I won't get a MBA until Apple ships with 4GB memory as standard and..

[dal20402]

However, I disagree that you cannot run windows. I know a good number of people have spoken about running Windows on their Rev A Airs without issue. I think overall what happens though is you max out the ram and you have to start cleaning up your tasks. Should we have to work this way? Nope.

Swapping to the extent necessary to run my Mac and Windows workflows in 2GB is simply unacceptable.

Maybe you can run OS X with just Mail and Calculator open and Windows with just Notepad open and not significantly swap (in either OS) in 2GB. That's not accomplishing work.

I have to manage tasks in 4GB to avoid swapping -- 6 is more comfortable. 2 is unusable -- I'm itching to get rid of my older CD MBP for this reason, and would love to replace it with an Air, but I'm now thinking about a newer MBP instead. (For me, the weight difference between an MBP and an MB is insufficient to compensate for the smaller screen -- the MBA is a different story.)

 

[GoCubsGo]

Swapping to the extent necessary to run my Mac and Windows workflows in 2GB is simply unacceptable.

Maybe you can run OS X with just Mail and Calculator open and Windows with just Notepad open and not significantly swap (in either OS) in 2GB. That's not accomplishing work.

I have to manage tasks in 4GB to avoid swapping -- 6 is more comfortable. 2 is unusable -- I'm itching to get rid of my older CD MBP for this reason, and would love to replace it with an Air, but I'm now thinking about a newer MBP instead. (For me, the weight difference between an MBP and an MB is insufficient to compensate for the smaller screen -- the MBA is a different story.)

Well then, just like the OP, the Air is not for you. It is ok to be completely against an Apple product or find that not all Apple products suit your needs.

There's a market for the Air, I wasn't a part of that market until Rev B, clearly you and the OP aren't. I get what you're saying. The 15" MBP is not heavy and can be very portable. The OP made mention that it isn't so much or that it just wasn't as convenient. I backed down because I he may suffer from osteoporosis and the Air is the only thing he can lift. I am unsure. Again, another user who wasn't the target audience for the Air. To each is own I say.

I completely agree that 4GB is best, but I don't run windows much/enough to really give a damn if my mac can run windows.

 

[Porco]

I'd say wait for a USB3-equipped Air. FW is never happening on an Air, more's the pity.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

Enough about FW on the Air. What is this crazy talk about 4Gb of RAM Standard? I mean, sure I guess that day will come when RAM requirements get to that, but Standard? Haha, no one does that.

I guess this guy just doesn't want an Air, or is looking for excuses to NOT buy one. I don't care how long the OP's been using Macs, your stated requirements reek of noob.

 

[slimpaul]

you'll wait a while...

 

[TheReef]

I'd say wait for a USB3-equipped Air. FW is never happening on an Air, more's the pity.

Enough about FW on the Air. What is this crazy talk about 4Gb of RAM Standard? I mean, sure I guess that day will come when RAM requirements get to that, but Standard? Haha, no one does that.

4 GB of ram isn't crazy for those who use it, the problem here is that it can't be upgraded so rather than including the standard 2, it's best to be future proofed.
But Apple would much rather you dispose of this product in 3 years time and buy the latest…

Some users won't use more than 2, others will use more, it should at least be an option (even if it is soldered in).

By the time USB3 is out (and included on the Air for that matter), they will most likely be offering 8GB of standard RAM. Good things come to those who wait in response to the thread title.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

4 GB of ram isn't crazy for those who use it, the problem here is that it can't be upgraded

I have 4gb of RAM, and I know others that do too. The keyword there is "standard" I just don't see it. Though with the Air not being user upgradable is something I didn't realize. Anyway, I shouldn't have posted into this thread anyway. I had nothing to contribute really.

 

[Eidorian]

Enough about FW on the Air. What is this crazy talk about 4Gb of RAM Standard? I mean, sure I guess that day will come when RAM requirements get to that, but Standard? Haha, no one does that.

I guess this guy just doesn't want an Air, or is looking for excuses to NOT buy one. I don't care how long the OP's been using Macs, your stated requirements reek of noob.

Maybe you should take a look at the standard RAM that other laptops ship with. 3-4 GB is common even in bargain basement laptops.

 

[HLdan]

All these people complaining about the 2GB ram limit on the MBA just want their cake and eat it too. Stop complaining, if you want the AIR and you want to run Windows and utilize as much ram as possible out of the AIR then bootcamp it. Apple does not support VMware or Parallels in such a way as to make sure enough ram is included in their computers to satisfy the virtualization needs of certain customers. They support bootcamp and if you want the best Windows experience on any Mac use bootcamp, end of story. If you desperately need to run Windows all the time and the programs you use require lots of memory then a Macintosh computer is the wrong computer. Buy a physical Windows machine.

