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New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

ichilton.co.uk

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Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#171

Post by scott_s »

gouranga wrote: post #84

Sorry but you have got to be a fucking idiot to buy one to be honest if that is the case. Apple are making an attempt to turn generic computers into disposable appliances with moves like these. I would never accept a compromise like that with a computer that I owned. My rationale is as follows: If I pay £1800 for one of those machines, I expect to be able to repair common problems easily. That's a lot of money sittin…

You're relatively new here, so you may not be familiar with our community's culture. Please read the guidelines: http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

In particular, note: Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say in a face to face conversation.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#172

Post by orangecat »

polshaw wrote: post #100
taligent wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That minute additional space would have made the ENTIRE laptop thicker. And guess what. 99% of people would trade thinness over ability to use third party RAM.

Unlikely, as the aforementioned SSD add in exists in the same depth. It is also a 3D space so the idea the whole body would need to be increased by the depth of the ram/connector is overly simplistic. If there were issues, they could have persued engineering solutions (different connector? single sided ram?) that could have maintained upgrade-ability. This is the (top line) pro, not the laptop bought by people who wa…

And it is not 'just' third party use, it is no upgrades, ever.

To be fair, there will probably be (unauthorized) third party SSD replacements, and USB3 allows much more flexibility with external upgrades.

I imagine it adds $200 on to the cost, because they will feel the need to top up the extra 8gb to future proof themselves.

Yeah. It's also disappointing that the high end model still only has 8GB standard, but that way Apple guarantees that you have to order through them if you want 16. I'll still do it, because by all accounts the display really is that good. It will likely be my last Apple hardware purchase, assuming that in a few years other PC manufacturers have realized that Apple is on to something with their brilliant strategy of making displays better instead of worse.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#173

Post by ceejayoz »

freehunter wrote: post #123
taligent wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You just need to understand that you have become an edge case. The 1%. People just aren't using Firewire, Optical Drives and Ethernet like they use to. And compromising the entire computer just to satisfy a minority isn't good business. And absolutely isn't Apple's style. Most things are more expensive when you aren't buying the mainstream option. In your case having to buy the Superdrive, Firewire and GigE adapters.

You just need to understand that you have become an edge case. It's called the Macbook Pro . Firewire is huge in cameras still. Optical drives are still big in AV work. Ethernet is still important in corporate networks. By default, professionals are not mainstream. This is a 100% consumer laptop. Calling it "Pro" is just disingenuous when there's not a single professional aspect about it.

"Pro" doesn't indicate what type of professional.

The Photoshop pros, photographer pros, etc. I know don't want to open up their laptops, but they're still pros.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#174

Post by ceejayoz »

oblique63 wrote: post #97
Karunamon wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you buy a PC, you should always get as much memory, disk, and CPU as you can afford. That was sound advice 20 years ago and it still fits today.

Has that really been considered 'sound advice' all this time? Getting the best CPU/GPU I could understand, but up until now PC's have been so easily upgradable, that I've never heard someone recommend maxing out the Hard Drive and RAM during the ordering process (unless it was to your average consumer). I've always heard (and likewise, advised my 'power-user' friends) to just buy systems with the baseline HD and RAM…

> I've always heard (and likewise, advised my 'power-user' friends) to just buy systems with the baseline HD and RAM options, because those components really tend to be a lot cheaper via third parties...

Not to mention if you hit your HD limit after a year the bigger drives are going to be drastically cheaper.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#175

Post by jakeonthemove »

Come to think of it, soldering RAM isn't that hard - people were doing it with a cheap soldering station over a decade ago (increasing RAM on video cards). Seeing as this is the only design used in new Ultrabooks and will probably be prevalent in new laptops, those who want to upgrade will have to upgrade their tech skills.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#176

Post by gouranga »

scott_s wrote: post #171
gouranga wrote: post #84

Sorry but you have got to be a fucking idiot to buy one to be honest if that is the case. Apple are making an attempt to turn generic computers into disposable appliances with moves like these. I would never accept a compromise like that with a computer that I owned. My rationale is as follows: If I pay £1800 for one of those machines, I expect to be able to repair common problems easily. That's a lot of money sittin…

You're relatively new here, so you may not be familiar with our community's culture. Please read the guidelines: http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html In particular, note: Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say in a face to face conversation.

I would say this face to face and regularly do. Honesty is the best policy.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#177

Post by orangecat »

sneak wrote: post #92
uzero wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes I know but that wasn't the point. The point is that if I now buy the laptop with let's say 8GB because I think I don't need more than that because all I do is code. After 6 months I get assigned to doing work with BIG databases that easily eat 10GB memory. Now I'm stuck with 8GB because it's soldered and even Apple can't upgrade it.

Upgrading the RAM on a new Macbook Pro is a user-serviceable operation. It consists of four steps: 1) Back up data, wipe drive 2) Sell MBP on eBay 3) Buy new MBP with desired amount of RAM 4) Restore data Now stop it. You're buying a Mac because you don't like to waste time dicking around with your computer, remember?

You're buying a Mac because you don't like to waste time dicking around with your computer, remember?

And I do like to waste time dealing with backups and Craigslist scammers? I'm buying a Mac because I want a Unix workstation with a solid UI. Lots of MacBook Pro owners are not terrified of screwdrivers.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#178

Post by scott_s »

gouranga wrote: post #153
ioquatix wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to buy this computer. For some people (some being the vast majority of MBP users) this design actually makes a lot of sense.

Yeah penis waving hipsters in Starbucks writing their next novel whilst contributing to the bad credit problem that seems to have screwed up the economy... Not any worthy portion of society then.

You can also add the majority of computer science researchers that I know to that list.

As I said in reply to your parent comment, please read the guidelines here. We appreciate civility. If you keep it up, you will eventually be hellbanned.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#179

Post by pearle »

drivingmenuts wrote: post #151
wensing wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had 5 Apple laptops since 2001 and have never had to replace anything. Average time of ownership has only been 2 years, though. Because of the resale value, I've found it's pretty effective to sell the 2-year old and put it towards a new one.

In the part of my job where I'm an IT Manager, I can tell you I've had one user go thru three motherboards. In a year. Without spilling anything on them or otherwise mistreating the computer. I'm, like, a slobbery fanboi and I can tell you, occasionally, Apple makes one that's rotten.

This happened to me with my last MBP. Three motherboards and four batteries within a 3 year period. The case also cracked near the screen.

I've since switched to another laptop manufacturer.

Re: New Apple Macbook Pro RAM is soldered to the motherboard | Ian Chilton

#180

Post by scott_s »

gouranga wrote: post #176
scott_s wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're relatively new here, so you may not be familiar with our community's culture. Please read the guidelines: http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html In particular, note: Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say in a face to face conversation.

I would say this face to face and regularly do. Honesty is the best policy.

Be civil.
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