Just hours after the launch of Apple’s new iMac on Wednesday, a tear down of the low-cost 21.5-inch desktop reveals the 8GB of RAM to be permanent – soldered onto the logic board.
Cupertino launched its low-end iMac with a price tag of $1,099, which is about $200 cheaper than the previous low-end models. However, the cheaper price means buyers will have to settle for a non-upgradeable RAM.
It is hinted by the Online Apple Store too that the computer comes with an 8GB memory and in the description of the other models, it is clearly pointed out that the devices have “two 4GB DIMMs.”
This move doesn’t come out of the blue as the company has been trying to find a way to stop users from borrowing internal components from iDevices to upgrade their PCs. Users who have an additional $50 to burn can fit it with a 1TB hard drive and shelling out $250 can buy them a 1TB Fusion Drive or a 250GB SSD.
The iMac which Apple claimed as “the perfect entry-level Mac desktop” looked like a strategically developed product which stops users from swapping components, thereby making more market demand for the mid-range models such as the 21.5 inch iMac which is available for $1,299.
The new model packs a 1.4Ghz dual-core Intel core i5 processor and 500GB storage. This move by Apple to downgrade is expected to reduce its performance by at least 40 percent performance, according to benchmark reports.
While Apple’s announcements during the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) suggested a high-end iMac, MacOS X Yosemite with retina display and 4K support, the company introducing a low-end desktop with serious downgrades shows the company in bad light.
