Apple to Boost Standard Memory?

According to AppleInsider, Apple is planning to increase the standard RAM it ships with each system to 512 MB to help improve performance with various applications.

Hmm, an across the board RAM increase would be nice. I wonder if they are going to use up all the mem slots on the lower end lines (ibook, iMac, etc.) and just give a single 512 stick on the pro lines? I guess that would be good product differentiation.

Jim

Sounds like a move that will be very good for consumers, especially novices who don't really understand this stuff and just buy basic models expecting them to work fine. I imagine Tiger will be pretty bad on 256. Panther is awful on 128, although that's not a good comparison.

The problem with the rumor is that it seems unlikely that Apple would up the specs in its computers without updating the line. Would they upgrade the minis to 512 before they give them a general revamp?

It is certainly a move that is needed.

It is nearly impossible to run any iLife program (aside from iTunes) with 256 MB. I cannot imagine how many switchers have bought a new Mac with 256 MB, and it is unbearably slow with iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto. I'm sure it creates lots of negative feelings towards Macs with these people.

It is nearly impossible to run any iLife program (aside from iTunes) with 256 MB. I cannot imagine how many switchers have bought a new Mac with 256 MB, and it is unbearably slow with iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto. I'm sure it creates lots of negative feelings towards Macs with these people.

I think you're overestimating the speed/power that these switchers are coming from. Many switchers are coming from old PCs with PIII's @500mhz and Win98. A new Mac with 256MBs will seem like greased lightning to them.

Case in point. I persuaded my sister to go Mac (she did, with a 17" G5 iMac 1.8) and it only has 256MB. The other day, she commented that she loves the Mac because she can do her work and listen to music too.

Case in point. I persuaded my sister to go Mac (she did, with a 17" G5 iMac 1.8) and it only has 256MB. The other day, she commented that she loves the Mac because she can do her work and listen to music too.

Ha, i could not do that with my 3.0 Ghz 1GB 256 video RAM top of the line PC. i always had problems with lag and crashs.

I wonder if they are going to use up all the mem slots on the lower end lines (ibook, iMac, etc.) and just give a single 512 stick on the pro lines?

The current crop of G5 PMs take their RAM in matched pairs so they'll either stay at 512 or go up to 1gb, I would have thought...

But if true, all I can say is... about bloody time.

It's not like RAM is that pricey any more, unless you're going for those big modules.

It is certainly a move that is needed.

It is nearly impossible to run any iLife program (aside from iTunes) with 256 MB. I cannot imagine how many switchers have bought a new Mac with 256 MB, and it is unbearably slow with iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto. I'm sure it creates lots of negative feelings towards Macs with these people.

LOL

sure they're unusable :p

i don't suppose you actually *use* a machine with 256 megs of ram, do you? I've been using my 1.0 emac with 256 megs of ram for almost a year now, and while it's no speed demon, its far from 'unbearably slow' or 'nearly impossible to run any iLife program'. With 256, I often have 5 or 6 programs open with no problem.

yes, in fact, I can actually run the iApps! with only 256 megs of ram!

and here's a little secret - I can run more than one of them at one time! :eek: who would have thought it was possible??

it's not as bad as you think. is 512 better? sure. but calling 256 unusable, unbearable, and barely able to run the iApps is a little foolish...

I think you're overestimating the speed/power that these switchers are coming from. Many switchers are coming from old PCs with PIII's @500mhz and Win98. A new Mac with 256MBs will seem like greased lightning to them.

Case in point. I persuaded my sister to go Mac (she did, with a 17" G5 iMac 1.8) and it only has 256MB. The other day, she commented that she loves the Mac because she can do her work and listen to music too.

Sure, they can multi-task, but iLife applications are unbearably slow at 256 MB

LOL

sure they're unusable :p

i don't suppose you actually *use* a machine with 256 megs of ram, do you? I've been using my 1.0 emac with 256 megs of ram for almost a year now, and while it's no speed demon, its far from 'unbearably slow' or 'nearly impossible to run any iLife program'. With 256, I often have 5 or 6 programs open with no problem.

yes, in fact, I can actually run the iApps! with only 256 megs of ram!

and here's a little secret - I can run more than one of them at one time! :eek: who would have thought it was possible??

it's not as bad as you think. is 512 better? sure. but calling 256 unusable, unbearable, and barely able to run the iApps is a little foolish...

Let us run 1 hour of video from our camcorders to iMovie and then burn a DVD with iDVD. I have a gig of RAM. Let's see who does it with the least problems.

If Apple increases the RAM to 512 MB, they are saying that 256 MB is no longer sufficient. Please read the Appleinsider article, which says "insiders say the boost in memory spec will assure consumers a smoother experience running both Tiger and Apple’s iLife ’05 digital lifestyle software suite. They added that the upgrade is 'much needed.'"

I ran iLife programs with 256 MB, and I found that iMovie was horribly slow in response, iPhoto was sluggish, and iDVD was not usuable. If you don't have that experience, awesome!