Maximum MacBook Air Drive 80GB for Now
Apple is presently offering only two mass storage options for the MacBook Air: a traditional 80GB 1.8" hard disk drive (HDD) and a $999 64GB 1.8" solid state drive (SSD) upgrade. Those interested in upgrading the capacity of their MacBook Air drives may have to wait as long as 2009 to get significantly higher sizes.
In its pursuit of thinness, the MacBook Air uses a 1.8" single-platter 80GB HDD which measures only 5mm high. While larger capacity 1.8" drives exist, they use double-platter designs which result in an 8mm height. This extra 3mm explains why the 80GB drive is the only HDD option available for the MacBook Air.
Technology, of course, marches forward, but the last we've heard about higher capacity single-platter HDDs came from Toshiba in September 2007. At the time, Toshiba had prototyped a 1.8" HDD that fits 120GB on a single platter, but this drive is not expected to come to market until 2009.
Those who can afford the Solid State Drive (SSD) may be in in some luck, as Samsung did announce (in Jan 2008) that a 128GB SSD drive is coming in the "first half of 2008". This 1.8" drive multi-level cell flash drive will be produced in the 1.8" 5mm high size, although the announced interface (SATA) is not the same as that used in the MacBook Air (PATA). Pricing has not yet been announced on the 128GB SSD drive, but will certainly carry a significant premium.
In its pursuit of thinness, the MacBook Air uses a 1.8" single-platter 80GB HDD which measures only 5mm high. While larger capacity 1.8" drives exist, they use double-platter designs which result in an 8mm height. This extra 3mm explains why the 80GB drive is the only HDD option available for the MacBook Air.
Technology, of course, marches forward, but the last we've heard about higher capacity single-platter HDDs came from Toshiba in September 2007. At the time, Toshiba had prototyped a 1.8" HDD that fits 120GB on a single platter, but this drive is not expected to come to market until 2009.
Those who can afford the Solid State Drive (SSD) may be in in some luck, as Samsung did announce (in Jan 2008) that a 128GB SSD drive is coming in the "first half of 2008". This 1.8" drive multi-level cell flash drive will be produced in the 1.8" 5mm high size, although the announced interface (SATA) is not the same as that used in the MacBook Air (PATA). Pricing has not yet been announced on the 128GB SSD drive, but will certainly carry a significant premium.
Top Rated Comments
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53 months ago
I wonder how many people are actually going to order the SSDs at this point, seeing as they are so expensive.
53 months ago
128GB SSD?? How much $$$ do you think it would add to the MBA price? As the current one 64GB adds $999.00
53 months ago
One would think that an army of extremely well-paid engineers would be able to find a way to get another 3mm out of that design.
The good news is that the price of flash memory is continuing to plummet, and will probably be in the reasonably-affordable range within a couple years. Just in time for the first major rev of the MBA, I reckon.
The good news is that the price of flash memory is continuing to plummet, and will probably be in the reasonably-affordable range within a couple years. Just in time for the first major rev of the MBA, I reckon.
53 months ago
Seems to me that 80 GB shouldn't be too bad for what most people will use this computer for. I'm currently only using about 60 GB, and I do lots of stuff...
53 months ago
this computer just seems like a hard sale with the lack of ports and a drive. Im sure in the beginning itll sale well but I can see sales dyeing off in the future.
53 months ago
I don't care too much what options there are now: I'm getting the base HD for starters... then in 12-18 months I'll grab whatever SSD I can afford to drop in. Hopefully 128!
Meanwhile, if I hit 80, I'll offload some things to a portable USB drive, iPod, or Time Capsule. I may come to need more than 80 GB, but I bet I won't need all that stuff all at one time.
Meanwhile, if I hit 80, I'll offload some things to a portable USB drive, iPod, or Time Capsule. I may come to need more than 80 GB, but I bet I won't need all that stuff all at one time.
53 months ago
"...although the announced interface (SATA) is not the same as that used in the MacBook Air (PATA)."
I haven't seen (and couldn't find) any mention of the connection bus of the SSD, whereas its pointed out in a few places the that hard drive option is PATA. I'm betting that SSD-equipped MacBook Airs have a different connector on the MLB, and are SATA.
I haven't seen (and couldn't find) any mention of the connection bus of the SSD, whereas its pointed out in a few places the that hard drive option is PATA. I'm betting that SSD-equipped MacBook Airs have a different connector on the MLB, and are SATA.
53 months ago
Does anyone know whether we will be able to replace the 80HDD with a 128SSD in a year or so? I would hope that the connectors are the same. Open up, remove, and drop in a new one... then format, install OSX.
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