Apple iPad Event - 16 Oct 2014

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

Yeah, but in the 23 years I've used computers, I have never upgraded my RAM or replaced a hard drive. I don't understand why if people need the 8GB and bigger hard drive that they'd not move up to the next tier to begin with? It is also another option I'm interested in once the refurbs come in.

The issue isn't always that they need the extra memory and space when they buy it, it's that they have it for a few years and upgrade the memory and hard drive and can get another year or two out of it.

For me, I have MANY times over the years come into possession of a used computer (usually because the original owner thought it was "too slow") and by adding more RAM and a new hard drive I have a computer that I can use for a few years.

I used to always build my own WinTel box. I would pick a MB that had plenty of room for extra RAM and the ability to swap out processors and that had plenty of expansion bays. The idea was to grow the computer as it got older. In two years or so I could add more RAM if the latest Windows upgrades required it or if I just needed it. I could replace the processor with a faster one. I could swap out the HDD as it died or if I needed more space. The whole idea was to squeeze as much use and life out of the computer as I could before having to buy a new one. I always wanted to build my own Mac too, but that is more complicated, or at least was more complicated, especially getting drivers and what not.

Way back in the 1990s when I still lived in Austin and after Steve Jobs was pushed out of Apple, Apple licensed their hardware to several 3rd party vendors. We had five such vendors in Austin alone, including Motorola which supplied the Mac processors. The competition was fierce and the prices of 3rd party Macs came way down. You could get twice as much Mac computer from the 3rd party vendors than you could buying an Apple official Mac, and still save money. Plus the 3rd party vendors added all the bells and whistles that Apple wouldn't. But then Jobs returned, took over Apple, and immediately stopped the hardware licensing. A real shame for us consumers, but tragic for most of the 3rd party vendors who almost all went out of business and had to lay off hundreds of workers.

[ATDrake]

I'm a Mac user and over the years I have replaced the user-replaceable parts, mainly upgrading the (or in one case, replacing a failing) hard drive.

So I'm rather disappointed with the parts-soldered-on new Mac Mini (and the rather low processor/RAM specs for the base models, which will cost $$$ in BTO options to get to anything really usable, IMHO), which is a letdown after such a long time between updates. Maybe they'll have changed their minds on the issue by the time I actually get around to getting a new computer (probably not).

Anyway, I was actually going to comment about OS X Yosemite, which while it apparently has an improved iBooks app (with some kind of new advanced preferences ePub editing function I haven't tested out yet) and an enhanced selection of Text-To-Speech voices and languages, also looks unfortunately ugly. It's like all the interface was squashed flat under a steamroller set on a Day-Glo filter, and the Finder icon looks especially sad.

(Also, it no longer supports the drivers for my old graphics tablet, which was going to be the thing preventing me from switching until that got fixed or I could at least try porting my prefs over and I could use my custom settings for the stylus buttons again since it turns out I really, really dislike having to touch the trackpad for stuff.

But then my graphics tablet decided to moot that point by dying on me just this afternoon. )

[Jack Torrance]

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

Ths is a royal PITA. I had intended to upgrade my main desktop (a Mini with 16GB) and u/g the ram myself as I had done on the existing machine. I'm finding my current machine far too slow with Yosemite on board, it was bad enough with Mavericks and best with Mountain Lion. And yet, its a late 2012 model (but the base model). So, I'm going to be looking for the late 2012 better model (not the server) and see if theres a refurb or second hand at a decent price, instead. Apple charge WAY too much for CTO RAM.

I Have a question and don't think I'm calling you out, it's because im not familiar with Apple's desktop/laptops. I have been looking it to getting one but in a spec to spec comparison to my current home built Windows machine it seems like a step down.

Your saying your 2012 Mini with 16 gb is lagging on Yosemite and did slow down on Mavericks before it. Again I'm not doubting your issue but last years Air has the same specs as this years Mini (1.4 ghz 4 gb ram and HD 5000 graphics) the major difference being the SSD vs 5000 rpm HD. I know the SSD can make an impact on speed though I have been running 5k and 7500k HD on my windows machine and haven't had issues.

I wondering could the issue be else where? More about some SW your running or some other configuration as 16gb is a lot of memory.

I've done a lot of looking into these as I thought about either getting a Mini or getting an Air and running it in clamshell mode and have heard nothing but good things about the Air.

I guess on my end the one thing I do that's intensive is converting video files from one format to another or ripping videos from Dvd to play on my iPad. That being said I don't think either machine is capable of doing it in a reasona

[harriska2]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

Yeah, but in the 23 years I've used computers, I have never upgraded my RAM or replaced a hard drive. I don't understand why if people need the 8GB and bigger hard drive that they'd not move up to the next tier to begin with? It is also another option I'm interested in once the refurbs come in.

