9to5: Apple Stores to Carry 4GB MacBook Airs

[GeekLawyer]

While this flies in the face of what I was told by my local Apple retail store, 9to5 has just tweeted that stores WILL be carrying 4GB MacBook Airs.

They've linked to an image from gmail of someone apparently receiving the confirmation from Steve Jobs via email.

http://twitter.com/#!/9to5mac/status/28647922680:
Confirmed: Apple Stores to carry 4GB MacBook Airs http://post.ly/16vJV

I no longer know what to think about it.

 

[barefeats]

That would be nice, but, meanwhile, our local store has only two 11.6" MBAs:
1.4GHz with 2G RAM and 64G storage
1.4GHz with 2G RAM and 128G storage

They are telling buyers who want 1.6GHz model and/or 4G of RAM to order online.

 

[nidserz]

While this flies in the face of what I was told by my local Apple retail store, 9to5 has just tweeted that stores WILL be carrying 4GB MacBook Airs.

They've linked to an image from gmail of someone apparently receiving the confirmation from Steve Jobs via email.

http://twitter.com/#!/9to5mac/status/28647922680:
Confirmed: Apple Stores to carry 4GB MacBook Airs http://post.ly/16vJV

I no longer know what to think about it.

Ahhh, makes my decision that much tougher. I think I am going to head out the Apple Store tomorrow and return.

 

[GeekLawyer]

Ahhh, makes my decision that much tougher. I think I am going to head out the Apple Store tomorrow and return.

Won't you get hit with the restocking fee??

 

[nidserz]

Won't you get hit with the restocking fee??

LOL, I bought it yesterday... still haven't opened it as I am second-guessing my decision.

 

[GeekLawyer]

LOL, I bought it yesterday... still haven't opened it as I am second-guessing my decision.

Smart. I wish I was that smart.

 

[treynolds]

Stores here in the Seattle area say that they will have the 4GB models in stock "within a few days". I don't know if that's built units, or if they install the RAM in the back room, my I tend to believe they'll ship them in from China that way.

 

[GeekLawyer]

Stores here in the Seattle area say that they will have the 4GB models in stock "within a few days". I don't know if that's built units, or if they install the RAM in the back room, my I tend to believe they'll ship them in from China that way.

I'm beginning to doubt anything I've been told in the store. But they said also that they couldn't add the RAM after the fact. So I guess that means they will be coming pre-built with 4.

 

[Willis]

Stores here in the Seattle area say that they will have the 4GB models in stock "within a few days". I don't know if that's built units, or if they install the RAM in the back room, my I tend to believe they'll ship them in from China that way.

Well, seeing as they can't upgrade the RAM due to it being soldered to the logic board, it will come as a boxed product.

I think they will offer 4GB models, but maybe only on the 11" 128 and 13" 256 GB models and leave the rest for online purchasing. Then again, I can't see why they wouldn't just sell all models with 2 and 4GB in stores

 

[nidserz]

Smart. I wish I was that smart.

Yeah, I mean I am in no rush, could have ordered online, but I used a gift card, so it was a pain... I don't want to upgrade everything, but 100$ for 4GB ram seems worth it.
Only thing is, I don't trust them and have no idea when it will actually be in store.
Ahhh, thanks for making my decision harder. Was so ready to rip open the seal today!

 

[admanimal]

I really wish they had the 4GB in stock from the start, would have made my purchasing decision much easier.

 

[bcaslis]

The only intelligent answer I got about this was from one store that said both the 11" and 13" would have "ultra" configurations with maximum storage, 4GB ram, and processor upgrades. So there would be 6 configurations in the store, 2 new ones to go with the 4 currently being sold. But no one had any idea when this would happen.

 

[MrBobYu]

I really wish they had the 4GB in stock from the start, would have made my purchasing decision much easier.

I read somewhere on the apple store online, you can only have the 4gb of ram online. Maybe some store will carry the MBA 4gb in store but I'm sure a few. Correct me if I'm wrong, it would be definitely better to get in store than online. Instant MBA ftw

 

[bowlerman625]

While this flies in the face of what I was told by my local Apple retail store, 9to5 has just tweeted that stores WILL be carrying 4GB MacBook Airs.

They've linked to an image from gmail of someone apparently receiving the confirmation from Steve Jobs via email.

http://twitter.com/#!/9to5mac/status/28647922680:
Confirmed: Apple Stores to carry 4GB MacBook Airs http://post.ly/16vJV

I no longer know what to think about it.

People email Steve for the silliest reasons, don't they?

 

[milan03]

Confirmed, Apple Retail Stores will carry both 11" and 13" MBA "ULTIMATE" configuration in no later than a month time. Which means 11" with 1.6Ghz CPU and 4GB ram, and 13" with 2.13Ghz and 4GB ram.

 

[GeekLawyer]

Confirmed, Apple Retail Stores will carry both 11" and 13" MBA "ULTIMATE" configuration in no later than a month time. Which means 11" with 1.6Ghz CPU and 4GB ram, and 13" with 2.13Ghz and 4GB ram.

Smart move to get beyond the return period window. A lot of people might be rushing to "upgrade" to an "ULTIMATE" model...

 

[zap2]

Quite the shame Apple didn't do this at launch, as it would have made my wait quite a bit less!

But still, the waiting is well worth it for 4GB IMO, it sucks during, but I figure over the life of the laptop, it will pay off greatly

Confirmed, Apple Retail Stores will carry both 11" and 13" MBA "ULTIMATE" configuration in no later than a month time. Which means 11" with 1.6Ghz CPU and 4GB ram, and 13" with 2.13Ghz and 4GB ram.

