[c_o_n_v_e_x]

To be fair, what you're getting is a hardware configuration that "just works." By controlling the hardware configuration, the manufacturer is controlling the user experience. Yes, components like storage and memory are built to standards but interoperability problems do come up.

By controlling components/configs, they (Apple) doesn't have to field angry tech support calls and go down rabbit holes as to why a random RAM manufacturer's DIMMs don't work with my machine.

Apple also does this with thunderbolt products, which have a very strict certification process so that user in theory should have a user experience where the products "just work."

[bogwog]

Have you ever bought a non-Apple computer? When hardware fails it’s not because the configuration “just dont work”, it’s because crappy OEMs ship garbage quality components that die, and when you buy one of those machines it’s really a race to see what fails first: an internal component or one of the poorly designed external components made of shitty plastic.

But that’s only for the cheap computers (a market Apple doesn’t serve). Most machines in the $800+ range offer excellent value and reliability (except Dell).

> By controlling components/configs, they (Apple) doesn't have to field angry tech support calls and go down rabbit holes as to why a random RAM manufacturer's DIMMs don't work with my machine.

I think you severely overestimate the number of people who install aftermarket parts into their computers. Furthermore, Apple offsetting the cost of tech support by overcharging customers for hardware is really shitty. Maybe if you’re a shareholder then that’s a positive statement, but this thread about pricing is obviously from a consumer perspective.

ALSO, it’s ignoring the fact that Apple’s answer to any tech support question is “buy a new one”. So whatever they’re doing with that extra money, it’s not going into tech support.

Why should I pay 10x RAM prices? Because nobody else can sell RAM for Apple’s latest computers, and nobody else can compete directly with those computers yet, and Apple is taking full advantage of that.

If a competitor starts offering comparable hardware, they’ll be able to significantly undercut Apple simply by offering RAM (and storage) at reasonable prices. Until then, Apple will be emptying wallets.