iPad 1Gb of RAM is enough, be happy :)

[gotluck]

1GB RAM is my ONLY complaint ... I absolutely LOVE my Air ... which only makes the 1GB issue even more frustrating.

Heck, if they had made the 128GB model the only one with 2GB I would have sighed and coughed up the extra money ...

Indeed, I meant to say only. (well, I'd like it jailbroken out of the box, but that's another topic) I hear you, but I want to blame iOS 7 at this point and hope that issues will be resolved, namely Safari Tab Refresh.

They cant be smart enough to make all this money and then blow an otherwise perfect device over $10 in ram. I have to believe they had a 2gb prototype and findings were justified somehow. Hopefully profit margins were not the justification.

 

[danpass]

1gb is JUST enough but 2 is better.

the 512mb of the first Mini is certainly NOT enough lol

 

[unplugme71]

Addresses are twice as large - 8 bytes instead of 4. Every object reference, every method reference in a dispatch vector, every parameter reference in a method call.... it adds up.

Yes, but you don't need to use 8 bytes if it doesn't call for it. This is resource management in software development. You create variables only as big as they need to be.

 

[Cyloncat]

Yes, but you don't need to use 8 bytes if it doesn't call for it. This is resource management in software development. You create variables only as big as they need to be.

In 64-bit mode, addresses are 8 bytes. Period. This is a fixed size, like int and long.

 

[ciaran00]

What is this I don't even

Guy starts with $499 iPad and ends up with $2000 MacBook Pro. 1 GB of RAM must surely be worth less than $1,500?

Maybe not

 

[rui no onna]

They cant be smart enough to make all this money and then blow an otherwise perfect device over $10 in ram. I have to believe they had a 2gb prototype and findings were justified somehow.

The iPad Air is still a good device even with just 1GB RAM. Sure, Safari tabs refresh pretty often which can get to be pretty annoying but the iPad works quite smoothly despite the lack of RAM. Apple does need to fix iOS 7 to get rid of occasional stutters, though. Do I think sticking to 1GB RAM is purely a cost-cutting measure? Yes, I do. Do I think it would be possible to squeeze a bit longer product life if they had increased the RAM on the Air? Yes, I do. However, there's no incentive for Apple to increase product life. I reckon 99% of iPad Air buyers have no issues with performancea and wouldn't notice the difference between an iPad with 1GB RAM vs one with 2GB. The 1% that do have issues are here on MR.

 

[prism]

I am really not happy about how the Air runs ios7, the stuttering is unacceptable for what is right now their flagship ipad. Apple should get flak for this but I guess most average consumers are just blinded by the distortion field!

 

[s2mikey]

I am really not happy about how the Air runs ios7, the stuttering is unacceptable for what is right now their flagship ipad. Apple should get flak for this but I guess most average consumers are just blinded by the distortion field!

The only stuttering Ive seen appears to be more of an iOS 7 thing - the app close gesture motion isnt always smooth and a few other gestures here and there arent either but its not a deal-killer by any means. I suspect that they'll clean this stuff up within a few updates.

I dont believe its an iPad Air problem specifically.

 

[unplugme71]

In 64-bit mode, addresses are 8 bytes. Period. This is a fixed size, like int and long.

I don't think so unless you can provide reference to that statement. Then again, I'm going by Microsoft - not Mac - so Obj C might handle differently.

The pointer will be 8 bytes on a 64bit.

int will be 4 bytes (unless you use int64), long will be 8 bytes.

 

[AppleRobert]

Txa1265,

So folks not seeing any problem with what they use the Air for should return it because it does not have enough ram?

 

[txa1265]

Txa1265,

So folks not seeing any problem with what they use the Air for should return it because it does not have enough ram?

Um, gimme a break. You KNOW what I mean.

Much of the attitude in the forum is that 'those claiming there is a valid need for >1GB are WRONG'.

My point is that not only is there a valid need, but Apple demonstrated one source of it (Garageband) on stage announcing the iPad Air.

The iPad Air is an excellent tablet, but it has an inherent and indisputable flaw in that the limited RAM causes several issues that have been demonstrated and discussed ad nauseum.

