New MacBook Air: Processor or RAM?

[shenan1982]

Stop spreading your unfounded claims and post proof that there is a difference!

(i am not blindly defending 4gb, because my macbook has 8gb ram and I need 8gb ram!)

You need proof to explain why 8GB of RAM is more beneficial than 4GB of RAM?

Windows requires minimum of 2GB RAM
OSX Requires minimum of 2GB RAM

Let's load something else... oh wait, you're tied up with the minimum requirements of RAM. Whoops!

Yeah you can limp through it, but clearly when you have 2 OS running at the same time like a user who has Parallels or VMware running windows, you're already maxed out just meeting the minimum requirements.

I guess probably not proof enough for you though.


Sources:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5842

 

[Meister]

You need proof to explain why 8GB of RAM is more beneficial than 4GB of RAM?

Windows requires minimum of 2GB RAM
OSX Requires minimum of 2GB RAM

Let's load something else... oh wait, you're tied up with the minimum requirements of RAM. Whoops!

Yeah you can limp through it, but clearly when you have 2 OS running at the same time like a user who has Parallels or VMware running windows, you're already maxed out just meeting the minimum requirements.

I guess probably not proof enough for you though.


Sources:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5842

That is not proof of anything!
Videos and memory graph screenshots, please!

Noone is disputing that 8gb of ram are recommended for VMs. You were making much different claims.

 

[shenan1982]

That is not proof of anything!
Videos and memory graph screenshots, please!

Noone is disputing that 8gb of ram are recommended for VMs. You were making much different claims.

Wait, so now you're not disputing it? The example I gave was running Windows within OSX... now you concede to that but tell me that's not the claims I was making? Wow, you're unreal.

If you need graphs and videos and screen shots to believe OS X's requested minimum 2GB, and Windows' published 2GB requirement to justify it, go figure it out for yourself.

The OP was asking for simple advice. My point is that if 10% extra cost is palatable, spring for the extra RAM. There's ZERO downside, and tons of upside. You can either run the line of bare minimums, and trust that the future doesn't make life miserable, or you can spring for an extra hundred bucks (if you own the laptop for 3 years and having the extra memory recoups 75% of its cost, that's 3 cents a day)... but hey... you could just go with the bare minimum. That always ends well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg-6wbETtbo

 

[Meister]

Wait, so now you're not disputing it? The example I gave was running Windows within OSX... now you concede to that but tell me that's not the claims I was making? Wow, you're unreal.

If you need graphs and videos and screen shots to believe OS X's requested minimum 2GB, and Windows' published 2GB requirement to justify it, go figure it out for yourself.

The OP was asking for simple advice. My point is that if 10% extra cost is palatable, spring for the extra RAM. There's ZERO downside, and tons of upside. You can either run the line of bare minimums, and trust that the future doesn't make life miserable, or you can spring for an extra hundred bucks (if you own the laptop for 3 years and having the extra memory recoups 75% of its cost, that's 3 cents a day)... but hey... you could just go with the bare minimum. That always ends well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg-6wbETtbo

The OP was not writing that he was running VMs. Your speculations are off topic.
Also: the system requirements are a minimum of 2gb ram. If anything they disprove your point.

 

[mwa]

I'll opt for the RAM upgrade; the Processor just got bumped this year so I should be good. I'm never one to buy backwards when it comes to technology, but this hardly an outdated machine.

Wait, so now you're not disputing it? The example I gave was running Windows within OSX... now you concede to that but tell me that's not the claims I was making? Wow, you're unreal.

If you need graphs and videos and screen shots to believe OS X's requested minimum 2GB, and Windows' published 2GB requirement to justify it, go figure it out for yourself.

The OP was asking for simple advice. My point is that if 10% extra cost is palatable, spring for the extra RAM. There's ZERO downside, and tons of upside. You can either run the line of bare minimums, and trust that the future doesn't make life miserable, or you can spring for an extra hundred bucks (if you own the laptop for 3 years and having the extra memory recoups 75% of its cost, that's 3 cents a day)... but hey... you could just go with the bare minimum. That always ends well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg-6wbETtbo

I know I can hardly do this in a public forum, but I started this thread to ask about performance issues for my particular workflow, not as a venue to get on a soapbox and argue. With all due respect, I really do appreciate your feedback and your opinion but your tone is just a bit condescending.

So thank you, but please don't use this thread as an opportunity to just argue. Let's agree to disagree.

 

[Meister]

I'll opt for the RAM upgrade; the Processor just got bumped this year so I should be good. I'm never one to buy backwards when it comes to technology, but this hardly an outdated machine.

The mba is an excellent machine! If it comes down to ram vs cpu, in your case, I'd get the ram.

For Ps I still strongly recommend a retina screen.

 

[mwa]

The mba is an excellent machine! If it comes down to ram vs cpu, in your case, I'd get the ram.

For Ps I still strongly recommend a retina screen.

Yeah, I know..

The main things that put me off the rMBP are Price, size, and weight. I know it has a performance and graphics advantage, but tbh I'd likely not notice either one. And both would be a marked improvement over what I have now.

 

[Meister]

Yeah, I know..

The main things that put me off the rMBP are Price, size, and weight. I know it has a performance and graphics advantage, but tbh I'd likely not notice either one. And both would be a marked improvement over what I have now.

We have a i5/4/256 mba and the rmbp 2.4/8/256 at home.
For most tasks the mba performes way better and snappier, i think it's the best laptop made so far.
but: the retina screen will make a huge difference when editing photos.

A hint: look at the rmbp from 2013. Its essentially the same machines with only 0.2 ghz less.

 

[mwa]

We have a i5/4/256 mba and the rmbp in my signature at home.
For most tasks the mba performes way better and snappier, i think it's the best laptop made so far.
but: the retina screen will make a huge difference when editing photos.

A hint: look at the rmbp from 2013. Its essentially the same machines with only 0.2 ghz less.

When I get to the Apple store in a week or two I'll examine both. I do web design, development, and SEO - with some light packaging and collateral design. The Retina won't make much difference I don't think.

 

[iir]

mba is totally adequate

When I get to the Apple store in a week or two I'll examine both. I do web design, development, and SEO - with some light packaging and collateral design. The Retina won't make much difference I don't think.

I agree with you here mwa... being a recent thinkpad user, the mba screen is actually really nice! The machine runs cool and quiet, and is really snappy. The retina is nice but the mba is no slouch!