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4GB or 8GB of RAM memory
- Thread starter Ollifi
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While I do agree that 8GB is a good idea for future proofing, let's not pretend that 4GB is anywhere near insufficient. 4GB is more than enough for nearly all common uses, and the TC fits into that boat too. Unless he decides to start using photoshop, logic, protools, etc., he's not going to need more than 4GB at any point in the near future, and that's a pretty unreasonable assumption. The only exception to that would be if OS X Maverick is a resource hog, but that doesn't seem very likely given that the MBA's update was mainly new wifi tech and a more efficient processor.
I feel the same way about i5 vs i7 on the MBA. If you'd actually use the extra processing power of an i7, you should have bought a rMBP. There are a few fringe exceptions, but I feel like it's a pretty good rule.
Note: I'd still recommend getting 8GB if you're not hurting for money.
AFAIK Apple only stocks base models at Apple stores. You can order the computer online and then pick it up at an Apple store though. I'd personally recommend it due to the summer heat.
Do the 8 unless you plan on my having it for long at all.
You can't upgrade the air (bad decision on Apple's part) so what you get you're stuck with
I believe a lot of what forms our individual opinions is our usage patterns and overall workflows. Research work often demands using ones browser with lots of tabs open. In that case the extra ram is essential. Without it the browser slows to a crawl.
I guess, but I'm personally only using 2.2 GB with 8 chrome tabs open and another user logged in. Granted, I'm using a windows 8 desktop right now, but the MBA has better specs in every way(except for GPU).
I still do recommend 8GB. 4GB probably won't be a problem for you, but the extra RAM is nice.
Even though Apple tends to charge premium prices on BTO upgrades I always max out the ram at time of purchase. Then I simply unbox it and use it, no worries.
To have fewer skus in the stores. But you can usually get a fully loaded MBA or other Macbook in stores.
Yes. But if I buy locally I can get three-year-warranty, for free. I think that is not possible in AppleStores?
You will likely see a benefit from it immediately (I have noticed improved performance every step from 4 GB to 16 GB on my MBP - with the biggest jump for non-heavy usage being from 4-8 GB), but you will most likely see a larger performance benefit after a couple of years as software inevitably gets bigger.
Bear in mind that OS X these days uses roughly a gig for itself once booted and you have a couple of apps running (e.g. Mail, Calendar, maybe a virus scanner).
So rather than comparing 4 GB to 8 GB, the amount you'll actually have left over for applications you want to run is 3GB vs 7 GB. Or 3 GB for applications vs. 3 GB for applications with 4 GB of disk cache... even though SSD is fast, RAM is still much quicker.
That´s a though choice you have...
Personally, i would go with the 8GB/1-year option and then save up (if needed) to buy AppleCare. Since this can be purchased anytime within the 1st year.
But looking at your usage 4GB probably would be fine...But with that said, i always recommend people asking to go with 8GB.
Sidenote: Calling the 2nd year EU Warranty, anything other than ***** is a understatement. Since after the 1st year it comes down to the consumer to be able to provide proof that any faults with the device was present during the 1st year or is a manufacturing malfunction/error etc..Then again, Apple (in Sweden) is way, way more focused on customer satisfaction (goodwill) than other companies. At least in my past experience..
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Hear, hear...
8Gb and 256SSD as stock, with the possibility of BTO with 512SSD and/or 16Gb of RAM... Why 16Gb of RAM : try running Win8, a 64-bit linux distro and OS X side by side with Parallels with 'only' 8Gb of RAM
Good to hear your experiences, too. Thanks!That´s a though choice you have...
Personally, i would go with the 8GB/1-year option and then save up (if needed) to buy AppleCare. Since this can be purchased anytime within the 1st year.
But looking at your usage 4GB probably would be fine...But with that said, i always recommend people asking to go with 8GB.
Sidenote: Calling the 2nd year EU Warranty, anything other than ***** is a understatement. Since after the 1st year it comes down to the consumer to be able to provide proof that any faults with the device was present during the 1st year or is a manufacturing malfunction/error etc..Then again, Apple (in Sweden) is way, way more focused on customer satisfaction (goodwill) than other companies. At least in my past experience..
That´s a though choice you have...
Personally, i would go with the 8GB/1-year option and then save up (if needed) to buy AppleCare. Since this can be purchased anytime within the 1st year.
But looking at your usage 4GB probably would be fine...But with that said, i always recommend people asking to go with 8GB.
