OWC Bumps Aftermarket MacBook Air SSDs to 480 GB

[adrian.oconnor]

1TB SSD

Holy crap. Why does this even exist? 4 grand?

Database servers! If you have a database server, you'll get a massive performance boost from SSD.

Also: Email servers, video streaming/recording, file servers, etc etc.

For regular consumers, these super-expensive SSDs make no sense at all. I just wish the mid-capacity drives would drop in price faster!

 

[alfonsog]

I remember when my friend got a 10 MB hard drive in 1985, it cost $2000 (about $4000 today). He was told it was overkill and he'd probably never fill it up... He also had a "portable" computer, an Osborne 1 with a 5" screen that was 25 lbs.

 

[rtheb]

The prices will drop over time and then everyone will want the largest SSD they can get.

I remember in the good ol' days of the 80's buying a 100 MB hard drive for $1,000.00 (when a $1,000.00 was really a pile of dough)!

I bought the hard drive for my 386 server for my office network and everyone would say "you'll never use all that space!"

Early adopters always pay a premium but over time prices will reflect demand.

I'm glad they are expanding the technology of SSD and eventually the price will come down to realistic levels.

 

[Stridder44]

Wow, an extremely expensive product (OWC 480GB SSD) aimed at an already small market (MacBook Air). They don't seriously expect to recoup costs on just producing this thing, do they? I mean really even the most experienced wealthy person would know better than to get this, so who the hell is OWC marketing this towards?

 

[John.B]

Wow, an extremely expensive product (OWC 480GB SSD) aimed at an already small market (MacBook Air). They don't seriously expect to recoup costs on just producing this thing, do they? I mean really even the most experienced wealthy person would know better than to get this, so who the hell is OWC marketing this towards?

By definition, it's so expensive because they are trying to recoup the production costs with a small production run.

And just because it's too expensive for me (and it sounds like you as well) doesn't mean there aren't people with deep pockets who won't find utility in a 480GB SSD, esp. if they feel cramped with the 256GB option.

Just because everyone can't afford a $100K Mercedes to buy groceries doesn't mean they don't still manage to sell enough of them to be (very) profitable.

 

[Mord]

I really can't figure out the market either. Ignore the money for now. Who needs that kind of space? Boot Camp users who need two full machines? Video editors? I mean, I understand that the Air is a perfectly capable computer -- I want one to replace my MacBook once it gives up the ghost, and I'm a programmer -- but working with anything that big almost necessarily warrants more processor to keep yourself from going mad. Archivists? ;^)

Who needs that kind of space but doesn't mind the work-hampering processor? And who needs the extra 120 Gigs so badly 360 won't do?

Must be preparing for the new Air that comes with 360 bto.

If money were no object I'd have a 13" air with a 480GB SSD. It'd still be a compromise, my MBP has a 1TB drive in it which I use over half of.

 

[jamesryanbell]

You can buy this single 480GB drive, or for the same money, twenty 2 terabyte drives.

What a bargain!

I LOL'd.

 

[jamesryanbell]

There's a 2TB one as well (SSD) on Google for $8,800.

 

[TenderBranson]

in a year it'll cost half that

 

[FuNGi]

If I had the 480 GB I would sell my MBP and just use the Air for everything.

Has anyone installed one of these?

 

[IngerMan]

If I had the 480 GB I would sell my MBP and just use the Air for everything.

Has anyone installed one of these?

You would need to sell the MBP to cover the cost of the drive

 

[mwayne85]

in a year it'll cost half that

Highly doubt it. I expect probably an 8-10% price drop by next year, unless SATAIII really makes in impact on SATAII drives. Still, 50% is wishful thinking.

 

[strwrsfrk]

Cheaper SSDs

Not likely...SSD Gb per $ has been staying high. The only thing thats changed much are IO speeds (most notably on the PCI SS storage). 500 GB SSD are not going to be the nominal equivalent, to current 500GB HDD (conventional), in 2 years. That said, Yes...things will get cheaper and faster as time progresses

I'm not so sure. Early 2011, $2/GB is a pretty reasonable price. Next year, prices are projected to drop to as low as $1/GB. Most companies seem to agree that SSD development is going to surpass HDD in market share, so development will continue rapidly.

Remember DDR3 RAM prices even in 2009? A 6GB, DDR3-1600 kit cost ~$200, and now the best-rated kits with similar specs on Newegg are $69-$99. And the tech is similar enough - with enough major R&D power behind it - that SSD prices should show similar trends.

Of course, I really just want 512GB SSD for less than $0.50/GB.

 

[snugharbor]

I remember being asked the question "who needs that much space" also when I bought my first 486 with a 640 MB hard disk.

I've heard that a dozen times starting with a 20MB (yes MB) drive: who needs that when you have 5 1/4 floppy disks.