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Not with those prices, they're not. At least another generation until widespread SSD adoption.

SSD prices were double the price last year, and they're expected to dramatically fall in price in the next by another 50%. A 250 GB SSD should be around $250.
 
Still going to be there.

What folks keep skipping over is that SSDs only break the gap when use non standard block sizes for read. I don't think the standard block size is going to change in the next year or two. ZFS may/maynot be pervasive so won't be making non sequential files, sequential.

SSDs are making tradeoffs. Intel's current speed demeon has problems with smaller files and mismatches between file system block and internal drive block sizes. They get the speed but also greater wear in that context.

Additionally, isn't like rotational hard drives won't still be cheaper 2 years from now. Could have flash/rotational hybrid drives which get closer to 1.5 Gb/s but do so with a better $/GB tradeoff than pure SSD a couple years from now also.

People who buy their hardware solely on synthetic benchmarks program results are hardly "pros". Benchmarks on your specific workload and program mix. That is a better rationale.
Hybrid hard drives take me back to the Vista launch. We're finally getting around to some solutions but not on a single drive though. It feels very stillborn even today.
 
How do you know? Were you in the factory at the time they decided to go ahead with that idea? Your theory is only a theory. They should have waited to release them if they had a shortage of 3 satas (which itself to believe is ridiculous) and not rush them out.

Your calling people idiots and whiners is not much appreciated. Lots of apple loyalists dished out A LOT of money, only to find out their SSD is not going to perform as well as it SHOULD. Please just stop inciting crap. Let the people who actually spent the freaking money on these laptops vent, it's their right. Thanks.

I am sorry I didn't mean to stop your venting, I appreciate it's important. :)

But I am not inciting crap either, I am just saying it like I see it, because I too have spent quite some money on apple, of course it's only a theory as you said, I could be off, but it seems (as another poster above me said) a very rational well founded theory.

If yours ssd is not performing as well as it should take it back and ask them for a better controller, I will be the first one backing you and the whole community here. But I don't think that will be the case, unless you have one of those $1500 ssds, which if you have one, just pay a good technitian a minimal compared to what you paid, to have it modded with a better controller.
 
Oh boy, it's one more thing to bitch about. I think you just made about 90% of the people that who is here day! :rolleyes:
 
Here's where SATA speed really matters, at least to me:

I wonder if somebody has already (as far as I've read through the forum thread and this news thread) mentioned audio production, and especially sample instruments.

I've bought the new MBP 13" 2.53, which I also use for Logic Studio. I use sampler instruments with most of my projects. One I use often is a very good piano sound. These samples are often large files that are loaded every time I open a new song, and every time I change an instrument within a sample track while the song is open. From time to time I want to just check which sound fits better to the song.

Now I could only make a quick test, run activity monitor, and could see that on my new MBP with a medium speed SSD (Mushkin europe), the real transfer rate to load these samples is around 75 MB/s, which translates to a load time of around 20 seconds for just my beloved piano instument.

Earlier, with HDD, it took over 1 minute for just this piano sound.

What bothers me most, is changing the sample instruments when working in the middle of a project - it's a break that matters, because it's not 1 or 2, but 10 or 20 seconds. All in all, working on different projects an evening, I'm easily waiting many minutes for samples to load.

Now, as much as I love especially this new MBP and making music on it - and I won't give it back for that reason - I'm planning to reduce these waiting times even more, when good and big SSDs get more affordable.

This is why I feel SATA I or II matters to me: Waiting more than just seconds for big files to load while in the flow of making music.

And again, I really adore this MBP, it's simply the best notebook I've ever had as far as I can tell until now, and doing stuff, work and making music with it is just wonderful!

I just hope, well, actually expect Apple to shed light on this issue, and provide a solution to enable SATA II.
 
Still going to be there.

What folks keep skipping over is that SSDs only break the gap when use non standard block sizes for read. I don't think the standard block size is going to change in the next year or two. ZFS may/maynot be pervasive so won't be making non sequential files, sequential.

SSDs are making tradeoffs. Intel's current speed demeon has problems with smaller files and mismatches between file system block and internal drive block sizes. They get the speed but also greater wear in that context.

Additionally, isn't like rotational hard drives won't still be cheaper 2 years from now. Could have flash/rotational hybrid drives which get closer to 1.5 Gb/s but do so with a better $/GB tradeoff than pure SSD a couple years from now also.

Besides 2-3 years from now 8GB of RAM will be much more affordable and more RAM is pragmatically much more useful than SSD or SATA 3.0 . Avoiding the disk (SSD or not) is better.
[ I suspect most of the folks yelping the loudest are not the ones who are maxing out RAM right now. They are folks on a budget who think tomorrow can get something better cheaper. That's right .... it is RAM.... then disk... ]




People who buy their hardware solely on synthetic benchmarks program results are hardly "pros". Benchmarks on your specific workload and program mix. That is a better rationale.