Apple is a for-profit company, and they can do what they want - if they choose to make a profit-based decision to exclude a feature in order to gain $10 more profit, that is their choice. If they choose to say 'people will buy our stuff anyway, and we can count on our minions to drown out anyone who complains', that is also their choice. A tablet is already a luxury, so no one is forced to buy one.

But let us just not pretend that in an environment where EVERY recent high resolution device has AT LEAST 2GB of RAM, that Apple made anything BUT a calculated profit-over-customer decision.

 

[AppleRobert]

Um, gimme a break. You KNOW what I mean.

Much of the attitude in the forum is that 'those claiming there is a valid need for >1GB are WRONG'.

My point is that not only is there a valid need, but Apple demonstrated one source of it (Garageband) on stage announcing the iPad Air.

The iPad Air is an excellent tablet, but it has an inherent and indisputable flaw in that the limited RAM causes several issues that have been demonstrated and discussed ad nauseum.

Apple is a for-profit company, and they can do what they want - if they choose to make a profit-based decision to exclude a feature in order to gain $10 more profit, that is their choice. If they choose to say 'people will buy our stuff anyway, and we can count on our minions to drown out anyone who complains', that is also their choice. A tablet is already a luxury, so no one is forced to buy one.

But let us just not pretend that in an environment where EVERY recent high resolution device has AT LEAST 2GB of RAM, that Apple made anything BUT a calculated profit-over-customer decision.

Yep, limited ram that has caused every purchaser a problem so far and everyone was returned it.

Give me a break, you know what I mean.

 

[txa1265]

Yep, limited ram that has caused every purchaser a problem so far and everyone was returned it.

Give me a break, you know what I mean.

Actually I don't. What you appear to be saying is that there is no problem. Your knee-jerk defensiveness has shifted around but has always come back to 'if the majority see no problem, there IS no problem'. You tell those who have an issue to shut up and return it, like it is some black & white issue.

I have provided a technical analogy in other areas - let's do one for networking. Let's say that the iPad had a WiFi chip that required a special dongle adapter hanging out of the Lightning port, that only communicated at up to 10MBps. People with higher speed networks would complain about this needless limitation, but your answer would be 'well, the majority of the world has <10MBps WIFi, so therefore it is not an issue. If you have a problem, return it.

So your two choices are: put up & shut up, or return it. Valid concerns are only those represented by the majority of users.

 

[mschmalenbach]

I don't think so unless you can provide reference to that statement. Then again, I'm going by Microsoft - not Mac - so Obj C might handle differently.

The pointer will be 8 bytes on a 64bit.

int will be 4 bytes (unless you use int64), long will be 8 bytes.

And many instructions will use indexed/offset addressing, many code segments will run as 32 bit instructions, and don't forget Thumb2 instructions (16 bit) - so the increase in programme size is unlikely to be as much as some have calculated

 

[Ries]

And many instructions will use indexed/offset addressing, many code segments will run as 32 bit instructions, and don't forget Thumb2 instructions (16 bit) - so the increase in programme size is unlikely to be as much as some have calculated

It was not calculated, it was measured on real apps like safari, infinity blade 3, maps, google maps and so on. (google maps is 32 bit, it was used as reference)

 

[slwiser]

I don't understand how memory is handled but my browser and google earth shut down much more frequently with the Air than it did with the 4 I passed on to my wife. 2gigs seems like a no brainer to me with this issue hanging over the Air.

The Air is quickly getting a reputation as being crippled by a design decision Apple made putting only 1 gig into the Air.

 

[prism]

But let us just not pretend that in an environment where EVERY recent high resolution device has AT LEAST 2GB of RAM, that Apple made anything BUT a calculated profit-over-customer decision.

You could be right but then it would contradict what Apple has done with their Mac platform, injecting significant new life on their old hardware thanks to Mavericks. I mean my 3 yr old MBP suddenly runs much cooler, faster and the battery life has virtually doubled just by switching to Mavericks which also has the added benefit that it is free!
I was actually looking into purchasing a new MBP before I installed Mavericks but now, I am going to postpone that thought at least for another year!

 

[s2mikey]

Um, gimme a break. You KNOW what I mean.

Much of the attitude in the forum is that 'those claiming there is a valid need for >1GB are WRONG'.

