How Apple Could Have Doubled MBA Sales...

[wirelessmacuser]

I suggest Apple would have doubled MacBook Air sales, saved themselves the trouble of building so many BTO / CTO machines, and made even more money, if they would simply have equipped all of them with 4GB of ram.

Just think how many hours would be saved, how many discussion threads would not have been created, had Apple done the right thing from the start.

Just think about how many people that are sitting on the fence, or lamenting what they should do, instead of just placing their order. How many are having to reach for that extra $100.00.

Finally think about this for a moment. The massive amount of memory chips Apple buys, would have made their cost so low it's not even funny. It may have added less than $15 per machine. Perhaps even less.

Oh sure I hear the arguments now.. "but they wanted to come in under $1,000 for the entry level model.

Well, they could have easily done that and still included 4GB of ram.

With the impending release of Lion (the new version of OS X) sometime in the future 4GB makes all the sense in the world. To put a new model on the market in the year 2010 with a measly 2GB is a travesty.

Hello Apple? Anybody home? Anyone care? Anyone not so bloody greedy?

 

[mikethebigo]

I suggest Apple would have doubled MacBook Air sales, saved themselves the trouble of building so many BTO / CTO machines, and made even more money, if they would simply have equipped all of them with 4GB of ram.

Just think how many hours would be saved, how many discussion threads would not have been created, had Apple done the right thing from the start.

Just think about how many people that are sitting on the fence, or lamenting what they should do, instead of just placing their order. How many are having to reach for that extra $100.00.

Finally think about this for a moment. The massive amount of memory chips Apple buys, would have made their cost so low it's not even funny. It may have added less than $15 per machine. Perhaps even less.

Oh sure I hear the arguments now.. "but they wanted to come in under $1,000 for the entry level model.

Well, they could have easily done that and still included 4GB of ram.

With the impending release of Lion (the new version of OS X) sometime in the future 4GB makes all the sense in the world. To put a new model on the market in the year 2010 with a measly 2GB is a travesty.

Hello Apple? Anybody home? Anyone care? Anyone not so bloody greedy?

AND did you hear that the new iPod Touch has only 256 mb RAM?? I tried it out at the store and... oh wait... it works fine. In fact, all the 2 gig MBA's are said to work amazingly well in all the reviews I've read. I do understand your argument about how it wouldn't have costed much more to Apple, but you have to realize that the $999 MBA already has one of the lowest margins they've ever used. The price of the components alone is somewhere around $700.

I can't tell if their decision is right or wrong but they did what they did for a reason, and there's nothing we can do to change it now.

 

[ShiftClick]

I agree, maybe not for the same points as you, but yeah I think it was silly not simply have done 4GB across the board, heck even would of saved website development time as 2 less mba models to have to have pages for CTO.

Ah well it is what it is, they will get the extra hundy from me. (if I buy one, still undecided since no lock slot)

 

[boonlar]

I agree, almost every computer out there even the cheapest ones come with 4GB now and lot's have 6GB.

 

[Satori]

I agree that 2gb seems rather paltry nowadays but I still have a feeling that the base model will fly off the shelves. If it doesn't, apple will quietly upgrade the line with 4gb in the base model.

 

[bossxii]

I won't argue the fact the baseline model should be 4gigs.

As to greedy companies, profits...

Apple is no different than any other business on the planet, they will not be in business very long without increasing profit and volume year over year. They must make money or die off. If people buy what your selling and the price your asking, your doing something right. Lots of high end luxury companies from cars to airplanes, jewelry etc... are they all greedy too?

They are only making 38% give or take profit, I worked for an engineer lumber company back in the early 90's that was clearing 47% profit margins year after year. They employed thousands and took very good care of their employee's. It's not a crime to make money. The consumer will correct your pricing when sales drop, Apple is doing good to keep up with demand let alone worry about losing money or market share.

By that same token of anyone calling any company "greedy"... if your asking for cheaper prices doesn't that make you greedy? I mean you clearly don't care if Apple makes a dime as long as they give you what you want in a computer at whatever price you want to pay.

Sorry but those types of posts are get old when companies are going out of business right and left because people are willing to pay for junk products because they are "cheap". Then when it falls apart and there is no company to back it up they scream foul! How ironic.

Reading MR and other tech sites you would think making a profit is against the law in America. Sad times we are living in.

*steps off soapbox*

Sorry I am just amazed how many people post crap like this as if every company should just give away products for slim or no margin.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

I agree, almost every computer out there even the cheapest ones come with 4GB now and lot's have 6GB.

This is precisely _one_ of my points. Apple likes to pose as the premier computer company, then why not act like it?

