iPad: Should it have more RAM?

[bteam]

So I've had the iPad 4 for 2 weeks. It's nearly perfect, but there is a flaw. It seems like Safari likes to reload tabs if too many open. This is very, very annoying. From googling, the problem seems to be a lack of RAM. If there is not enough, Safari releases the older tabs from memory then reloads when you switch back. My iPad is mostly used for web surfing and I use it more than my other computers so I get this problem everyday.

If Apple releases a 2 gig iPad next year, I will probably upgrade.

Not looking for an argument, but I'd just like to hear your thoughts. Should the iPad have more RAM?

[WhiteIphone5]

Originally Posted by bteam

So I've had the iPad 4 for 2 weeks. It's nearly perfect, but there is a flaw. It seems like Safari likes to reload tabs if too many open. This is very, very annoying. From googling, the problem seems to be a lack of RAM. If there is not enough, Safari releases the older tabs from memory then reloads when you switch back. My iPad is mostly used for web surfing and I use it more than my other computers so I get this problem everyday.

If Apple releases a 2 gig iPad next year, I will probably upgrade.

Not looking for an argument, but I'd just like to hear your thoughts. Should the iPad have more RAM?

Of course, everyone loves more RAM. But in my opinion it's not really necessary, I think iOS handles RAM very well.

[clyde2801]

Wait til next year, it'll have it then.

[Ipadlover29]

Originally Posted by bteam

So I've had the iPad 4 for 2 weeks. It's nearly perfect, but there is a flaw. It seems like Safari likes to reload tabs if too many open. This is very, very annoying. From googling, the problem seems to be a lack of RAM. If there is not enough, Safari releases the older tabs from memory then reloads when you switch back. My iPad is mostly used for web surfing and I use it more than my other computers so I get this problem everyday.

If Apple releases a 2 gig iPad next year, I will probably upgrade.

Not looking for an argument, but I'd just like to hear your thoughts. Should the iPad have more RAM?

I was disappointed when I found out the iPad 4 only has 1gb of ram. Of course apple wants us to buy the 5 to get more ram.

[maflynn]

Originally Posted by clyde2801

Wait til next year, it'll have it then.

Not necessarily. Apple has a long and illustrious history of providing products that have very little ram. If they think for the usage the mini is getting 512meg is sufficient they'll keep it at the level.

[Breitling65]

Originally Posted by bteam

So I've had the iPad 4 for 2 weeks. It's nearly perfect, but there is a flaw. It seems like Safari likes to reload tabs if too many open. This is very, very annoying. From googling, the problem seems to be a lack of RAM. If there is not enough, Safari releases the older tabs from memory then reloads when you switch back. My iPad is mostly used for web surfing and I use it more than my other computers so I get this problem everyday.

If Apple releases a 2 gig iPad next year, I will probably upgrade.

Not looking for an argument, but I'd just like to hear your thoughts. Should the iPad have more RAM?

I would prefer better and faster iOS7 including new safari.

[jimboutilier]

I experienced Safari page reloading with my iPad 1 but not so much with an iPad 2 or mini. But I suppose it depends on the number and complexity of pages open. I usually only have a handful open at once and tend to consume each one in sequence rather than doing a lot of switching.

I can appreciate the desire for more RAM, but remember its onboard the processor not separate so it's nothing like adding commodity rem sticks. They have to come up with a whole new processor package that includes more ram in the design.

[nfl46]

Most likely the iPad 5 will have 2GB, while most Android tablets have 3-4 GB next year.

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Of course it should have more ram. As soon as iOS took on the background multitasking functionality in a real way (which was what- version 2 or 3?), the need for more and more ram manifested. Multitasking and pinched ram are a poor pairing.

While they're at it (adding more ram), I'd like to be able to tag certain apps to stay in RAM. For example, it would be good if an interested user could make their VOIP app always be active in RAM. As is, things get kicked out of ram to free up space for more recently opened apps. Being able to tag some key apps to be "always on" would be a great way to use some of that added ram we want to see.

Of course, such an option paired with some apps would burn through battery time more rapidly, but a "warning" could advise users of that when they try to use that functionality.

[bteam]

Originally Posted by HobeSoundDarryl

Of course it should have more ram. As soon as iOS took on the background multitasking functionality in a real way (which was what- version 2 or 3?), the need for more and more ram manifested. Multitasking and pinched ram are a poor pairing.

While they're at it (adding more ram), I'd like to be able to tag certain apps to stay in RAM. For example, it would be good if an interested user could make their VOIP app always be active in RAM. As is, things get kicked out of ram to free up space for more recently opened apps. Being able to tag some key apps to be "always on" would be a great way to use some of that added ram we want to see.

Of course, such an option paired with some apps would burn through battery time more rapidly, but a "warning" could advise users of that when they try to use that functionality.

A lot of people seem to be happy with their minis with only 512 MB.

Can't they do something like connected standby on the new Macs where the program is suspended, but if a packet arrives for a particular program it's woken up? I don't think the notification service works like this because it goes through Apple.

They could always use flash memory as swap space, but I've seen benchmarks on sync speed and it's pretty slow.

[Saberon]

As much as I love the Mini in person, I decided to get the 4 just for the big jump in CPU/RAM. The Mini has the same hardware as the iPad 2.

Just to clarify some confusion I always seem to find on these forums

iPhone: 128MB
iPhone 3G: 128MB
iPhone 3GS: 256MB
iPhone 4: 512MB
iPhone 4S: 512MB
iPhone 5: 1GB

iPad 1: 256MB
iPad 2: 512MB
iPad 3: 1GB
iPad 4: 1GB
iPad Mini: 512MB

iPod Touch 1: 128MB
iPod Touch 2: 128MB
iPod Touch 3 (32GB and 64GB only) 256MB
iPod Touch 4: 256MB
iPod Touch 5: 512MB

[irDigital0l]

Originally Posted by Breitling65

I would prefer better and faster iOS7 including new safari.

Which more RAM would help...

[Fruit Cake]

They need to enable the swap file in iOS, 1gb ram would go a lot further then it does now.

[clyde2801]

Originally Posted by maflynn

Not necessarily. Apple has a long and illustrious history of providing products that have very little ram. If they think for the usage the mini is getting 512meg is sufficient they'll keep it at the level.

Silly me. But I wonder what next year's model will bring, assuming it won't have a retina display. New colors?

[maflynn]

Originally Posted by clyde2801

Silly me. But I wonder what next year's model will bring, assuming it won't have a retina display. New colors?

I don't know what they'll have, but they've never touted the amount of ram as part of the upgrade on iPad models so I kind of doubt that will be one of the items that will be marketed as improved. Heck they don't even really detail the ram amount, so why advertise it increased

[racoonboy]

Trust me, it must have somthing to do with 6.0.1 if you are currently using.

OS not willing to give back ram after using apps. My Ipad 2 page refresh more often and i am surprised to find out here that its the same case in Ipad 4. 1G of ram for IOS supposed to be plenty. Wait for 6.1, it should be better.

[Medic311]

i don't really need more RAM since i am constantly closing Apps to maximize battery life

if you're complaining with 1GB RAM, try using a Blackberry and then see how good you have it.