4 GB vs 8 GB RAM, what would you do in this situation?

[Hexley]

I do video/photos on the MBAir Core i7 so no brainer on the 8GB. Wish they'd allow for 32GB at near 3rd party prices.

 

[Johnny Alien]

But if your like myself that multitask more, then you could use the 8GB. Maybe not today, but 2 years from now who knows.

What I think is amusing is that only 7 months ago people were saying that 4GB was the way to keep your computer current for 3 or more years and now 4GB is going to be obsolete within 2 years. The 4GB 2012 model is faster in almost every way than the 4 GB 2011. Again, not that I disagree with loading up the computer if you have cash but the 4GB model will be enough to last a fairly long time if you don't do anything insane.

 

[53x12]

I do video/photos on the MBAir Core i7 so no brainer on the 8GB. Wish they'd allow for 32GB at near 3rd party prices.

Need more than 8GB? Then MBP is the next logical step.

 

[Hexley]

Need more than 8GB? Then MBP is the next logical step.

Core i7 of the 2012 MBAir can handle 32GB easily. It just isn't an option.

MBPro is heavy and large. I like it being under 3lbs.

 

[53x12]

Core i7 of the 2012 MBAir can handle 32GB easily. It just isn't an option.

That was my point. We can all wish for things but the almighty Apple knows what is best for us. Btw, I agree with you about the weight.

 

[tejota1911]

Absolutely get the 8GB. I didn't even read your post, that's how obvious of an answer this is.

What he said.

 

[Hexley]

That was my point. We can all wish for things but the almighty Apple knows what is best for us. Btw, I agree with you about the weight.

Apple probably did not make it an option as the cost of carrying the part would be too high for your average MBAir customer.

Same reason why Core i7 is almost "always" a BTO option.

 

[Beanoir]

The very second you jump the 4GB barrier, you know the increased initial investment was worth it. I regularly managed to break 5-6GB on my existing machine, which was a pretty good indication that 4GB was not about to cut it.

See the post above your last, it's exactly the reason I say this.

My iMac gets a lot of heavy use and does benefit from having 16GB of RAM, but only very occasionaly when i'm doing creative suite stuff, aside from that it barely touches 2GB.

My MBA has 4GB and I never ever see it approach that figure either.

Hence why I say, if you don't need it, don't waste your money on it. And the futureproofing agrument only goes so far, i'm sick of hearing that rubbish too, because the next thread will be the same people talking about upgrading their MBA again having only done so 12 months previously.

IF you use your MBA for heavy RAM intensive tasks, then yes go ahead and load yourself up, but most users don't.

 

[Miat]

To me, this says why it's worth getting 8gb now. I don't particularly want to have to quit and reopen a web browser due to lack of RAM.

It is over 24 hours since I lasted booted up, I have been actively using both browsers for at least several hours each over that time (including some video streaming). I have not run 'purge' or re-started the browsers, and I still have nearly 2GB of RAM available, and zero page outs.

Where is the problem for the average light-medium level user?

And exactly how much hassle is it to quit and re-start a browser once a day or so? If that is a major negative, then you got too many first world problems.

If the 8GB upgrade was only $100 or so, I would have grabbed it. But $285? No way it is worth that to me.

Not. Even. Close.