Does anyone think a basic 256GB of internal storage is a good thing in 2024?

It basically depends what you need and do.

Is a Cessna plane enough in 2024 ? If you aim to carry 2 passengers, yes. If you aim to carry 300 passengers, no.

If all you do is web, word processing, and you can live with 50GB or 200 GB of iCloud drive, it's enough. But if you do heavy graphic, movie production with FCP or music production with some pro DAW and need large projects to live on the internal drive for current work, then 256 GB can be a huge handicap.

I can tell you I have 2 TB internally (and several TB on external drives for ''storage'', not current editing, but I do music production and occasional (yet enough) video editing. It's enough, but I could probably not have the same latitude with 256 GB, even 512 GB...

And yes, you might opt for more iCloud storage and free up your internal drive regularly. But say you often encounter yourself in hotels with bad connexions and need to access stuff on a cloud drive, you may also regret you did not have it internally in the first place...

So, many considerations.

Macden wrote:

So you think Gaming is a professional application? Some people can't even download games from the iStore because their Mac says "Insufficient free space"? I think Apple doesn't understand gamers at all. Xbox and Playstation understand and provide decent storage as well as upgradability and use of external drive to install games on!

If you are into running a lot of high-end games, then your hardware requirements may be a bit different from those of someone looking for a computer to let them access the Internet, do word processing, and handle a family photo collection.

Apple doesn't sell entry-level Macs – especially portable ones - as competitors for Xbox and Playstation consoles that are dedicated to games, and tied to AC outlets. Windows PC vendors also don't sell entry-level machines as competitors for gaming consoles and for high-end "gaming" PCs.

BTW, there are PC vendors who offer new PCs that have only 4 GB of RAM as a platform for running Windows 10 or 11. Probably some who still try to pass off mechanical hard drives, or 32 GB microSDXC cards, as substitutes for startup SSDs. Whether you're in the market for a Mac or a Windows PC, it is best to determine what you need, and buy that – rather than buying the cheapest thing available just because it has the lowest initial price tag, then complaining because it didn't happen to meet your particular need.

It's not rocket science . . . if you need more space cheaply get a USB connected SSD.

1 TB will cost around £60/$70

Problem solved.

Not every user needs to run professional software on the MacBook Air, and, as you mentioned, 256GB is just the base model.

The MacBook Pro offers 512GB as a start, for example.

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copied from: Compare MacBook Air

You can also use the Feedback link, to tell Apple directly about your thoughts on that:

Product Feedback - Apple

There are a large number of users that buy Macs that never add anything beyond what Apple supplies with a Mac in terms of software. They may add Pages or Numbers but beyond that they have no other needs. For them, 256 GB is more than enough.

Besides, If people are using "Pro" apps, they should be buying machines appropriately configured for their needs and not "base" models in the first place!

I prefer large internal SSDs (1 TB) because I need breathing room for video work. But my daughter recently replaced her old MacBook 256 GB with a new MacBook 256 GB because her old laptop had plenty of free space and she plans to use the new one with the same pattern and apps.

Macden wrote:

the base model simply doesn't cut it for many users.

That's why there are other options. I do fine with the base model. I'm happy that there is an option for a slightly lower price.

The options are similar to buying a Mustang or Camaro.

There are several options to chose from, a 4 cylinder, a V6 and V8.

The dealer has 4 cylinder models on the lot and has to order a V6 or V8 model.

The base price is for the 4 cylinder model and goes up sharply to order the V6 or V8 model.

With that in mind complaining to the manufacture, the dealer or other owner/drivers, is not going to put a V8 in every model.

Whilst I agree with the previous 2 posters, I think Apple could do better in explaining the base models' usefulness & limitations.

This forum isn’t for debating product improvements, use Feedback - Mac mini - Apple to vent. Good luck!