What spec Haswell MacBook Air should I order?

Dammer

Ok, I'm looking to get one of the new Haswell processor MacBook Airs in the next month or so.

So what is the best config option? My budget will be 1300-1500 max!

I'll be doing the usual basic stuff, plus some photos and video editing stuff.

The dilema is...
4GB over 8GB? Does 8GB really make a difference?

1.3GHz i5 over a 1.7GHz i7

Would an i5 with 8GB RAM be quicker then an i7 with 4GB?

Finally is 128GB SSD enough or should I start with the 256GB MBA instead?

Help!

Sad Professor

You won't be able to upgrade the RAM or the SSD in the future, so if you can afford the higher spec option, get it!

Colonel Panic

How could any of us know if 128 GB is enough? What will you be putting on it?

Anyway, max it out. If you must scrimp on anything, I would stick to the slower processor.

Dammer

Thanks for the replies SP, CP.

My main use would be basic use, plus Documents, Spreadsheets, Keynote. Photo editing and Video encoding

I've done some more digging on this and it looks like I could potentially upgrade the SSD to 480GB

The RAM and Processor cannot be upgraded.

Another interesting point is that Apple used the i5 for the battery stats and the i7 for the performance stats...

So I think a MBA 13" i5, 128 GB SSD, 8GB RAM, will do the trick

Colonel Panic

The 2013 MBA's SSD uses PCI Express, not SATA 3, so existing SSD expansions aren't much use. That's not to say some alternative won't come out in the future.

ucd.1985

Dammer wrote: »

Thanks for the replies SP, CP.

My main use would be basic use, plus Documents, Spreadsheets, Keynote. Photo editing and Video encoding

I've done some more digging on this and it looks like I could potentially upgrade the SSD to 480GB

The RAM and Processor cannot be upgraded.

Another interesting point is that Apple used the i5 for the battery stats and the i7 for the performance stats...

So I think a MBA 13" i5, 128 GB SSD, 8GB RAM, will do the trick

My exact spec.

Ordered release day. Looking at a delivery between 20-24 June at the minute.

Dammer

Colonel Panic wrote: »

The 2013 MBA's SSD uses PCI Express, not SATA 3, so existing SSD expansions aren't much use. That's not to say some alternative won't come out in the future.

True, but I'd be fairly sure that OWC are working on a PCI express SSD. It would be likely that the form factor would stay the same.

Have a look at some of the speed tests using a Brand new top spec MacBook Pro against some old MBP's fitted with a OWC SSD. The old MBP's boot up 2.5 times quicker then the latest model. I had no idea that SSD delivered that sort of performance.

banquo

Also worth mentioning that PCIx ssds are bitchin'.

creativedrinker

Hey im looking into getting an air myself and was wondering if people knew if 128gb HD would be ok with putting the likes of Final cut X , Apperature and the other usual programes.... thinking on getting it for editing videos/pictures while traveling and have a portable hdd aswell for storing the video/pictures. does any one have any experience in this??

also I see the older i5 model is going for 889 on the refurb store with 128gb HD and 4gb ram, would a massive difference be seen when editing video ect? i know theres a substancial battery increase.

Thanks

Nemeses

creativedrinker wrote: »

Hey im looking into getting an air myself and was wondering if people knew if 128gb HD would be ok with putting the likes of Final cut X , Apperature and the other usual programes.... thinking on getting it for editing videos/pictures while traveling and have a portable hdd aswell for storing the video/pictures. does any one have any experience in this??

also I see the older i5 model is going for 889 on the refurb store with 128gb HD and 4gb ram, would a massive difference be seen when editing video ect? i know theres a substancial battery increase.

Thanks

You would probably want to consider either 256 or 512 SDD if you plan on using Final Cut and Aperture, Depending on how much photos / data you plan on using, You'll run out of space pretty quickly on a 128Gb drive.

..Unless you plan on storing your data on an external drive.

creativedrinker

Nemeses wrote: »

You would probably want to consider either 256 or 512 SDD if you plan on using Final Cut and Aperture, Depending on how much photos / data you plan on using, You'll run out of space pretty quickly on a 128Gb drive.

..Unless you plan on storing your data on an external drive.

Thanks for the reply, my videos are from GoPro cameras so your probably right about them eating up space, will have to do some homework... :rolleyes:

Sad Professor

You are going to have to get an external drive anyway, so I'm not sure it makes much difference.