Thoughts on the SSD HDD debate.
I went into the Apple store and spent some time working on both models. I rebooted, launched multiple applications at once and used iPhoto. I have to say that I am definitely going to get the SSD. The Ars review states that the extra usability doesn't justify the extra $1300. I disagree.
I use my computer all the time (currently a MBP CD 2.16, 2GB ram, 100GB 7200RPM, drive, matte screen). I travel a lot with it. I use it for photos, a little programming, surfing, email, movies, and music. I also run Fusion on it with XP (have to for work). Using my computer is not a casual thing for me. It is a critical tool that I could not function without.
With respect to the SSD v. HDD models of the Air, the difference in app launching speed (in particular the Office apps) can be stark. In addition, and more importantly, the system slow down when the disk is being heavily accessed on the HDD is palpable. It isn't like the computer is slow. Rather, it is unusable for a brief time. Now it seems that the Ars reviewer thought that getting rid of this brief moment wasn't worth the $1300, and it is there that our opinions diverge.
Waiting for a tool to be ready puts the tool between you and your work. When I have to wait for my system, I have to disengage from my work. When I have to disengage from my work, I get distracted and lose my state of flow. I can't overstate how important it is to me to be able to maintain that state. It makes my work about my work and not about what I am using to get my work done. Imagine if a sculptor had to wait for his chisel to be ready for a strike. That would suck. I realize that sometimes we have to wait for a tool to be ready; technology can only move so fast. However, if you can make it so you don't have to wait, do it.
In contrast, when my system is quick and responsive, I stay focused and fluid. The computer becomes an extension of me rather than an impediment to me.
With respect to the cash, I am all about saving a buck, but spending $1800 on something that will frustrate me v. spending $3000 on something that won't isn't even a decision. I have learned that trying to save money on things that I use all the time is usually a waste of money. Many things are expensive for a good reason: they serve a need better than a lower priced alternative. In addition, if I bought the HDD, when that Word icon bounced for the 12th time and my music started to stutter because Fusion was slaying my hard drive, that extra $1300 in the bank would be cold comfort.
A couple other examples:
Luggage: I bought a Tumi travel bag about 6 years ago. I have no idea what I paid for it; I just remember that it was a lot more expensive than just about every other bag I looked at. I still use it today and love it. I have friends with crappy luggage that they have replaced 3 times in the past 6 years. And even when it was new, the straps didn't hold; the wheels were wobbly.
Knives: Have you ever used a high-quality chef's knife? It is a pleasure. My wife has an incredibly expensive set of high-quality knives because she loves to cook. The knives make her cooking experience that much more enjoyable (the knife stays out of her way and becomes an extension of her). Sure, she could probably get the job done with a set of steak knives from K-Mart, but how much would that suck?
The stuff that we buy shouldn't frustrate us or get in our way. I'm not saying that the HDD (or a duffel bag or a K-Mart steak knife ) will make everyone miserable. For a lot of users, the 1.6 HDD is perfect. For goodness sake, it is a 3 lb. slab of 3/4 inch (or less) aluminum that runs (pretty darn quickly) Mac OS X. If I were one of those users, I would happily buy it and save $1300. I just know that I'm not. I know that I will be using the computer in such a way that those system slow downs will occur and that the unresponsiveness will drive me up a wall.
The bottom line is, if I bought the HDD, after using it for a while I would feel like I wasted $1800. When I get the SSD, I won't even think about what I spent on it.
Peace.
