Rev B it is, but SSD or HDD?

[jjahshik32]

The SSD will give you next to nothing when it comes to multitasking. Where it will shine is in starting applications and booting the OS.

In all the indepth tests I´ve seen, the HDD version outperforms the SSD on datatransfer where you transfer big files / a lot of data.

The main advantages of the SSD is the shorter boot, faster opening of most applications and the absolute silence.

Power consumption is marginally lower, overall system speed is marginally better and heat is also marginally lower. But none of these factors really justifies the added price if you don´t have an unlimited budget. (In which case you should choose the SSD just for the added durability a nonmoving storage solution will give you.)

-KJ

Oh believe me, multitasking has gotten crazy fast. If you try to load 2-5 apps at the same time, each application will slow down the other, thus creating the huge bottleneck which slows your mba to a crawl. Especially with a 4200rpm hdd.

Also even when your apps are fully loaded and if you do have a lot open and try to go back and forth the color wheel always comes up, not anymore with the SSD.

Anyway, when I put the intel x25-m SSD in my 2.53ghz mbp (and this is me coming 6 months ago from a 2.8ghz 8 core mac pro desktop, 16gb of ram, 150gb 10,000rpm raptor hdd) and this mbp + ssd is a bit faster.

Yes I said a bit faster, which is insane for a notebook vs. a desktop (in overall speed of the os, not like cpu rendering or anything of course against the 8 core beast). This goes to show that all this time the cpu architecture wasnt the one lagging behind, its the harddrive thats been the huge bottleneck for the past 5-7 years.

SSD upgrade has been the best upgrade I've ever made in the last 15 years 2nd next to 3d graphics, its that great. I cant wait for the mac pro desktop to get an update so I can pick one up and put my current intel x25-m in it, which would be even more amazing.

 

[rhyx]

SSD if you can afford it by far. It makes that big of a difference.

 

[jevel]

Oh believe me, multitasking has gotten crazy fast. If you try to load 2-5 apps at the same time, each application will slow down the other, thus creating the huge bottleneck which slows your mba to a crawl. Especially with a 4200rpm hdd.

Also even when your apps are fully loaded and if you do have a lot open and try to go back and forth the color wheel always comes up, not anymore with the SSD.

Anyway, when I put the intel x25-m SSD in my 2.53ghz mbp (and this is me coming 6 months ago from a 2.8ghz 8 core mac pro desktop, 16gb of ram, 150gb 10,000rpm raptor hdd) and this mbp + ssd is a bit faster.

Yes I said a bit faster, which is insane for a notebook vs. a desktop (in overall speed of the os, not like cpu rendering or anything of course against the 8 core beast). This goes to show that all this time the cpu architecture wasnt the one lagging behind, its the harddrive thats been the huge bottleneck for the past 5-7 years.

SSD upgrade has been the best upgrade I've ever made in the last 15 years 2nd next to 3d graphics, its that great. I cant wait for the mac pro desktop to get an update so I can pick one up and put my current intel x25-m in it, which would be even more amazing.

I'm not saying that I do not believe you, but this is the exact opposite of what a lot of tests of the MBA SSD vs. HDD is reporting.

Do you have a video showing the difference? Test numbers?

It would be interesting to compare your findings to the other tests out there.

-KJ

 

[ntrigue]

I purchased the MBA 1.86SSD intending to buy the MBP in January 2010.

I felt that a) my Rev A HDD was a tad too slow for my needs b) SSD is going to be quite common when I sell this Rev B in January.

Until then I am thoroughly enjoying this computer; Apple got the Macbook Air right this time! If it weren't for a few rendering and movie ripping needs I would own a MBA for years. Ultimately, I can Handbrake a DVD is a fourth of the time with a new MBP.

 

[Scottsdale]

I purchased the MBA 1.86SSD intending to buy the MBP in January 2010.

I felt that a) my Rev A HDD was a tad too slow for my needs b) SSD is going to be quite common when I sell this Rev B in January.

Until then I am thoroughly enjoying this computer; Apple got the Macbook Air right this time! If it weren't for a few rendering and movie ripping needs I would own a MBA for years. Ultimately, I can Handbrake a DVD is a fourth of the time with a new MBP.

I agree, they got the MBA revB really right. My revB smokes most computers I have ever used. The SSD really makes my 1.86 FAST. The more I use it, the more I am truly amazed by my MBA revB. It was hard to believe, going from a revA MBA, to unibody MB that the revB changed the game for the MBA. After reading the stories, seeing the xBench marks and finally trying it out made me rethink as I was going to hold out for a revC. I couldn't wait, I broke down and bought the revB, and I would NEVER go back. I am addicted to my revB MBA.

For all of you considering the refurbished revA, I urge you to seriously consider the upgrade to the revB. Once you have tried the revB, you will realize how much nicer it is.

 

[drevil]

My wife's MBP 2.16 now seems loud,slow and without trackpad gestures cumbersome. My MBA w/SSD is by far the best Apple purchase I have made. If you want an absolutely silent machine that is a joy to use get the MBA w/SSD.

 

[NATO]

For all of you considering the refurbished revA, I urge you to seriously consider the upgrade to the revB. Once you have tried the revB, you will realize how much nicer it is.

I'm curious to know whether it would be worth going for a Rev A (1.8Ghz with 64GB SSD) or Rev B (1.6GHz with 120GB HDD)?

