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.....The team found that the PCIe-based SSD module from Samsung is smaller than the previous model's Toshiba SATA module, which also means that the drive is not compatible with previous MacBook Air models. As noted earlier by AnandTech, the read/write speeds of the flash storage approach 800 MB/s.

When Apple announced the Haswell-based MacBook Airs yesterday, perhaps the main highlight of the introduction was the "all-day" battery life topping out at 12 hours for the 13-inch model. And while the processors are a large part of the claimed all-day battery life, iFixit found that the new Airs also sport batteries with increased capacity driven by higher voltages: increasing from a 7.3 V, 6700 mAh power battery to a 7.6 V 7150 mAh power battery.....

Article Link: Teardown of New Mid-2013 MacBook Air Reveals Smaller SSD, Increased Battery Capacity

It's an incremental, but worthwhile upgrade, and a nice little machine for someone who is currently in the market for an Ultrabook. Hell, if my Air wasn't less than a year old, I'd be tempted myself.
 
So STF↑!

First off, there is no HDD that will fit into an MBA. Second, you have the option to upgrade to a 500 GB SSD. Not enough? What -- you need constant access to your collection of Seinfeld reruns and Star Trek wherever you are? As one of my virtual gfs used to say, back in the usenet days: puhleeze!!!

As somebody who has to deal with large files such as video recordings; 500 Gb really isn't enough. Not everybody uses their machine for Facebook or Word.
 
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As somebody who has to deal with large files such as video recordings; 500 Gb really isn't enough.Not everybody uses their machine for Facebook or Word.
So... get a slim 2 TB external with a USB 3.0 interface. Should slip easily into a MacBook Air bag. Really no sense in complaining about the storage of SSDs at the moment because the price to storage ratio is not quite there yet... especially not for the slim flash that's going into these Airs. Probably next year's model will have a 1 Terabyte option. A terabyte SSD a year ago would've cost twice as much as the Air itself. Be glad flash storage is going down considerably in price.


Stupid question, but can one get around that or is it too risky?
No, and even if you did, you would must assuredly void your warranty.
 
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Stupid question, but can one get around that or is it too risky?

nope, you have to really make your mind and order 8GB, there is no way to upgrade it. You might able to replace the entire logic board but that is proprietary apple stuff so same or more expensive.
 
just ordered a 13 inch. I chose the i5 to save money. I heard the performance gain is hardly noticeable. I did get 8gb and 512gb of ssd though, because I am running out of room on my 256db ssd today. (My VM takes a lot of space)
i am definitely excited about the faster ssd and the battery life. for those who are thinking about ordering too, right now there is a 2-4 days wait time already for build-to-order items.
 
I do 4 or 5 hours long gameplay footage, in which I edit and upload to YouTube. And more often or not, I get backed up with several sessions and that can rack up to a huge amount of space.

I don't care. You are replying to a Macbook Air thread which is why the comment is out of place, get the Macbook Pro or use external storage.
 
No thanks. I need something with hard drive capacity. Casual System would be fine, but I have a HUGE iTunes Library of just under 400 GB, mostly movies.

Let me have an Air with a large capacity HDD or SSD then we will talk :D

errr external drive for your media?

Why have it on your boot drive?

The mba will never suffice for you
 
No thanks. I need something with hard drive capacity. Casual System would be fine, but I have a HUGE iTunes Library of just under 400 GB, mostly movies.

Let me have an Air with a large capacity HDD or SSD then we will talk :D

Buy an external drive, connect it to an Airport router and you have a wireless NAS that is "good enough" for iTunes streaming. I have a lot of data too but i use some external drives and a network
 
I've yet to hear of anyone do it to any of the previous Macbook Airs over the years so I'm going to safely say it's not possible.

nope, you have to really make your mind and order 8GB, there is no way to upgrade it. You might able to replace the entire logic board but that is proprietary apple stuff so same or more expensive.

Thanks for the replies.
 
I do 4 or 5 hours long gameplay footage, in which I edit and upload to YouTube. And more often or not, I get backed up with several sessions and that can rack up to a huge amount of space.

kay. then get an external drive or a MBP.
We get it. the MBA isn't for you. hush now, please.

