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128 versus 256 MacBook Air

G

Goldmansachs

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 8, 2012
29
0
Hi guys,
I Will be purchasing a MacBook air on Tuesday and I am wondering whether to get a 128 GB solid state drive or a 256 GB solid state drive. Thoughts?
 
Well if you get the 128GB SSD, then you get 128GB of storage...

But if you get the 256GB SSD, then you get 256GB of storage...

So do you want a lot of storage?
 
Go with 256GB SSD.

I have a MBA 11 with 128 (travel), and a MBA13 with 256 (daily use to/from work). I wish I had just gotten the MBA11 with 256.

I am able to keep a lot more data, apps, docs, my iTunes library music, and some ripped movies and still have 100GB+ free.
 
go with 256gb. i used to have the 128gb version, then i regretted it. sold it and bought the 256gb instead and couldn't be happier.
 
Even if you only need 128G for Apple software, I'd still say buy a 256G and partition half of it for bootcamp windows 7. It's just too cool.

If you still have too much empty disk space, you can have fun with Virtualbox (free) running VMs for Ubuntu, Centos, or Windows 8 Consumer Preview (all free). VMs running on solid-state drives rock.
 
Definitely go with the 256gb! Especially if you have the money. Even if you don't, you should wait to save up cause it's worth it in my opinion. I have 128gb on my 11" late 2010 MBA and I wish I had more space but it was the most I could get.
 
3bs said:
Definitely go with the 256gb! Especially if you have the money. Even if you don't, you should wait to save up cause it's worth it in my opinion. I have 128gb on my 11" late 2010 MBA and I wish I had more space but it was the most I could get.
Click to expand...

This is more or less my view as well. When I bought my MBA in Sept 2010, 128GB SSD was the largest available.

While it is fine for my needs at present, - and I love the MBA's form factor, speed of the SSD and ultra portability, I'd be lying if I said it was absolutely ideal. Indeed, had it been available at the time, undoubtedly, I would have bought the 256GB SSD, and shall do so when I next purchase a MBA.
 
I bought a 64gb for my old macbook, depends what your using it for?

Mine is purely a web browser and some other applications, i was never going to store any data on it.
 
I went with 256gb.

It was decently cheap when you go with the refurb model.

I'll be mostly keeping my photos (about 60gb), and basic development work. and because of work, I'll have to put parallels/win7/maybe ubuntu on there.

if you have the extra $250-300, go for it.
 
Goldmansachs said:
Hi guys,
I Will be purchasing a MacBook air on Tuesday and I am wondering whether to get a 128 GB solid state drive or a 256 GB solid state drive. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Without knowing what you're using it for, it's tough to say, but I wouldn't get one wuth less than 256GB myself.

ZBoater said:
No one is ever going to need more than 128GB of storage. Ever. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
When I had a PowerBook with an 80GB drive, it was great, it was a fair bit of space. Now, if I go on a trip with my Camera, I can wind up with 60GB or more of photos in a week. Uf I goit a new camera that took higher resolution pictures, that would be even more space used. So yeah 256GB seems to be about enough space...maybe.
 
I got an i7 with the 128GB because I really don't store much anymore. Just working documents but mostly everything is in the cloud now. It isn't my main computer yet but if my MacPro ever dies I'll just get a thunderbolt display and drive and it will be my desktop.
 
256 GB. I bought one last year and sure enough, I've been slowly filling it up. Nothing worse than being on the road and suddenly finding out you need more room. :(
 
I'd go with 256gb. It at least gives you a bit more peace of mind for future use and you don't have to constantly micro-manage your storage (as much, depending on what you do).
 
chrf097 said:
Well if you get the 128GB SSD, then you get 128GB of storage...

But if you get the 256GB SSD, then you get 256GB of storage...

So do you want a lot of storage?
Click to expand...

Bought a 128GB.
I have a desktop, thats where all my files are. If i need more space on my air, I just plug in my WD external hard drive.
 
I also second going for a 256 if you can swing it. My MBA is a 128 and I am forever transferring files off of it and onto my MBP or iMac to save space. If you get the 256 you just get more piece of mind knowing that you have the room on their for all of your files.
 
This is the stupidest 'which one should I choose' thread ever.

Why? Because this isn't a matter of which one is best, but is strictly something you must decide for yourself based on your own circumstances.

I stream all my music through spotify. All my video watching is through streaming, short of when I'm on a plane trip or somewhere without WiFi - and for those times, 128GB is plenty to download a few movies or episodes. I don't do a lot of photos and even if I did start doing a lot of photos I would buy an external drive.

128GB is perfect for me. It may not be for you. But either way, I can't recommend either or help you choose.
 
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