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New MacBook Air Memory Upgrade?

M

mm1250

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 3, 2007
327
43
Hello,

I'm looking to buy the new MacBook Air @ Best Buy since they have free financing offer. However, they don't offer the option to buy the 4GB model. I thought I read somewhere on the Internet that the new MacBook Air can't be upgraded with extra memory after it's bought? Is this true? If I buy a 2GB model I can't ever upgrade to 4GB?

Thanks,
 
mm1250 said:
Hello,

I'm looking to buy the new MacBook Air @ Best Buy since they have free financing offer. However, they don't offer the option to buy the 4GB model. I thought I read somewhere on the Internet that the new MacBook Air can't be upgraded with extra memory after it's bought? Is this true? If I buy a 2GB model I can't ever upgrade to 4GB?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

nope...
 
This is true. The MacBook Airs memory is not user upgradable. I to went to best buy to get the macbook air and for my uses 2gb is more then enough.
 
So I won't ever be able to upgrade the memory to 4GB? Not even an Apple shop can do an upgrade?
 
Apple will upgrade your Ram anytime you want ... show them the money.

This will become a Cash Cow for Apple.:cool:
 
Sorry to be blunt, but this is quite retarded. How could Apple create a notebook which doesn't have replaceable memory sticks. BTW, on their website there is absolutely no mention of the memory being non-upgradable.

http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html

Bit disappointed with Apple on this.
 
Apple made the ram non user upgradable because they didn't have the space in the design for memory ports. This is also why the air doesn't have a backlit keyboard, the extra 5mm for the leds was to thick.:cool:
 
Can anyone reference any Apple documentation that states the RAM is non-upgradable?

I looked and couldn't find. It appears allot of people are going to be upset in a year a 2 when they find out they can't upgrade the RAM.
 
AFAIK you should be able to upgrade the SSD to an aftermarket higher capacity one but the ram is soldered onto the board and not upgradable.

2gig of ram will get you by with most tasks unless you intend to do serious vid or photoshop I think.

I remember when I got my first Mac LC in 1992, came with 2 mb or ram and it bombed and died the first day... Apple had transitioned to System7 and 2mb onboard was not enough to allow the machine to boot and operate. Good old days.

Hope this helps.
 
mm1250 said:
Sorry to be blunt, but this is quite retarded. How could Apple create a notebook which doesn't have replaceable memory sticks. BTW, on their website there is absolutely no mention of the memory being non-upgradable.

http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html

Bit disappointed with Apple on this.
Click to expand...

This is not a mainstream laptop, it's an ultra portable. Thin and lightweight will always have trade offs. Soldering the memory on the mobo saves space, just as the didn't enclose the storage in a small hard drive enclosure. Less slots, cables etc... end up saving space and cost.

Not to be blunt either, but if your looking for an upgradable laptop the MBA may not be the machine for you. It's built for those who put portability above all other considerations.
 
Last edited:
mm1250 said:
Can anyone reference any Apple documentation that states the RAM is non-upgradable?
Click to expand...
Here's a picture from ifixit.com. The RAM is in yellow, directly on-board.
All the components -- including RAM and hard drive -- are proprietary, meaning that no off-the-shelf parts will work in it without serious rigging.
Click to expand...
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook-Air-11-Inch-Model-A1370-Teardown/3745/3
POxSYUGpXHwopXCQ.huge
 
It's easier when it's an option. Best Buy not having the 4GB model takes that option away from the OP. ;)
 
Not to be a jerk, but perhaps you shouldn't be buying a new computer if you have to finance it. Large ticket items, like cars and above sure, but a $1000-1800 computer?
 
jamone13 said:
Not to be a jerk, but perhaps you shouldn't be buying a new computer if you have to finance it. Large ticket items, like cars and above sure, but a $1000-1800 computer?
Click to expand...
It's 18-month no-interest financing. Lots of people with the ability to pay entirely in cash will take advantage of no-interest financing. It allows them to utilize 17/18ths of the purchase amount on something interest bearing.
 
jamone13 said:
Not to be a jerk, but perhaps you shouldn't be buying a new computer if you have to finance it. Large ticket items, like cars and above sure, but a $1000-1800 computer?
Click to expand...

I don't have to finance it. However Best Buy has 24mo 0% financing. So it's a no brainer. I can use my money elsewhere. However BB doesn't carry 4gb model which is why I am so mad at the fact it's not upgradable.

I guess I'm a bit upset also at Apple's omission on their Tech specs which doesn't stipulate the memory issue. I find it a bit misleading. I hope they fix this disclosure issue . If it wasn't for MR and I bought the notebook and later found something like this out i would be quite upset.
 
mm1250 said:
Can anyone reference any Apple documentation that states the RAM is non-upgradable?

I looked and couldn't find. It appears allot of people are going to be upset in a year a 2 when they find out they can't upgrade the RAM.
Click to expand...

It's a valid question. Of course all us Mac geeks KNOW (from various articles, macfixit, etc.) that the Air's ram is not upgradeable, but APPLE should be putting that information on their OWN web site listing the 'tech specs' of the Air.
 
Last edited:
nope you cant , but you need 2 know that is a macbook, from apple and they are making good produc, alson with a SDD is so fast, so your 2gb or ram is good for what you need, execpt for high quality game or serious video editing , but i recomand you to get the 13 inch version, biger screen and sd slot , with more storage, because 64 is small, apple already take about 20gb of lion thing and app, peace
 
fsx8killer said:
nope you cant , but you need 2 know that is a macbook, from apple and they are making good produc, alson with a SDD is so fast, so your 2gb or ram is good for what you need, execpt for high quality game or serious video editing , but i recomand you to get the 13 inch version, biger screen and sd slot , with more storage, because 64 is small, apple already take about 20gb of lion thing and app, peace
Click to expand...

Why have you replied to a thread that's 18 months old?!
 
I have the 13" i7 version and I swear by it.

The most important spec to consider is the screen. The 11" has a very rectangular ratio, almost 16:9. Based on the fact that I am working a lot with images, this was what made me buy the 13" instead. I really wanted the portability, but it meant having to scroll to work with portrait orientation images and layouts (most common). I can tell you from experience, if you are buying this for graphics use, you may want to wait for the upgrade. Some applications make the MBa run a little hot and some run very choppy (not because of the hardware but because they aren't optimized for the Intel graphics). I don't know if this concerns you, but that's my two cents.
 
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