Comments on: Apple’s RAM Upgrade Pricing Finally Reasonable?

By: TCG

TCG — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:21:13 +0000

White MacBook RAM upgrade (15 Nov) is:
4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM – 2x2GB [Add $203.00]

I can get 2GB MICRON DDR2 667MHZ 200 PIN DIMM FOR APPLE MACBOOK for $28 each from 18004memory. So, the difference is ~$150.

Am I missing something?

By: Tom Reestman

Tom Reestman — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:40:05 +0000

Devin,

No, you are NOT paying for a 2GB stick. You’re paying for two of them. You’re net gain may be 2GB but that doesn’t change the fact that when you buy a 4GB upgrade kit it includes two 2GB sticks.

Ramjet charges $11 less than Apple, and lets you keep your existing 1GB sticks to make earrings (or whatever) out of. For $11 and the two sticks I have no use for, Apple installs it for me and I have no warranty issues. I consider that a fair deal.

If you have a machine with empty RAM slots for the extra 1GB sticks, and you have no issue installing it yourself, and your time is not worth $11, then go for it.

By: Devin

Devin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:50:55 +0000

No…I don’t consider $150 for a 2GB stick reasonable…since this is essentially what you are paying for.

By: joecab

joecab — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:26:16 +0000

You know, I’m so conditioned to Apple having incredibly inflated RAM prices that I instinctively skipped upgrading the memory when I ordered my MacBook. Dang. Ah well, guess I can do it myself and sell the memory on eBay even though I assume the competition will be fierce enough that it won’t get a great price.

By: computer software

computer software — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:09:58 +0000

Well they have to keep up with microsoft somehow. Microsoft is the king of under 1000$ market and 2G ram can go for around 40-100$ depending of the manufacturer.
Anyway, good news!

By: SomeGuy

SomeGuy — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:36:14 +0000

This of course does not excuse the huge markup for days gone by but even the $200 pricing wasn’t bad considering that Apple RAM is also covered under warranty (I know, I know…RAM issues are rare, but still…piece of mind is worth something when RAM failures that do occur often fry the logic board).

By: SomeGuy

SomeGuy — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:33:57 +0000

What you have to remember is that Apple uses only premium RAM providers (Samsung, Micron, Hynex) which cannot be said for Ramjet. Of course there are places that also use reputable providers like crucial.com but this can’t be said for just any ‘ole RAM provider (kingston for example).

By: SimpleLife

SimpleLife — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:08:40 +0000

Nice blog post. I noticed that too. I wasn’t sure if I saw it right.

I’d definitely buy RAM from Apple now. It really was ridiculous how much they were charging before.

This is a much more sane consumer policy. What they did before was just wrong, and just confused newbies, while Apple veterans knew better and just bought from third parties.

By: Tom Reestman

Tom Reestman — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:49:45 +0000

Chad,

I noted that. The difference is that you don’t get to keep the 1GB chips Apple removes. But unless you’ve got a use for them (or a buyer who has a use for them) they’re not much use.

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:39:11 +0000

No you aren’t getting it. Apple gives you 2gigs with the Macbook and for an additional $150 you get another 2gig. So, you are paying Apple $150 that extra 2gig. Ramjet is charging $139 for the full 4gig. Would you rather pay $139 for 6gig or $150 for 4?