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2024 MacBook Air still 8GB Unified Memory
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I think it's still a valid total cost of ownership calculation. I set myself an offset budget every month for IT expenditure. While I don't finance it, this money gets set aside in the savings pool ready for when I do need to replace something or see something really shiny that makes me go ooooh and aaaaah.
The only thing that comes to mind is editing videos on Final Cut Pro (and you don’t want a MBP for some reason). Maybe if you like to have a ton of files and browser tabs open?
They probably exist, they are also probably more the exception than the norm, and that’s why Apple is comfortable providing the base model MBA with 8 gb ram. Because they know that’s what suffices for the mass majority of their user base.
All of these are valid points (except for the point about external storage wrecking the ergonomics of the laptop… how would storage actually have any effect on the physical accessibility and usability of a laptop, aside from the fact that it has to be “tethered” to the laptop in order to be usable?).
There was actually news here recently about a class action lawsuit against Apple, regarding the fact that Apple limits users to backing up their iOS devices to their own iCloud backup service, rather than using a third-party cloud solution like Dropbox.
Apple wants to have the foothold and corner you in on storage. Aside from being a source of revenue for Apple, there may be good technical reasons for this, such as that Apple can control and monitor how well the data transfer process works when it’s their in-house solution.
Still, like you mentioned, cloud storage can end up costing a lot when you go all the way. The other alternative is to back up locally, which I believe can still be done on iOS/iPadOS devices via iTunes and a USB cable. It’s a more primitive solution, but it doesn’t cost anything extra aside from local or external HDD/SSD storage space.
Of course, we are talking about storage here, not memory, which was the original topic of this thread…
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Sometimes that is true. For others, the base works just fine. People on MR need to remember that by and large, they don't represent the average user / buyer. The bulk of Apple sales are stock configs.
I’m curious as to what percentage of the users on Macrumors are satisfied with base model configs for their use cases, as opposed to “power users” who go for the mid-level standard stock configs and finally the BTO/CTO models.
Can people let Apple just exist? Can they just leave Apple alone?!? So annoying all the 'mOnOpOlY' lawsuits against Apple. Everyone really wants to turn Apple into another generic DELL or HP.
I like my walled garden thank you very much.
No one is forcing you to buy Apple. I have a maxed out RAM on MBP M1 Max 16 inch. But I have a shared family base MBA M2 with 8GB. As long as Apple keeps the price low enough, I don’t mind 8GB, don‘t need 16 GB.
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I have both extremes, maxed out M1 Max with 64 GB RAM and a shared MBA M2 with 8 GB for family use. I am happy with both, my kids and wife love the MBA M2, and I use it for light dev work. My main workhorse is the M1 Max with 64 GB, along with an AMD/Nvidia Linux workstation. If you want to upgrade RAM cheap, use a AMD/Nvidia combo.
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People justifying this just looks like mass Stockholm syndrome
What a weird thing to say. I don’t think I mentioned being ‘forced’. I like Apple products. I just said I don’t like being ripped off. If you don’t mind being ripped off then that’s fine. Nothing to do with me though.
You actually pay only 699$ for the base model which has 0GB of RAM and 0GB of storage so when you add in the memory and SSD of 8/256 then it's good value.
‘Poor Apple’ is what you’re trying to get at here? I think they’ll be alright man. I’m not sure they care as much about you as you do about them though.
Don’t buy if you think you are being ripped off. I haven’t bought an Apple MacPro or Mac mini well over a decade. I prefer to have ability to upgrade my workstations, mostly GPU. Apple doesn’t offer my option, I buy something else. I never buy something which makes me feel ripped off, Apple or some one else. If I think MBA is a ripoff , I wont buy.
I used a base M1 Air like a MacBook Pro. I had no problems.
I'm just happy that one of the stock configurations is 16/512. I don't know if that was the case before, but it means there will be more of them in the wild because a lot of places don't sell any BTO configs (Costco, for example) and that often means only 8GB RAM is available through them.
ETA: my 2016 15" MBP that I purchased in 2017 when the prices dropped as the new model came out cost me about $2200. It has 16/512. This MBA, which I can get with the same config and slightly larger screen for $1700, would destroy it in every area except TB ports and running Windows apps. You're getting more for your money than ever, so just keep that in mind.
Also, my actual upgrade was a 2021 M1 Max 14" MBP with 64/2, so I quadrupled both specs and it completely crushes my old MBP. I spent $2600 in 2023 for it with AC+, which is less than the $2,734.76 inflation-adjusted total of my old machine. My Mac laptops tend to last me 6-10 years, so I'm getting great value for a yearly investment of about $325-350. Yes, I build PCs for less than that, but they don't tend to last as long without needing at least some components replaced, either to maintain acceptable performance or keep them working at all. Given I spend 90-95% of my personal computing time on my Mac, I'm getting a much better ROI from them.
