All iPads iPad Air - how severe is the RAM problem?

[Primejimbo]

I did the update and it was great, but just something didn't seem right. So I just did a fresh install and set it up as new and wow what a difference!

 

[petvas]

I did the update and it was great, but just something didn't seem right. So I just did a fresh install and set it up as new and wow what a difference!

Sorry to be the one to tell you, but give it a couple of days, and it will be exactly the same as before

 

[Primejimbo]

Sorry to be the one to tell you, but give it a couple of days, and it will be exactly the same as before

It was greatbefore, my only issue was a web page would reload still once in a while, and it was just one out of the 5 tabs I would have open also. I thought I would try this and only took me a few minutes to set it back up since I don't have much on it.

 

[Rodster]

How does iOS handle cache data? On Android you can manually delete cache data from an individual app and bulk storage.

 

[HenryDJP]

Actually I said "crippled".
There are might be millions of happy iOS customers, but the operating system is not for power users, because of its limitations. Some things that I hate:

• No real multitasking
• Safari tab reloading
• Safari performance as a browser and lack of features (for example, no plugins support)
• Email client has no support of adding attachments (other than pics)
• No common file repository (it could be an iCloud repository, accessible from every app...)
• Notifications are intruding
• Standard apps are weak in features, especially Calendar and tasks (but of course 3rd party apps fill the gap)
• Not possible to set default apps for Mail, browser and calendar
• Siri sucks big time. It doesn't work all the time, doesn't work offline and cannot be used from 3rd party software
• The OS on the iPad doesn't display side by side apps. This could be really useful...

That doesn't mean that iOS is a bad OS, it is just not suited for power users that need the above functionality. I am mainly referring to the iPad iOS version. On an iPhone, I believe iOS to be really great.

I prefer using OS X instead of iOS almost all the time. It makes me feel that I use something with enough power and no limitations.

Looking at your sig you have an iPad Air. For someone that has such a laundry list of hate for the iPad and iOS together sounds pretty ridiculous that bought one. Why didn't you go for an Android Tablet or a Surface 2?

Speaking of "Power Users" even with a Surface Pro 2 I hardly find doing any "Power Work" on a 10" tablet to be very productive. Yeah try Adobe CS on a 10" screen. Sure you can install it on the Surface Pro 2 but for real editing??? A power user will find it to be big joke. No tablet is made for a true power user.

 

[petvas]

Looking at your sig you have an iPad Air. For someone that has such a laundry list of hate for the iPad and iOS together sounds pretty ridiculous that bought one. Why didn't you go for an Android Tablet or a Surface 2?

Speaking of "Power Users" even with a Surface Pro 2 I hardly find doing any "Power Work" on a 10" tablet to be very productive. Yeah try Adobe CS on a 10" screen. Sure you can install it on the Surface Pro 2 but for real editing??? A power user will find it to be big joke. No tablet is made for a true power user.

Yes, I have an Air, but I am thinking of selling it. I used to love my first iPads, but as time went by, I came to the realization that they are really very limited. I love gadgets and Apple products, and that is why I have it. I don't hate my iPad, I just don't find it as useful as my Macbook Air and my iMac. Every time I use it I feel like something is missing, and it's really a shame, since the potential is there. The device is really great, but the OS is a let down.

I have thought of going with a Surface 2 Pro, but I prefer OS X to Windows, so this is not really the solution for me.
For the moment I use OS X mainly and sometimes iOS.

 

[Count Blah]

Folks know what they can buy to get more ram and storage space for less. Millions will disagree with you about the Air being less future proof versus those other options. Apple does not have to do a thing. Yes, they are losing some market share and they may do something but I doubt it. Folks have cried for less money to get more storage and has not happened yet.

It does not work properly? If that is case for ones needs then do without it. Millions seem to be quite satisfied.

You can't compare it to the storage, because Apple is not offering more RAM for more $$$. What apple is doing is called "planned obsolescence". They know damn well that like the first iPad, this amount of RAM will cause the air to become less useful than it should, simply because of the RAM. Others here will defend apple tooth and nail, because it's what they do. No amount of reasoning will convince then of this planned obsolescence. Just like they don't see a problem with apple selling a portable device with 4gigs if ram and 128gigs of storage.

Apple is moving everything but the Mac Pro towards disposable devices, and the air will become disposable longer before it should, simply because of the RAM.

