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

[edubfromktown]

I'm still using a 12" MacBook (Apple refurb) purchased with the max 16 / 512. This is in addition to Studio Max base model.

For those who take care of their equipment and intend to keep it for a long time, makes sense to go above base specs. Same is true for the small percentage who actually need extra capacity.

For others who might be more apt to upgrade a few years down the road, it is overkill. The used market is less robust than years ago in terms of resale value for higher end configurations in my opinion.

 

[mpetrides]

>>>>Personally I am so glad I am not locked in Apple's ecosystem.

I pretty much exclusively use AAPL products and have for years—by choice. I’m not “locked” into AAPL’s ecosystem. I simply prefer their products, blemishes and all.

NO ONE is locked into any ecosystem. It’s a choice they make. Don’t like your choice, then move on. It’s as simple as that.

FWIW, the biggest blemish in the ecosystem is the 10 device limit per Apple ID. I keep my old devices around until they die, using them for tasks like serving as the control panel for my Homekit Home, and I hate it when I have to deactivate one of them and move it to a secondary family Apple ID in order to bring a new device on board. It’s an outrageous and arbitrary limit that needs to go away. But I digress….

 

[name99]

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.

But macs are so expensive that I want them to last for regular use for a very long time. We know nothing of that now.

I have had my 2012 mini since 2013 and it works just fine. But, then, I installed 16 GB RAM immediately, and feel secure with that. 8 GB RAM for the future, not upgradeble, no way.

If the entry level gets 16 GB of RAM, and today's prices continue, I'll buy one. But not otherwise.

What do you think?

So you won't buy the model you want if Apple sells a model that you don't want?

That seems, uh, sub-rational...

 

[pshufd]

As a professional, I never buy with the base RAM/storage configuration. I always upgrade. Generally I pick the max RAM and a step down from the max storage (that's usually the sweet spot for me).

8, or even 16GB, is just too anaemic for sustained, serious types of work on a machine.

I'm glad the option is there for people that want a performant, smooooooth operating MacOS device but don't need much more than the basics. 8GB is fine for folks like that.

I bought a base Studio last fall and love it. I bought a base 2015 MacBook Pro 15 (used) as well. The only option is 16 GB of RAM. I keep multiple systems around so I can just do cooperative processing if I need more RAM or if I need to work around a bug.

 

[Gudi]

Personally I am so glad I am not locked in Apple's ecosystem. […] But I love my iPads and my Macs as entertainment devices.

Totally not locked-in. 😂 At least macOS allows side-loading of unsigned thirdparty apps, iOS however.

 

[Technerd108]

Totally not locked-in. 😂 At least macOS allows side-loading of unsigned thirdparty apps, iOS however.

Well the app side loading on iOS may change.

We all know Apple will fight it as much as possible because they want to ensure our security and their 30% cut.

But the EU may force their hand just like with USB-C over lightning port.

 

[snakes-]

Even sideloading means apps on ios/ipados are sandboxed, this is enough security in my eyes.

Back to topic. I always thought 8 GB ram on my M1 Air is enough but often i have then a swap file, worst experience was with facebook, browsing more than 300 entries of some persons profile and my M1 freeze or the browser crashed. Tested with safari and chrome. The reason i sold my mbp 2016 16/512 was the M1 Air is fanless and fast. But yeah i miss my 16 GB Ram.