Zippy, peppy, and bursting with love!

[techound1]

An extra-special thanks to everyone who talked me in to this (refurb rev A air with ssd) - best money I've spent (and not spent) in a long time. Appreciably faster than either 1.6 atom netbook I tried (as expected, but still....). The screen is big enough to web-browse and not have to scroll all the time (800 is huge compared to 600 pix in height). I have yet to do any metaphorical heavy lifting with it, but I don't expect to need to. For me personally, it was well worth the price tag compared to the netbooks. I realize I'm preaching to the choir here in the Air section, but I'm as pleased as punch and I want everybody to know it!

 

[Scottsdale]

Congrats on your new Mac!

Have you watched any videos yet? Have you installed Cool Book? Do you plan to if you haven't? Is it loud at all?

I am thinking about buying one for my daughter if all of the problems have truly been eliminated.

Good luck with it. Cheers.

 

[aaquib]

Congratz!

How are you finding the SSD? Is there a significant performance boost for you?

 

[techound1]

Thanks!

I'm quite chuff with it

So far so good on the temp issues. I haven't installed coolbook yet, although I've downloaded it in prep for a heat issue. I've been using it in front of the woodstove all afternoon (netbooking-type tasks) with a cooling pad (one of those fan things you put under the computer) and it hasn't so much as broken a sweat, which is more than I can say for my uni MBP in the same environment. The next step for me is to take it away from both the stove and the cooling pad (what good is the ultralight air with a cooler glued to the bottom?)

 

[techound1]

Congratz!

How are you finding the SSD? Is there a significant performance boost for you?

Wow! The SSD has been dreamy, although truth-be-told I didn't run the same specs (I splurged on a 1.8) with a platter drive so maybe I'm just having a fanboi moment . I am, however, so used to the purr of a platter on start-up that I had a bit of a panic attack when I first pressed the power button and got no sound

 

[nator76]

convert

I too just ordered my MBA refurbed 1.8 w/ 64ssd. Its still on its way, but I am a FOREVER PC user, this is my first mac. I am pretty pumped. The breaking point i guess was when my pc Laptop fried from malware and viruses and all kinds of stuff.

I have been hearing great things about the refurbed rev A machines. I plan on pushing it to the limit when i get it. This forum has been a huge help in deciding what to get.

This will be my main, everyday computer. Browsing, videos (just 2 or 3 minute you tubes or you typical gizmodo video post) lots of music over airtunes with express's and eventually a time machine or a similar setup for backing up and file access (including music). I will also be connecting this to a 19 or so inch display for desktop atmosphere.

Hopefully it handles all this well, i believe it will. I dont care how how this thing gets....nothing will ever get as hot as my hold laptop. It got so hot it fried the motherboard, and i havent heard that happening to the MBA. im glad to be part of the Mac family!

 

[techound1]

Welcome to the mac family!

I would recommend reading here: http://plasmadesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/macbook-air-core-shutdown/ to prep yourself if you do manage to give it a core shut down through overheating. I'm installing coolbook in the event I run into trouble with it.

 

[nator76]

Welcome to the mac family!

I would recommend reading here: http://plasmadesign.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/macbook-air-core-shutdown/ to prep yourself if you do manage to give it a core shut down through overheating. I'm installing coolbook in the event I run into trouble with it.

awesome, ive been reading about this. Ill see how it performs and if coolbook is necessary. thanks alot

 

[aaquib]

Wow! The SSD has been dreamy, although truth-be-told I didn't run the same specs (I splurged on a 1.8) with a platter drive so maybe I'm just having a fanboi moment . I am, however, so used to the purr of a platter on start-up that I had a bit of a panic attack when I first pressed the power button and got no sound

Hehe, good to be warned I'm nearly 100% decided on the 1.6 SSD version for $1349cdn. I'm probably just going to visit the Store today and compare the Rev B 1.6/HDD and 1.8/SSD versions to decide if the SSD truly does make a difference.

Thanks for the input

 

[techound1]

I'm probably just going to visit the Store today and compare the Rev B 1.6/HDD and 1.8/SSD versions to decide if the SSD truly does make a difference.

If you don't mind posting back, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the comparison.