 

[Max(IT)]

Actually I said "crippled".
There are might be millions of happy iOS customers, but the operating system is not for power users, because of its limitations. Some things that I hate:

• No real multitasking
• Safari tab reloading
• Safari performance as a browser and lack of features (for example, no plugins support)
• Email client has no support of adding attachments (other than pics)
• No common file repository (it could be an iCloud repository, accessible from every app...)
• Notifications are intruding
• Standard apps are weak in features, especially Calendar and tasks (but of course 3rd party apps fill the gap)
• Not possible to set default apps for Mail, browser and calendar
• Siri sucks big time. It doesn't work all the time, doesn't work offline and cannot be used from 3rd party software
• The OS on the iPad doesn't display side by side apps. This could be really useful...

That doesn't mean that iOS is a bad OS, it is just not suited for power users that need the above functionality. I am mainly referring to the iPad iOS version. On an iPhone, I believe iOS to be really great.

I prefer using OS X instead of iOS almost all the time. It makes me feel that I use something with enough power and no limitations.

Who define what a "power user" is ?
Are you confusing "power user" definition with a geek that want to have 20 tabs opened, multiple windows on a 9" or 7" display, plugins (???) on a mobile browser and something like that ?
In my organization we manage and run equipment worthing millions dollars (yes millions $) with iPads and iPad minis .... are we definable as power users or are we kids playing ?

 

[petvas]

Who define what a "power user" is ?
Are you confusing "power user" definition with a geek that want to have 20 tabs opened, multiple windows on a 9" or 7" display, plugins (???) on a mobile browser and something like that ?
In my organization we manage and run equipment worthing millions dollars (yes millions $) with iPads and iPad minis .... are we definable as power users or are we kids playing ?

I suggest you read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_user

I don't want a thousand plugins, just an ad blocker and 1Password plugin, but wait, this is not possible..

Nobody said that iPads are useless. There are specific usage scenarios where iPads are really great. I just pointed some of the biggest weaknesses of iPads and how these make the whole experience for me not good enough.
I am not talking about what others think, I am just talking about myself.
I like the form factor of tablets. It is ideal for lots of things, and many times it is nice to use my iPad, but when I start using it, I realize with every minute I spend with it, that this device is restricting in ways I cannot accept. Maybe it is because I am an IT Pro and has some expectations from the OS I am using.
iPads are nice for Twitter and Facebook. Apart from that I don't see how I can use them. (and I am talking about me only, not others)

If the browser and the mail.app were better, then I would have much more enjoyment from my iPad. Unfortunately, Mail.app doesn't do basic stuff that I use a lot on OS X:

• No smart folders
• No adding of attachments of any file type
• VIP feature searches only the Inbox
• Flagged mail feature searches only the Inbox...
• No rich text editor when composing new mails

I can accept these shortcomings on my iPhone, because I don't want to use most of these features on a small screen, but on a tablet I am less forgiving. The only reason I haven't sold my iPad is because I like technology and gadgets and want to see what comes next. I just want to be able to experience the developments in the iOS world..

 

[s2mikey]

I suggest you read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_user

I don't want a thousand plugins, just an ad blocker and 1Password plugin, but wait, this is not possible..

Nobody said that iPads are useless. There are specific usage scenarios where iPads are really great. I just pointed some of the biggest weaknesses of iPads and how these make the whole experience for me not good enough.
I am not talking about what others think, I am just talking about myself.
I like the form factor of tablets. It is ideal for lots of things, and many times it is nice to use my iPad, but when I start using it, I realize with every minute I spend with it, that this device is restricting in ways I cannot accept. Maybe it is because I am an IT Pro and has some expectations from the OS I am using.
iPads are nice for Twitter and Facebook. Apart from that I don't see how I can use them. (and I am talking about me only, not others)

If the browser and the mail.app were better, then I would have much more enjoyment from my iPad. Unfortunately, Mail.app doesn't do basic stuff that I use a lot on OS X:

• No smart folders
• No adding of attachments of any file type
• VIP feature searches only the Inbox
• Flagged mail feature searches only the Inbox...
• No rich text editor when composing new mails

I can accept these shortcomings on my iPhone, because I don't want to use most of these features on a small screen, but on a tablet I am less forgiving. The only reason I haven't sold my iPad is because I like technology and gadgets and want to see what comes next. I just want to be able to experience the developments in the iOS world..

This all makes sense to me and I concur. I love my iPad but let's face it, there ARE times when you just kind of say "damn, wish I could do this or that" and you simply cannot. Some of the missing features like the email attachment thing are pretty silly at this stage of the game.

