I also went with 8 GB of memory, and it’s been more than enough for me. I’ve never faced any issues because of it. My next Mac will likely be a basic model from around 2028-2029 (unless my usage needs change significantly).

But as I said, this works for me and my light usage. It might not work if you need a device for more demanding tasks. To each their own!

 

[macfacts]

You can’t usually upgrade the RAM in any systems that use LPDDR (low power) RAM: until recently it was only available as surface-mount chips which had to be soldered to the logic board. There’s now a system of upgradeable press-fit LPDDR modules but AFAIK so far those are only used in one ThinkPad model.

In the PC world, desktops and larger laptops use regular DDR4/5 modules that can be upgraded, but MacBook-Like thin’n’crispy laptops tend to use LPDDR. Apple are unusual in using LPDDR across the whole range, including desktops - but that contributes to their ultra low power consumption.

Why would you care about low power consumption in a desktop?

 

[theluggage]

Why would you care about low power consumption in a desktop?

Quiet cooling and power supply size for tiny systems like the Mini.

Apple may also have squeezed a bit of extra speed by mounting RAM directly on the processor package and keeping the wires extremely short.

…but, I think in Apple’s case a big part of it is being able to use exactly the same range of system-on-a-chip processors (with RAM mounted on the package) across tablets, laptops and desktops.

 

[macfacts]

Quiet cooling and power supply size for tiny systems like the Mini.

Apple may also have squeezed a bit of extra speed by mounting RAM directly on the processor package and keeping the wires extremely short.

…but, I think in Apple’s case a big part of it is being able to use exactly the same range of system-on-a-chip processors (with RAM mounted on the package) across tablets, laptops and desktops.

Any "speed" gained is almost nothing, compared to ram that is upgradable. Technically there might be something that is faster but that's not why apple is doing that. The main reason is to prevent end user upgrading.