I have an M2 Macbook Pro with 8GB of RAM for work and would NEVER buy this. After the last update, and after reboot, I sit at 7/8GB used RAM. This thing chugs. What a piece of crap.
My son still uses M1 air with 8GB ram and does software development and all his school work. Never had a problem with slowdown. I am not sure how you can say 7-8 used. That is simply not true.
Apple fanboys will jump on you now, they think a meager 8GB of RAM for iOS is enough. I use a MacBook and Windows and Linux machine, and 8GB even on Linis limited these days these days. BTW, I would get this if it's 16GB of RAM and 14" size who is using 15.6" size anymore?
ive been using a macbook m1 with 8gb for two years to edit photoshop files and light 4k video editing with no issues.
Just recently switched to the 15" with 8gb ram and again NO ISSUES editing hundreds of raw photos from my Sony A7iii on my 34" external monitor. I do not run chrome or edit videos in the background. 8gb is more than fine unless you do alot of layers in photoshop or heaving editing, rendering or run chrome with 452 tabs.
I recently upgraded to a Macbook pro 16" M1 with 16gb of ram and surprised to see the 15" MBA M2 beat the MBP m1 in resizing 500 photos by 10-15%. but the MBP M1was 2x as fast in downsizing 4k video to 1080p in Handbrake.
So 8gb is fine for most people. unless you're gaming, or rendering or severely multitasking, but if you're just using couple of programs, you'll be fine.
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Serious question, what do you have open? My wife wants something like this for home. Most of her work is browser based (she's a teacher - and they use Macs there) and, she might use some Office type applications (sheets, ppt, etc.). She currently has a 13" M1 MacBook Air at work and it's fine. Is the M2 with 8GB RAM that bad?
It doesn't matter how it's used. Do you currently use MacOS? You're going to minimize an application or two then swap to a browser with a few tabs open. It's natural to use the laptop that way. Normal light use is enough saturate the system memory and cause slowdown. Don't get something that your wife is going to have to methodically close every sing tab and app before opening a new one in order to keep the machine from getting laggy and slow. Wait until next month and score an M2 16gb for $1199 or $1299.
ive been using a macbook m1 with 8gb for two years to edit photoshop files and light 4k video editing with no issues.
Just recently switched to the 15" with 8gb ram and again NO ISSUES editing hundreds of raw photos from my Sony A7iii on my 34" external monitor. I do not run chrome or edit videos in the background. 8gb is more than fine unless you do alot of layers in photoshop or heaving editing, rendering or run chrome with 452 tabs.
I recently upgraded to a Macbook pro 16" M1 with 16gb of ram and surprised to see the 15" MBA M2 beat the MBP m1 in resizing 500 photos by 10-15%. but the MBP M1was 2x as fast in downsizing 4k video to 1080p in Handbrake.
So 8gb is fine for most people. unless you're gaming, or rendering or severely multitasking, but if you're just using couple of programs, you'll be fine.
I agree. I have used a 15" 8gb with >30 chrome tabs open and no issues or slowdown.
Last edited by jbj300 February 29, 2024 at 07:29 AM.
"It won't support my ADD browser tab sprawl with 14 browser windows and 742 tabs…"
Some people are just silly, BUT - it is stupid Apple doesn't just put 16 in there stock for a $1k+ machine. I think Apple silicon is wonderful, but yeah, the memory stuff is ridiculous.
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My son still uses M1 air with 8GB ram and does software development and all his school work. Never had a problem with slowdown. I am not sure how you can say 7-8 used. That is simply not true.
Just recently switched to the 15" with 8gb ram and again NO ISSUES editing hundreds of raw photos from my Sony A7iii on my 34" external monitor. I do not run chrome or edit videos in the background. 8gb is more than fine unless you do alot of layers in photoshop or heaving editing, rendering or run chrome with 452 tabs.
I recently upgraded to a Macbook pro 16" M1 with 16gb of ram and surprised to see the 15" MBA M2 beat the MBP m1 in resizing 500 photos by 10-15%. but the MBP M1was 2x as fast in downsizing 4k video to 1080p in Handbrake.
So 8gb is fine for most people. unless you're gaming, or rendering or severely multitasking, but if you're just using couple of programs, you'll be fine.
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Just recently switched to the 15" with 8gb ram and again NO ISSUES editing hundreds of raw photos from my Sony A7iii on my 34" external monitor. I do not run chrome or edit videos in the background. 8gb is more than fine unless you do alot of layers in photoshop or heaving editing, rendering or run chrome with 452 tabs.
I recently upgraded to a Macbook pro 16" M1 with 16gb of ram and surprised to see the 15" MBA M2 beat the MBP m1 in resizing 500 photos by 10-15%. but the MBP M1was 2x as fast in downsizing 4k video to 1080p in Handbrake.
So 8gb is fine for most people. unless you're gaming, or rendering or severely multitasking, but if you're just using couple of programs, you'll be fine.
Some people are just silly, BUT - it is stupid Apple doesn't just put 16 in there stock for a $1k+ machine. I think Apple silicon is wonderful, but yeah, the memory stuff is ridiculous.
$800 on shopmyexchange. Worth it over a $600 refurb (only 50 cycles) MBA M1? $700 new?
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