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256GB SSD Upgrades for New MacBook Air Announced
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The main question here is:
Why doesn't Apple, who self-proclaims to build the best computers in the world, use cheaper, faster and widely-available SandForce SF-1200 chips instead of the ol' crap from Toshiba?
Is it really that shocking that Apple decided to use a proven controller (read Anands review, this is the same controller from the SSDnow series drive) from a supplier they have a long relationship with, that can function without TRIM support in the OS better then any other drive AND that is several times faster then any other drive they ship?
'ol crap indeed.
newbie question
Apologies if this question makes you roll your eyes but I'm relatively new to Macs. Am I correct in assuming that the OS is installed entirely on the SSD? By that I mean, if I were to upgrade the SSD, won't I have to reinstall the OS or run some sort of system restore? Is that process easy with the included USB key from the new MBA?
Jack
Apologies if this question makes you roll your eyes
but I'm relatively new to Macs. Am I correct in assuming that the OS is installed entirely on the SSD? By that I mean, if I were to upgrade the SSD, won't I have to reinstall the OS or run some sort of system restore? Is that process easy with the included USB key from the new MBA?Jack
Nice. I wish Apple offered that in the machine as BTO option. I know a couple of people who want the small model with a bigger drive.
Installing on a new drive is very, very easy. Set aside some time to let the installers do their thing and it's pretty much set it and walk away.
Apologies if this question makes you roll your eyes
Jack
Installing on a new drive is very, very easy. Set aside some time to let the installers do their thing and it's pretty much set it and walk away.
And NOW we know why you can't add RAM and better processor to ENTRY LEVEL storage models.
Apple knew third party solutions would exist for storage, and they needed a way to up-sell you to the higher storage solution even though many would prefer to do that themselves.
Apple knew third party solutions would exist for storage, and they needed a way to up-sell you to the higher storage solution even though many would prefer to do that themselves.
It takes Apple ~9 months to pigment an iPhone case white, and these guys come out with a SSD card to fit the Air in a week! Ok, so it's not shipping yet, but still. Gotta wonder about quality.
Nonsense. While future models will undoubtedly have higher capacity as flash prices drop, it makes no sense for Apple to offer this stock... it would have fed into the 'Apple Tax' idiocy.
Indeed if they didn't leave room for 3rd parties, they'd be accused of shutting out competition. No win situation.
The photo shows that this is the SSD in the earlier 2.5" form factor, and not the new configuration in the MBA. Besides, the price dates from May 2010 ...
This is a nice option. Nature abhors a vacuum and my hard drives tend to get filled .
I'll now seriously consider the smaller MBA with the upgraded RAM but save my drachmas for this lovely 3rd-party upgrade.
.I'll now seriously consider the smaller MBA with the upgraded RAM but save my drachmas for this lovely 3rd-party upgrade.
Expect pricing above the $600 mark for now. I say this because that is right about in line with that I paid for my 240GB SSD based on the sans force chip from OWC that is in my current MBP. The sans force based controllers are pricey, but very fast, and, do not need trim to keep the drive in tip-top shape.
Have a look here:
http://macperformanceguide.com/SSD-RealWorld.html
http://macperformanceguide.com/Reviews-SSD-OWC-Mercury_Extreme.html
If you need a primer on solid state storage:
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=736
http://macperformanceguide.com/Storage-SSD-Overview.html
http://www.anandtech.com/tag/ssd/
Have a look here:
http://macperformanceguide.com/SSD-RealWorld.html
http://macperformanceguide.com/Reviews-SSD-OWC-Mercury_Extreme.html
If you need a primer on solid state storage:
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=736
http://macperformanceguide.com/Storage-SSD-Overview.html
http://www.anandtech.com/tag/ssd/
bam
and just like that, apple has created yet another market. I guess the "MBA ssd" interface format/form factor is the de facto standard - lets see if dell/hp adopt. This could be interesting.
j
and just like that, apple has created yet another market. I guess the "MBA ssd" interface format/form factor is the de facto standard - lets see if dell/hp adopt. This could be interesting.
j
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Any idea if this company is offering 256 GB SSD drives for he last generation MacBook Air? My 128 GB SSD is too small. I've searched around the web and there is scant availability. Additionally, there is almost zero info on compatibility with gen2 MBAs.
Hate to drop that kind of coin and have it be incompatible.
Any idea if this company is offering 256 GB SSD drives for he last generation MacBook Air? My 128 GB SSD is too small. I've searched around the web and there is scant availability. Additionally, there is almost zero info on compatibility with gen2 MBAs.
Hate to drop that kind of coin and have it be incompatible.
Pointless fact: the QR code (2D barcode) on the device reads "PhotoFast GM2 SFV1 Air". Yay for iPhone barcode scanner apps
ahh thanks! still, price should be close to it since it's still the same controller model...
why do companies always release information and no pricing, its not like they don't know what its going to go for, always pisses me off.
Im waiting for OWC's offering, just spoke with them, it will be released momentarily
I do not know why some people think that Apple cannot do what others can. They can, actually can do even better. However, there is a thing called marketing strategy and nobody does it like Apple. Think about, it. MMS messaging was in cellphones probably 10 years ago, even older maybe. Apple put MMS on the iPhones last year. Do you think Apple was not capable of doing MMS on iPhone from day one?
Steve Jobs loves and does well putting old technology in his products as if it is new and everybody goes after him, you and me included.
Now, I bet Apple could even do 1TB SSD on the new MBAs (of course cost is also important here) If they do everything at once, why would you upgrade to the next model in a year or two? There should be a reason to upgrade and Apple gives that reason to you, just slowly. Not because they cannot now.
Thank you! Good news! I hope they will offer smaller sizes too meaning cheaper options, because I want this upgrade not because of the storage size but performance. They are talking about a 30% improvement (at least for Photofast) and that is A LOT!
So now it's a question of do I drop an extra $200 now and get the 128gb, or maybe buy the 64gb now, spend probably more than $200 for 128gb in a year or so, but get a better performing SSD in the end....
I'm kind of leaning for option 2. It sounds like the non-standard SSDs could offer significant performance benefits over the ones Apple includes. (I'm obviously not well versed in SSD tech. Thanks to the guy above for the links about them.)
I'm kind of leaning for option 2. It sounds like the non-standard SSDs could offer significant performance benefits over the ones Apple includes. (I'm obviously not well versed in SSD tech. Thanks to the guy above for the links about them.)
