That $200-Cheaper iMac's RAM is Not Upgradeable
Guess what? That new iMac we told you about that was $200 cheaper, well, its RAM is not upgradeable.
Recently, we informed you that Apple had released a new, cheaper iMac that cost $200 less than its predecessors. That is all still true, although it turns out that Apple has made a couple of changes to the standard design, as OWC (Other World Computing) presented in its Rocket Yard blog.
As it turns out, the RAM on this $1099 iMac is not user-upgradeable. Despite the difficulty you'll have accessing it, even if you get to it, you'll find that the RAM is soldered to the PCB. The standard configuration is 8 GB of DDR3-1600 memory. In the online configurator, you also cannot upgrade this – 8 GB is the only option you have.
Granted, most users who need more memory will also want more CPU power, therefore choosing another model, but for the tiny crowd that might be interested in more memory, this might be a small nuisance.
We suspect that this was done to lower the production costs, as the only customizable part in the machines is the storage. Due to this, the motherboard (or what Apple likes to call a Logic Board) in all of the $1099 iMacs will be identical, making them cheaper to mass produce.
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Soldered memory and CPUs in ultra-thin non-user-serviceable devices is quite common - the socket and memory sub-PCB add unnecessary weight, thickness, labor, components, potential failure points and cost.
Microsoft's Surface 3 Pro also uses 8GB of DDR3 soldered directly to the main board.
This is seriously anti-customer. Shame on you Apple!
Microsoft's Surface 3 Pro also uses 8GB of DDR3 soldered directly to the main board.
Soldered memory to make a computer you carry around with you thinner and lighter is completely understandable. The tradeoff may not be worth it for everyone, but it's definitely addressing two features generally considered to be important in a portable computer.
Soldered memory on a computer which sits on a desk all day is pointless. It takes a special kind of vanity to think that the couple mm thickness and few grams saved are a "feature" in such a device.
Again your hyperbolic nonsense is of irrational dislike for a company who designs products you never use. Your sensationalized opinion is just that sensationalized and hyperbolic. To drill it home maybe you should actually use their products before making a stupid uninformed statement.
Soldered memory on a computer which sits on a desk all day is pointless. It takes a special kind of vanity to think that the couple mm thickness and few grams saved are a "feature" in such a device.
Also you cant over look the fact that 95% of users ( a special apple users) aren't going to need more then 4gigs of memory for the life of there mac. Other then digital animation what do you really even need above 4 gigs of memory for on a Mac? I personally cant think of a single thing. Special since 99% of games out there arent mac compatible. I pretty sure office doesn't use 8gigs of memory
The only down side I can see is what someone else mentioned if the memory goes out then your in trouble. Tell yea the truth with the smaller form factors (ITX) I think this might start to become the norm in PC's also. Makes since with AMD's APU's to package everything in a ITX form factor solider everything to the board bingo now you have something that takes up a 10th of the room of a standard PC but is way more powerful for everyday users.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/macbook-air-faq/macbook-air-processor-ram-limitations-superdrive-capabilities.html
Look at how thin they are and tell me if you can fit ram slots on that thing. Common be reasonable.