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27-inch iMac gets a major update

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Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#302
post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't explain "Schools need Macs at that price point or they can’t buy them ."

I'm not sure what kind of explanation you're looking for beyond "more expensive Macs will not be bought".

Maybe I misread the comment but it was a response to someone noting how expensive they were... so I read it as saying that they're supposed to be that expensive so schools would buy that. That seemed odd.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#303
post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They learned their lesson and made storage, RAM, etc. non-user replaceable in newer versions. You used to be able to buy a Mac from Apple and upgrade its RAM at a reasonable price on your own. Not anymore.

Why do their customers tolerate this?! I know some people love Apple (their hardware does look great), but this is extremely annoying.

Well, here's my reasoning why I'd happily pay Apple the price for the upgrades: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24052506

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#304
post #134

“SSDs across the line with quadruple the storage” 1/4 TB of storage in the $1800 model, 1/2 TB in the $2300 one. Ugh. (So before the lower-end one had 64GB? [Edit: Nope, 1 TB Fusion Drive, thanks smnrchrds!] That would be FULL just from installing the one game the press release mentions.) What kind of magic fairy dust SSDs are they using that you can't have a sensible amount of storage space at those prices? Looking…

Don’t buy a desktop computer with non-user replaceable/upgradeable disks. In an air form factor I can buy the argument that it saves 50 grams or one mm of thickness. In a desktop it’s just ridiculous. Having any other standard than 2.5” or nvme is silly, and ideally a desktop even in the iMac form factor should have at least one empty 2.5” slot.

I don(t disagree but really a 1 TB nvme ssd is around 100e now, there is no reason for this kind of storage limits.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What kind of magic fairy dust SSDs are they using that you can't have a sensible amount of storage space at those prices? The kind where Apple can make a 300% or more margin, knowing that people will still pay. Don't think Apple have ever sold SSD upgrades at anything remotely resembling competitive $/TB prices. Clearly they don't need too because people still buy their machines.

The iMac competes via its 5K display and having macOS in general. Remember that Apple’s comparable offerings for this tier display were priced at $1299, in the same price range as many 5K displays. The $1800 price point isn’t hard to grasp once you consider the display. EDIT: I previously compared to / referenced possibly sub-$1000 5K monitors, but it seems the ones I was looking at in that range were actually 4K.

It’s like buying a 5k display and getting a subsidized computer. There’s ~1 5k monitor on the market today (LG)?

I wonder how expandable this is? Buy the bottom end machine with the CPU you want and upgrade SSD and RAM? I would imagine SSD is upgradeable but RAM soldered onto the mobo?

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#306
post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They learned their lesson and made storage, RAM, etc. non-user replaceable in newer versions. You used to be able to buy a Mac from Apple and upgrade its RAM at a reasonable price on your own. Not anymore.

Why do their customers tolerate this?! I know some people love Apple (their hardware does look great), but this is extremely annoying.

Apple supports their hardware (both repairs and software updates) for much longer than anyone else ever. While I have no qualms about opening up my Dell desktop, I wouldn't dare touch a laptop. Laptops, even before Apple soldered the components in, were extremely fragile. My Sony Vaio for example had a broken key and the only option was to replace the entire keyboard.

In essence, I'd rather go with a company that will fix my hardware even if they charge me for it. Rather than a company (like HTC/Sony) where I have to wait many many weeks if at all and software upgrades cut off in under two years.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#307
post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They learned their lesson and made storage, RAM, etc. non-user replaceable in newer versions. You used to be able to buy a Mac from Apple and upgrade its RAM at a reasonable price on your own. Not anymore.

Why do their customers tolerate this?! I know some people love Apple (their hardware does look great), but this is extremely annoying.

I used to build gaming PCs for myself and friends, salvage laptops from parts picked up at auction, etc. But I'm no longer interested in doing that. I'd much rather just buy the computer I need and not fuss with it. I think both of those "modes" are completely valid, and it's great that there are many options on the market for people in both groups.

Is it perhaps "annoying in theory" that I couldn't upgrade my Mac's hardware if I wanted to? I suppose so. But I'm never going to want to do that, so I don't experience any practical annoyance. I suspect my experience matches the overwhelming majority of Apple's customers and potential customers.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#308
post #134

“SSDs across the line with quadruple the storage” 1/4 TB of storage in the $1800 model, 1/2 TB in the $2300 one. Ugh. (So before the lower-end one had 64GB? [Edit: Nope, 1 TB Fusion Drive, thanks smnrchrds!] That would be FULL just from installing the one game the press release mentions.) What kind of magic fairy dust SSDs are they using that you can't have a sensible amount of storage space at those prices? Looking…

> What kind of magic fairy dust SSDs are they using that you can't have a sensible amount of storage space at those prices? The kind where Apple can make a 300% or more margin, knowing that people will still pay. Don't think Apple have ever sold SSD upgrades at anything remotely resembling competitive $/TB prices. Clearly they don't need too because people still buy their machines.

> people still buy their machines

Sure, but more would buy at lower prices.

That said I don't doubt that Apple has researched this a zillion ways, and this price point is there for solid reasons.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#309
Presumably you cannot install Mojave on these, only Catalina. I sacrificed a Mac to Catalina, then wiped it back to Mojave. Hopefully Big Sur will fix the flaming dumpster fire that is Catalina, but I am not hopeful and working on my Linux migration plan.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you get your friendly local repair shop to solder on a bigger BGA or are they DRM'd?

Are you sure the newer iMacs have soldered on storage? I was under the impression they use m.2 SSDs.

They don't. I wouldn't call it user replaceable, since it's difficult, but no soldering required.[0]

Many vendors (including Apple premium resellers) offer replacing the drives for whatever you like.

[0] iFixIt https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+27-Inch+EMC+2546+Bla...

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