Oh, some of our software barely compiles with 4GB of memory (unless you have enough time). E.g. large finite state transducers dumped as a big array of structs in C tend to blow up the compiler ;).
Also, some people tend to work with large data sets or problems that just require lots of memory. E.g. I work on language generation, and generally the more memory the better. For me 8GB is the minimum for doing serious work, and most machines that I use have >= 8GB and <= 64GB of memory.
That's cool, surely that's a niche situation though. People deving mobile apps and websites (most people here) can do fine with 4GB. I do think the low end MB Air at 2GB is pushing it though.
So, someone asks "why would anyone need 8GB of memory". I describe one situation where I need that amount of memory. Can the downvoter please explain why this comment is objectionable?
Edit: my question is not rhetorical, I really would like to know.
Can't say i found anything objectionable to your comment (while I'm not doing that kind of stuff, in my day-to-day web development I have to juggle with virtual machines and 8GB RAM is also a bare requirements to be able to work correctly without the machine swapping to death), so I put you back above threshold.
Also not a downvoter, but it's hyperbole because he didn't qualify it by saying that he has very particular needs. It would be like saying, "the Ford Excursion is an unusable piece of junk due to the lack of interior space...I can't even fit my 42 foster kids in it for a trip to Disneyland."
Also, some people tend to work with large data sets or problems that just require lots of memory. E.g. I work on language generation, and generally the more memory the better. For me 8GB is the minimum for doing serious work, and most machines that I use have >= 8GB and <= 64GB of memory.