We just recycled my husband's 2008 iMac after already replacing the harddrive with a 1tb, replacing the failing DVD ROM, and upgrading the memory from 2 to 4 gb. It now sits at the parent in law's house where they are learning OSX. They are over 80 yo! I think it will go for many more years.

We just upgraded the 2009 mac mini memory to 6 gb (max). It is the only thing that sort of allows me to run Mavericks.

I think the strangle hold apple has over memory upgrade ability (or lack of) and costs will bite them in the butt in the future.

[harriska2]

I think the mac mini is blowing out old parts. The prices are crazy. It is still dual core, no quad core?

[afv011]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

I don't understand why if people need the 8GB and bigger hard drive that they'd not move up to the next tier to begin with?

Because apple charges $200 for an upgrade from 8GB to 16GB when you can buy an 8GB module for less than half that.

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by mycurlylocks

According to this leak, there is 2GB RAM.
http://9to5mac.com/2014/10/13/ipad-c...s-a8x-2gb-ram/

So we can cross our fingers. IF there is 2GB, I'll probably upgrade this year.

They say it appears to be 2GB. Unfortunately, the picture quality is pretty bad. Sites were saying, "We squinted and jiggered and we dunno for sure but we think it's 2. I mean...it's gotta be 2. They can't do 1 again. Can they?"

Given that Apple seems to have not released that information anywhere, many are going back to saying 1GB for both new iPads.

[harriska2]

My guess is 1 gb.

Pass.

[Jack Torrance]

Originally Posted by afv011

Because apple charges $200 for an upgrade from 8GB to 16GB when you can buy an 8GB module for less than half that.

That used to be the case. I just check OWC and its $197 and Newegg was about $160 plus shipping. Granted you could sell the old memory sticks and offset the cost some.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

Yeah, but in the 23 years I've used computers, I have never upgraded my RAM or replaced a hard drive. I don't understand why if people need the 8GB and bigger hard drive that they'd not move up to the next tier to begin with? It is also another option I'm interested in once the refurbs come in.

The first thing I did after buying my 2012 MBP was to replace the 128GB SSD with a Samsung model with 7x the capacity (though I had to update the FM by using bootcamp first). A year later, I added RAM. I'm still trying to decide whether I want to replace the DVD drive with a second SSD (or hybrid drive) and use my USB burner when necessary.

The ability to upgrade an older mac to improve speed and flexibility has always been essential for me. Also: Those incremental upgrades are far, far cheaper than buying next year's model -- especially when prices fall (cf. SSD drives). Additionally, if you were using a mac professionally for things like postproduction work, you might prefer to keep an older model that works with your array of expensive older hardware.

The other problem posed by current Macs is the difficulty and even impossibility of DIY repair.

If your SSD drive dies, are you going to be able to replace it? What about the display and the motherboard?

A friend of mine who creates games for a living recently bought a MBP with retina, discovered a problem with the SSD and realized he couldn't have done anything if it had failed when the machine ran out of warranty. He'd also wanted to buy more RAM eventually, only to learn from his local computer repair shop that they wouldn't be able to install it.

Ultimately, he returned the retina model and bought a refurbished 2012 MBP. His latest Apple purchase was the same model I bought over two years ago.

There was a reason for that. It's also the reason many veteran Mac professionals have been considering a move to the PC ever since Apple introduced the current-gen Mac Pro with locked hardware and discontinued the one MBP that users could still open themselves. Most people I know are still clinging to their old hardware. I wouldn't be surprised if that 2012 laptop became a tad difficult to find.

[xendula]

Apple really REALLY doesn't want you to upgrade the Mac Mini

While access to the RAM used to be dead simple, it's now guarded by a metal cover held in place by Torx TR6 Security screws, which require an exotic tool. Adding a second hard drive is also, er, harder, since unlike past models, there's just a single SATA port (though you may be able to install a PCIe SSD). Finally, as mentioned, both the RAM and Intel Core-i5 CPU are soldered in permanently.

[pidgeon92]

Do-it-yourselfers are not Apple's target market for Macs.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by Jack Torrance

That used to be the case. I just check OWC and its $197 and Newegg was about $160 plus shipping. Granted you could sell the old memory sticks and offset the cost some.

I don't know where you're checking, but here up North you can get 8GB for less than $100. Apple charge $200 for the 8GB upgrade from 8 to 16. You may be comparing against buying 16GB, which is not the same.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares
I don't understand why if people need the 8GB and bigger hard drive that they'd not move up to the next tier to begin with?

Originally Posted by afv011

Because apple charges $200 for an upgrade from 8GB to 16GB when you can buy an 8GB module for less than half that.

I always like to have the option of an internal upgrade.

Then there is the case where the best deal "right now" is a computer with a smaller RAM and smaller hard drive than you really want. The ability to upgrade RAM and Disk Space can give you the confidence to buy.

You might find that what you bought is adequate for the present, but you still have that option.