The current iPad is configured with only 256mb of memory. I'm confused why this is enough memory to browse the web, while in reading the Mac Mini forums anything less than 2gb memory for the Mini is considered a performance degradation. Could they be talking about heavier duty Mac OS X apps in needing 2gb rather than for web browsing?
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iPad memory sufficient?
- Thread starter Jackintosh
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There's really only one shortcoming of the ipad: That it doesn't have its own retina display. Granted it'll be a little bit before retina displays big enough for the ipad will even be available commercially.... and that's only a problem of contrast. Contrast to my iPhone 4's screen, which is the shiznat.
Memory-wise and performance-wise, its fine. Awesome in fact. Totally redefines being able to browse the web on your couch in comfort. I prefer using it to browse the web over my macbook pro. And don't get me wrong, the screen is very nice. I can see pixels though, and my iPhone 4 is spoiling me more and more every day.
Memory-wise and performance-wise, its fine. Awesome in fact. Totally redefines being able to browse the web on your couch in comfort. I prefer using it to browse the web over my macbook pro. And don't get me wrong, the screen is very nice. I can see pixels though, and my iPhone 4 is spoiling me more and more every day.
Didn't we go through this dance about the iPad memory 2 or 3 weeks ago? Doesn't MacRumors have a search function built in?
Not an issue of rules. There is a serious thread that covered this issue. It has a ton of info in it regarding the memory issue with the iPad, good and bad. It is more helpful than starting a new thread.
That is a computer, the iPad is a device or something, the iPhone and iPad has proven that most OS's really use crazy amounts of RAM that these devices don't, the iPad actually works quite nicely with what it has now
You can't compare it with the Mac Mini, all i can say is that you'll have a better experience on the iPad with 256MB of ram than on the Mini with 2GB of ram , the iPad just uses it very smartly
You can't compare it with the Mac Mini, all i can say is that you'll have a better experience on the iPad with 256MB of ram than on the Mini with 2GB of ram , the iPad just uses it very smartly
Perhaps so. In the meantime, other members were patient and good enough to answer my simple question.
Fair enough. If they have the time to go over something that has been discussed many times over, they are truly the saints of this forum. Personally I would rather find info that is already posted and not take up space by starting repeat threads.
With that I will bid a fond adieu. Start as many repeat threads that you desire.
IMO, no, it doesn't have enough memory. Sure, it runs apps fine with nary a stutter. However, where it needs it is for browsing Cache. I am running across increasingly more sites where not all images will load, resulting in the question-n-a-box icons.
Either they need to add more memory, or allow caching from your normal storage space in the form of virtual ram.
Either they need to add more memory, or allow caching from your normal storage space in the form of virtual ram.
The iPad is great for browsing as long as you are a 'browse one page at a time' type of person.
I tend to browse a site like MacRumors by skimming the titles of articles on the first page and then firing off a rapid succession of background tabs. The idea being that while I am reading news item #1, items #2-11 load in background tabs and await me.
Seeing as how Safari on the iPad is extremely limited in terms of caching, this is impossible to do. It can be done with 3rd party browser, unfortunately their UI is too lacking for my taste.
In the end it boils down to: I'm using my iPad less and less and less with each passing day and using my MacBook more and more.
The iPad has great potential, but it's a half-cooked device in many respects. If/when Apple decide they feel like focusing on it again and releasing improved software I'll revisit it. For now, it's seeing more and more of the inside of my desk drawer.
I tend to browse a site like MacRumors by skimming the titles of articles on the first page and then firing off a rapid succession of background tabs. The idea being that while I am reading news item #1, items #2-11 load in background tabs and await me.
Seeing as how Safari on the iPad is extremely limited in terms of caching, this is impossible to do. It can be done with 3rd party browser, unfortunately their UI is too lacking for my taste.
In the end it boils down to: I'm using my iPad less and less and less with each passing day and using my MacBook more and more.
The iPad has great potential, but it's a half-cooked device in many respects. If/when Apple decide they feel like focusing on it again and releasing improved software I'll revisit it. For now, it's seeing more and more of the inside of my desk drawer.
Yeah, this works great and there's NO drawback worth even discussing as far as how it effects memory. It doesn't pound on it, memory life is pretty long these days and given the attention span of most people, the iPad will be in the trash years before it's memory started becoming faulty from use. Even Safari is a LOT better after doing the VM hack.
256Mb is plenty. Remember the games we used to be able to play on PCs with THAT MUCH memory 
Okay that's going back a bit, but I really think 256Mb is just fine.
Okay that's going back a bit, but I really think 256Mb is just fine.yoavcs said:
Have you tried iCab? To me, this feels more like a desktop/laptop browser than anything else on the iPad, it has a nice clean UI, it supports plugins or "modules," it enables direct downloading from the web ... and it handles background tabs smoothly and rapidly. I've replaced Safari in the dock with this and seldom use anything else.
Your point that the iPad still seems "half baked" in some ways is well taken -- it's a 1st gen device that will keep getting better with time.
...
Icab is good but I prefer atomic simply because the menubar in icab is way too big. It takes up too much of the screen in landscape if you have the tab bar activated. Atomic doesn't take up nearly so much space because it doesn't have the webpage name displayed above the address bar.
wyneken said:
Icab is good but I prefer atomic simply because the menubar in icab is way too big. It takes up too much of the screen in landscape if you have the tab bar activated. Atomic doesn't take up nearly so much space because it doesn't have the webpage name displayed above the address bar.
Then why didn't you give us a link?
Everyone knows that search functions of message boards are horrible. I will search, using the best terms, and rarely get anything relevant in the first page of results.
Wow. Not my experience at all. Safari works great, and in fact, loads pages as fast, or faster than my MacBook. Reloading happens very infrequently -- mostly on pages that have NO_CACHE directives set or an advertisement that uses javascript to autorefresh.
Absolutely no issues with the way Safari works at all.