How much RAM for new MacBook Air?

[bhowell]

My wife wants an Air because she's petite and walks to work. She uses only MS Office, Safari, iPhoto, iTunes, and Amadeus Pro audio editor.

The RAM options are 2GB and 4GB. Can she get by comfortably on 2GB with these apps? (She doesn't open them all at the same time.)

Any other considerations I should keep in mind?

Just trying not to spend more $$$ than is needed.

[leamanc]

I don't consider 2 GB sufficient anymore. Sad, but true. I had my 11" MacBook Air upgraded to 4 GB at the time of order, and I'm so glad I did it, as performance seems much better compared to stock 2 GB systems that I have used.

Now if I'd only got the SSD upgraded to 128 GB. 64 GB does not go very far these days, even though this is not my main system and has very little in the way of photos, movies, music or work-related documents stored on it.

[trevor]

Note that the current model of MacBook Air has the RAM soldered to the motherboard, so it's excruciatingly difficult to upgrade the amount of memory after you buy it. I'd recommend going for the 4 GB model as well, and (only) in the case of the MacBook Air, I'd recommend that you buy that memory installed from Apple.

Trevor

[NaOH]

In support of the above statements, I just restarted my computer which is running 10.6.7, and the machine is using about 1 GB of RAM. None of that is for third-party processes or with any applications having been launched. In addition to the performance gains from going with 4 GB of RAM, there's likely to be added resale value if the machine is sold within a couple of years.

[anthlover]

You did not mention whether you were looking at the 11 or 13 and how much storage 64, 128 or 256 or more you were looking at.

I recommend your wife and you consider the 13 Inch Macbook Pro which comes with 4GB of Ram. Flash based ram computers are wonderful but most people will run out of storage with them. The newer 13 Pros are also way faster.

The Airs are wonderful but you need to consider carefully not just the ram but the Storage Space. a 13 Inch system may be a pound or so heavier but its a much more capable and expandable system. Really though the decision comes down on the basis of needs of storage space and how much one is willing to pay to save a pound or so of weight. Of course the Pro can also go to 8GB of Ram and I think someone is even offering 16GB option (though it does not sound like your needs require this).

P.S. Amazon because of free shipping and no tax so it is often one of the most reasonable places. Even when considering refurb and even if you have access to discounts.

[bhowell]

Sounds unanimous. You've all been very helpful. Thanks a lot.

[bhowell]

BTW, anthlover, she's looking at 13", and 128GB flash should be plenty. She doesn't even use all of her 60GB on her current iBook. I've tried (and still might be able) to interest her in the Pro, as it offers more flexibility to cover future developments. It pretty much all boils down to weight of the unit, and she's thinking about that.

[anthlover]

Everyone's needs are different. I considered the airs too. I have 250GB of Data and need head room, Minimum for me was 320 to 500GB. If she only has 40 or 50GB on a 60GB drive then 128GB should be fine. So $1399 Plus tax for the 4GB model Air.

Note it will be hard to shop anywhere but Apple because of the soldered ram. I did see one vendor who supposedly had it on Amazon but that is not Amazon direct.

Wish you luck. Maybe you can entice her with the backlit keyboard on the Pro model It is a really nice feature. If she mostly travels between two places, like work and home. You might be able to tip the decision scales with an extra power supply kept at the work location. That will save about a pound too. And of course I agree about the RAM 2GB is tight, 4GB is almost a requirement.

[GavinBKK]

MBA-wise, I agree as above. Definitely go for the 4Gb BTO option. I did and it flies!

Do you qualify for the edu-discount?

[macsolver]

Hi,

My wife was given a 13" Air as part a disability allowance for University (it was supposed to be an standard 11" but I paid for the upgrade to the standard 13").

It has only 2Gb RAM, but I have checked the RAM usage (Activity Monitor - Page ins & outs) at the end of the working day, and there are Zero "Page outs". That is when running Firefox 4, Word 2008, Outlook 2008, various image viewers/editors, Acrobat Reader X, all simultaneously and printing to a laser. 4Gb of RAM would not make any difference in this case.

However, if you can afford it, 4Gb would be good to have, and if I had had the option, I would have got it.

Regards,

Nick

[appleman_design]

I believe the more ram the better if you can afford it. so bump to the 4 GB .

[bhowell]

Wish I/she qualified for the edu discount, GavinBKK, but nope.

[Sumleilmus]

If she works in a place where theft is unheard of, unthinkable, and known never to have occurred, she won't care that there is no practical way to secure a MacBook Air to a fixed (or inconveniently large and resistant to modification) object. There are some USB based security gizmos similar to what Apple uses at its stores, but they merely make noise.

At work, I'm often around the corner & down the hall from my portable, and I know things have been stolen in this workplace. I really appreciate the security cable slot in my MBP and it is the reason why I will not have a MacBook Air until it can be secured physically.

[macsolver]

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20110...book-air-lock/

[Sumleilmus]

Thanks for this, but . . .

Pre-order, no photos that show the case and how the lock attaches to it, no weight specifications for the case. It is difficult to assess such an item, and it is notably proximate to 01 April, so it's hard to be sure.

I realize my post may have sounded like a bit of a rant, but my real goal was to cause the topic to be examined in that light in case it helped the OP to advise his wife in the most informed manner re the MBA vs MBP decision.

[anthlover]

Looks like it's a flat plate that glues on. http://www.maclocks.com/index.php/ca...ge/330/id/110/

[Sumleilmus]

I looked at that "photo" earlier. The reflections don't make geometric sense the way the shadowing does. I smell Photoshop or similar.

Also, after I glue a flat plate on the MBA so I can lock it, its weight begins to approach that of the 13" MBP, which outperforms it right and left and already has an optical drive, FW800, and a security port.

[bhowell]

Didn't feel like a rant to me, Sumleilmus. I felt you were simply raising a legitimate point about security. And I still hope my wife decides on a Pro instead of an Air -- it leaves open so many more doors. Thanks for your input.

[anthlover]

Don't forget about extra power supplies and backlit keyboards. Leaving a second power supply at work shaves a lot of weight of the regular Pro 13.

Good Luck.