 

[Scottsdale]

Hehe, good to be warned I'm nearly 100% decided on the 1.6 SSD version for $1349cdn. I'm probably just going to visit the Store today and compare the Rev B 1.6/HDD and 1.8/SSD versions to decide if the SSD truly does make a difference.

Thanks for the input

Judging SSD vs HDD on a rev B is NOT the same as how will perform on original MBA. The original has a PATA drive controller. The new MBA has a SATA drive controller. They are two completely different systems.

If you want to determine performance differences on the original, you need to compare those actual machines. Also, check out xBench.com. It will show the overall performance differences.

 

[nator76]

Judging SSD vs HDD on a rev B is NOT the same as how will perform on original MBA. The original has a PATA drive controller. The new MBA has a SATA drive controller. They are two completely different systems.

If you want to determine performance differences on the original, you need to compare those actual machines. Also, check out xBench.com. It will show the overall performance differences.

I think we are all pretty clear on the performance differences between A and B. The problem is, is if that person has the NEED for that difference. There are lots of people on here who are plenty happy with there A and refurb A on this site. It is hard to to justify an 1800 dollar upcharge on a machine that alot of people may not be able to detect the difference between the two.

You can sit here and try to sell us the difference between the two, just make sure i have a need for it.

 

[Airforcekid]

I too just ordered my MBA refurbed 1.8 w/ 64ssd. Its still on its way, but I am a FOREVER PC user, this is my first mac. I am pretty pumped. The breaking point i guess was when my pc Laptop fried from malware and viruses and all kinds of stuff.

I have been hearing great things about the refurbed rev A machines. I plan on pushing it to the limit when i get it. This forum has been a huge help in deciding what to get.

This will be my main, everyday computer. Browsing, videos (just 2 or 3 minute you tubes or you typical gizmodo video post) lots of music over airtunes with express's and eventually a time machine or a similar setup for backing up and file access (including music). I will also be connecting this to a 19 or so inch display for desktop atmosphere.

Hopefully it handles all this well, i believe it will. I dont care how how this thing gets....nothing will ever get as hot as my hold laptop. It got so hot it fried the motherboard, and i havent heard that happening to the MBA. im glad to be part of the Mac family!

Good luck with your mac great buy!

 

[techound1]

Day 3 update:

• youtube videos are just fine on it - no abnormal performance here
• I installed and tweaked coolbook according to the above link - I'm not actively running it, but I'm keeping it as a backup in the event of a meltdown
• I've installed a speck clear hard case (which was a steal at speck right now - use coupon code buddy25 to get another 25% off! - the clear was $11 as opposed to $50) and have yet to see any heating issues with it (I thought they might be problematic because of the huge drop in price, but after a day of average use, it's the cat's pj's)

If you're debating between the A and the B, with the great prices on the A and my very positive experiences so far, I highly recommend the A.

 

[miniConvert]

If you're debating between the A and the B, with the great prices on the A and my very positive experiences so far, I highly recommend the A.

Indeed, the rev. A MBA 1.8/SSD is a phenomenal machine, and excellent value now, too. Congrats on your purchase

 

[Scottsdale]

I think we are all pretty clear on the performance differences between A and B. The problem is, is if that person has the NEED for that difference. There are lots of people on here who are plenty happy with there A and refurb A on this site. It is hard to to justify an 1800 dollar upcharge on a machine that alot of people may not be able to detect the difference between the two.

You can sit here and try to sell us the difference between the two, just make sure i have a need for it.

I did NOT write one word about the differences between rev A and B. My whole point was someone said that they would check out the rev B MBA with SSD to determine its speed. That has NO BEARING on what the SSD will do in the rev A. I clearly explained that the rev A had a PATA and the rev B has a SATA. I did not compare and say one is better and they should buy a rev B. So, get your facts straight. I clearly am just stating that nobody should use the rev B SSD as a guide to what the rev A with SSD will be like.

 

[nph]

Can you open the MBA to max angle with the Speck casing? for the MBP I remember it made it quite a more steep angle.

 

[techound1]

Can you open the MBA to max angle with the Speck casing? for the MBP I remember it made it quite a more steep angle.

It opens to 120-130 or so degrees. I don't remember how that compared to the non-specked one, but it's plenty for me.