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The M1/M2/M3 base models all have only 8GB of RAM. Someone who cheaped out on a first-gen model to test the waters (even if they didn't necessarily go for 8GB)

The M1/M2/M3 base models all have only 8GB of RAM. Someone who cheaped out on a first-gen model to test the waters (even if they didn't necessarily go for 8GB) might now be looking to upgrade, and if they're buying used then all three CPU generations are worth considering.

JanSt 3y ago
This is me
jghn 3y ago
I have an 8GB M1 Air for the sole reason that I was so excited I decided to go with the model I could get on release day instead of waiting a month. Not the wisest decision. I figured I'd replace it at M2, and then at M3. But to be honest even with the 8GB it's fine enough still. I don't use it for much heavy lifting but it works ok-ish for that in a pinch. And for day to day personal use it's fine. So every year I go through the cycle where I *want* to replace it and then convince myself I don't really need it. I already have a monster machine for my work stuff, having extra horsepower for my personal machine would be nice but .... I'm sure M4 is the generation I'll upgrade. Just wait :)
- adestefan 3y ago
  I recently bought my wife a new Air and the only reason why I went with the M2 version was the nicer screen. Otherwise the M1/8GB would be more than fine for what she needs.
goosedragons 3y ago
Apple also still sells everything but the M1 Pro/Max/Ultra brand new in various devices too.
kzrdude 3y ago
Used market is full of those 8 GB models
- paulmd 3y ago
  apple always sells the base-tier model the most, by a pretty significant margin. especially in MBA or mac mini. all the big-box stores like bestbuy and costco carry that model, and it usually sees further sales. So it's hard to say that it's specifically people being upset about ram vs just the expected distribution given the bayesian prior. but yea 8gb is barely acceptable except as a pure consumption laptop. TBH even 16/256 is too small for anyone who's posting here, some npm/rubygems/pipenv/gradle/docker packages will eat that right up.
a_vanderbilt 3y ago
This is what happened in my case. I had an 8GB Air and while the CPU performance was incredible, it lacked the RAM to fully take advantage of it. I upgraded to a 16GB M2 Mac Mini. I consider it to be the perfect UNIX machine for my use case. If I need to access it on the go I remote in from a cheapo laptop.
jonpurdy 3y ago
I replaced a 16GB Intel MacBook Pro with an 8GB refurb M1 Air and regretted it within weeks. (Due to the initial claims about M1 using less memory and that the M1 destroyed my Intel's Javascript performance.) Turns out that my 8GB machine would slow down significantly when hitting the RAM limit. This was expecially noticeable when running Final Cut Pro (almost unusable) or Photo Mechanic + Photoshop (I'd have to quit one to run the other). I tolerated this situation until the M2 Airs came out and I maxed it to 24GB RAM, and have been beyond happy with it since then! My partner now has my 8GB M1 and it works perfectly for her.

JanSt 3y ago

This is me

jghn 3y ago

I have an 8GB M1 Air for the sole reason that I was so excited I decided to go with the model I could get on release day instead of waiting a month. Not the wisest decision. I figured I'd replace it at M2, and then at M3. But to be honest even with the 8GB it's fine enough still. I don't use it for much heavy lifting but it works ok-ish for that in a pinch. And for day to day personal use it's fine. So every year I go through the cycle where I *want* to replace it and then convince myself I don't really need it. I already have a monster machine for my work stuff, having extra horsepower for my personal machine would be nice but .... I'm sure M4 is the generation I'll upgrade. Just wait :)

adestefan 3y ago
I recently bought my wife a new Air and the only reason why I went with the M2 version was the nicer screen. Otherwise the M1/8GB would be more than fine for what she needs.

goosedragons 3y ago

Apple also still sells everything but the M1 Pro/Max/Ultra brand new in various devices too.

kzrdude 3y ago

Used market is full of those 8 GB models

paulmd 3y ago
apple always sells the base-tier model the most, by a pretty significant margin. especially in MBA or mac mini. all the big-box stores like bestbuy and costco carry that model, and it usually sees further sales. So it's hard to say that it's specifically people being upset about ram vs just the expected distribution given the bayesian prior. but yea 8gb is barely acceptable except as a pure consumption laptop. TBH even 16/256 is too small for anyone who's posting here, some npm/rubygems/pipenv/gradle/docker packages will eat that right up.

a_vanderbilt 3y ago

This is what happened in my case. I had an 8GB Air and while the CPU performance was incredible, it lacked the RAM to fully take advantage of it. I upgraded to a 16GB M2 Mac Mini. I consider it to be the perfect UNIX machine for my use case. If I need to access it on the go I remote in from a cheapo laptop.

jonpurdy 3y ago

I replaced a 16GB Intel MacBook Pro with an 8GB refurb M1 Air and regretted it within weeks. (Due to the initial claims about M1 using less memory and that the M1 destroyed my Intel's Javascript performance.) Turns out that my 8GB machine would slow down significantly when hitting the RAM limit. This was expecially noticeable when running Final Cut Pro (almost unusable) or Photo Mechanic + Photoshop (I'd have to quit one to run the other). I tolerated this situation until the M2 Airs came out and I maxed it to 24GB RAM, and have been beyond happy with it since then! My partner now has my 8GB M1 and it works perfectly for her.