I am interested in the MBA 16gb. Thoughts on buying the 256 sad and relying on external ssd storage vs going with the 512 sad 16gb model
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16mb MBA 256 vs 512
- Thread starter tonykriegmaui
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Personally, I'd go at least 512GB. Not everything can be offloaded easily and I won't always be using the MBA on a desk or flat surface so have cables dangling from it can be iffy.
I do use external SSDs and HDDs. However, I always get enough internal storage plus some allowance so I can use the device without needing to rely on external storage.
I do use external SSDs and HDDs. However, I always get enough internal storage plus some allowance so I can use the device without needing to rely on external storage.
I think that SSD storage needs are much easier to predict than RAM usage, unless buying one's first computer ever. Just based on your current needs and whether you expect them to grow, it should not be difficult to extrapolate what will be needed.
Also, without any such information (what will you store on your new laptop: just some documents, a large photo or music libraries, tons of movies, ... ?), I am afraid nobody can give a useful advice about a given SSD size here.
Also, without any such information (what will you store on your new laptop: just some documents, a large photo or music libraries, tons of movies, ... ?), I am afraid nobody can give a useful advice about a given SSD size here.
The minimum I would start with is 512Gb, this is based primarily on that I want all my programs on the internal HD, as well as my music, and photos library. For me this requires 300-350Gb. I have a Samsung T7 1TB SSD as my portable drive that goes with my MBA, and when working from my desk I also connect to a couple of LaCie D2 HD for time machine backup, and storage of some 650k photos, and video files.
Everyone on the forum says that if you get upgrade - you should take RAM first.
With M1 in mind - I am not aligned with that.
512Gb should be starting - and then feel free to add RAM
512Gb MBA has actual 494Gb (so minus 18GB) out of which System occupies 17Gb.
M1 Macs are "locked" - editing of system partition and removing bloat is more complicated, so you should forget about it.
- So minus 35Gb out of the box.
- Add keeping 10% of HD free for swap.
- If you create/manipulate large files (photo/video edit) - RAM is meaningful thing to do things faster, but large files (both input and output) need to be stored somewhere. You CAN get external drive, but performance will never be the same as your internal one + external drive kills portability of M1 MBA/MBP.
- If work is super important normally you will take cloud subscription... (10USD/m for 2TB with both Google or Apple). Warranty for external hard drive is one thing - but lost work is another thing... However with using cloud - you will have portion of cloud stored locally on your drive - which again takes space.
- Next to Mac apps - M1 allows installing iOS apps - and they work great, but they are larger than Android counterparts. You will want to have some of them (esp ones you paid for on iPhone/iPad).
To conclude - we know that M1 uses RAM differently + uses intense swap.
Finally we need to relook on the definition of RAM with M1.
But HD space cannot be optimized, either you have it or not.
Scenario where I see RAM as No1 absolute priority is virtualization.
Parallels for Mac is still in beta - but setting Windows 10 Arm on M1 requries physical memory.
If you have 8GB - you should not allocate more than 4Gb to Windows. But if you need to make things more complicated in virtualized Windows you cannot let 4Gb RAM prevent you.
TL;DR: Start from 512Gb and then decide if you further beefup RAM or storage
With M1 in mind - I am not aligned with that.
512Gb should be starting - and then feel free to add RAM
512Gb MBA has actual 494Gb (so minus 18GB) out of which System occupies 17Gb.
M1 Macs are "locked" - editing of system partition and removing bloat is more complicated, so you should forget about it.
- So minus 35Gb out of the box.
- Add keeping 10% of HD free for swap.
- If you create/manipulate large files (photo/video edit) - RAM is meaningful thing to do things faster, but large files (both input and output) need to be stored somewhere. You CAN get external drive, but performance will never be the same as your internal one + external drive kills portability of M1 MBA/MBP.
- If work is super important normally you will take cloud subscription... (10USD/m for 2TB with both Google or Apple). Warranty for external hard drive is one thing - but lost work is another thing... However with using cloud - you will have portion of cloud stored locally on your drive - which again takes space.
- Next to Mac apps - M1 allows installing iOS apps - and they work great, but they are larger than Android counterparts. You will want to have some of them (esp ones you paid for on iPhone/iPad).
To conclude - we know that M1 uses RAM differently + uses intense swap.
Finally we need to relook on the definition of RAM with M1.
But HD space cannot be optimized, either you have it or not.
Scenario where I see RAM as No1 absolute priority is virtualization.
Parallels for Mac is still in beta - but setting Windows 10 Arm on M1 requries physical memory.
If you have 8GB - you should not allocate more than 4Gb to Windows. But if you need to make things more complicated in virtualized Windows you cannot let 4Gb RAM prevent you.
TL;DR: Start from 512Gb and then decide if you further beefup RAM or storage
Impossible for us to answer since only you know how often you want an external drive attached to your laptop.
However, there is evidence that the 512 is faster than the 256.