My point is that not only is there a valid need, but Apple demonstrated one source of it (Garageband) on stage announcing the iPad Air.

The iPad Air is an excellent tablet, but it has an inherent and indisputable flaw in that the limited RAM causes several issues that have been demonstrated and discussed ad nauseum.

Apple is a for-profit company, and they can do what they want - if they choose to make a profit-based decision to exclude a feature in order to gain $10 more profit, that is their choice. If they choose to say 'people will buy our stuff anyway, and we can count on our minions to drown out anyone who complains', that is also their choice. A tablet is already a luxury, so no one is forced to buy one.

But let us just not pretend that in an environment where EVERY recent high resolution device has AT LEAST 2GB of RAM, that Apple made anything BUT a calculated profit-over-customer decision.

I do know what you are saying and I also would have preferred the extra RAM. However, that comes with some tradeoffs such as cost, heat generation, weight, and overall size. In a perfect world they could make a $300 tablet with 8GB of ram and 1TB of SSD storage and make it weigh 3 oz and be paper thin. maybe someday

Until then, there have to be tradeoffs. I suspect most(not all) users will not have any issues and even though us tech-dorks slobber all over "big" specs that doesnt mean the devices have to meet those specs to be useful.

So far, I havent experienced and performance issues. Time will tell.

 

[txa1265]

You could be right but then it would contradict what Apple has done with their Mac platform, injecting significant new life on their old hardware thanks to Mavericks. I mean my 3 yr old MBP suddenly runs much cooler, faster and the battery life has virtually doubled just by switching to Mavericks which also has the added benefit that it is free!
I was actually looking into purchasing a new MBP before I installed Mavericks but now, I am going to postpone that thought at least for another year!

Actually a better analogy to what you are describing is the iPad 2 ... with each passing update it seemed to slow down more and more - but then along comes iOS 7 and it gets a real kick in usability. After getting the Air I had planned to dump the 2 and keep the Mini for a 'house iPad' ... but after iOS 7 I'm keeping the iPad 2 for general use.

 

[txa1265]

However, that comes with some tradeoffs such as cost, heat generation, weight, and overall size.

Let me address these, because it is important:
- Cost: the estimated difference between 1GB and 2GB SDRAM chips is <$10
- Heat Generation: The heat generated by RAM IN TOTAL is inconsequential compared to CPU/GPU and Battery (big hitters) and then storage and communications chips. Moreover, the DIFFERENTIAL heat generation between a 1GB and 2GB chip is in the microwatt range.
- Weight: No difference between 1GB and 2GB RAM. None. Zero. Zip.
- Overall size: again, no difference.

In addition, things like APIs from the OS will deal with the differences in RAM just like they do for system storage, so it isn't like there is some huge software effort that was required.

And as a reminder, those 'budget' tablets like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX have 2GB of RAM.

In short: there is NO TECHNICAL REASON Apple could not have put 2GB of RAM into the iPad Air. They have enough experience with 1GB systems to understand the capabilities and limitations and also that some of the amazing stuff they are doing and third parties are doing would greatly benefit from additional RAM.

SO ... that leaves cost/profit. I am not even saying that what Apple did was 'wrong' - what I am saying is that if we are going to pretend to have intelligent discourse here, we need to agree that there is a singular reason for the 1GB vs. 2GB decision. Apple weighed profits for 1GB vs. use-cases for 2GB and decided 1GB made the most sense.

 

[zhenya]

SO ... that leaves cost/profit. I am not even saying that what Apple did was 'wrong' - what I am saying is that if we are going to pretend to have intelligent discourse here, we need to agree that there is a singular reason for the 1GB vs. 2GB decision. Apple weighed profits for 1GB vs. use-cases for 2GB and decided 1GB made the most sense.

There is one more reason that almost certainly plays into the decision to use a small amount of RAM for all iOS devices - and that is forcing developers to keep their code neat and streamlined. We know from every other platform that given extra memory, programs will use it, for better or worse.

I just don't buy the explanation that it's 100% about cost.

