No issues with my 11.6" 2013 MBA base model, if I need something with more RAM I switch to my 2011 MBP/iMac or win7 boxes depending on the task or game requirements...the MBA was my carry everywhere machine
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A question for 4GB Air Owners
- Thread starter Osarkon
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No problems with 4GB on the MBA. Have had it for 2+ years. Daily Safari usage. Occasional Diablo 3 gaming, Photoshop + Lightroom processing. No lag here.
I've got 8gb in mine, was a pretty good plan, even if just to occasionally run VM's to play with new OS's.
Its comes in use with Logic X too, just a little headroom for running lots of Plugin's.
But tbh, i could happy survive all my computing needs, on a baseline MBA.
Its comes in use with Logic X too, just a little headroom for running lots of Plugin's.
But tbh, i could happy survive all my computing needs, on a baseline MBA.
Bought a 4GB 13.3" as a gift. Installed Office on it. For Safari, Mail and Office (the recipient's primary usage) - it runs like a champ. I have the rMBP and was still impressed by the performance of the Air.
I've been fine with 4GB MacBook Air memory
I have both a 4GB 2013 MacBook Air with 4GB and a late 2013 rMB with 8GB. I run fairly intensive programs like LightRoom and Mathematica on both of them and the Air performs just fine. I also have a 2013 iMac with 24GB of memory and it is way too much now and for FAR into the future.
Anyway, I would not recommend 8GB on an AIR. IMO it's overkill.
There has been since the dawn of computing a mindset that "you can never have too much memory" to which I say BS! IF it makes you feel good or feeds your macho tendencies go for it, but it is most likely a waste of money. Take your significant other out for a fine dinner and movie, you will feel much better and have more to remember than you will ever have from a useless extra 4GB on your Air.
Just my humble opinion from a stupid old slug
I have both a 4GB 2013 MacBook Air with 4GB and a late 2013 rMB with 8GB. I run fairly intensive programs like LightRoom and Mathematica on both of them and the Air performs just fine. I also have a 2013 iMac with 24GB of memory and it is way too much now and for FAR into the future.
Anyway, I would not recommend 8GB on an AIR. IMO it's overkill.
There has been since the dawn of computing a mindset that "you can never have too much memory" to which I say BS! IF it makes you feel good or feeds your macho tendencies go for it, but it is most likely a waste of money. Take your significant other out for a fine dinner and movie, you will feel much better and have more to remember than you will ever have from a useless extra 4GB on your Air.
Just my humble opinion from a stupid old slug
I run fairly intensive programs like LightRoom and Mathematica on both of them and the Air performs just fine.
...
Anyway, I would not recommend 8GB on an AIR. IMO it's overkill.
...
Just my humble opinion from a stupid old slug
My use is much lighter - iTunes, Safari, Word, Excel, Pixelmator, and MPlayerX. 4GB is more than enough for me. I imagine 8GB would have been a huge waste of money for my uses, and I'm glad to see from your post that I have quite a bit of performance overhead available if I ever need it.
I was computer shopping in 08 or 09 and I read advice that getting 4GB then would future proof me for a long time. They were totally right about that. I could see 4GB comfortably lasting me another 5 years on this computer.
I imagine exceedingly few Macbook Air users (the real power users) would benefit from more than 4 GB. Your average Joe or Jane would be very comfortable with the base models' CPUs and RAM.
4GB seems to work reasonably fine according to most users here as long as you are not editing video's and expecting a seamless experience. Remember Mavericks memory compression makes 4 more like 5+GB. If I were to upgrade my AIR today (from the late 2010), I would opt for 8 GB because 4 years down the road it will undoubtedly help as your needs change (or those you sell it to).
I have the white unibody Macbook, so it isn't a MBA but I understand the debate. For me, if this computer could be upgraded to 8GB, I would have done it. Looking at Activity Monitor now, I've used all my physical memory and now AC is saying that in total, there is 7.5 GB of memory being used (including Virtual Memory).
Before people say, "But you're running so much!", I am using Safari, Spotify, pages, and Garageband... the top most memory hogger is something called 'kernel_task', with 500mb being used!
But to be honest... I could easily survive on 4GB.
Before people say, "But you're running so much!"
, I am using Safari, Spotify, pages, and Garageband... the top most memory hogger is something called 'kernel_task', with 500mb being used!But to be honest... I could easily survive on 4GB.
I have a 4GB 11" MBA w/128GB. I used it on and off for the entire work day... started out with 100% ended the day at 88%. That included plenty of web and graphics work. Pixelmator was smooth as butter. I continue to be impressed with the performance and battery life of this thing.
I must be doing something wrong.
I start the day at 100%. Browse the web, watch YouTube videos, and answer some emails. By around noon I am in the 40s-50s% wise with about 60% screen brightness?
Maybe it will improve the more I charge and such but not getting the amount I was hoping for (7-9 hours)
How much storage did you have free when you got it(ie with the OS and all the default apps/iLife/iWork)?
7-9 hours is very good.
Watching youtube videos will suck your battery dry
Chrome will eat battery, too.
Another huge! Factor is screen brightness.
A little over 100GB free. After adding iWork 09, Pixelmator, and a variety of other apps (including one Windows app that required WINEskin winery), I ended up with 93GB free.
Here's the info from Finder:
Capacity: 120.47 GB
Available: 93.53 GB
That's plenty of space for me, but I also bought a 64GB Sandisk nano USB drive... I call it a "USB nub" that I keep permanently inserted into the MBA, for additional storage.
Thank you! I have a friend that is looking to by this. She will be putting on Most Adobe applications as well and maybe Pixelmator. She really should have enough free space then for work.
My only wish for the 11" MBA was that it included an SD card slot. There are options for a microSD adapter that will fit completely flush in the card slot.
Hmmmmmm,good point. I do use Chrome as my browser of choice and maybe that is playing an unexpected amount of battery drain for me.
Well that will probably explain it for me.
That stinks considering I enjoy Chrome the most out of any browser but also makes sense to why my battery life hasnt been optimal if you will.
I like the integration of the Google experience for me personally.
I also like the browser bar layout and quick access to my favorites.
To be honest, I used Safari early on when I got my iMac and it just felt slower and not as polished as Chrome for me. Maybe a personal preference but it was how I took it.
I also like the browser bar layout and quick access to my favorites.
To be honest, I used Safari early on when I got my iMac and it just felt slower and not as polished as Chrome for me. Maybe a personal preference but it was how I took it.
Personal preference but also bookmark/history syncing. Website rendering. speed. Adblock Plus.
The only extensions I use:
Adblock Plus
Don't Track Me Google
Search by Image (by Google)
Tabs to the Front
I like that with Chrome, new tabs always open with my cursor already in the search field/address bar. With Safari, I always have to click in the search/address bar which is a PITA. A small but very appreciated detail with Chrome. I don't get why Safari still doesn't have this feature unless there is some setting or preference I am missing.