expired Posted by phoinix | Staff • Nov 14, 2024
Nov 14, 2024 8:06 AM
Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4
expired Posted by phoinix | Staff • Nov 14, 2024
Nov 14, 2024 8:06 AM
$939: Apple 2024 Mac Mini Desktop Computer (M4, 24GB / 512GB SSD) at Amazon
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So I would prioritize more RAM over larger SSD capacity.
Apple releases a new CPU every year, but the M4 is a massive leap. This computer is faster than every single Mac that came before it, even the Mac Studio and Mac Pro.
If you look at the value and power of this system, it's a different picture; it is an excellent value. True, with 16 GB of RAM, this will handle just about anything you throw at it. With 24 GB, you are mostly buying overhead for the future, unless you know you're going to use high-memory software like virtual machines. It is also true that you can buy Thunderbolt SSD drives that are extremely fast, and since this is a desktop, plugging in a drive is no big deal. But the internal SSD is still the fastest storage, and with 512 you have plenty of room for swap space, all the iCloud stuff, email, lots of applications, games, etc. THEN you move files like RAW photos and videos to an external SSD, and run Time Machine to a separate drive, like a platter drive or a network-attached drive.
It's pretty clear to me that Apple has a base model that they sell with low margin and the higher spec'ed models have better margins. To you, it's $440 for 8/256 more, but to Apple, they're moving the margin from 30 to 40% or something. So both the 16/256 and 24/512 machines are excellent and they are both excellent values, even though, as you point out, it is a high incremental leap.