Video SSD vs. HDD

[matpop]

Hi , I found this video on YouTube about MacBook Air: it's the startup with SSD vs. HDD.
I thought that the difference between the two units was not so big but viewing this video I changed my mind and I think I will buy the 1.8/SSD.

Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpxab2osjKo

 

[miniConvert]

Url didn't work when I tried it, youtube said the ID is malformed.

 

[matpop]

Url didn't work when I tried it, youtube said the ID is malformed.

Sorry! Now it works.

 

[MacNutty]

Who cares?

I don't see why anyone would care how fast the machine starts up. Are people just rebooting their Air's all day? Your not going to see a huge difference in the 1.6 or 1.8 or SSD or HDD.

 

[izibo]

I don't see why anyone would care how fast the machine starts up. Are people just rebooting their Air's all day? Your not going to see a huge difference in the 1.6 or 1.8 or SSD or HDD.

Agreed... and I also know how quickly apps launch on the SSD vs the HDD, but in reality: I use about 6 applications regularly. Firefox, Mail, iCal, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.

After first launch, they all go to RAM and launch the same speed (SSD and HDD). I also sleep my machine, so I rarely have to "first launch" an application.

Would I rather have an SSD if money was no object? Maybe, but the SSD in the current MBA is actually pretty darn slow relative to other SSDs that are on the market. I would rather wait six months and get an equal or larger sized higher performance unit for half the price.

 

[matpop]

I don't see why anyone would care how fast the machine starts up. Are people just rebooting their Air's all day? Your not going to see a huge difference in the 1.6 or 1.8 or SSD or HDD.

It's not only rebooting, but I think that it's more responsive in all the tasks!

 

[Mactagonist]

It's not only rebooting, but I think that it's more responsive in all the tasks!

Read post #5 again. Once you have launched the task once and it is stored in RAM the difference is negligable.

 

[albert1028]

I don't see why anyone would care how fast the machine starts up. Are people just rebooting their Air's all day? Your not going to see a huge difference in the 1.6 or 1.8 or SSD or HDD.

This is probably a realstic thing to ask...my question is...i bought the SSD, but is data really safer with the SSD compared to the HDD? If it is, than $1000 is worth it for important information, don't you think. Think about the hours you could waste (salary wise) trying to rebuild the information one last if there is a real advantage between SSD and HDD.

 

[GenFranco]

Ssd

My plan the entire time was to by the cheap MBA now (which I did), wait a year or so for prices to drop and sizes to go up, then perform an internal mod, and but in my own 8mm SSD and new battery.. ideally a 128 to 160 SSD...

Last part of plan was to laugh at those who paid 1000 more for a 64MB SSD with 40Gigs free space.. jk

anyone else have similar ideas??

 

[bcaslis]

I don't see why anyone would care how fast the machine starts up. Are people just rebooting their Air's all day? Your not going to see a huge difference in the 1.6 or 1.8 or SSD or HDD.

How about launching Photoshop (or any app) in one bounce? How about reading files or a database 10x faster than a 7200rpm drive? That's where you see the speed. An MBA with SSD "feels" more responsive than even the fastest MBP. The MBP will win once you start using things that require CPU or write lots of data to disk, but you can't beat the responsiveness of the SSD.

Also not worrying about a HD failure is nice. I had a desktop HD recently fail wiping out lots of data. HDs do fail.

 

[cohibadad]

no doubt about it, SSD boots up way fast

 

[Squelch]

I boot my Air up about once every two weeks. And waiting an extra thirty seconds or so, well, over the course of two or three years might make a difference of, let's see, a half hour or so.

So, a half hour of my time versus $1000. Hmm...

 

[jont1967]

I bought the SSD for 3 principal reasons;

1. I don't particularly like to compromise ...

2. When I do compromise I tend to take a lot of time trying to justify the compromise, when in fact ...

3. I actually regret not paying for the thing I really wanted in the first place.

SSD is seriously quick for everyday tasks, it's not just about boot up times. I am really pleased with my purchase and am not sure why people are trying to justify the HDD vs the SSD, surely it is a personal decision.

 

[aristobrat]

It's not only rebooting, but I think that it's more responsive in all the tasks!

Have you seen the Apple Insider videos comparing the SSD to the HD?
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/02/11/macbook_air_face_off_hdd_vs_ssd_with_video.html

They show (1) the difference in booting between the two (SSD wins),
(2) how long it takes each to open 17 applications the first time (SSD wins),
and (3) how long it takes each to open 17 applications the second time (virtual tie).

I was sold on getting the SSD before I saw (3) above. Now after seeing that video, playing with the two models in the store, and reading what people who've owned both say (like CyberGypsy), I'm 90% sure I won't be getting the SSD.

 

[Alkiera]

Has anyone looked into temp issues with the two models? I have a 1.6/80gb model, and have many fewer temperature-related issues than others, many of whom have SSD models. I'm not sure if this is due to the faster CPU, or the SSD, or just variance in build quality.

I've been trying to get people to be more specific when they mention heat issues as to which model they have.