 

[unplugme71]

Let me address these, because it is important:
- Cost: the estimated difference between 1GB and 2GB SDRAM chips is <$10
- Heat Generation: The heat generated by RAM IN TOTAL is inconsequential compared to CPU/GPU and Battery (big hitters) and then storage and communications chips. Moreover, the DIFFERENTIAL heat generation between a 1GB and 2GB chip is in the microwatt range.
- Weight: No difference between 1GB and 2GB RAM. None. Zero. Zip.
- Overall size: again, no difference.

In addition, things like APIs from the OS will deal with the differences in RAM just like they do for system storage, so it isn't like there is some huge software effort that was required.

And as a reminder, those 'budget' tablets like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX have 2GB of RAM.

In short: there is NO TECHNICAL REASON Apple could not have put 2GB of RAM into the iPad Air. They have enough experience with 1GB systems to understand the capabilities and limitations and also that some of the amazing stuff they are doing and third parties are doing would greatly benefit from additional RAM.

SO ... that leaves cost/profit. I am not even saying that what Apple did was 'wrong' - what I am saying is that if we are going to pretend to have intelligent discourse here, we need to agree that there is a singular reason for the 1GB vs. 2GB decision. Apple weighed profits for 1GB vs. use-cases for 2GB and decided 1GB made the most sense.

Maybe not - but if Apple ordered 30 million units of 1GB Ram - they probably were stuck with it to use for the Air.

I played with the Air at the Apple store and could not get it to crash anymore than my iPhone 5S has - which is far and few.

I recorded a 5 minute long video in store, did some movie editing, etc no problems.

Most of the issues people come across, even myself, is not rebooting the device at least once a week.

 

[AppleRobert]

Some folks are just way too spec conscious. Will the Air run better with more ram? Probably but mine is not giving me any problems, real world performance I am a very happy camper. I do not feel the need for more ram.

Go play with those spec rich android tablets in BB with more ram. I promise you will walk out shaking your head and it will not take long, lol.

 

[s2mikey]

Let me address these, because it is important:
- Cost: the estimated difference between 1GB and 2GB SDRAM chips is <$10
- Heat Generation: The heat generated by RAM IN TOTAL is inconsequential compared to CPU/GPU and Battery (big hitters) and then storage and communications chips. Moreover, the DIFFERENTIAL heat generation between a 1GB and 2GB chip is in the microwatt range.
- Weight: No difference between 1GB and 2GB RAM. None. Zero. Zip.
- Overall size: again, no difference.

In addition, things like APIs from the OS will deal with the differences in RAM just like they do for system storage, so it isn't like there is some huge software effort that was required.

And as a reminder, those 'budget' tablets like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX have 2GB of RAM.

In short: there is NO TECHNICAL REASON Apple could not have put 2GB of RAM into the iPad Air. They have enough experience with 1GB systems to understand the capabilities and limitations and also that some of the amazing stuff they are doing and third parties are doing would greatly benefit from additional RAM.

SO ... that leaves cost/profit. I am not even saying that what Apple did was 'wrong' - what I am saying is that if we are going to pretend to have intelligent discourse here, we need to agree that there is a singular reason for the 1GB vs. 2GB decision. Apple weighed profits for 1GB vs. use-cases for 2GB and decided 1GB made the most sense.

Im sorry if my list wasnt intelligent - I did assume some things about heat and weight/size. Figuring an extra ram stick might have forced a layout change or something that might have messed up the dimensions. As for cost - I can see you're point but lets say its $8 dollars PER device to add more ram. That adds up fast when making millions of the things.

But yet - if the memory cost is so trivial.... how did their profit go up so much with such a small cost difference?

Heat was probably a bad though of mine but again - I dont pretend to know all of the details so it was worth mentioning, IMO.

As for other devices, they have different OS's and memory usage so 2GB on a less efficient device may be more like 1 GB on a tuned up device. Again - just some assumptions.

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

Some folks are just way too spec conscious. Will the Air run better with more ram? Probably but mine is not giving me any problems, real world performance I am a very happy camper. I do not feel the need for more ram.

Go play with those spec rich android tablets in BB with more ram. I promise you will walk out shaking your head and it will not take long, lol.

But your real world use is different from someone else. The iPad Air for me is already limiting for the apps and games I run as well as fact it would be unusable with iOS 8...