I refuse to buy an Apple Silicon Mac with only 8 GB RAM!

[Digitalguy]

Ah, that is a different scenario. Those apps are more for tiling windows whether split or multiple.

Regarding your multiple windows of one app, are you using cmd-` to toggle between an app’s windows? I think you get previews that way. I don’t recall as I rarely need that but that what I vaguely remember. It is the intra app version of cmd-tab to switch apps.

That does not work from the dock, but after doing some research I think I found a third party app that does this essential function for Windows users, Dock Mate (apparently it's a replacement for and older app called Hyperdock).
It's paid and it's a shame it's not built into MacOS but at least it's available...
Now another problem I am try to solve is the poorer management of external displays by MacOS compared to Windows. For instance the fact that you cannot have a dock on each screen. My research shows that it's impossible, unless you use a replacement dock like ActiveDock, but I don't want to replace the MacOS dock, I just want 2 or more, one on each monitor... sad...

 

[DaKKs]

I now have two different devices set up identically with the same time machine backup.

A M1 Air and a 2015 13" MBP.

Both systems have 8 GB ram, but there is a distinctly lower ram usage, without swap, in the M1 Air. There is definitely something different in how Apple Silicon manages ram. I was questioning whether 8GB was going to be enough, but it seems to be fine for me.

 

[philippe2014]

I feel that all Macs should have 16GB as bare minimum. When was the last time Apple increased the base RAM on the lowest end Mac?

Hello you are absolutely right 8go MDR with 8go the system reserves 4go a shot of photoshop or other big software finished it's panic. 16 go it's already more comfortable.

 

[kasakka]

That does not work from the dock, but after doing some research I think I found a third party app that does this essential function for Windows users, Dock Mate (apparently it's a replacement for and older app called Hyperdock).
It's paid and it's a shame it's not built into MacOS but at least it's available...
Now another problem I am try to solve is the poorer management of external displays by MacOS compared to Windows. For instance the fact that you cannot have a dock on each screen. My research shows that it's impossible, unless you use a replacement dock like ActiveDock, but I don't want to replace the MacOS dock, I just want 2 or more, one on each monitor... sad...

I think you would be better off just changing your ways of working. I use the dock on MacOS very little and it is set to autohide so I have more desktop space. It's just easier to use Spotlight to launch apps.

I used to use Hyperdock and it worked well back in the day so it's nice to see there is an alternative, even if it's a bit pricy in comparison.

 

[Digitalguy]

I think you would be better off just changing your ways of working. I use the dock on MacOS very little and it is set to autohide so I have more desktop space. It's just easier to use Spotlight to launch apps.

I used to use Hyperdock and it worked well back in the day so it's nice to see there is an alternative, even if it's a bit pricy in comparison.

Launching apps is not the issue, the issue is working with many instances of the same app and multiple monitors. As a university teacher I need to have sometimes up to 20 Word files open at the same time and constantly switch between them, same with PDF files sometimes. I also often need to have many finder windows opens and again constanly switching between them. And I use multiple monitors too... and sometimes have some in one monitors and some in the other... Windows is more efficient at that, but between Dock Mate (which is not as good as the native Peek in Windows, still needs some work) and the ability to move the dock to the active monitor by clicking on the bottom it's at least feasible / tolerable.

 

[Tagbert]

Launching apps is not the issue, the issue is working with many instances of the same app and multiple monitors. As a university teacher I need to have sometimes up to 20 Word files open at the same time and constantly switch between them, same with PDF files sometimes. I also often need to have many finder windows opens and again constanly switching between them. And I use multiple monitors too... and sometimes have some in one monitors and some in the other... Windows is more efficient at that, but between Dock Mate (which is not as good as the native Peek in Windows, still needs some work) and the ability to move the dock to the active monitor by clicking on the bottom it's at least feasible / tolerable.

I find using CMD-` to be the best way to quickly switch between windows of an application.

 

[Digitalguy]

I find using CMD-` to be the best way to quickly switch between windows of an application.

If you have 2-3 windows it's fine, if you have more than that and especially when you have 10 or 20 windows open on each app, not at all.... I want to move from one window to another that I choose instead of constantly rotating between them.... I want to have a preview of the window with its name so that I can choose the right file or finder window, that's way more efficient.

 

[unrigestered]

I want to move from one window to another that I choose instead of constantly rotating between them.... I want to have a preview of the window with its name so that I can choose the right file or finder window, that's way more efficient.

three fingers swipe down on the trackpad, or (IIRC) ctrl +down arrow on the keyboard will solve this

 

[Digitalguy]

three fingers swipe down on the trackpad, or (IIRC) ctrl +down arrow on the keyboard will solve this

I have a Mac Mini so no trackpad, but the shortcut does the trick, the only think is that it does not work with just the mouse as the app or Peek, but I can map the shortcut to my Logitech mouse to solve this. Thanks!

 

[joelkalsi]

Ah yes, MacPro5,1. The 2010 models were discontinued in 2012 and the 2012 models were discontinued in 2013. Last officially supported version of macOS was Mojave which was released in 2018. That's 6 years for the 2010 models and 5 years for the 2013.

