Do we need 8G ram in 11 or 13 MBA

[ZBoater]

I wasn't literally referring to space (I was, but was being sarcastic ) The analogy is that if you want a sleek 2 seater sports car, it is impractical for doing the "heavy lifting" of shopping and carting around a bunch of kids. For that you need a larger, more practical vehicle. The Air is meant for portability, not to have 8GB of RAM, 2TB of disk and run 20 sessions of VMWare. That's what the Pros are for. The Pros are larger, upgradeable, and can accommodate the heavy lifting, similar to a SUV or a mini-van in my analogy.

Don't get hung up on the analogy. Complaining about the Air not being able to be a heavy hitter is pointless. But I guess finding something to complain about is a pastime around here. The Air is my first Mac, and I am so impressed with its performance that it just befuddles me how much complaining I read.

So let me be befuddled.

 

[BiscottiGelato]

A Miata can't take 4 people because it only got 2 seats.

There's no reason why the MBA can't have 8GB of RAM aside from Marketing reasons.

Besides, a person that wants a MBA with 8GB of RAM will not look at buying the current MBPs anyways. I am one such person. It's either suck up with 4GB, or wait for a thinner MBP...

 

[KohPhiPhi]

My 2010 MBA 13" Ultimate is my sole working machine, so YES I would appreciate a 8gb RAM upgrade.

In fact, if they had offered a 8gb RAM upgrade with the 2011 update, I would have gone for it.

I just don't see what's the point in sporting a kick-ass i7 but not allowing a RAM upgrade. It's much easier to top out 4gb RAM than an i7 CPU, so what's the point of i7 then.

 

[vmax8400]

Looking at the tear down, the reason why an 8GB option was never offered could be because of physical layout and price.

We know that the DRAM is actually soldered into place on the board, and looking at the parts we see 16 pieces of 2Gb components to reach 4GB.

Assuming that Apple really couldn't place an additional 16pcs on the board, the only way to achieve 8GB with 16pcs is to use 4Gb parts (mono-die).

The only company that offers 4Gb at all is Samsung and I doubt Apple would want to single source any of their components. Also 4Gb is insanely pricey vs. 2Gb components.

*please note the difference between Gb (Gigabit) and GB (Gigabyte).

 

[ovrlrd]

Next year they will all come with an 8GB option, even the 11" models. So this whole thread is pointless.

 

[DribbleCastle]

Yes, I need 8GBs

If you need to run more than 2 virtual machines at once you almost have to have 8GB of RAM. Otherwise your mac will come to a halt. Exactly why I'm not able to buy an air this year. Very tempting however, just checked them out in the store and they do feel blazing fast for such a slim machine. I think next years 13" might be in the cards for me.

 

[freeman727]

Next year they will all come with an 8GB option, even the 11" models. So this whole thread is pointless.

This guy has it right. Apple purposely holds back. Using DuoCore2 and no backlit keyboard for 2010 MBA and now adding SB and backlit keyboard for 2011. It's Apple's way of keeping us hooked. Every year they give us just enough for us to want to upgrade but not enough to keep us happy for > 1 year. This is why their profits are going through the roofs. They add new users and get reoccuring customers all the time. It makes me think that I need to have a business like that

 

[s.hasan546]

That's what the Pros are for. The Pros are larger, upgradeable, and can accommodate the heavy lifting, similar to a SUV or a mini-van in my analogy.

if that what's the pros are made for than why is the 13" & 11" mba very close to the same performance of the mbp 13"? The mba is more than capable if they didn't limit the ram, that is the ONLY thing holding it back compared to the mbp 13"

 

[zhangqin200000]

If there was an 8 GB option I would have purchased by now. I don't consider myself a heavy computer user but i use almost 3 GB on my 2007 macbook right now and I can only image that will increase in the future. 4 GB is fine right now but I think it might be a bit short in a few years and I like to keep my computers for 4 or 5 years.

I agree with your option, after all the RAM in MBA cannot be updated by DIY.
I must consider about my future use.

 

[zhangqin200000]

This guy has it right. Apple purposely holds back. Using DuoCore2 and no backlit keyboard for 2010 MBA and now adding SB and backlit keyboard for 2011. It's Apple's way of keeping us hooked. Every year they give us just enough for us to want to upgrade but not enough to keep us happy for > 1 year. This is why their profits are going through the roofs. They add new users and get reoccuring customers all the time. It makes me think that I need to have a business like that

penetrating

 

[2IS]

FYI, Intel desktop processors have been able to support >8GB of ram for many years now

 

[BiscottiGelato]

From historical trends, how long does it usually take for 4Gbit RAM modules to drop to the prices of 2Gbit RAM modules?

Have Apple had historical precendence of offering more RAM as option in the midddle of a HW cycle?

 

[zhangqin200000]

From historical trends, how long does it usually take for 4Gbit RAM modules to drop to the prices of 2Gbit RAM modules?

Have Apple had historical precendence of offering more RAM as option in the midddle of a HW cycle?

I think that's the point. Maybe Apple will add the option when the sale peak pass.

 

[rkheyfets]

I think that's the point. Maybe Apple will add the option when the sale peak pass.

I would say its HIGHLY unlikely that apple would add that option to the current revision Airs.. as they want to save that for the next release, or leave that as a "pro" option, and they wouldn't want to upset all the buyers who have already purchased one.

 

[L0s7man]

There is certainly use for 8GB of RAM. Since I don't really restart Mac OS these days, I tend to accumulate a lot of open tabs in Chrome.

Let's see... 40+ open tabs in Chrome with bunch of PDF's, iTunes, some editor, few other little programs and you easily get to 4GB.

Now, if you also want to run a linux VM for instance, 8GB would be much better. Can I do it with 4? Yes; would I like to have 8? Why not?

If for some reason you want Windows VM (yuck), then 8 would be very beneficial.

Personally, I run striped down linux VM for dev work and it's more or less fine with 4GB... Still, wouldn't mind paying bit extra to get 8. Just in case... Just in case...

 

[Obscurelight]

Should be an upgradeable option, not really a must have though for most people.

 

[rkheyfets]

Should be an upgradeable option, not really a must have though for most people.

it should be but its not which is shame