[there4]

Can anyone explain why they don't put more RAM in modern Mac computers? I think I can remember debating 8 versus 16 almost ten years ago. Why are they still stuck on 8?

[nerdwaller]

Because not everyone is a techie that reads HN. Most people I know, even many developers, could easily get by with 8g of RAM.

[protomyth]

Its a struggle with 10.10 and 10.11. The RAM requirement went up and it is a lot more sluggish. I got a lot of complaints and we ended up putting 16g in every iMac. The airs just became painful.

[robin_reala]

I doubt it. In 2005 a 1GB Corsair stick was $189 [1]. Going to 16GB from 8Gb would have set you back an extra $1500, even assuming your motherboard could have taken it.

[1] http://www.statisticbrain.com/average-historic-price-of-ram/

[Tepix]

I had 16GB in my Hackintosh 3 years ago. I noticed that 8GB seem to be enough for more of the things I do, even with some big apps such as XCode and Final Cut Pro X in simultaneous use. I think my next Macbook will only have 8GB. Apple tends to charge a huge premium on extra RAM and SSD space anyway.

[jeswin]

The 27" iMacs aren't using soldered RAM and has 4 slots. So it would probably be cheaper to buy and install RAM separately. 32GB would be about $180 instead of the ridiculous $600 Apple wants.

[Wonnk13]

Can you actually install additional RAM? I didn't know you could take apart an iMac; i thought that changed after their "unibody" one piece aluminum design.