Another point, just think of the goodwill, all the delighted Mac customers that would have enjoyed having this amount of ram.

The argument, that they run just fine now is weak. And if completely true, would we have this one massive thread with all the discussion about 2GB or 4GB ?

Do _Not_ get me wrong, people, I'm not bashing Apple.

I have a lot of their computers and other products, I've been a loyal customer for a decade. Yet I am outspoken when I think they are out of line.

I'm just suggesting they acted like WalMart, not Apple.

 

[acurafan]

it's all about greed, no aluminum Macbook-whatever should be 2GB to start. the plastic macbook i can understand, but not the other line up.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

Sorry I am just amazed how many people post crap like this as if every company should just give away products for slim or no margin.

Perhaps it's a matter of becoming familiar with Apple.

They make the most gross profit on a per computer basis than any other manufacturer. Apples _net_ profit is through the roof.

That's a well documented fact. So the argument, that "Poor Apple" is working on narrow margins is pure hogwash. Apple is profit taking like it's going out of style, and anyone who knows Apple, knows this. Thus there is absolutely no hint in the post that Apple should "suffer".

Also a very popular usage and advantage of Apples machines, is to run both OS X and Windows via virtualization.

Again, anyone who knows their Apple computers, OS X and virtualization... knows that it takes a suggested 3GB of ram to run OS X and Parallels as just one example. And that's not even taking about user apps.

For proof here are the links.

http://goo.gl/z20O

http://goo.gl/7n3a

 

[spinnerlys]

http://goo.gl/z20O - http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html

http://goo.gl/7n3a - http://www.parallels.com/uk/products/desktop/system-requirements/

Just out of curiosity, why did you use shortened links? This is not Twitter (verwandt mit Zwitter, wenn man der zweiten Lautverschiebung glauben kann), thus it will show normal length text, and as a courtesy to others it is often better to use the real addresses, thus the others know what they click on.
Isn't it more complicated to shorten the links or is there some add on or extension for your browser, that does that? I'm just curios.

 

[HLdan]

While I do agree with you in regards to Apple being a cheapskate by not including 4GB ram across the board (because they've always been cheap with giving ram) I have to say you (OP) make it sound like a company has some nerve trying to make high profits. If you owned the company you'd be offering as little as you can to your customer as long as they continue to buy so you can maintain profits. Don't lie, you'd do it, who wouldn't?

Also I wholeheartedly disagree that by offering maxed out ram and including the backlit keyboard that would reduce forum posts on MR. You haven't been here very long, this forum would complain if Apple gave everybody a free MBA for xmas with no strings attached.

Lastly, Apple could care less that you want to run Windows in a virtual machine, that's not a good reason for them to include 4GB ram. Running Windows on your Mac is by choice and Bootcamped Windows is what they support and 2GB ram is sufficient for Windows 7.

 

[racer1441]

I'm using my 2gb 11.5 macbook air right now. No problems at all with just 2gb ram. I haven't had an issues with the machine being slow at all.

 

[JoEw]

osx isnt windows, it runs great on 2gb especially with flash storage have you read the reviews? The new MBA's are fast with a 1.4 intel core duo and 2gb of ram. Apple has shown specs are not everything at least in laptops battery life is more important to most people then 8gb of ram and an i7 quad core processor

Either get a 2gb and stop complaining or fork out 100 bucks for 4gb of ram.

If your a spec freak then you shouldn't be looking at macs as your choice of computer.

 

[iDave]

I'm using my 2gb 11.5 macbook air right now. No problems at all with just 2gb ram. I haven't had an issues with the machine being slow at all.

My 2009 MacBook Pro came with just 2GB of RAM and I haven't bothered to add more. It runs fine.

 

[bossxii]

Perhaps it's a matter of becoming familiar with Apple.

They make the most gross profit on a per computer basis than any other manufacturer. Apples _net_ profit is through the roof.

That's a well documented fact. So the argument, that "Poor Apple" is working on narrow margins is pure hogwash. Apple is profit taking like it's going out of style, and anyone who knows Apple, knows this. Thus there is absolutely no hint in the post that Apple should "suffer".

Also a very popular usage and advantage of Apples machines, is to run both OS X and Windows via virtualization.

Again, anyone who knows their Apple computers, OS X and virtualization... knows that it takes a suggested 3GB of ram to run OS X and Parallels as just one example. And that's not even taking about user apps.

For proof here are the links.

http://goo.gl/z20O

http://goo.gl/7n3a

First off I hardly feel sorry for anyone or any company with $50,000,000,000 (billion) in the bank lol. Simply pointing out they are not greedy, they simply make a product people want, and are willing to pay a premium for. Yes I agree they get a premium price, but that's not a bad thing.

