How bad will our 128GB models depreciate if 128GB becomes base standard?

[Kendo]

I know that all computers depreciate. But we've already been through two MacBook Air revisions where 64GB is for the base model, 128GB for the mid-range, and 256GB for the high-end.

What if the next MacBook Air has 128GB for the base, 256 for mid-range, and 512GB for high-end?

Understandably the next revision will have a faster CPU and GPU just like the recent 2011 revision, but if they double the capacity, would our MBA devalue that much more?

 

[sixteen12]

Isn't this just applicable to the 11"? I haven't seen a 13" with a 64GB.

I'm not sure I would worry about 512GB just yet as that jump in memory is huge.

 

[Xikum]

512 GB SSD's are incredibly expensive; trust me, we won't be seeing them becoming mainstream anytime soon.

 

[jsolares]

I don't see SSD coming down in price that much so soon, so it shouldn't be a problem short term, hopefully they do tho.

 

[aph3x]

I don't see SSD coming down in price that much so soon, so it shouldn't be a problem short term, hopefully they do tho.

I disagree - mechanical hard drive prices have risen quickly recently because of all the flooding happening in various parts of Asia. SSD's on the other hand have dropped drastically - you can pick up a 120GB OCZ SSD for $104 on NewEgg.

 

[Cardigan]

Macs hold their value well. I wouldn't worry too much about the next feature bump.

The biggest change in Airs has been the change from Core 2 Duo to Core i5/i7. If you have an i5, you should be good through at least two more bumps. Note that the Core 2 Duo has been around for several years.

 

[ArchiMark]

Macs hold their value well. I wouldn't worry too much about the next feature bump.

The biggest change in Airs has been the change from Core 2 Duo to Core i5/i7. If you have an i5, you should be good through at least two more bumps. Note that the Core 2 Duo has been around for several years.

+1.....

Agree with your points...

 

[SDColorado]

It looks like the cheapest 480GB OCZ on NewEgg is $699.99 though, and of course not the right form factor.

AFAIK only OWC sells the upgrades for the '10 / '11 MBA's, and the 480GB is currently $1,097.99. With the base price of the 13" 256GB model being $1,599.00, I am not sure I see the 480GB being offered in the near future.

 

[ArchiMark]

It looks like the cheapest 480GB OCZ on NewEgg is $699.99 though, and of course not the right form factor.

AFAIK only OWC sells the upgrades for the '10 / '11 MBA's, and the 480GB is currently $1,097.99. With the base price of the 13" 256GB model being $1,599.00, I am not sure I see the 480GB being offered in the near future.

Ouch!....aren't there other options?

 

[SDColorado]

Ouch!....aren't there other options?

To the best of my knowledge, no. At least not yet. They claim to be "The first and only SSD upgrade for the MacBook Air." As far as I am aware, they still are.

Edit: It appears as though Mach Xtreme produces the MX-Katana drives for the MacBook Air. Doing it a little research it appears as though they initially announced they would be in 128, 256 and 480GB capacities, but their site only shows 128 and 256. I found a price on the 256GB at about $440. I wonder if they decided to stop short of the 480GB due to pricing and demand.

 

[thekev]

I disagree - mechanical hard drive prices have risen quickly recently because of all the flooding happening in various parts of Asia. SSD's on the other hand have dropped drastically - you can pick up a 120GB OCZ SSD for $104 on NewEgg.

OCZ has had some quality control issues in the past although they're supposed to be quite good overall. Anyway that pricing could be a good sign.

512 GB SSD's are incredibly expensive; trust me, we won't be seeing them becoming mainstream anytime soon.

I give it two years to become somewhat the norm.

Understandably the next revision will have a faster CPU and GPU just like the recent 2011 revision, but if they double the capacity, would our MBA devalue that much more?

The thing is 64 and 128 hard drive capacities are not all that desirable. They were a compromise to obtain SSD level performance. Macs hold their value better than PCs but less so with emerging technology or hard segmentation like the last G5s vs 2006 Mac Pros. My opinion is that you buy a computer to use it given the number of things that can throw off residual value.

 

[topmounter]

It's not going to hurt any more than the normal incremental MBA updates. The form-factor alone will keep the resale on these strong.

 

[boy-better-know]

Major selling point is that it is 13 inch. That is all most consumers will see, so I imagine it will hold value better than the 256GB 13 inch.
Just like the 16GB wifi only iPads have the best resale.