The new generation of MacBook Airs has me thinking a lot more about flash storage and how I want want want it. I’ve heard a lot of very good geeky stuff about file transfer rates, boosts in battery life, and increased drive durability (thanks to the lack of moving parts). These things translate into faster boot-up times, faster access of smaller files, and (I’m hoping) zippier iPhoto performance.
However, even a cursory glance at third party 2.5″ SSD prices — $100+ for 60 GB, $200+ for 120 GB — tells most people (myself included) that this stuff isn’t mainstream…yet. But there might be some hope thanks to the MacBook Air.
I am really hoping that Apple continues its love affair with flash memory and throws more of it into the next MacBook Pro refresh. I doubt I’ll be able to afford a 128 GB SSD any time soon, but it’d be a different story entirely if it came as part of a MacBook Pro purchase by default (the story would be a lot cheaper).
I’ve had my eye on a 15-inch model for my next machine, and I’d gladly give up the default 320 GB HDD for the 128 GB SSD that the lowest end MacBook Air sports. Unfortunately, “upgrading” those 320 GB of hard disk space to a 128 GB SSD currently costs a whopping 315 CAD at the Apple Store. That’s almost a quarter of what a 13″ MacBook Air (or Pro) costs, which is, of course, completely ridiculous.
But the release of the Air has definitely cleared something up for me: I’ve got a very particular feature to wait for now. Instead of waiting for the next i-labelled CPU, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the day when Apple takes the Air brush to its Pro lineup — and if the glowing MacBook Air reviews keep streaming in like they’re doing, that day shouldn’t be too far off now.
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