4GB RAM in MBA?

[Kan-O-Z]

There are several uses for the extra memory including just using the memory using a memory filesystem. I use 4GB of ram constantly and I don't do any type of heavy editing. I just use the ram however I can.

What do you mean by this? Do you mean that you manually use ram like a ram disk somehow....or are you saying that programs automatically get loaded into RAM so more RAM equals more programs that can be held in RAM? If you are speaking of the latter, let me assure you that Safari, iPhoto, Mail, iChat, Contacts, Calendar and iTunes will all comfortably sit inside 2GB of RAM without paging. This is typically what most users will have running day to day....so again I stand by the fact that most users will never really put 4GB of RAM to good use.

By the way with the faster SSD, applications seem to load fast enough that you almost don't need a huge pool of RAM.

Kan-O-Z

 

[fteoath64]

I think the memory chips are BGA and will need serious equipment to de-solder, also finding the new chips that are pin-compatible and double the density is going to be tough. Though possible for a very determined EE.

Next you might have to hack the EFI to ensure the cpu recognizes this new RAM size. Again not trivial for some. Best to wait for Gen3 MBA and it is bound to have 4GB DDR3 RAM.

 

[Kan-O-Z]

If you need a MBA now, it is a great time to go get one. This is the first big update to the original MBA and they have fixed a lot of issues as well as make it a fast machine. Aside from the screen problem some people have seen, this one is a solid ultra-portable notebook.

The waiting game can last forever. Some people say to wait till 4GB comes out and the glass trackpad.

First of all there is always something great that's on the horizon. When the 4GB version becomes availabe, the Intel i7 with quad cores will be coming to notebooks 'soon'. There will always be something coming so you'll keep on waiting forever. Get this one if you need a ultra portable notebook.

Secondly if/when this happens, there is a good chance that 4GB will either be for the high end MBA ($2500) or even worse, it'll be an expensive BTO option. You can count on Apple using absolutely the best RAM available(to try to make up for the slower processor) so they will charge a lot for 4GB of RAM.

Kan-O-Z

 

[h1d]

I also wonder what people need 4GB for, especially on a portable laptop, this is not a desktop.

I for one, use VMWare and run other OS on top, so, I can, sometimes choke the 2GB by running 2 other GUI OS on top of it, but really... I don't have to do that, but handle one at a time. And typically looking at the Activity Monitor, I see about 500MB still available (mind you, 'inactive' is part of a free space, but only cached in case that memory might be useful again soon [like reopening an application], but can be freed if necessary. some people may be mistaking that when 'free' gets choked, mems are all occupied.) And since some applications do leak memory... (namely Safari for one...unless I'm missing something about how Safari needs so much RAM. Right now, my safari is up to 350MB...), you could close and reopen it to save about 100MB of memory instant.

The only moment, when you want to upgrade memory is either,
- you see in activity monitor (or some similar tool) that your free + inactive is just regularly choked. (but then, you can really just close a few unncessary app at that moment as well...)
- ram spec is boosted (like ddr2 -> ddr3) but that's not gonna be as good as hdd -> ssd transformation.
- fill in your ego or coolness that you just have more ram

And why even bother with 4GB with required uber soldering skills to just fix your 3rd problem? (Except the 5% who fall in the first?)

 

[Cubit]

My Air is my main machine and almost permanently has Mail, iChat, Safari, Firefox, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Aperture, VM Fusion, Cyberduck, Activity Monitor, Word and Excel open plus a selection of cycling use applications.

As I sit here it been on for 4 hours and the RAM has had 263,000 in and 143,000 pages out. There are some of us for who 4GB of RAM would be a nice addition.

Cubit

 

[h1d]

Some. MBA is my main too, but perhaps close a few and save the soldering for now?

 

[Kan-O-Z]

My Air is my main machine and almost permanently has Mail, iChat, Safari, Firefox, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Aperture, VM Fusion, Cyberduck, Activity Monitor, Word and Excel open plus a selection of cycling use applications.

As I sit here it been on for 4 hours and the RAM has had 263,000 in and 143,000 pages out. There are some of us for who 4GB of RAM would be a nice addition.

Cubit

Wow you really leave Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Aperture, and even Word and Excel open at all times? I can't imagine you are using each and every one of these programs all the time every single day? I for one only open Photoshop when I need it, the same goes for Word. The only programs that I know I will need all the time is Safari, Chat, Mail and a few other small ones. I personally don't like a million apps running UNLESS I am using them regularly! Even if you have enough RAM, it still slows the processor down(perhaps just a small bit). On a portable having your processor loaded like this could potentially cause it to run a bit hotter and draw a bit more power, further reducing battery life.

I can't speak of the typical user but I would doubt they even own the programs or keep them running like you. Again, my statement applies to typical users.

Kan-O-Z

 

[Cubit]

Wow you really leave Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Aperture, and even Word and Excel open at all times? I can't imagine you are using each and every one of these programs all the time every single day? I for one only open Photoshop when I need it, the same goes for Word. The only programs that I know I will need all the time is Safari, Chat, Mail and a few other small ones. I personally don't like a million apps running UNLESS I am using them regularly! Even if you have enough RAM, it still slows the processor down(perhaps just a small bit). On a portable having your processor loaded like this could potentially cause it to run a bit hotter and draw a bit more power, further reducing battery life.

I can't speak of the typical user but I would doubt they even own the programs or keep them running like you. Again, my statement applies to typical users.

Kan-O-Z

Sadly, yes due to the nature of my work I do have to have them open at all times.

I fully appreciate I am not the typical Air user.

Cubit

 

[h1d]

You might want a second air side by side... Double every performance.