Excellent post, I am bookmarking this page solely on the virtue of your post. You truelly honoured your decontruction name. :)
 
If yours ssd is not performing as well as it should take it back and ask them for a better controller, I will be the first one backing you and the whole community here. But I don't think that will be the case, unless you have one of those $1500 ssds, which if you have one, just pay a good technitian a minimal compared to what you paid, to have it modded with a better controller.

You have no idea what you're talking about. The problem is on Apple's end, not the SSD's.
 
Funny how people can just go and make posts like this. Grow up, just because it doesn't affect you personally, there's no need to put down users that are otherwise concerned.

I'll stop being a jerk after this post, I promise.

I feel like I have grown up, because I'm watching all the chaos going on in Iran or watching potential healthcare reform in America fail again...and then I check Macrumors, like I do every day, and rather than seeing joy or apathy at the new computers and their awesome batteries, I see an angry mob growing because of something that sucks for some people but doesn't really deserve the angry mob I see proportionate to other things 1: in the world or 2: that Apple has done to its "core base." If I spent $2000 on this laptop, I'd say "damn it's fast," 1.5, 3.0, or else, since in all other respects, it is.
 
I'll stop being a jerk after this post, I promise.

I feel like I have grown up, because I'm watching all the chaos going on in Iran or watching potential healthcare reform in America fail again...and then I check Macrumors, like I do every day, and rather than seeing joy or apathy at the new computers and their awesome batteries, I see an angry mob growing because of something that sucks for some people but doesn't really deserve the angry mob I see proportionate to other things 1: in the world or 2: that Apple has done to its "core base." If I spent $2000 on this laptop, I'd say "damn it's fast," 1.5, 3.0, or else, since in all other respects, it is.

If that's you really think, you shouldn't be on a tech forum. If people didn't complain about this stuff, Apple and other companies would screw us over time and time again.
 
I'm really on the fence with getting the 2.53 GHz 13" Macbook Pro. I'd be upgrading from a 2.16 GHz White Macbook, with 2GB DDR2 ram, GMA950 graphics, and a 320GB hard drive (which I upgraded myself).


Oh, and this is the SATA interface on my current Macbook:

Intel ICH7-M AHCI:

Vendor: Intel
Product: ICH7-M AHCI
Speed: 1.5 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.10 Supported

WDC WD3200BEVT-00ZCT0:

Capacity: 298.09 GB
Model: WDC WD3200BEVT-00ZCT0
 
Unless you do constant large file copies all day long, this has pretty much zero bearing on actual system performance. Most I/O operations are small, and typically more or less random. SATA link speed doesn't matter in those (majority of) cases.

It's a bit of a perplexing move, but really not worth tearing out your hair over.

It may be excusable if Apple hadn't downgraded and dumbed down all kinds of other things over the past few years.

Other than relatively very small number of folks were using it?
[ Can argue whether computed stats badly, but if less than 1% of users are using something... that isn't a motivator to removing something? ]

It's called a Macbook Pro. There is no logic in replacing ExpressCard with SD card. It's not as versatile. Sure, maybe and SD card on a 13 inch Macbook would make sense, but not on a $3200 MBP.

The glass plate does offer better protection of the actual panel.
Most of the "gloss" is coming from the glass over the panel. Not the actual panel that lies below.
If go look at a matte 17" you'll see there is no glass over the panel (or bezel ) at all.

I meant that.


Downgraded is a huge stretch on this SATA issue. The equipment ( the drives they are using and the 9400M ) are still 3.0 Gb/s capable. It is just being underclocked. If someone sells you something that is underclocked is very different from using cheaper/less capable components or removing them.

It's still lesser performance.

For example some of the MacBook Airs were running at reduced speeds to meet thermal/power constraints. Where those "downgraded"?

But there is no good excuse with the slower SATA.

Your MBP is more likely choked by rotational (or block write ) latency problems than it is by raw, sustained bus speed.

That's true. I'd still want to option to actually have a fast hard drive work at its full potential, though.

One more thing, in Australia, we haven't got a price decrease. The Macbook Pro isn't cheaper, Apple just introduced a new model without the 9600M graphics card. With Applecare, it's still A$3750 for a Pro. After the amount of hardware failures I've had, AppleCare is definitely needed.
 
No, you wouldn't see any difference until you go SSD.

You are not serious, right? I went from the stock 5400RPM drive to the WD Black with 16MB cache 7200RPM and it is not only noticeably faster but it tests out at over 2.5 faster in EVERY category - period. You WILL notice a difference and not just a small one - but it comes at the expense of battery life when doing anything but web work and limited applications suck as Open Office or Word and possible iWeb and such.

D
 
Other than relatively very small number of folks were using it?
[ Can argue whether computed stats badly, but if less than 1% of users are using something... that isn't a motivator to removing something? ]

Less than 1% of users are probably using their airbags in their cars. We should remove those too, huh?

Downgraded is a huge stretch on this SATA issue. The equipment ( the drives they are using and the 9400M ) are still 3.0 Gb/s capable. It is just being underclocked. If someone sells you something that is underclocked is very different from using cheaper/less capable components or removing them.

