SSD or HD for my new MBA 2.0?

[thr61]

I am going to order (today) the 1.6 MBA 2.0. I just can't decide between the SSD or conventional HD. I end up just under $2500 once I add on the super-drive, ethernet, and applecare -- it is closer to $2,000 with the 120GB disk.

My usage is primarily email, Word, Excel, Web and some mind-mapping tools. No photoshop or intense image, music, or video editing. I never watch movies on my notebooks (I travel with my Kindle).

Opinions on this?

 

[O. Frabjous-Dey]

Go for the HD. The kind of tasks you'll be doing and the files you'll be working with don't need fast random access.

 

[thr61]

I see lots of other folks ordering the SSD, but still wonder. Other opinions?

 

[HiFiGuy528]

If you buy the SSD, you will loose $500 in resale value as soon as it ships from Apple.

$2500 can get you the following:

NEW 1st gen. MBA for $1300+/-
NEW aluminum 2.0ghz MB with SuperDrive for $1200

All with FREE shipping and NO Sales tax!

 

[costabunny]

Id say go for the HDD too - I have it in my Gen1 and will get the Gen2 with it also. IMHO the added benefit of the SSD doesnt justify the price (yet)....

 

[thr61]

If you buy the SSD, you will loose $500 in resale value as soon as it ships from Apple.

$2500 can get you the following:

NEW 1st gen. MBA for $1300+/-
NEW aluminum 2.0ghz MB with SuperDrive for $1200

All with FREE shipping and NO Sales tax!

I am a bit confused. What do you mean by the above?

Where does the free shipping and no sales tax come in? How do you figure the $500 depreciation?

 

[HeadForTheHills]

If your on the go reading/editing documents it's highly likely the HDD will spin down. There is then a irritating beachball spin cycle when you go to the next page etc.

That's why I went for a BTO Air-2 with a slow but cool 1.6GHz processor and a fast SSD.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

The new aluminum MB are all over Ebay already with free shipping.

1st gen. Air are going for cheap (NEW). I bought one (1.6ghz, 80GB) for $1225 shipped.

All for under $2500, but if you use the 10% coupon from Ebay and 30% discount from MSN Live Search, you will be WAY under $2500.

Just look at 1st gen. 1.8ghz Air with 64GB SSD (new) on Ebay. That are now $1800+/- with free ship. How much were they two weeks ago on Apple's site? Hum.... I think it was $2500+tax.

These are from Power Sellers on Ebay with more than 98% positive feedbacks.

 

[tigres]

The new aluminum MB are all over Ebay already with free shipping.

1st gen. Air are going for cheap (NEW). I bought one (1.6ghz, 80GB) for $1225 shipped.

All for under $2500, but if you use the 10% coupon from Ebay and 30% discount from MSN Live Search, you will be WAY under $2500.

Just look at 1st gen. 1.8ghz Air with 64GB SSD (new) on Ebay. That are now $1800+/- with free ship. How much were they two weeks ago on Apple's site? Hum.... I think it was $2500+tax.

These are from Power Sellers on Ebay with more than 98% positive feedbacks.

The guy wants a 2nd gen Air, not a MB. So your posts are irrelevant.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

The guy wants a 2nd gen Air, not a MB. So your posts are irrelevant.

He wants to know which is a better buy. I am just showing him how much more he can get for $2500.

 

[camarobh]

Ssd

I own a first generation Air with the 64GB SSD. I ordered a second generation Air with the 128GB SSD. I went SSD because:

- I like the "no moving parts" (seems logical for a notebook)
- I have to have the latest and greatest
- I figured it would consume less power (but I am not sure if it really does)
- It just seemed cool

 

[thr61]

Conflicting views

One person says:
<<Go for the HD. The kind of tasks you'll be doing and the files you'll be working with don't need fast random access. >>

A later quote states:

<<If your on the go reading/editing documents it's highly likely the HDD will spin down. There is then a irritating beachball spin cycle when you go to the next page etc.

That's why I went for a BTO Air-2 with a slow but cool 1.6GHz processor and a fast SSD. >>

Thus the confusion...any more opinions on this?

 

[thr61]

Just back from the Apple store. Wanted to take a look at the new MB to see if that was a viable option. Still feels heavy compared to the MBA and I have grave concerns about the glossy screen. The Air is going to be pricey (I think the 2G version with the enhanced graphics and connector is the way to go), but it will get me what I want.