I don't mean to big a jerk, but when you "confirm" something, it seems like you should post a source. Nothing against you, but the internet has a lot of joker/people fooling around/others who are just plain mistaken.

It makes sense for Apple to stock them from my point of view, but Apple doesn't always play by everyone's playbook

 

[scott6003]

instead of waiting to pickup the 'ultimate configuration' you could just order it online.

 

[Shivetya]

instead of waiting to pickup the 'ultimate configuration' you could just order it online.

or order it from a retailer who won't get you hit up for sales tax

 

[shadyInCA]

Here is another possibility as to the reason why the CTOs are taking longer.

Apple has a great product here, and they are riding on the wave of great reviews of the base 11 and 13 inch models already available.

As well as the obvious features that these Airs have, there are things like super silent fans, stays cool, real life battery life equivalent to that advertised etc. All of these stand out in reviews and add reasons for people to buy.

Now just suppose that when you max out the RAM and Processor, some of these are no longer true. Maybe the fan has to spin faster to dissipate the extra heat from the processor. Maybe the battery drains significantly faster. Maybe it gets hotter.

It would be in Apple's interest to only have available the "prime" configuration at launch to max out the benefit of the great reviews, and by the time the second wave of machines arrive, the media frenzy has passed.


I hope this isn't true, as I'm waiting for my max'd out 13, but it's something to consider!

 

[Spacekatgal]

Here is another possibility as to the reason why the CTOs are taking longer.

Apple has a great product here, and they are riding on the wave of great reviews of the base 11 and 13 inch models already available.

As well as the obvious features that these Airs have, there are things like super silent fans, stays cool, real life battery life equivalent to that advertised etc. All of these stand out in reviews and add reasons for people to buy.

Now just suppose that when you max out the RAM and Processor, some of these are no longer true. Maybe the fan has to spin faster to dissipate the extra heat from the processor. Maybe the battery drains significantly faster. Maybe it gets hotter.

It would be in Apple's interest to only have available the "prime" configuration at launch to max out the benefit of the great reviews, and by the time the second wave of machines arrive, the media frenzy has passed.


I hope this isn't true, as I'm waiting for my max'd out 13, but it's something to consider!

I have never heard of extra RAM affecting a computer in this way. I suppose it's possible, but it seems unlikely.

 

[Jaro65]

Stores here in the Seattle area say that they will have the 4GB models in stock "within a few days". I don't know if that's built units, or if they install the RAM in the back room, my I tend to believe they'll ship them in from China that way.

I only checked the Alderwood Mall store I believe last Friday, and they didn't have any in stock yet. I ended up ordering online.

 

[Jobsian]

Here is another possibility as to the reason why the CTOs are taking longer.

Apple has a great product here, and they are riding on the wave of great reviews of the base 11 and 13 inch models already available.

As well as the obvious features that these Airs have, there are things like super silent fans, stays cool, real life battery life equivalent to that advertised etc. All of these stand out in reviews and add reasons for people to buy.

Now just suppose that when you max out the RAM and Processor, some of these are no longer true. Maybe the fan has to spin faster to dissipate the extra heat from the processor. Maybe the battery drains significantly faster. Maybe it gets hotter.

It would be in Apple's interest to only have available the "prime" configuration at launch to max out the benefit of the great reviews, and by the time the second wave of machines arrive, the media frenzy has passed.


I hope this isn't true, as I'm waiting for my max'd out 13, but it's something to consider!

This is a terrific post and is exactly my primary concern at the moment with each passing day revealing no real-life reports on the 1.6 GHz 11" MBA.

Will we see 1/2 hour shaved off the battery (higher clock and more fan)? Will we have weaker, more pathetic spermatozoa (or eggs I guess if it's really bad) because of the extra fahrenheit?

I've already ordered a maxed out 11" but I'm feeling a twinge of anxiety now, just a twinge

 

[Scottsdale]

This really tells us Apple should have just included 4 GB RAM. We all know that for long term usage, we're going to need 4 GB RAM. Apple knows this too. Lion will probably be 2 GB min, but 4 GB recommended RAM.

As much as we want 4 GB to be standard, Apple needed to come in at $999 price point to advertise/market it at under $1k. To do that, 2 GB was probably the amount that left the margins Apple needed. Just like the LED-backlit keyboard is missing, but that could be for battery "Energy Star" ratings or something too. However, if it were a BTO option, I would pay $200 for the feature, so Apple is hurting AAPL by not giving customers the choices they're willing to pay for... I believe others feel this way too. Many have said they're not buying this MBA because it's missing the backlit keyboard.

Just too bad for all of us willing to spend the money that the BTO options aren't there for every feature. And also that they aren't selling the maxed out options in the stores too. Why not have eight models in stores with loaded ones having 2.13 GHz CPU, 4 GB RAM, 256 GB SSDs and etc for other size for $1799.

 

[b11051973]

I got my 11" MBA Saturday at the Mall of America Apple Store. I asked them if they had any models other than the 4 standard. The guy said no. I had thought about upgrading it here and there, even though I felt I didn't need it. I only used 28 GB of hdd on my old MacBook. On my MBA, iStat has just barely gone over active/inactive ram. So, I'm quite sure the $999 model will serve me well.

The big thing for me is I really wish it had a newer processor. I thought about waiting until they could fit a Core iN and fancy graphics. Problem is that could be 2 years. I will stick with my $999 MBA and maybe upgrade in a year or 2 if they come out with something drastically better.