Apple still sells expensive "Pro" computers with just 8GB of RAM and charges a fortune for more.

Apple has a memory problem and we’re all paying for it::Apple still sells expensive “Pro” computers with just 8GB of RAM and charges a fortune for more.

  • betz24@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I don’t work for Apple, so I don’t really know, but I have worked at many electronics companies. A few points:

    • Companies lock down or will open source IP (software/firmware/hardware) to meet a particular business strategy. In the mass product market, litigation is common for patent infringement so careful control is taken on each technology. I’m not sure I believe in opensourcing everything. Companies need to stay competitive. Behind a company is ten of thousands of employees that are being paid a livelihood (not just all developers making $250k+/yr, plenty other people in operations, quality, distribution, marketing etc)
    • Apple’s strategy is to build a vertically integrated tech stack internally that is aligned with their vision. This is their brand and the people who like the company vision will buy it. You don’t have to like all their choices, but they have done the math and have figured out the proper moving average between pissing off consumers and providing value to know where they stand. They like doing things the Apple way, ensure the company can continue to make money and innovate
    • You don’t have to buy the product. Just because you think the price is absurd doesn’t mean others can’t afford it. Personally, in the work I’m doing, my cheaper MacBook Air is having more value to me than my Linux computer I spent 3x more. The OP is designed for a specific type of user, it’s not meant for everyone. For work, I don’t need my computer to be opensource, I need it to work, so I can get my job done. For personal geekiness, I love the opensource nature of linux and have contributed to many projects, however, a company like Apple is definitely needed to make landmark improvements in technology. There is a reason why you go out to an Italian restaurant and get a $26 pasta dish when you can make it at home for $4.
    • In your thought process, hardware is hardware. But there is also a mission that is attached with it. Apple leads in terms of mitigation of environmental impact which I think is pretty cool. It offers buybacks for most (all ?) products. I don’t know how much they actually recycle per part or if things are just getting shipped off to Zambia and being sold as refurbished. If I’m paying a little more to benefit a company that aligns with my values than so be it. They aren’t going to sell a product for a loss (unless strategically). There are too many retirement funds in Apple for it to be losing money
      • betz24@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        My friend, my goal is not to make you upset, just giving my thoughts. Your metaphors don’t exactly make sense in this context, and some of your responses are telescopic focusing on one thing when other companies do equal, nothing or worse. If you could name a company that is exceeding your expectations, I’d love to hear it as I would support them as well.

        Regardless, I hope that you have a great day.

          • betz24@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            Just took a look at Framework, it’s a cool concept. I wish the company was older just to see how it forms it’s sea legs. As a mass market item, I can’t imagine the general populace upgrading their own laptop over time, though maybe I’m just old. I didn’t see any computers made from Valve, but I had not thought of them as a hardware company.

            But yeah I agree, companies will form their optimization function for profits not people (by design) so people should never put their faith in them. This M1 Air is my first Mac, but I do have to say it is really nice. Excited to see what other companies do to combat it.