These new MBAs are ****ing **** hot.
steve had the right idea way back in 2007! :D
 
The 11-inch MacBook Air starts at $999 with a 128 GB hard drive, while the 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $1099 with a 128 GB hard drive.​

I'm pretty sure neither comes with a "hard drive"

SSDs are considered hard drives. They are not considered hard disk drives.
 
As somebody who has to deal with large files such as video recordings; 500 Gb really isn't enough. So how about you sit down and shut up, cause you obviously don't know that people may have different needs. Not everybody uses their machine for Facebook or Word. As my girlfriend used to say: sod off.

Use an external drive for video editing. Are you not aware that it's a bad idea to do HD video editing on your bootup disk? Besides, are you doing that on the go?
 
i just bought the NEW macbook air today, its the cats gonads

heres my review:
Working off formerly a 13" macbook air mid 2011, I just bought this new 2013 model with the Haswell CPU and low power consumption infrastructure.

Off a full charge, I disconnected 3 hours 40 mins and had an external drive connected the entire time, restarted 4 times, and did NONSTOP heavy application installs (Office suite, Photoshop etc.), a total of 23 applications, and ran youtube vids in the background the entire time, and after all of that nonstop heavy loading, I had 76% on my battery, of which id have around 35% on my older Macbook Air.

Further still, the entire unit has run UTTERLY COOL during this EXTREMELY heavy loading, installing and heavy 1080P video graphics play. My other Macbook Air would be almost too hot to touch underneath near back under same conditions.

Even without 802ac (new Wifi connection thru the new Air), I notice roughly 25% faster throughput on likewise file downloads using my new Macbook Air than that of my older version airport extreme.

My Macbook Air has been without a question my most treasured gem of "go-to" Mac product hands down, I own all of them (2 Airs, Macbook Pro, MacMini etc),...I was skeptical when I shelled out $1099 today for the new Haswell Air and its presumed prognosticated "crazy long" battery life and improved speeds overall; but the hype isn't hype, its real and amazing. The mere NOTION that I can overload this Air with App installs, and have a 2.5" HD attached for nearly 4 hours, run 1080P Youtube vids,...and still be at 76% Batt life is just, well, its stunning.

Tested out the NEW dual (stereo) mic and it IS much nicer in record, additionally the camera/vid is much sharper and crisper than my other Mac Air. Considering the price point is lower on these new Airs than the older ones, I give the new Macbook Airs a "110%". Having repaired laptops (non mac) in the past, and owned at least 20X more laptops than most consumers, I don't lightly conclude this is the cornerstone workhorse for everything I dare consider doing, fast got faster, and battery life now is enough to make a crusty "hates everything" person like myself nearly cry with joy. Congrats Apple! Homerun on this lovely gem.

This new Macbook Air brings TRUE definition to "disconnected" and "portable" to those who want to do a LOT of work free of power socket! Genuine portable is finally here, ...no more staring at the battery % to rush to shut down!
 
Use an external drive for video editing. Are you not aware that it's a bad idea to do HD video editing on your bootup disk? Besides, are you doing that on the go?

My school requires the students to buy a Mac laptop when they first start middle school so I originally had one of those white MacBooks from 2007 and eventually that died, so I got the cheapest option, which was an MBA. Since I don't monetise, I really don't have an source of income. That makes the MBP a no go. As for external hard drives, those are a murder to edit on, if its not a Thunderbolt based drive.
 
No thanks. I need something with hard drive capacity. Casual System would be fine, but I have a HUGE iTunes Library of just under 400 GB, mostly movies.

Let me have an Air with a large capacity HDD or SSD then we will talk :D

There's a 512GB option, and you can use external drives. If you *must* take all your media with you, get something like a portable 2TB drive. I saw the flash drive performance on the previous MBAs and was stunned. If this stuff is faster, it's well worth the tradeoff.

Also, what gives on the original post calling it a hard drive? Nononononono. :eek:
 
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