Is 16gb really worth the extra money?

I'm not entirely clear on if you're buying a new laptop or thinking about upgrading an existing unit. If you're buying new and you have the money, if you get it from Apple you have an easier repair if in the very rare instance you have a memory module fail. Like I said, it's fairly rare. I've boought memory from Crucial several times: I've always been satisfied and never had a failure. But you also have to be comfortable with getting in to your computer with a screwdriver. I believe that all of the non-Retina MBP's can have the memory upgraded after purchase.

If you're still interested, go to the Crucial web site and look up the model that you have or are looking for and they'll tell you exactly what you need, they also usually have a video showing how to do it. My first MBP, bought about 6 years ago, was not user-upgradeable. But every MB that I've had since then, with the exception of my Air, were easy.

That is not correct. Most all memory manufacturers offer Life Time warranties. Apple only has a one year warranty on all the hardware included in the system and if you buy the Applecare extended warranty that adds only 2 more years for a total of 3 years. If you have a memory failure, which in my experience is very unlikely. possible but unlikely, all you have to do is send the memory back to the manufacturer for a replacement. With the Apple installed memory if it fails after 1 year with just the standard warranty or 3 years with the Applecare extension warranty you have to buy new RAM yourself. Not only that but Apple charges way to much for the RAM upgrades. 16GBs of RAM for the newer model Mac notebooks can be bought for about $120 and you get to keep the original RAM. Apple charges something like $200 and Apple keeps the original RAM.

The 2007 model Macbook Pros where user upgradable for RAM and hard drives just like the current models.

Cloudster wrote:

I'm not entirely clear on if you're buying a new laptop or thinking about upgrading an existing unit. If you're buying new and you have the money, if you get it from Apple you have an easier repair if in the very rare instance you have a memory module fail. Like I said, it's fairly rare. I've boought memory from Crucial several times: I've always been satisfied and never had a failure. But you also have to be comfortable with getting in to your computer with a screwdriver. I believe that all of the non-Retina MBP's can have the memory upgraded after purchase.

If you're still interested, go to the Crucial web site and look up the model that you have or are looking for and they'll tell you exactly what you need, they also usually have a video showing how to do it. My first MBP, bought about 6 years ago, was not user-upgradeable. But every MB that I've had since then, with the exception of my Air, were easy.

You are very welcome.

Good luck with your new Mac.

rydog1 wrote:

thanks i appreciate your help and ok i will get 4gb and get a 16gb and install that. thanks again

I was thinking in terms of getting an Apple store to replace the memory if it were to fail rather than sending off to the manufacturer for a replacement. Me, I'll always buy Crucial and do it myself, but not everyone is comfortable with taking a screwdriver to their laptops.