 

[AppleRobert]

You can't compare it to the storage, because Apple is not offering more RAM for more $$$. What apple is doing is called "planned obsolescence". They know damn well that like the first iPad, this amount of RAM will cause the air to become less useful than it should, simply because of the RAM. Others here will defend apple tooth and nail, because it's what they do. No amount of reasoning will convince then of this planned obsolescence. Just like they don't see a problem with apple selling a portable device with 4gigs if ram and 128gigs of storage.

Apple is moving everything but the Mac Pro towards disposable devices, and the air will become disposable longer before it should, simply because of the RAM.

The Ipads are for consumption and that I daresay is the way the majority uses it. Some want to do more with it. Nothing is hidden to the consumer regarding specs. Those looking to do more would need to try it and see if it limits their needs.

I just keep going back to returns and open boxes. Since that is in the minority Apple has equipped the Ipads for what is useful to the majority. Hence the thread topic "how severe" is not a concern for most using Ipads.

 

[petvas]

The Ipads are for consumption and that I daresay is the way the majority uses it. Some want to do more with it. Nothing is hidden to the consumer regarding specs. Those looking to do more would need to try it and see if it limits their needs.

I just keep going back to returns and open boxes. Since that is in the minority Apple has equipped the Ipads for what is useful to the majority. Hence the thread topic "how severe" is not a concern for most using Ipads.

I consider surfing the Internet to be a typical activity that a tablet should master with no issues. When Steve Jobs originally presented the first iPad, he said, people want a device that is best in some basic stuff, like Internet surfing.
Unfortunately, the iPad is not the best for surfing the Internet. The frequent tab reloading issues, that many people experience, the lack of a plugin system and the lack of compatibility with many websites, make the experience definitely not the "best". Steve Jobs was definitely (and just this one time) mistaken, but he sold the whole idea amazingly well.
The only way tab reloading doesn't occur is when you are not using the device!

 

[Count Blah]

The Ipads are for consumption and that I daresay is the way the majority uses it. Some want to do more with it. Nothing is hidden to the consumer regarding specs. Those looking to do more would need to try it and see if it limits their needs.

I just keep going back to returns and open boxes. Since that is in the minority Apple has equipped the Ipads for what is useful to the majority. Hence the thread topic "how severe" is not a concern for most using Ipads.

And apple has hoodwinked their consumers to expect less - less browsing without reloads, less extensibility with the browsers, less functionality with emails, etc...

For a consumption device, it's lacking. For example, I am researching for a new car. I have 4 tabs open on my iPad, I tee up each with something I want to show the misses, after showing the open tab, I cycle through to the others - BAM, they all reload. My elections, sorting, etc... All gone as the page simply reloads and I stare at the basic page. That is a crap user experience. The best place to do this was in a comfortable setting with my handy dandy device, and it produced a lousy experience. Yes, this is with 7.1 and no other apps running but safari.

Could this have been eliviated with $3 more RAM? Yes. Did apple do that? Heck no, they want to produce something that will be replaced sooner. Ask the ipad1 owners about how their devices work now, compared to is they had 512M of ram. Planned obsolescence, which goes hand in hand with a present day, crappy experience. The air is the one for you, if you plan on using 1-2 tabs.

 

[petvas]

Steve Jobs was a great man, but please have a look at his keynote, when he originally introduced the iPad. I am sorry, but he was totally mistaken:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBhYxj2SvRI

 

[AppleRobert]

^^^^

Try using an android tablet, let us know how far that gets ypu. I already know how far with even more Ram. Most of those a consumer is fortunate they would get a year out of as manufacturers do not even bother updating the software.

Not sure why anyone who has complaints about not being able to do what they want would keep a device or even buy it if they feel the specs are not optimal. Nuff said.

 

[petvas]

^^^^

Try using an android tablet, let us know how far that gets ypu. I already know how far with even more Ram. Most of those a consumer is fortunate they would get a year out of as manufacturers do not even bother updating the software.

Not sure why anyone who has complaints about not being able to do what they want would keep a device. Nuff said.

I am not talking Android here. I don't even think about using other products. I love Apple and this doesn't change. I just have a hard time justifying iPad's existence.

 

[jonnyb098]

Actually I said "crippled".
There are might be millions of happy iOS customers, but the operating system is not for power users, because of its limitations. Some things that I hate:

• No real multitasking
• Safari tab reloading
• Safari performance as a browser and lack of features (for example, no plugins support)
• Email client has no support of adding attachments (other than pics)
• No common file repository (it could be an iCloud repository, accessible from every app...)
• Notifications are intruding
• Standard apps are weak in features, especially Calendar and tasks (but of course 3rd party apps fill the gap)
• Not possible to set default apps for Mail, browser and calendar
• Siri sucks big time. It doesn't work all the time, doesn't work offline and cannot be used from 3rd party software
• The OS on the iPad doesn't display side by side apps. This could be really useful...