ETA: my 2016 15" MBP that I purchased in 2017 when the prices dropped as the new model came out cost me about $2200. It has 16/512. This MBA, which I can get with the same config and slightly larger screen for $1700, would destroy it in every area except TB ports and running Windows apps. You're getting more for your money than ever, so just keep that in mind.
Also, my actual upgrade was a 2021 M1 Max 14" MBP with 64/2, so I quadrupled both specs and it completely crushes my old MBP. I spent $2600 in 2023 for it with AC+, which is less than the $2,734.76 inflation-adjusted total of my old machine. My Mac laptops tend to last me 6-10 years, so I'm getting great value for a yearly investment of about $325-350. Yes, I build PCs for less than that, but they don't tend to last as long without needing at least some components replaced, either to maintain acceptable performance or keep them working at all. Given I spend 90-95% of my personal computing time on my Mac, I'm getting a much better ROI from them.
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The "point" in question is actually a subjective opinion, but the reason I replied to you specifically is because you posted an absolute fabrication in support of your opinion.
No, what I am getting at is I don't want to be in the rando, unreliable PC mess I was in for decades. "Oh but it's so open!". I like the walled garden. I'm an app developer. I dont want to put my Apple apps all over the place on multiple stores like my Android apps I develop. I prefer the walled garden.
I don't have that much of a problem with the 8 GB of memory in MBA's base configuration. MBA is an ultra-slim notebook without fans that focuses on extreme portability and light work (web surfing, video streaming, word/powerpoint etc.) while offering a generally smooth experience, noiseless operation, and long battery life. And it achieves that goal 100%. It targets a "general user" demographic, which more often than not is perfectly fine with 8 GB even in 2024, based on its workload. Would 16 GB be helpful? Probably yes, they might improve performance in some cases (e.g. multiple chrome tabs open). Are they needed for all people/workloads? Not necessarily, as described above. (Now, if a user buys the wrong machine for the task of interest - which is more often than you'd think the case -, that's another story; I would not buy a 8 GB MBA for heavy video/graphics related tasks, as I would not buy a M2 Ultra simply for web surfing.)
The problematic issue, IMHO, is that the base MBP model, which, by definition, targets user with more demanding tasks, starts at 8 GB. This is bad product segmentation. The Pro machines should start at 16 GB and the MBAs should start at 8 GB.
Another issue is, of course, the ridiculous cost of memory and storage upgrades. But this is another discussion that we have done many times on this forum and elsewhere.
TL;DR: There is target group for 8 GB memory, and it is the target group of MBA. The problem is when 8 GB of memory is base config for the "Pro" laptop.
The problematic issue, IMHO, is that the base MBP model, which, by definition, targets user with more demanding tasks, starts at 8 GB. This is bad product segmentation. The Pro machines should start at 16 GB and the MBAs should start at 8 GB.
Another issue is, of course, the ridiculous cost of memory and storage upgrades. But this is another discussion that we have done many times on this forum and elsewhere.
TL;DR: There is target group for 8 GB memory, and it is the target group of MBA. The problem is when 8 GB of memory is base config for the "Pro" laptop.
I'm really enjoying AI art tools. There is a program called Draw Things. Lots of mac ads suggest that video editing is reasonable on 8Gb. But that is only true for short simple things. If you start learning and getting creative, you'd run into problems.
You shouldn't need to know what any of that means in order to use a mac.
That's what I meant by Ergonomics. Imagine yourself on an airplane and having that drive hanging off of a USB port.
Sometimes is enough. The average user can't know what the average user really needs. And everyone starts as "average" anyway before becoming engaged and empowered by their machines. I'm actually using a base Studio right now. My previous mac lasted 8 years.
Why is anyone surprised that the M3 MacBook Air starts off with 8 GB of memory. The M3 MacBook Pro starts off with 8 GB of memory. The M3 iMac starts off with 8 GB of memory. Of course the MacBook Air will start off with 8 GB of memory. Apple isn’t about to let the entry level M3 MacBook Air entry machine be anyway superior to an entry level M3 MacBook Pro.
I think everyone's point is that no Mac should come with 8GB standard...the Air is just the latest iteration of the issue
There was no 2004 MacBook, but the base 2006 MacBook Pro came with 512MB RAM.
Never said "large apps". Never spoke of gaming either. Incidentally, any app running over the cloud will not be faster than any app running locally. It's not practical. Also, if I wanted a Mac for the purposes of running apps in the cloud, I'd save money and just buy a Chromebook.
That is dangerously incorrect. You always want to have overhead. Maxing out your RAM usage on that principle is a fantastic way to wear out your boot drives.