The reason I ask is that it's possible to pick up this RevA model for a bit less than a new RevB entry level model (The prices are roughly comparable). I know the Rev B has a much better architecture with the NVidia chipset etc, but would the Rev A be a better choice on a limited budget if it was the slightly faster version with SSD? Which would feel faster?

 

[DeanCorp]

I just received my new 1.86/128GB SSD MacBook Air as a replacement from my old 1.6/80GB (Rev A) MacBook Air. I can tell you the extra money is definitely worth it. I copied my Music folder over via USB to a 7200RPM hard drive (1.64GB). It took 28 minutes on Rev A. I tried again on my SSD, 2 minutes!

The boot times are incomparable as it is such a big difference. When copying multiple files to multiple locations on the machine, the hard drive will lock up whereas the SSD will handle it fine.

I also tried launching ALL the icons in the dock and the MacBook Air Rev A took almost 1.5 minutes longer to launch all the applications.

If you have the extra cash definitely go for it. If not, maybe save up or consider purchasing the new Aluminium MacBook as 1.3KG vs 2.04KG is not such a big difference.

 

[NATO]

I'm definitely thinking that given a fixed budget, it might make sense to go for a RevA with SSD, rather than the newer RevB with a hard drive, since the SSD seems to make such a massive difference.

 

[justit]

I'm definitely thinking that given a fixed budget, it might make sense to go for a RevA with SSD, rather than the newer RevB with a hard drive, since the SSD seems to make such a massive difference.

There's an Xbench thread here that has rev B HDD better than Rev A SSD, search for it if you want to be an informed buyer.

 

[NATO]

Wow, I didn't know that! Thanks for the heads up, I'll search for that

 

[rhyx]

There's an Xbench thread here that has rev B HDD better than Rev A SSD, search for it if you want to be an informed buyer.

It is better in most cases but not all.

 

[eVolcre]

I'm curious to know whether it would be worth going for a Rev A (1.8Ghz with 64GB SSD) or Rev B (1.6GHz with 120GB HDD)?

The reason I ask is that it's possible to pick up this RevA model for a bit less than a new RevB entry level model (The prices are roughly comparable). I know the Rev B has a much better architecture with the NVidia chipset etc, but would the Rev A be a better choice on a limited budget if it was the slightly faster version with SSD? Which would feel faster?

Similar dilemma here. Assuming both prices are equal* which is a better buy? RevA SSD or RevBHD. All my heavy lifting would be on my main machine.

Refurb from apple works out to 1299 + tax + shipping which is about 1420. Brand new RevB would be 1799 flat from amazon which is about 350 more.

Speaking of which, when do returns on new models typically start showing up and what's the usual discount? 1550 on revB HD by mid April realistic?

EV

 

[That70sGAdawg]

Get the HDD and upgrade it to an SSD later whenever it is available

I agree. It's not worth the $600 up front. My Rev. B HDD is plenty "snappy"!!!

 

[zer0tails]

Similar dilemma here. Assuming both prices are equal* which is a better buy? RevA SSD or RevBHD. All my heavy lifting would be on my main machine.

Refurb from apple works out to 1299 + tax + shipping which is about 1420. Brand new RevB would be 1799 flat from amazon which is about 350 more.

Speaking of which, when do returns on new models typically start showing up and what's the usual discount? 1550 on revB HD by mid April realistic?

EV

they should have shown up by now. But Apple seems to be taking longer than usual maybe because they really want to get rid of Rev. A stock. i think 1550 on a Rev B HD is reasonable.

As for your question on which is a better buy. I think both sort of have their pros and cons that equal themselves out.

So the deciding factor comes down to which you deem more important: a better gpu or a HD.

 

[preacher]

Got lucky to find a mint used 1.86 SSD for $1999! Now that's definitely worth it!

 

[poky]

Got lucky to find a mint used 1.86 SSD for $1999! Now that's definitely worth it!

I've been eying on the 1.86 SSD, the cheapest I saw is $1800 brand new on fleabay.

 

[tubbymac]

I'd personally take a rev B with hard drive over a rev A with SSD but that's assuming no horizontal lines.

 

[eVolcre]

I've been eying on the 1.86 SSD, the cheapest I saw is $1800 brand new on fleabay.

How is someone able to sell a machine at 600 less than cost? Even the adc discount isn't that high. Are these stolen?

 

[dubhe]

Aside from speed, the decision for SSD should be based on better resale.

Yes, how much better resale will it attract compared to the additional outlay by the initial purchaser?

 

[manhattanboy]

I'm definitely thinking that given a fixed budget, it might make sense to go for a RevA with SSD, rather than the newer RevB with a hard drive, since the SSD seems to make such a massive difference.

I would think not!

RevB is under the hood a much better computer even if you can only afford the regular HDD version. The only reason to get the SSD in the long term is that spinning disks (and LCD screens) tend to be the 1st thing to give out as the computer ages. The SSD should hopefully prevent one of those 2 things from being a problem within a couple years time.

Yes, the SSD boots fast and I love that feature because it saves on battery life (shut down versus sleeping).

All-in-all I think there are great PC computers that weigh the same and are capable of the same and cost a lot less. But they are not Macs...

 

[dubhe]

I bought the Rev.B HDD last night, have only been using it 24 hours, but can say that it is fast; compared to my previous Black MB 2.4 GHz it is faster at loading web pages, displays better graphics with games and of course looks a lot better. The SSD is of course faster, but the HDD can do the job, and if you don't open apps every minute of every day, then I find it hard to justify the additional 25% cost.