02-28-2012, 05:08 PM

I have a question, a silly one, and wondering if someone can advise...

I'm looking at picking up a MacBook of some sorts, either an Air or a Pro, but I have one question regarding the storage:-

On the Apple website, it states that the Air comes with "Flash storage". If I was to buy the pro, I would upgrade the HDD to a Solid State Drive, as I don't need oodles of space due to me storing the majority of my gumpf on the iMac.

Anyway, is there a difference between "Flash Storage" and a SSD? If so, which is faster/better/more reliable?

Both the models I've priced up, are in the same ball park, so just want to clarify the difference.

TLDR; What's the difference between SSD and "Flash Storage"?

Cheers, folks!

02-28-2012, 05:49 PM

Flash storage is SSD. They are the same thing, just different terms to say the same thing.

02-28-2012, 05:51 PM

Cheers, Stretch! I thought that would be the case...

Now, why does Apple insist on confusing morons such as myself by using all these fancy phrases?!

02-28-2012, 06:26 PM

As stated Flash storage is SSD. But in the Air it is not a typical SSD like you would buy from a reseller or manufacturer. It is actually just the Flash chips without case or typical/normal connectors as you find on all SATA devices. That is why you can never upgrade it. Same for the RAM. It is not the type that you can replace. Both are built into the motherboard in some way.

For that reason I would never buy a Mac Air.
Although I just looked at the new Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook. But I doubt I will be buying one.

02-28-2012, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by Shootist

As stated Flash storage is SSD. But in the Air it is not a typical SSD like you would buy from a reseller or manufacturer. It is actually just the Flash chips without case or typical/normal connectors as you find on all SATA devices. That is why you can never upgrade it. Same for the RAM. It is not the type that you can replace. Both are built into the motherboard in some way.

For that reason I would never buy a Mac Air.
Although I just looked at the new Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook. But I doubt I will be buying one.

No, the 2010, 2011 model MacBook Airs can have the SSD upgraded. Only the original versions of the Air have the SSD on the logic board. OWC offers replacement SSDs for the current generation Airs.

02-28-2012, 10:32 PM

In comparing pure speed, which would be faster?

a) Macbook Air 13 i7 1.8Ghz 256GB "flash drive"
or
b) Macbook Pro 15 i7 quadcore 2.2 Ghz where I replace the 5400 RPM drive with a 256 GB SSD

Thanks

02-28-2012, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by JPH675

In comparing pure speed, which would be faster?

a) Macbook Air 13 i7 1.8Ghz 256GB "flash drive"
or
b) Macbook Pro 15 i7 quadcore 2.2 Ghz where I replace the 5400 RPM drive with a 256 GB SSD

Thanks

Depends on the flash drive.

02-29-2012, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by JPH675

In comparing pure speed, which would be faster?

a) Macbook Air 13 i7 1.8Ghz 256GB "flash drive"
or
b) Macbook Pro 15 i7 quadcore 2.2 Ghz where I replace the 5400 RPM drive with a 256 GB SSD

Thanks

You're kidding right?

You have to ask this question?

A Quad Core CPU that runs faster the the Dual Core CPU and you can't figure that out. The Flash Apple uses in the Air is no different, except possibly slower, then all other Flash SSDs.

So which one do you think is faster?

02-29-2012, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by Shootist

You're kidding right?

You have to ask this question?

A Quad Core CPU that runs faster the the Dual Core CPU and you can't figure that out. The Flash Apple uses in the Air is no different, except possibly slower, then all other Flash SSDs.

So which one do you think is faster?

Careful now...let's "play" nice. Each person has different levels of "tech-savviness". What's obvious to one person...is "foggy" to another.

- Nick

02-29-2012, 07:52 AM

Thanks for the somewhat, conflicting advice - I think I'm gonna go for the MBP with 128GB SSD, as although I think 4GB RAM would be more than sufficient for what I would be using the Air for, for a very similar price I could get the MBP, which I feel would be more future proof due to the ability to bump up the RAM.

Muchos gracias.

02-29-2012, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckoir

Thanks for the somewhat, conflicting advice - I think I'm gonna go for the MBP with 128GB SSD, as although I think 4GB RAM would be more than sufficient for what I would be using the Air for, for a very similar price I could get the MBP, which I feel would be more future proof due to the ability to bump up the RAM.

Muchos gracias.

Another alternative is to get the MBP with standard HDD, then purchase SSD and Data-doubler from OWC and swap out HDD for Superdrive. Will follow up with link on OWC components.

Data-doubler $70 USD
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DDAMBS0GB/

120 GB SSD $178 USD
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/SSDEX3G120/

External Case for your Old Superdrive $40 USD
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other...g/VLSS9TOPTU2/

Total Cost: $288 USD

02-29-2012, 10:42 AM

That's awesome! Thanks, Razor! - I tried to give you rep, but I need to spread it around a bit first!

Couple last questions, before I take the plunge, if I may?

Can I use an OEM version of Windows with Bootcamp? Or does it have to be 'normal' version, if you catch my drift? Purchased and fully legit, of course.

02-29-2012, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckoir

That's awesome! Thanks, Razor! - I tried to give you rep, but I need to spread it around a bit first!

Couple last questions, before I take the plunge, if I may?

Can I use an OEM version of Windows with Bootcamp? Or does it have to be 'normal' version, if you catch my drift? Purchased and fully legit, of course.

That one I don't know the answer to. I don't voluntarily run Windows on any of my computers. But, I suspect you have to have a retail version (could be wrong, someone else will have to answer that).

02-29-2012, 11:47 AM

Ahh okay no worries, once I've got the MacBook I'll look into that!

Woooo! Just purchased it! 6 months after getting an iMac, I've now got a MBP...

Oh one last question, I promise... Do OWC ship overseas?!

Many thanks, you've been a star!

02-29-2012, 01:04 PM

"If I was to buy the pro, I would upgrade the HDD to a Solid State Drive, as I don't need oodles of space due to me storing the majority of my gumpf on the iMac."
just curious will just install the 128gb ssd good enough ? since you are not going to use that much space in the mbp,