Now I need to put an end to the HD question -- any other responses on this?

 

[denm316]

Does the SSD increase battery life that much?

 

[zer0tails]

get the HD if you don't have lots of money to spend.

Get the SSD if money is not an issue.

I think the differences between both will not be so great that they will affect your computing experience, and you'll be happy with either.

 

[O. Frabjous-Dey]

Yes, the biggest factor is how much money you'll be willing to spend.

SSD buys you:
- no spindown (although you can control how long an HD needs to idle before OS X spins it down for you)
- faster random access for very fragmented files
- comparable burst read and write speeds
- safety, if you're going to be dropping your Air a lot or using it in a fire
- probably slightly better battery life
- bragging rights

So yes, the SSD is unambiguously better. But no, I don't think you'll notice much of a difference for the tasks you listed, so my advice is to save your money. If price is no object, go for it.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

good read.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=12

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=13

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=14

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=15

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=16

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=17

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=18

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=19

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=20

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=21

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=22

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3226&p=23

 

[prefabsprouter]

I went with the SSD in the first generation and not sure I will do the same when I get the 2nd gen Air in a few weeks. I still get the 'rolling ball' a lot of the time, specially when the machine is warmer.

One other thing, I played with the MacBook at the Apple Store last week and the screen seemed highly reflective. Kind of like a mirror - very annoying. Is the screeen on the MB more reflective than that of the MacBook Air? I thought they use the same type of glass. Maybe it was just the angle... does anyone know??

 

[zer0tails]

I went with the SSD in the first generation and not sure I will do the same when I get the 2nd gen Air in a few weeks. I still get the 'rolling ball' a lot of the time, specially when the machine is warmer.

One other thing, I played with the MacBook at the Apple Store last week and the screen seemed highly reflective. Kind of like a mirror - very annoying. Is the screeen on the MB more reflective than that of the MacBook Air? I thought they use the same type of glass. Maybe it was just the angle... does anyone know??

the macbook air does not have a glass screen. The macbook does. They are both glossy.

However, the new macbook's screen is definitely more reflective. I played with them at the store for a good 4 hours today, and another thing i noticed was the MBA has a much nicer screen. The colors are a little washed out on the macbook.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

the macbook air does not have a glass screen. The macbook does. They are both glossy.

However, the new macbook's screen is definitely more reflective. I played with them at the store for a good 4 hours today, and another thing i noticed was the MBA has a much nicer screen. The colors are a little washed out on the macbook.

Agree!

 

[mac jones]

Just a heads up

I just took a look at the Intel Data sheet for the Intel X-18 80GB SSD (same as the X25 SSD but in 1.8" form (SSDSA1MH080G1).

It's a 5mm SATA drive and will work in the upcoming Air.

Unfortunately, it's not available as of yet even though the X25 is ( I know I have one)

Mind you, these things are so fast they saturate the buss.

I'm definitely going to put one in the new Air (assuming Apple doesn't somehow screw up the new version)

Note: It's not going to be the SSD option as that's 128GB Samsung and the Intel is 80GB. Also, they are very pricey; around $650, whereas the Samsung 128GB SSD should be around $400.

I imagine the Samsung is great, but they have some stuttering issues I gather, that the Intel doesn't.

 

[ducatidoc]

yeah, but the intel 160 gb ssd debuts in early 2009... definitely worth the wait.

i am thinking 1.86 GHz and SATA HDD, and then switch out the drive for the intel 160 gb ssd when it comes out early next year.

one question though: are all SATA adapters/interfaces the same? just want to be sure in case apple pulls some "special for the air due to its small size" BS and then the drive cannot be swapped out with other SATA drives. this is especially important because i am thinking that the "mystery port" on the logic board is where the SATA drive will connect to....

 

[dehory]

yeah, but the intel 160 gb ssd debuts in early 2009...

What's your source for that? All that I've read suggests that the release is imminent/overdue. For example:

Intel plans to launch the X-18M and the X-25M SSDs for notebook computers and Mobile Internet Devices in 30 days, at both 80- and 160-Gbyte capacity points.

one question though: are all SATA adapters/interfaces the same? just want to be sure in case apple pulls some "special for the air due to its small size" BS and then the drive cannot be swapped out with other SATA drives.

I'm curious about this too.