RUMOR: Apple Mac mini standard config with 512MB RAM standard coming soon?

68 Comments

“If you’re contemplating a Mac mini purchase, stay tuned for at least one out-of-the-box config with 512 megabyes of RAM instead of the now-standard, woefully inadequate 256 megs. That may be coming to Apple retail stores as soon as next week, I’ve been told,” Your Tech Weblog reports.

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Do it, Apple. It’s one less extra thing that new users will have to do – 512MB should be the base standard for all Macs today.

68 Comments

  6. 512 is an OK base standard, but they really need to correct (again!) the pricing of the 1GB upgrade. It should *always* be cheaper to buy it with 1GB than it is to go buy your own and then PAY someone to install it, as most people will need to do.

    Reply

  7. This is indeed a good decision.

    For those who have a mini or are getting a mini soon with only 256 MB of memory, how hard is it to take the old memory out and add memory? I couldn’t find the answer on the Apple Suport page.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  8. No credibility. That “article” (blog) ALSO says that the advantage of getting 512 standard in a Mini is that then you will get 512 in just ONE slot, leaving the other slot free to expand to a full GB later without throwing old RAM away.

    Um…. the Mini doesn’t have 2 RAM slots. 512 always WAS in one slot, if you chose that option… and no other slot remains. Increasing memory later DOES mean discarding what you had to begin with.

    If he’s that out of the loop, I’m skeptical about his predictions.

    Too bad, 512 SHOULD be standard, to make OS X run best.

    Then again, lots of cheap PCs start at 256, and lots of people survive on Macs with 256 too.

    Reply

  11. Sly –

    It’s prohibitively difficult. The case needs a special tool to open, which you cannot buy. So people have been using spatulas. Then you gotta unscrew & remove the bluetooth antenna to get at the RAM.

    It can be done, but it takes balls to jimmy open your new purchase, even if it was only $500.

    Reply

  14. It is definitely a pain. From what I’ve read, Apple says opening the case does not void the warranty, unless you break something in the process. Which you are bound to do.

    On the other hand, I stripped the hell out of those retarded metric allen screws on my PBG4, then took it in for in-warranty service, and they didn’t say boo about it. When I got it back, they had put new screws in. But that was Tekserv, not Apple. ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />

    –Rob

    Reply

  15. Chomper,

    Working inside a tower (or even mini) case that’s designed to be opened using conventional tools is one thing. If you had to hack together a specially-shaped screwdriver to open a tower case, lots fewer people would do it.

    Who knows, though.. a smart third-party should build & market a mini-opener tool. As long as the cost of it plus the RAM is less than paying Apple for it, it would sell like hotcakes.

    Shit, maybe I’ll do that. I gotta go.

    Reply

  16. For those who say stuff like “please let it be true” and when it becomes so sit there on there hands, waiting for the next upgrade. How do u think inovators are able to be pioneers with out your support. I truely get upset at the idiots who say they r waiting for G5 PBook and never purchased a mac to support this to come to pass. Pleas guys give the company your support because as you can tell respect has been due for a long time.

    For those who question my authority to make these comment, I switched in 2004 and purchased a dual G5 Power mac and 12in Power book. ( I missed a few meals but it was well worth it) to see stuff like the mac mini, i feel like i did my part for it to occur.

    Reply

  17. Mini-buster – “prohibitively difficult”? What, are you on crack? Or just completely incompetent with hand tools? Geez, all you need is a putty knife – no “special” tools. Just slide the putty knife in between the case and the white portion and pry a little till you hear the pops of the locks coming free.

    I have done 2 mini upgrades and it takes less than 30 secs to open the case.

    Sly – it is NOT a pain and it IS worth it.

    Also, there are a couple of videos floating around the net around that show exactly how easy it really is.

    Reply

  18. It has been too long since Apple raised the minimum standard RAM from 128 to 256 MB. Whenever I buy a Mac, I need to automatically double the RAM just to make the amount adequate for day to day work.

    Reply

  21. it always made sense, with the more expensive machines, for apple to let the other sellers give away extra memory so they could differentiate themselves. now the other sellers can give away keyboards, mice, etc. for the mac mini. but since the mac mini is going to be sold “as is” by some stores (target, again, i hope, for example), 256k memory just isn’t going to work. i think apple started to realize this, that the old rules just aren’t going to apply here, and people would get turned off. while they are at it, apple should put 512k memory in the display machines too.

    Reply

  25. Thanks Chris,

    you wrote my posts for me.

    Only the sort of person who has trouble changing a light-bulb would have problems upgrading the RAM in a mini – that is if he reads the several sites (already!) dedicated to this theme and hasn’t drunk more than five pints of ale.

    Reply

Reader Feedback

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.