Do Apple stores usually stock maxed-out RAM Airs?

[withnail]

I am planning on getting the next revision of the MBA when it's released. I've never gotten an Air before, it's been all MacBook Pros so far. I've usually been able to get the maxed-out RAM options from the store -- will I be able to do the same with the MBAs, or will I have to order BTO online to get this?

 

[axio]

I want to know too

 

[PaulWog]

I am planning on getting the next revision of the MBA when it's released. I've never gotten an Air before, it's been all MacBook Pros so far. I've usually been able to get the maxed-out RAM options from the store -- will I be able to do the same with the MBAs, or will I have to order BTO online to get this?

It's likely that they will have a variety of stock. They are an intelligent company.

Much like when I worked in a restaurant, companies tend to have a minimum expected sales number on particular items. So with food, we'd prepare X amount of this, and X amount of that, depending on the day and the previous day's sales and whatnot.

I would expect Apple's marketing team is much more intelligent than a very small restaurant chain. They likely are reviewing their sales of other laptops, and base what they send out to every store on a statistical calculation of what likely will be needed.

I'm guessing they have X number of base-models, X number of maxed-out models, and then a mixed number of the inbetween.

 

[Apple Expert]

Yes they do. They currently have the max out version atmy local apple store. Soi would imagine this would continue.

 

[Scottsdale]

They will probably do what they have done previously. You can buy either the base configuration model OR the ultimate model. The problem with that upgrade is you're forced to also upgrade the Flash drive to the larger size and the CPU. They don't usually just offer the base model plus the 4GB RAM upgrade.

You can hope that the 4GB RAM is standard... and due to the loss of a real GPU Apple just might include it standard. However, I wouldn't bet on it as it makes a ton of money selling $1799 MBA ultimates when all people really want are $1299 base 13" MBAs with 4GB RAM. It is a $500 extra upgrade in revenues for them.

 

[2IS]

They will probably do what they have done previously. You can buy either the base configuration model OR the ultimate model.

This has been my experience as well when shopping at the retail stores. When I was shopping for my 13" MBA I wanted 4 GB of ram with the base 128GB drive and base 1.86GHz processor. I called three different Apple stores, all of them either had the base configuration or the maxed out (ultimate) version. Didn't really feel like paying $1800 when the configuration I wanted was $1400 so I ended up ordering it instead.

 

[flynz4]

In the four Apple stores I checked last October when the current MBA's were announced, they only had the base models and the upgraded models needed to be purchased online.

About a week later, they had both the base and ultimate models in stock.

I agree with Scottsdale... I suspect that this time they will have both configurations at launch. We will probably know tomorrow.

/Jim

 

[WardC]

I purchased my 2.13GHz/4GB RAM/256GB SSD 13" config from the Apple Store, walked in, bought it and left in about 2 and a half minutes flat.

What they will not sell you is a MacBook Pro with 8GB of RAM or an iMac with anymore than 4GB of RAM, and they won't sell you a MacBook Pro or an iMac with a solid-state drive. They also only carry the lowest base configuration Mac Pro tower at the store (the 2.8GHz quad). If you want a 6-core, 8-core, or 12-core Mac Pro you have to order online.

Also, on the new iMacs if you want the 2GB graphics option you have to order online, they don't carry any of the upgraded models in stores.