That doesn't mean that iOS is a bad OS, it is just not suited for power users that need the above functionality. I am mainly referring to the iPad iOS version. On an iPhone, I believe iOS to be really great.

I prefer using OS X instead of iOS almost all the time. It makes me feel that I use something with enough power and no limitations.

THEN USE A FREAKING LAPTOP!!!!!!! The iPad was never designed to be a laptop replacement and this is an old tired argument. Get over it. Millions seem to be just fine with their iPads. If apple did everything you said then it would either be a laptop or a really crummy tablet with 3 hours of battery life. Good grief.

 

[petvas]

THEN USE A FREAKING LAPTOP!!!!!!! The iPad was never designed to be a laptop replacement and this is an old tired argument. Get over it. Millions seem to be just fine with their iPads. If apple did everything you said then it would either be a laptop or a really crummy tablet with 3 hours of battery life. Good grief.

Calm down. Who told you I am not using a laptop already?

I would very much like to talk to you again, when the iPad is capable of most of the things that are currently missing.

Consumers with simple needs are happy with it, everybody else could have many reasons not to be.
The iPad has a lot of potential and I am sure at some point it will become more functional, as its OS matures with every new release. It will never become a laptop replacement (and I am not thinking of the iPad like that), but it will get better. Currently, it is a nice toy.

 

[Dmunjal]

THEN USE A FREAKING LAPTOP!!!!!!! The iPad was never designed to be a laptop replacement and this is an old tired argument. Get over it. Millions seem to be just fine with their iPads. If apple did everything you said then it would either be a laptop or a really crummy tablet with 3 hours of battery life. Good grief.

Wow! So defensive. This is why people hate Apple apologists.

So, adding more RAM for a few bucks would automatically make it a laptop or a crummy tablet with 3 hours of battery life??

 

[jonnyb098]

Calm down. Who told you I am not using a laptop already?

I would very much like to talk to you again, when the iPad is capable of most of the things that are currently missing.

Consumers with simple needs are happy with it, everybody else could have many reasons not to be.
The iPad has a lot of potential and I am sure at some point it will become more functional, as its OS matures with every new release. It will never become a laptop replacement (and I am not thinking of the iPad like that), but it will get better. Currently, it is a nice toy.

It's much more than a toy. That's a blanket statement many would argue with. I agree some things could be better. But having side by side apps and a file system and real multitasking is a pipe dream for at least a few more years. Like I said all of that would kill the battery. I'm just using some simple logic here. Plugins for safari would kill battery too. Most of the advanced features you want would kill the battery. Then you would be back here complaining that the battery sucks.

Now I'll take picking default apps and better attachment systems. And those are things that apple could very well do in updates. But if you're waiting for anything like desktop class multitasking and file systems then you'll be waiting a long long time.

----------

Wow! So defensive. This is why people hate Apple apologists.

So, adding more RAM for a few bucks would automatically make it a laptop or a crummy tablet with 3 hours of battery life??

Adding RAM is only a small part of the equation if you know anything about how system resources work and what TRUE multitasking requires.

iOS is far from perfect and there are many things that could be enhanced but desktop class multitasking, safari plugins and a full file system ain't gonna happen if you know their philosophy on this stuff.

 

[petvas]

It's much more than a toy. That's a blanket statement many would argue with. I agree some things could be better. But having side by side apps and a file system and real multitasking is a pipe dream for at least a few more years. Like I said all of that would kill the battery. I'm just using some simple logic here. Plugins for safari would kill battery too. Most of the advanced features you want would kill the battery. Then you would be back here complaining that the battery sucks.

Now I'll take picking default apps and better attachment systems. And those are things that apple could very well do in updates. But if you're waiting for anything like desktop class multitasking and file systems then you'll be waiting a long long time.

----------



Adding RAM is only a small part of the equation if you know anything about how system resources work and what TRUE multitasking requires.

iOS is far from perfect and there are many things that could be enhanced but desktop class multitasking, safari plugins and a full file system ain't gonna happen if you know their philosophy on this stuff.

Multitasking would have an impact to battery life, but a file repository based on iCloud wouldn't.

