MacBook Air Is 128 GB enough?

[uRabbit]

I am in the market for a MacBook. Leaning towards the MBA, because of the portability and speed of flash storage. SSD is still too expensive, so that is why MBP is almost ruled out.

Pricing the lowest-end MBA, I have come up with two things - I could go bare-bones with the 64 GB / 2 GB version, or spend $850 more for the d'lux version, with the i7, 4 GB memory, and 256 GB drive. Obviously, there is some wiggle room.

I am pretty sure I will need 4 GB RAM. iTunes is always open, as is Safari, Mail, and whatever I'm working on (i.e. Pages, Numbers, Keynote, or all of the above). So, go for 4 GB?

Okay, so that leaves me with the next one up, so I don't have to worry about only having 64 GB. I'm at 128 now. While this will not be my main rig (main rig will be iMac quad Core i7), I would like to be able to keep my iPhone (32 GB, unless the iPhone 5 has 64 GB option) sync'd to both computers. So 128 - 7 (7 for OS X Lion, right?) = 121. 121 - 64 = 57 GB. That is not including extra files and programs.

I'll also most likely have to install Windows, as not all colleges are Mac-friendly. I do not think they will have us running any of their own software, as my major will bs Nursing.

So what do you think? 128 GB w/ base processor, 4 GB (base), and a small external HDD (probably < 250 GB)?

That'd take my total to around, what?, $1,300? $1,400?

What do you guys think?

 

[Tinman]

I bought a 64GB MB Air in 2010 and it was amazing. But yes space was always on my mind, even for basic stuff.

So when the 2011 Airs came out I went for the 128GB, 4GB RAM. I got mine at MacMall and it ended up being only a few dollars more than the 64 GB would have been from Apple.

The Air is also not my main computer. But it is now my main laptop. I was using my Windows laptop if on a businesss trip and the Air if I could get away with it. But now with Parallels installed I run Windows on the Air faster than it seemingly ran on my Windows laptop.

As for external HD they are so inexpensive nowadays you can get 1TB for under $100. But I would wait to see if you really need it. I bought a small GoFlex USB that I got for $100 and the Firewire adapter for another $15 or so. Figured this would be perfect for the Air with USB or my main mac with FireWire. But never really use it with my Air. And I already external networked drives and a NAS drive so probably didn't even need the GoFlex.

Michael

 

[Kyttkat]

A few things to bear in mind.

Although you can copy some of the content across both machines you can only sync your iPhone to one iTunes install at any one time.

How will you install Windows? If you're going to use Bootcamp, which is my preferred option, you have to use Win7 on the new MBA. I started with a 30Gb partition but after installing full Office 2007, Visio, Project, MindManager and a few others I was only left with 25% free on the drive - had to start over with a 40gb partition

I've also got XP running in VirtualBox which if fine and takes up far less space as the disk allocation is dynamic. But having lost one build I don't fully trust it.

Final thing is that upgrading your MBA later is pretty much a non-starter.

My wife is running a 11" with 128gb, I only went for 256gb as I knew I'd be running Win7 in a separate partition. We store all our media on an external NAS drive, but as that's getting towards 1Tb of stuff that was never going to sit on a laptop. Having the 13" as my main & only machine has been a fantastic decision.

Buy the best you can afford, that does what you need - memory & processor upgrades are great but, for the most part, luxuries - disk space can be a killer.

 

[Tinman]

Final thing is that upgrading your MBA later is pretty much a non-starter.

As far as memory, yes, that is soldered in. But the the SSD is rather easy to swap out after the fact.

Right now the 128GB MB Air SSDs, pulled out of Airs, are going for an easy $200 on ebay (usually from 2010 Airs, so they are Toshiba SSDs). You can get the 240GB SSD (same as Apple calls "256" GB) for $470 from OWC. So essentially you can upgrade the SSD from 128 to 256GB for about the same additional cost as getting it from the get-go from Apple.

While it would be rather crazy to plan to do that, it does let you get the 128GB with at least a good chance to still go to 256GB down the road without it costing much, if any, more than getting it from the start.

But for me, I just don't think $300 for that extra 128GB is cost-effective for a non-primary machine. And yet 256GB would still not be enough if it was my primary much so I'm thinking 128GB is the sweet spot.

Michael

 

[Wrkn4livn]

I had the 128 second gen air book and never got close to the 128. I ran at around 30gigs and had around 90 gigs free. I have been using the Cloud since it's was available. I store all my music and pictures on it, as well as all my work files so I can access them from any computer. I also have a 500 gig plug in portable HD. I recently went to the new, faster air book and have relegated my MacBoom Pro to the secondary home computer. Its now really only used to burn CDs.
I've thought about upgrading to the larger ssd but I just don't even fill up the 128. I guess file management is the key. If I really don't need to carry the file, I don't.

 

[Hondamaker]

128 should be enough. Just store downloads, music, videos and pics on the external hard drive.

 

[badabing]

Bought a 128Gb first then exchanged it after a week for a 256Gb. The MBA is now my main computer (read - the one I always use) and 128 was not enough to hold some of my music and pics + Win bootcamp, etc.. There is a big $ difference but for me it worth it. (I now have everything install and still have 100Gb free so I'm not afraid to run out of space in a near future.)
Might not be true for anyone though

 

[iNurse]

So what's the final verdict with the MBA


Sent from the iNurse's iPhone using Icafe

 

[rambo47]

For all but the most extreme packrats among us the 128GB model should be fine. My personal philosophy is to buy more than I think I'll ever need. I often end up using a piece of tech more than I thought I would, or for things I never envisioned. Having "overbought" has saved me from regretting my purchase on many occasions.

 

[mbairguy]

For all but the most extreme packrats among us the 128GB model should be fine. My personal philosophy is to buy more than I think I'll ever need. I often end up using a piece of tech more than I thought I would, or for things I never envisioned. Having "overbought" has saved me from regretting my purchase on many occasions.

Right or wrong, this is the same philosphy I use. I build in 2-4 TB in my desktops; raid to make sure I do not lose data. My MBAir is 13", 256GB and 1.8GHz i7 which serves me extremely well. The reduction in size is awesome on the road. Also looking forward to tethering (hotspot) to my new iPad. I doubt if Apple offers a mechanical HDD in anything portable in 2013.

 

[Mendo88]

I really like the look and size of the MBA. I was looking at the entry level MBP (with student discount) however am wondering what the best cost effective combo would be.

I will use it as my main computer. I will run iTunes, back up my iPhone 4s and use it to store and lightly edit my photos.

How do I upgrade the space on a MBA?

 

[BorgB]

I got 128GB when I bought my Air but the next one will have 256GB or more if possible. I use it mostly for designing and programming and only got around 16GB left of free space now. And thats mostly software that I use and project files. But I guess its all up to what you will use it for and of course the price.

 

[kinjo]

i'm looking for a new 1TB HDD,
can anyone help me to find the best one?