Sidenote: Calling the 2nd year EU Warranty, anything other than ***** is a understatement. Since after the 1st year it comes down to the consumer to be able to provide proof that any faults with the device was present during the 1st year or is a manufacturing malfunction/error etc..Then again, Apple (in Sweden) is way, way more focused on customer satisfaction (goodwill) than other companies. At least in my past experience..
It's actually already after 6 months we have to give that proof. But from what I've heard it's not that hard to prove it since you just need to prove you didn't drop it or open it up and changed something
Are you serious? 8GB of ram to surf the internet?
Why are the people on Macrumors so ignorant about Ram. I have 4GB in a 2012 MA, and my little air runs everything I need fine - SPSS, MATLAB, Adobe Illustrator, Word, Papers etc etc etc. All open at once. The latest little macbook air is faster than some of the computers used at CERN.
This is not related to this topic,but I´ll ask it anyway
Is there cheaper alternative to this: http://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F4U055
Especially need for Earphone, HDMI- and few USB ports.
Is there cheaper alternative to this: http://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F4U055
Especially need for Earphone, HDMI- and few USB ports.
After thinking over your situation some more, I would definitely advocate getting the 4GB. 8 GB is nice, but you're never going to actually need more than 4 GB.
If you can wait, this looks like it's comparable to the belkin for $100 less. It doesn't look as good imo, but it should be equally functional.
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/04/0...n-adds-to-growing-ranks-of-thunderbolt-docks/
Note: Rumored release date is sometime in July.
If you can wait, this looks like it's comparable to the belkin for $100 less. It doesn't look as good imo, but it should be equally functional.
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/04/0...n-adds-to-growing-ranks-of-thunderbolt-docks/
Note: Rumored release date is sometime in July.
Never say Never. My original 2011 Air had 2GB - I thought I would never need more, then got into photography and Photoshop. 2GB was a huge bottleneck then, but at the time I never thought of serious photography.
Peoples needs change, especially once they have an item they can use everywhere, you start thinking "hey I might play a game" or "I might edit that bit of video or image" because you have a mobile item that you can take almost everywhere, and it has a lot of power.
I would go 8GB (and did) without a second thought. My air went from $1440 to $2099 (Australia) with everything maxed out. Yes I could have bought a MacBook Pro for that.... a Heavy, large, thick, hot laptop, or a light fast Air with everything I need....
Messages, 1password, iStat, DropBox and activity monitor are 'passive' apps....there if you need them but certainly not known as memory hogs. iTunes and iPhoto opened simultaneously will utilize your RAM...but OSx is excellent at divvying up the RAM on active apps. As well, Mavericks is supposedly excellent at RAM and 'power' efficiency.
Not true. Typically if you HAVE to ask you don't need the extra RAM
Apple does stock the 'ultimate' versions of each laptop and iMac. IE: core i7/8GB/512GB
Though I agree with the rest of your assessment. 4GB with a read speed of nearly 800Mb/sec, although slower than RAM access makes page outs a non issue in comparison with mechanical HDDs
Again, not true. If you're only using the browser with the new SSD in the 2013 Air, you're not going to see your 'browser slow to a crawl'.
Activity Monitor. OSx is exceptional at RAM management. Windows has also become much Better with Win 7---Windows 8 definitely benefits from a bit more.
Things can and do change....but the tasks the OP is looking to use his/her Air for don't necessitate 8GB of RAM. The speed of the new PCIe RAM is incredible. Read speeds (if you're paging out) is getting closer to RAM access all the time and this iteration is a massive leap. If you've got $ to spend its not a 'bad' idea per se....but you don't need it. That's a fallacy. The Air is a consumer computer and if you're not editing video, audio or manipulating 50mb RAW files in batches of several dozen, you're going to be more than fine. That goes for a while into the future...again, simply because of the speed on the SSD. If you were buying a 'spinner'...8/16GB makes more sense in this computer. I'm running a 2011 Air, core i7/4GB/256GB. It never pages out and I'm often using Safari, Chrome, Audition and PS/LR simultaneously with iTunes playing in the background
The 2011 MBA SSD is about a quarter the speed of the 2013 @ 240/225 read/write. These new Airs are fast.
All that said....if you've got extra cash, go for it. If you're on a budget, pick up extra internal storage instead (256GB SSD) and an Apple TV module with that extra C Note
JMHO
J