Thread

1. ryandrake · 1791149394 · focus · HN ↗

   Reminds me of all the de-crufting you've always needed to do when you install Windows. Looks like we've gotten to the point on macOS too, where you need to run third party scripts on a new OS installation to gain back control of your system resources and remove unwanted crapware.

   1. 2muchcoffeeman · 1791150186 · focus · HN ↗

      On windows you got garbage like trial versions of Blah software.

      This is a fully functioning feature that people don’t like for what ever reason.

      1. Grombobulous · 1791151723 · focus · HN ↗

         Automatically downloading AI models into disk space with no user-facing way to turn it off is especially hostile considering Apple as vendor of both the OS and the hardware is the same entity that overcharges for non-upgradable SSD storage in their machines.

         1. penskymaterial · 1791152216 · focus · HN ↗

            They'll rent you more iCloud space when you fill up the SSD. That's good, holistic customer service.

            1. stingraycharles · 1791152608 · focus · HN ↗

               That doesn’t work unless you’re actually able to offload stuff from disk, which is only the case when you store stuff in your iCloud Drive / photos / etc.

               Case in point: the AI models can’t be offloaded to iCloud.

               1. penskymaterial · 1791153555 · focus · HN ↗

                  Maybe someone can explain why their SSDs, when not soldered down, are a proprietary form factor and can't be replaced with a standard M.2 device?

                  1. theodric · 1791154236 · focus · HN ↗

                     To gain the same effect as one that is soldered down, while giving themselves a simpler portfolio of assemblies and a cheaper FRU to swap in the event of failure.

                     1. m4rtink · 1791158213 · focus · HN ↗

                        So vendor locking to make more money. :)
                  2. stingraycharles · 1791154737 · focus · HN ↗

                     I believe they have a special kind of SSD, where the controller is locked into the motherboard. This is serial locked in some form.

                     (Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is how I understand it)

                     1. Grombobulous · 1791158695 · focus · HN ↗

                        My understanding is that the controller is integrated into the SoC.

                        You can actually replace the storage on Apple desktops but it’s a bit of a pain and isn’t as cheap as m.2 2280 drives.

                        I don’t really know why Apple does this when their solution doesn’t seem to offer an obvious advantage. They aren’t faster than existing solutions or anything like that.

                        1. throooooo · 1791160112 · focus · HN ↗

                           Vendor lock-in increases their profit margins. If people could purchase a 128GB Mac mini and install their own 2TB drives they wouldn't make as much money.
                     2. odo1242 · 1791162649 · focus · HN ↗

                        It’s not actually serial locked, you can replace SSDs by desoldering and resoldering a NAND chip. But basically their SSD controller is integrated into the M-series chips (mostly because cheaper, less connectors to manufacture). But it’s a very specialized process

                        1. stingraycharles · 1791163105 · focus · HN ↗

                           I think most consumers would happily pay a bit extra for these controllers if it meant that they could manually upgrade their SSDs. I can’t help but have the feeling that it’s also quite convenient for Apple that all this stuff is effectively non-replaceable / upgradable.

                           I don’t think the benefits are the same as with their RAM being part of their SoC, as that gives them real speed improvements, right?

                           1. floydnoel · 1791166986 · focus · HN ↗

                              I disagree. I think 90% or more wouldn't care.

                              1. Barbing · 1791173936 · focus · HN ↗

                                 Indeed,

                                 > manually upgrade

                                 or “average Apple customer”, pick one

                                 btw something beautiful about the YouTube videos of shops in China doing those SSD deletes with the power tools

                              2. ascorbic · 1791178542 · focus · HN ↗

                                 I'd be amazed if even 1% care
                           2. JumpCrisscross · 1791174222 · focus · HN ↗

                              > it’s also quite convenient for Apple that all this stuff is effectively non-replaceable / upgradable

                              On the other hand, I’m happily banging away on my ca. 2020 M1 MacBook Pro. It just got a warranty service, free to me, that replaced the screen. It will probably get replaced around 2030. That simply isn’t the norm with the alternatives.

                              The hypothesis that this is self serving isn’t supported by the evidence. Instead it’s more parsimonious to conclude that this is Apple being Apple with pushing design to the limit when it comes to executing a vision. User-upgradable parts have not been part of that vision since Jobs returned.

                              1. klrefg · 1791180255 · focus · HN ↗

                                 > User-upgradable parts have not been part of that vision since Jobs returned.

                                 Macs were quite repairable and most parts were replaceable until ~2012. So it’s hard to blame Jobs for that.

                              2. lm411 · 1791181292 · focus · HN ↗

                                 I've had good luck with AppleCare and warranty service, and most of my Macbook's have lasted well.

                                 On the other hand my sons 2021 Mac Mini M1 with an estimated < 20% writes remaining on the SSD is not looking very cool. In fact, rather disappointing and the computer will be junk soon due to the SSD only.

                              3. kalleboo · 1791182990 · focus · HN ↗

                                 [delayed]
                     3. LoganDark · 1791169800 · focus · HN ↗

                        Note that before the Mac mini socketed SSDs, Retina MacBook Pros had socketed SSDs as well. They were not standard M.2 either though, you had to get specific aftermarket parts from the likes of OWC
                  3. dwaite · 1791173507 · focus · HN ↗

                     My understanding is that they are not SSDs - they lack a disk controller, instead providing flash memory more directly to the SoC

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