 

[Dmunjal]

It's much more than a toy. That's a blanket statement many would argue with. I agree some things could be better. But having side by side apps and a file system and real multitasking is a pipe dream for at least a few more years. Like I said all of that would kill the battery. I'm just using some simple logic here. Plugins for safari would kill battery too. Most of the advanced features you want would kill the battery. Then you would be back here complaining that the battery sucks.

Now I'll take picking default apps and better attachment systems. And those are things that apple could very well do in updates. But if you're waiting for anything like desktop class multitasking and file systems then you'll be waiting a long long time.

----------



Adding RAM is only a small part of the equation if you know anything about how system resources work and what TRUE multitasking requires.

iOS is far from perfect and there are many things that could be enhanced but desktop class multitasking, safari plugins and a full file system ain't gonna happen if you know their philosophy on this stuff.

Why would more RAM or access to the already existing file system use up more battery life? As for multitasking, sure it would use up more but is there anyone complaining about iPad battery life? There's plenty there to use. This isn't an iPhone.

 

[Max(IT)]

I consider surfing the Internet to be a typical activity that a tablet should master with no issues. When Steve Jobs originally presented the first iPad, he said, people want a device that is best in some basic stuff, like Internet surfing.
Unfortunately, the iPad is not the best for surfing the Internet. The frequent tab reloading issues, that many people experience, the lack of a plugin system and the lack of compatibility with many websites, make the experience definitely not the "best". Steve Jobs was definitely (and just this one time) mistaken, but he sold the whole idea amazingly well.
The only way tab reloading doesn't occur is when you are not using the device!

I have android devices (including a tablet) and wp8 devices (I love my Lumia 925) but NOTHING is better than iDevices for surfing the web ... Except a proper notebook.

----------

And apple has hoodwinked their consumers to expect less - less browsing without reloads, less extensibility with the browsers, less functionality with emails, etc...

For a consumption device, it's lacking. For example, I am researching for a new car. I have 4 tabs open on my iPad, I tee up each with something I want to show the misses, after showing the open tab, I cycle through to the others - BAM, they all reload. My elections, sorting, etc... All gone as the page simply reloads and I stare at the basic page. That is a crap user experience. The best place to do this was in a comfortable setting with my handy dandy device, and it produced a lousy experience. Yes, this is with 7.1 and no other apps running but safari.

Could this have been eliviated with $3 more RAM? Yes. Did apple do that? Heck no, they want to produce something that will be replaced sooner. Ask the ipad1 owners about how their devices work now, compared to is they had 512M of ram. Planned obsolescence, which goes hand in hand with a present day, crappy experience. The air is the one for you, if you plan on using 1-2 tabs.

For me this is just no more true since iOS 7.1 installation

----------

Wow! So defensive. This is why people hate Apple apologists.

So, adding more RAM for a few bucks would automatically make it a laptop or a crummy tablet with 3 hours of battery life??

The ram has NOTHING to do with what petvas was requesting ...

 

[petvas]

I have android devices (including a tablet) and wp8 devices (I love my Lumia 925) but NOTHING is better than iDevices for surfing the web ... Except a proper notebook.

----------



For me this is just no more true since iOS 7.1 installation

----------



The ram has NOTHING to do with what petvas was requesting ...

RAM would help, but this is not the point here. I just want a mobile Safari that works similar to its desktop counterpart. Is this so much to ask for?
Tablets have a great form factor and can be used from most people, that would have problems using a desktop computer. The iPad is unique because it brought technology to all those people. I am a fan of the iPad, but I just want it to see it grow up. It has been a long time and iOS hasn't been taking big steps in functionality. It is time..
I haven't compared the iPad to other tablets. I don't care about other tablets, I am an Apple fan and want to use Apple devices only. I am just not blind and can see the iPad's shortcomings.
At least with iOS 7.1 we get a much more stable OS, but still the Internet surfing experience is severely crippled. I hope that iOS 8 will make it better..

 

[Max(IT)]

RAM would help, but this is not the point here. I just want a mobile Safari that works similar to its desktop counterpart. Is this so much to ask for?
Tablets have a great form factor and can be used from most people, that would have problems using a desktop computer. The iPad is unique because it brought technology to all those people. I am a fan of the iPad, but I just want it to see it grow up. It has been a long time and iOS hasn't been taking big steps in functionality. It is time..
I haven't compared the iPad to other tablets. I don't care about other tablets, I am an Apple fan and want to use Apple devices only. I am just not blind and can see the iPad's shortcomings.
At least with iOS 7.1 we get a much more stable OS, but still the Internet surfing experience is severely crippled. I hope that iOS 8 will make it better..

My point is that you are right, there are shortcomings, but we are speaking about a tablet ....