 

[zer0tails]

firewire is out of the question. If you need it, get a pro.

But, I don't think wanting the option of 4GB ram is unreasonable. My reasons for wanting something like that is not because i run vmware or parellels, uh no, i only like OS X.

But seeing as to how programs and etc. are constantly getting more ram hungry, and i intend to keep my macbook air for at least 3 years, having 4GB ram will ensure that it'll run fine when it's 2-3 years old.

edit: it does not have to be standard but a BTO option if anyone wishes to pay extra.

Also, in regards to HLdan, if someone is buying a macbook air and expecting gaming performance equal to a MBP, then i'm at a lost for words..that's not what the MBA is for LOL

 

[dal20402]

All these people complaining about the 2GB ram limit on the MBA just want their cake and eat it too.

No, we just want Apple to make a technically easy change.

There's nothing about the Air that would make it work less well with 4GB of RAM. Comparably light, low-power ultraportables from other manufacturers are available with 4GB of RAM (even 8GB in one case) and work just fine.

There are several customers on this board alone who would buy Airs if this one easy change were made.

I don't understand why people need to insult others for pointing out an easily addressable flaw in a product. It's not like adding the extra 2GB would compromise the product.

 

[iomatic]

Here's the info I was reading re: RAM:

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/6540337/

 

[HLdan]

There are several customers on this board alone who would buy Airs if this one easy change were made.

I don't understand why people need to insult others for pointing out an easily addressable flaw in a product. It's not like adding the extra 2GB would compromise the product.

Insult??? Saying someone is complaining is not insulting anyone buddy. It's stating a fact of behavior.

You're wrong on your first sentence. People on these boards are not on the fence of buying the Air with just more ram being the dealmaker. Many people still want a built-in optical drive and still have a thin and light.
They also want more ports, they also want a user-replaceable battery in the Air. They also want gaming performance equal to the MBP since the Air is nearly the same price as a Pro.

 

[dal20402]

Insult??? Saying someone is complaining is not insulting anyone buddy. It's stating a fact of behavior.

You're wrong on your first sentence. People on these boards are not on the fence of buying the Air with just more ram being the dealmaker.

I am, and the OP is. I've seen a couple of others, too. It's a big deal.

Many people still want a built-in optical drive and still have a thin and light. They also want more ports, they also want a user-replaceable battery in the Air. They also want gaming performance equal to the MBP since the Air is nearly the same price as a Pro.

The difference is that everything on that list but more RAM presents serious technical difficulties. More ports or an optical drive would compromise the shape and probably make it thicker. Gaming performance equal to the MBP would be impossible because of heat.

Adding more RAM is a change Apple could make with minimal engineering effort or difficulty. And, yes, that is the one and only deal breaker for me with the Air.

 

[HLdan]

I am, and the OP is. I've seen a couple of others, too. It's a big deal.



The difference is that everything on that list but more RAM presents serious technical difficulties. More ports or an optical drive would compromise the shape and probably make it thicker. Gaming performance equal to the MBP would be impossible because of heat.

Adding more RAM is a change Apple could make with minimal engineering effort or difficulty. And, yes, that is the one and only deal breaker for me with the Air.

Well it certainly is a dealbreaker for you but not for me. My 1.86Ghz/SSD Air is being delivered tomorrow. I already know what I am getting and I am fine with it. The issue I have with this whole argument is that there is nothing that can be done rather than either buy or not buy if it doesn't fit your needs.
Apple's feedback section on their website is a great start if you need revisions on the Air to fit your needs.
Regardless of what you say about the lack of ram being a dealbreaker or not the majority of posters plead the need for more ports on the Air rather than ram. 2GB is a decent amount of ram and plenty of enough for most running Leopard. As I mentioned earlier, if you need to virtualize Windows and run ram hungry apps then either bootcamp it or get a different computer.

 

[macbook123]

I wish they'd come out with a 15 inch version of the Air, i.e. no optical drive, MBP-like CPU's and RAM, maybe enough space for that firewire port some care about, 4 pounds, 1920x1200 screen. I'd buy that in no time! Those are the kinds of laptops everybody will have once optical drives join floppy drives in the history books, and it would be nice for Apple to lead the way.

 

[minik]

4gigs of RAM, that's all I care.

 

[auhlixer]

Again, if your a POWER user, why are you considering an air?

Because it's so awesome

 

[BWhaler]

FW800 port.

Unless of course they release a MBP12" or 13" with matte screen

Anyone think the same?

I suspect this means you'll never buy the Air.

4 gigs will come someday--probably in v3--but FW800 is not going to happen.

 

[BillG07]

Economics

No, we just want Apple to make a technically easy change.

There's nothing about the Air that would make it work less well with 4GB of RAM. Comparably light, low-power ultraportables from other manufacturers are available with 4GB of RAM (even 8GB in one case) and work just fine.