So what in your opinion is a fair margin? who should set how much a company makes? Oh wait, in a free market place we the consumer already set a companies margin by either buying or not. Do they not teach Econ 101 anymore? Supply and Demand.

Apple has created a product (OSX/iPads/iPhones/Mac's in general) people want, find "value" in and are willing to pay for. Pretty simple.

* To address the highlighted comment above. Some of us have zero need to run Windows, in fact the very reason I purchase Apple products is to avoid having to use Windows. If i "need" or must use windows, I would buy a PC setup to do so vs paying a premium price for an OSX machine.

 

[jamespa66]

it's all about greed, no aluminum Macbook-whatever should be 2GB to start. the plastic macbook i can understand, but not the other line up.

I've got the 13" w/ 2GB, everything I do on a normal basis works great. No complaints here. I run Aperture, Final Cut Express, MS Office all run very well.

 

[nfl46]

I am sure Apple knows 2GB will work fine with 10.7 (Lion). 2GB on my new Air is just fine. I am not experiencing any slow downs.

 

[nfl46]

I've got the 13" w/ 2GB, everything I do on a normal basis works great. No complaints here. I run Aperture, Final Cut Express, MS Office all run very well.

This.

Adobe Photoshop CS5 works fine also.

 

[yanksrock100]

Well the Macbook air isnt really made for things that need alot of space. Plus it works fine with 2 Gb of ram. If you need the 4 over the 2, maybe the MBP would be the best for you. But I do see how your idea could work.

 

[drjsway]

I thought about getting 4GB but then I realized that, as a ultra portable, long battery life is key. In order to save battery on my laptops, I often find myself closing every app and have as little open as possible. So why get more memory if I'm going to be running as few apps as possible?

 

[CaoCao]

I agree, almost every computer out there even the cheapest ones come with 4GB now and lot's have 6GB.

If you need more than 4GB RAM on a MBA you are doing it wrong

 

[neteng101]

If you need more than 4GB RAM on a MBA you are doing it wrong

If Apple offered 8GB upgrades, there will be some people to bite on it. Different people different needs though its far less likely to have people exceed 4GB.

 

[Biscotti]

Economics

All they need to do to double sales is....

(DUMM DUMM DUMMMMMM)

Cut the price of the air by 1/2!!!

But is it economical? no.
But is it profitable? no.
But is it maximizing profits? (obviously no.)
Apple, inc. is doing the right thing from their standpoint, which is why they have 50B cash, and have people THINKING they need 4GB RAM... I'm a heavy user of RAM and with 2GB + Flash SSD, I'm sure everything will be fine.

 

[chrono1081]

I won't argue the fact the baseline model should be 4gigs.

As to greedy companies, profits...

Apple is no different than any other business on the planet, they will not be in business very long without increasing profit and volume year over year. They must make money or die off. If people buy what your selling and the price your asking, your doing something right. Lots of high end luxury companies from cars to airplanes, jewelry etc... are they all greedy too?

They are only making 38% give or take profit, I worked for an engineer lumber company back in the early 90's that was clearing 47% profit margins year after year. They employed thousands and took very good care of their employee's. It's not a crime to make money. The consumer will correct your pricing when sales drop, Apple is doing good to keep up with demand let alone worry about losing money or market share.

By that same token of anyone calling any company "greedy"... if your asking for cheaper prices doesn't that make you greedy? I mean you clearly don't care if Apple makes a dime as long as they give you what you want in a computer at whatever price you want to pay.

Sorry but those types of posts are get old when companies are going out of business right and left because people are willing to pay for junk products because they are "cheap". Then when it falls apart and there is no company to back it up they scream foul! How ironic.

Reading MR and other tech sites you would think making a profit is against the law in America. Sad times we are living in.

*steps off soapbox*

Sorry I am just amazed how many people post crap like this as if every company should just give away products for slim or no margin.

+1. People don't realize that when companies make profits, they expand, and that expansion creates jobs. If the company stays successful, those jobs stay. Its amazing to see Apple have the cash they have in this economy. It means they have a great product that customers are happy to save for and buy.

If anyone wants cheap, head to the PC side with plastic laptops that have components that break all the time. Have fun uninstalling all of the crappy bloatware that comes with it that PC manufacturers have to include simply to make a small profit, or buying programs to gain basic functionality.

 

[Paintball613]

If Apple planned to make computers for their next OS, why not add on features that aren't used until 10.9? Apple is making computers for their current OS, and its fine just the way it is. Even though the G4 machines weren't designed to work with Leopard, they still work. Lion isn't adding on that many features to the OS.