512MB is not enough for my iPhone 4. I open a very popular game, Infinity Sword, and if I have anything else open it will stutter at the most inopportune times. I recently jailbroke it and now I keep watch on my memory and free up mysteriously occupied memory if I need to; Apple deems neither function useful in their software design, yet the problem persists. The iPad version of Infinity Sword has lower resolution textures due to the limitation of RAM. That is all the emperical evidence I need to realize that RAM is indeed an essential part of smooth operations in iOS.
Game developers are pushing past the limits of Apple’s hardware; when an app comes out to address the issue of this mysterious memory hole Apple takes it off the market. Apple does not address the issue; instead, they repress efforts to solve it. They deny that such an issue exists, though clearly I see it happening all the time now, thanks to the independent development the jailbreak community.
Apple has a history of denial. There exists a need for a physical game controller, yet Apple continues to profess touch as the only method of game control needed on their devices…and yet they allow BT keyboards. The same can be said of BT GPS receivers, which only strengthen the possibility of one using it for navigation. Apple has in their arrogance, created the jailbreak community. Why not ask them what value RAM has? It is amazing the gall Apple fans have; thinking that just because someone gets more creative than Apple cares to indulge it is sacrilege. You are so quick to praise the innovative steps Apple takes, yet when someone points the regression or complete absence of a common feature you are up in arms—a mindset that is utterly hypocritical.
As for hardware, a platform is only as good as its specs allow. Software will do it's best to take advantage but will eventually be a draw on resources, as the 3G is proof of today. I think the major point is where the apps are heading now. It is not a matter of whether they are able to saturate 512MB (minus OS reserved); it is a matter of when. The iPad is a popular tablet, and developer competition is fierce. One can only expect such competition to accelerate the demise of RAM efficiency. Software will never be as efficient as the hardware in this scenario. Even 1GB would eventually become saturated. It is only a matter of when, and Apple knows this well.
If the iPad 2 does have 256MB/512MB/1GB then that has a direct correlation as to how long Apple expects it to remain the flagship of their tablet line. That is my concern. In this economy it is longevity versus value that I am looking for. Apple is just looking for $399-829 of my hard-earned cash.
My 2 cents...