There are several customers on this board alone who would buy Airs if this one easy change were made.

I don't understand why people need to insult others for pointing out an easily addressable flaw in a product. It's not like adding the extra 2GB would compromise the product.

You hit the point right on here but in the opposite way that you hoped. Apple knows what market segment buys their specific products and they have a pretty good idea of what is going to be most profitable for them. Despite all the moaning on this forum about the lack of firewire on the new macbooks, you don't see the general industry condemning at all, much less the way that people on this forum do. Basically, people posting here do not represent the segment that Apple is going to make the most money off of.

As to this specific issue, the air is targeted to business people who need a laptop that is the ultimate in portability. The MBP is similarly priced, and Apple (probably correctly) thinks that anyone looking for performance features is going to get that computer. The air is not designed to run intensive applications like Fusion. Its made for presentations, productivity apps, and general email/web/etc. And considering the slower processor, slower and smaller HD, and poorer graphics it makes sense they don't offer the same RAM cap as they do in the MBP, even though the computer could handle it.

But the real reason is that it simply isn't profitable. The people buying Airs now don't care that its capped at 2 GB, and Apple doesn't think they'd significantly increase sales but offering 4 GB. I would bet good money they made the right decision from a monetary standpoint, even though it'd be nice to have 4 GB available.

 

[dal20402]

As to this specific issue, the air is targeted to business people who need a laptop that is the ultimate in portability. The MBP is similarly priced, and Apple (probably correctly) thinks that anyone looking for performance features is going to get that computer. The air is not designed to run intensive applications like Fusion. Its made for presentations, productivity apps, and general email/web/etc. And considering the slower processor, slower and smaller HD, and poorer graphics it makes sense they don't offer the same RAM cap as they do in the MBP, even though the computer could handle it.

Fusion or Parallels are not "intensive" applications in any sense but RAM usage. If you're using ordinary business software in Windows, like I do, it wouldn't tax either the processor or the hard disk of the Air one bit. In any case, the new SSD is the best hard drive Apple offers for seek-intensive tasks like booting operating systems. I think it would be sensible to limit 4GB of RAM to SSD versions because they would target the same high-end consumer.

But the real reason is that it simply isn't profitable. The people buying Airs now don't care that its capped at 2 GB, and Apple doesn't think they'd significantly increase sales but offering 4 GB. I would bet good money they made the right decision from a monetary standpoint, even though it'd be nice to have 4 GB available.

Questioning Apple's business judgment lately has been a mug's game, so you may be right. But it's hard for me to understand why adding a 4GB config of the Air would be costly to Apple, and it would generate at least a few high-margin sales. (I, for instance, would pay $300 extra -- WAY above cost -- for a 4GB Air.) It's not as if I were asking for something that requires dramatic reengineering, such as adding a FW800 port.

Everyone keeps arguing "The Air is designed for portability, not serious usage." What you all are overlooking is that adding more RAM wouldn't compromise the Air's design goals one bit.

 

[aleni]

2 gb i think is enough for the macbook air's user market. but a lot of people who are power user that buy the air because they love the design, coolness and the thinness. that's the people that want 4gb, included me.

i'm more a power user by doing illustrator work in adobe illustrator. but i ditched the old previous mbp 2.4ghz penryn and bought the macbook air rev A at may 2008.

i know i should have not used the macbook air because of my job doing illustrator works. but it has been just fine since, yeah much slower than the mbp, but i can live with that. and 4gb would be helpful too. but it's not going to happen until next year revision.

 

[Ryffie]

I have the MB but I've been considering the MBA just for the better screen. But the problem is I thought 2GB RAM would be enough for me since I'm no power user but I see myself running out of RAM constantly. I usually have 5-10 programs running, nothing heavier than PS, and prefer sleeping than turning it off.

If i switched to MBA i would gain a better screen and lighter weight but lose on all the other aspects. I still think 2GB RAM is perfectly fine to run with at the moment but what happens when Snow Leopard is released and the time after that? How long til 2GB RAM is obsolete?

 

[Ironic]

I have the MB but I've been considering the MBA just for the better screen. But the problem is I thought 2GB RAM would be enough for me since I'm no power user but I see myself running out of RAM constantly. I usually have 5-10 programs running, nothing heavier than PS, and prefer sleeping than turning it off.

If i switched to MBA i would gain a better screen and lighter weight but lose on all the other aspects. I still think 2GB RAM is perfectly fine to run with at the moment but what happens when Snow Leopard is released and the time after that? How long til 2GB RAM is obsolete?

It;s perfect, I never use more then a G, for daily stuff.

 

[macbook123]

USB2.0 is much slower than FW800. And you can't use TD mode with USB which can come in very handy

what is TD mode?