320 GB v. 500 GB

[dcoux09]

I hate hate hate hate running out of harddrive space. I'm going to be buying a MacBook Pro and was wondering if I should upgrade to 320gb or 500gb. I know this is a question that pretty much I can only answer but I want some feedback.

For one, how much "usable space" is really on the 320gb and 500gb drive after you first boot up and after programs are installed. (I'm guessing 300 and 475 respectively).

Two, I have about 50 gigs of music, 20 gigs of photos, and 15 gigs of doc's (85gb total). I'm thinking if I have 2/3rds my HD free, that will be just fine, but I don't want my machine to be slow if I ever flirt with filling my HD. I want this Mac to last between 3 and 5 years as well, I'm inclined to think that paying the extra 100 dollars and bumping it from 320 to 500 will be worth it, but I don't want to pay for space I won't use. Anyone else had this dilemma before? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[mstrze]

I hate hate hate hate running out of harddrive space.

So get the larger drive! It will take you longer to run out of space...and you WILL run out of space eventually.

 

[Hellhammer]

There are 640GB, 750GB and 1TB available too. I would get at least 750GB as your media collection will just get larger by time

 

[monokakata]

$100 is a lot for an upgrade.

You can get an new Hitachi 500gb 7200 rpm drive for about $100, and you can get a Seagate with identical specs for the same.

So go with the 320 gb that comes with your machine, get a 2.5" FW400 or USB enclosure (Macally makes one for roughly $35), pop in your new 500, clone the 320, replace the 320 with the 500, put the 320 in the enclosure, and presto, you have 500 fast gigs in your MBP and a useful external drive.

And you could use the 320 external for Time Machine for a while; after it fills, use it for something else.

Putting another way, helpful Apple is asking the full price of an excellent drive for this "upgrade" and after it's all over, you still have only one drive.