The MacBookPro4,1 was discontinued in 2009. Last officially supported version of macOS was El Capitan which was released in 2015. That's 6 years.

And here I was wondering why I can't upgrade Mojave on flashed Mac Pro 2009.. but my wife's MacBook Pro 15" 2012 Retina just lately got updated with Catalina, while I can't upgdate past Sierra on my MBP 13" 2015 Retina at all (because of no Metal compatibility I guess).

 

[pastrychef]

And here I was wondering why I can't upgrade Mojave on flashed Mac Pro 2009.. but my wife's MacBook Pro 15" 2012 Retina just lately got updated with Catalina, while I can't upgdate past Sierra on my MBP 13" 2015 Retina at all (because of no Metal compatibility I guess).

What does that have to do with official support from Apple?

What happens when Apple stops releasing Intel versions of macOS?

 

[Zest28]

Seems very few people buy the 8gb model. The 8gb is plenty in stock. But the 16gb models need weeks of waiting.

 

[Zest28]

Hello you are absolutely right 8go MDR with 8go the system reserves 4go a shot of photoshop or other big software finished it's panic. 16 go it's already more comfortable.

I run out of memory on my M1 12.9 iPad Pro with 8GB RAM all the time.

No idea how people use a laptop with 8GB RAM really.

 

[Digitalguy]

I run out of memory on my M1 12.9 iPad Pro with 8GB RAM all the time.

No idea how people use a laptop with 8GB RAM really.

Because MacOS can swap to disk and the 8GB model is cheaper and often on sale (contrary to the 16GB model) and for many price is the first consideration. Having said that I stopped buying 8GB devices years ago...

 

[joelkalsi]

What does that have to do with official support from Apple?

What happens when Apple stops releasing Intel versions of macOS?

Well nothing, just a notion a 2012 MBP can run Catalina so that one had at least 7 years of support (or however long the Catalina updates went so let's say 7+)

 

[pastrychef]

Well nothing, just a notion a 2012 MBP can run Catalina so that one had at least 7 years of support (or however long the Catalina updates went so let's say 7+)

At no point were we discussing unsupported hacks.

Hacks will not help anyone install Apple Silicon versions of macOS on Intel based systems.

 

[Corefile]

I'm aware that 8 GB RAM as of now fits most people's needs. And that the Si/ARM SoC technology isn't as RAM dependent as x86.

Apple base models are usually sold at a substantial discount due to volume. I got the 8GB M1 MBA I am typing on for 800$ so to get 16GB would cost another 50% price increase. It is good enough for most IMO.

 

[DaKKs]

Apple base models are usually sold at a substantial discount due to volume. I got the 8GB M1 MBA I am typing on for 800$ so to get 16GB would cost another 50% price increase. It is good enough for most IMO.

Same here. Bought my m1 8/256 used for 670 bucks. Cheapest used 16/512 model i could find was over 1400.

Figured for that cheap i might as well use it till it chokes and then demote it to travel laptop when i get an M3/M4/whatever.

 

[Corefile]

Same here. Bought my m1 8/256 used for 670 bucks.

Man, 670 bucks. I salute you getting it so cheap and thought I got a bargain buying tax free at Best Buy. Well done.

 

[joelkalsi]

At no point were we discussing unsupported hacks.

Hacks will not help anyone install Apple Silicon versions of macOS on Intel based systems.

Not quite sure I follow.. But some of the older MBPs with a better display card and metal support seem to have gotten longer support time than the base models.

 

[AlixSPQR]

Alas, the same amount of RAM for the new M2 base model. No new mini for me. 🫤

 

[Populus]

Alas, the same amount of RAM for the new M2 base model. No new mini for me. 🫤

Same. I’m actually waiting for the M3 generation, but mainly because I expect the M3 to be a major step forward due to the new manufacturing process in 3nm. Hopefully they will jump to 16GB of base memory, but I doubt it. At this point, they keep that model just to upsell you to the upgraded models.

 

[MauiPa]

Alas, the same amount of RAM for the new M2 base model. No new mini for me. 🫤

I've got 8GB of ram on my MBP 13 M1, it works fantastic. Very seldom get any memory pressure. I suppose it is more what you are doing with it, for me it works fine. (Oh and I refuse to use Chrome, and keep too many tabs open, poorly designed software, although I did hear they were fixing it, or already did, but still, don't want my data marketed)

 

[tstafford]

I'm a RAM snob for sure. Put 32 GB in my 2015 iMac when it was brand new.

That said - I went against brand and recently purchase a base M2 MBA from BBY for $999 ($789 after trade). This is definitely unusual for me. The purpose of the machine was to replace an iPad as the bedside device for email, web and some streaming. For that it has worked extremely well. I obsessively watch the memory pressure and haven't seen it use any swap. I have a MBP14 and Studio as my "real machines".

I admit this is a strange use case. And I for sure recommend more memory for anyone who intends to use the machine beyond these ridiculously light tasks. But there is a role for an 8 GB Apple Silicon device. Even for a RAM snob like me.

 

[hovscorpion12]

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