For example some of the MacBook Airs were running at reduced speeds to meet thermal/power constraints. Where those "downgraded"?

Your MBP is more likely choked by rotational (or block write ) latency problems than it is by raw, sustained bus speed.

You still don't get it. The uMBP I have right now ALREADY has 3 Gbps SATA. The new ones do not. THAT is a downgrade.

What???? It is the same hardware as was there before. They are just underclocking it. The 9400M and the harddrives they are shipping are all capable of 3.0 Gb/s. So it isn't "cheaper parts".

The major difference between 1.5 Gb/s and 3.0 Gb/s is lower power. That's it.

At some point I suspect someone will have to ugly hack which turns the clock back up. What the thermal ramifications are of that perhaps some folks won't care. ( Hey I'm cooking my chips but I'm going faster. Faster is all that matters. ). Nor it is going to make the battery last longer. There will be other folks ( who never trade up off of hard drives... always will be cheaper or looking for maximum lifetime of their investment.) that will stick with what Apple gave them with factory settings.

Wait, is it lower power or thermal ramifications? Make up your mind.
 
If that's you really think, you shouldn't be on a tech forum. If people didn't complain about this stuff, Apple and other companies would screw us over time and time again.

I'll be a jerk one more time.

It sounds like you're supposedly being screwed time and time again anyway. We don't even get the already-barebones remotes packed in laptops anymore!

But I do...I do agree that there's no reason to decrease numbers these days and shame on Apple for it. It's just...it's only by being the faux-tech-fan that I am that I get confused seeing people complain about a computer that got better to such a majority of the customers, even, in my assumptions, Mac fans and tech-lovers, compared to what Apple sold two weeks ago.

I thought there was room for both of us, but if SATA keeps you up at night, you truly are more passionate than me, and I'll let you have your forum.

Adios!
 

Thanks I see them. Man this is bad. I hate to say this I agree with some of you who feel that Apple shouldn't call these Macs with SATA I, a MacBook Pro they should have kept the name MacBook. This screw the users of upgradeability. I mean there is a difference from SATA 192MBps and SATA II 384MBps. Especially when need the most in reading and writing. This makes a difference when you accessing data simultaneously in situation importing RAW photos into Aperture and or importing 4GB 1080p MPEG-4 Video from a Canon 5D Mark II. I mean honestly on a day to day routine what is our typical reading and writing rates? If its under range of SATA then I guess, but if in SATA II range then it wouldn't be fair to everybody. :(
 
I'll be a jerk one more time.

It sounds like you're supposedly being screwed time and time again anyway. We don't even get the already-barebones remotes packed in laptops anymore!

But I do...I do agree that there's no reason to decrease numbers these days and shame on Apple for it. It's just...it's only by being the faux-tech-fan that I am that I get confused seeing people complain about a computer that got better to such a majority of the customers, even, in my assumptions, Mac fans and tech-lovers, compared to what Apple sold two weeks ago.

I thought there was room for both of us, but if SATA keeps you up at night, you truly are more passionate than me, and I'll let you have your forum.

Adios!

Not anymore. Apple would love to have a customer base consisting entirely of apologists like you.
 
I really don't think it's fair to criticize for being upset about this issue. I spent $2,220 on a top of the line laptop, and I expect it to at least have the same sata interface as a $400 netbook!

I also think this was a mistake, and Apple will try to rectify it.
 
What's really warped about it is that the new SATA III 6.0Gbps spec has recently been released, and some high end motherboard manufacturers are already implementing it. Kinda a slap in the face to Apple users if Apple did indeed step back to a dead SATA I spec at the end of the SATA II's life.
 
If that's you really think, you shouldn't be on a tech forum. If people didn't complain about this stuff, Apple and other companies would screw us over time and time again.

If all you want to do is spew emotional rants, maybe a tech forum is not the right place for you? A tech forum ought to be a place for tech-talk, not endless drivel about being "screwed over".

So far it seems all are agreed the new MBP make use of the same chips, therefore apple have not saved any money by capping at 1,5. Right?

There are probably reasons for the capping that are as yet unknown to us, there have been some suggestions on this forum so far, nothing proven, but that apple are "screwing us over" seems the least likely so far.

And what the heck is an "apple loyalist" ???? Do you spend your $$$ loyaly? buy blindly? I would think most of us define ourselves as "consumers" or "users" (or even "pro users" :) ), and as such we are responsible for checking the specs before we buy. A loyalist makes you sound like a blind believer, now disappointed and angry.
It's a computer, wife/husband.

It's not as if apple promised at the WWDC that the MBP were 3.0 and now we catch them out and find they're 1,5. Don't like the product? Don't buy it. Or return it. Buy something else. But have the decency to let those forum members who have some tech knowledge propose what may be behind this capping, and let prospective buyers & users read the posts without having to wade through your angry venting. it after all as you pointed out a tech forum, not a crying forum.
 
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