1.8 and SSD vs low end version, is it worth it?

[nph]

Hi

I am planning to get the new MBA to complement my imac. Have the original MBP but realized I never use the 'pro' features and instead get irritated by the heat.

My plans for use are:
- Surfing, email
- Some limited web design
- WMWare to run some job stuff that doesn't exist on Mac but non graphic intensive, although Vista OS will be the basis.
- Some older non too hot games, AoE, Spaceward Ho.
- Watch some reruns of CSI on cbs.com
- lots of smaller utilities to check web cams etc.

Do you see a big improvement performance wise with the 1.8 SSD vs 1.6 HDD and how i sbattery life?

Thanks for the advice. Btw, I plan to buy as soon as the 'lines' issue is resolved.

 

[Ironic]

Batt life 4hours plus and if you can afford it go for the SSD it amazing!

 

[6SSD4]

As far as I understand the SSD is faster then the HDD in many ways. Sometimes it's even alot faster, so if you have the money, go for it.
I don't really think the battery life will be much improved with the SSD considering the HDD also uses a 1,8" drive and a LED b.l. display which saves you some battery time. Maybe 10-15 more minutes mor with the SSD?

 

[aussie.damo]

Batt life 4hours plus and if you can afford it go for the SSD it amazing!

Completely agree - I had the Rev A HDD model, picked up the Rev B SSD model yesterday. It's like chalk and cheese, the SSD model is AMAZING. If you plan to run VMware, plan to get the SSD. I tried it on the HDD model and it was a waste of time.

 

[nph]

Thanks, seems everyone that has the SSD is extremely happy with it!

 

[conradmaya]

yes yes yes!!!

more than worth while, i have truly enjoyed the transition from the first generation at a basic level to the new one!
Conrad

 

[sychee]

more than worth while, i have truly enjoyed the transition from the first generation at a basic level to the new one!
Conrad

Yes. I enjoy using my MBA. Application turns on instantly the moment you click on the icon

 

[GoCubsGo]

Hi

I am planning to get the new MBA to complement my imac. Have the original MBP but realized I never use the 'pro' features and instead get irritated by the heat.

My plans for use are:
- Surfing, email
- Some limited web design
- WMWare to run some job stuff that doesn't exist on Mac but non graphic intensive, although Vista OS will be the basis.
- Some older non too hot games, AoE, Spaceward Ho.
- Watch some reruns of CSI on cbs.com
- lots of smaller utilities to check web cams etc.

Do you see a big improvement performance wise with the 1.8 SSD vs 1.6 HDD and how i sbattery life?

Thanks for the advice. Btw, I plan to buy as soon as the 'lines' issue is resolved.

Everything you want points to the HDD model being fine except the VMWare. Honestly, I am unsure if the SSD will make the VMWare totally painless ... it may only minimize it.

 

[justit]

For VMWare / Parallels the SSD comes into use when opening a suspended PC state or booting/shutting down Windows and applications. Everything else then relies on processor speed and there isn't much of a difference in .2 Mhz.
If you're always opening/closing the VM PC then go with the SSD.

 

[ViM]

is the ssd mlc or slc?

 

[tubbymac]

is the ssd mlc or slc?

Samsung MLC.

 

[eXan]

If you can afford it, get SSD. 1.8 over 1.6 is IMO a waste of money.

 

[AIRniloc]

had the Rev A 1.6 HD, just sold it and scored the 1.86 SSD...it's MUCH faster..

not everyone needs 'power', but who doesn't need SPEED?

score the SSD...it's worth it

 

[6SSD4]

I just god rev A SSD. As superp as is seems to be I´ll never look back!
Ice cold, deadly silent, ultra fast.

 

[mhobelsb]

i played in an store with a ssd model. was really happy with it but thought the difference to the hdd is not that big and safe some money. well i have now the 1,86 hdd model and must say that i regret it. i should have spend the extra money for the ssd. (how much is the ssd drive if i plug it in myself? anyone who knows a shop there i can buy it?)

the hdd model is not THAT slow. don´t get me wrong. but the ssd is just... so much snappier.

greetings

martin

 

[justit]

not everyone needs 'power', but who doesn't need SPEED

Well put. The Rev B HDD is much closer to the SSD than Rev A HDD was at opening apps, due to the 6GB of cache. But you'll probably need to do file transfers from a larger external drive and file transfers are still 1/2 the speed of the SSD.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

^ I thought SSD can read very fast, but write very slow? HDD can read at okay speeds in comparison to SSD, but write uber fast compared to SSD?

 

[alphaod]

Methinks reliability of SSDs are worth getting over HDDs. Sure faster is good too, but with a laptop computer, the more immune the computer is to failure, the better.

^ I thought SSD can read very fast, but write very slow? HDD can read at okay speeds in comparison to SSD, but write uber fast compared to SSD?

No idea what SSDs you've been using

From my experience, the more you pay, the faster it gets. Yes the old IDE SSDs used to be very slow compared to HDDs, but nowadays with SATA and fast controllers, the SSDs are usually faster than HDDs.

 

[MH01]

I bought the 1.8 SSD and the new 2.8MBP when they were released. The MBP had a 7200Rpm drive in it. Having used both the MBA with the SSD was amazingly zippy, I decided to return the MBP and keep the MBA. The SSD model is very fast. I will get a Imac instead of the MBP. Also its so damn light and portable, the MBP felt like a brick.

Try both the SSD and the HD models, but if you have the money, go the SSD. And now with 128Gb its actually a useful amount of storage for a portable.

Also you could always get the HD and 6 months or so down the track install a SSD.

 

[nick9191]

If you can afford it, get SSD. 1.8 over 1.6 is IMO a waste of money.

Agreed, get the 1.6 but do the BTO for the SSD. Negligible real world speed difference and you save a couple of hundred.

 

[MH01]

Agreed, get the 1.6 but do the BTO for the SSD. Negligible real world speed difference and you save a couple of hundred.

Completely agree, real world performance does not justify the cost. The only reason i got the 1.8, is that if i had any issues i could get the unit exchanged at the apple store in the 1st 14 days. And that is just what happened. If you get a BTO you will have to send it back to apple, the whole process can take a few weeks depending on stock levels/availability. Not to mention the initial week or so u have to wait for your order to arrive. Something to consider.

 

[Fonzijr1964]

the 1.6 is slow and so is the 1.8 why not minimize ur pain.

The SSD is just comforting knowing that if i drop it it will be ok