Just installed a Corsair 240GB SSD into my 15" MacBook Pro. Very impressed with the speed. Previously I was using Seagate Momentus XT which was already a step up from the stock 500GB internal HD.

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Added on December 8, 2010, 4:17 pmAlso try Facetime for Mac, can video chat with iPhone 4 users.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Dec 8 2010, 04:17 PM

FaceTime is built-in to iPhone 4. For Macs, you have to download the app from apple.com. No FaceTime for PCs yet but I think it's coming.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Dec 8 2010, 05:43 PM

Dun worry about it. Aluminium MacBooks tend to feel warmer than a typical PC notebook because it's aluminium and not plastic. Just helps in heat dissipation.

First impressions of the 11" MBA is very good, despite its 1.4Ghz CPU, mostly due to the SSD. Boot time is fast, apps launch amazingly quick but as you use it more you feel the sluggishness of the 1.4GHz CPU. One thing you can't beat is that it's the cheapest and most stylo MacBook you can buy.

Mkey, if you were happy with 2.4GHz then you might have probs adapting to a 1.4GHz. That's a lot of difference. The SSD makes up for the deficiency of the CPU in some cases. It all depends on what you're doing. eg: Browsing will be nice and fast since it's not particularly CPU intensive and it uses the HDD/SSD a lot.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Dec 9 2010, 12:34 AM

Better go for 128GB. SSD performance drops quite a bit when it fills up. You might want to maintain at least 20% free space on the SSD.

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Added on December 9, 2010, 2:59 pmThe hot air comes out through the lubang at the back where the LCD hinge is. The Alu body also help.

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Added on December 9, 2010, 3:06 pmIf you're connecting to TV with a DP to HDMI adaptor, make sure you get one that supports audio also. Some DP to HDMI only carries the video signal.

DVI & VGA are commonly used for monitors.

Most LCD TVs also have VGA. If you use this then you have to run another cable for the audio.

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Added on December 9, 2010, 3:26 pmNice, that's faster than my MacBook Pro with a Corsair SSD. Mine takes 19secs from pressing the power button to the appearance of the login window or 11 secs from appearance of Apple logo to Login window. Sidenote: My previous HD, the hybrid Seagate Momentus XT took about the same time to bootup, maybe 1 or 2 secs longer.

Some other tests.

Launch jDownloader 7 secs
Launch Photoshop CS5 2 secs
Launch Illustrator CS5 2 secs
Launch Excel < 1 sec
Launch Word < 1 sec (Both feels almost instantaneous)
Open 120MB TIF file in Photoshop 3 secs

SSD seriously rocks. Swap in one for the old HD and it feels like a new machine.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Dec 9 2010, 03:26 PM

Yes, MBP 15" 2.66Ghz i7 with Corsair F240 SSD.

Lots of i7 users here. I've got the MBP i7 too with 8GB Ram and 256mb SSD. Only thing I regret was I didn't get the hi-res screen.

Sure can, it'll make the MBP 13" fly.

Cost me RM1870 from the distributor. Low Yat still 2k plus, I think, for 250GB. Let me know if you want one.

Yeah, it's expensive, someone told me that I can buy another notebook for that price, but at least I'm comfy with 250GB. At the very minimum, 160GB. Anything less than that is just not enough.

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Added on December 10, 2010, 9:50 pmThe hi-res screen would have been nice but I couldn't wait for Apple to deliver. Since I was already at the Apple shop, I just bought it. 3 weeks later, they came out with the 2.8Ghz option. Grrr.

As for the SSD, it's 3rd party, mine's a Corsair F240. It was an impulse buy. I went to get the OCZ Vertex 2 but they didn't have that at the time, had to wait 2 days. Corsair was in stock so got that on the spot. Both have the same chipset, almost same performance. OCZ is supposed to have better firmware but what the heck.

I do some download, not too much. The MBP is my workhorse. It's paired with a 500GB Passport Studio FW800 drive for storing my work when I'm on the go. I do a lot of work at Starbucks. :-) Everything is then synced back to a 2TB Studio II at home.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Dec 10 2010, 09:50 PM

I saw the OWC 240GB but was worried about RMAs. Let me know if you decide to order from them. Might be interested in an Optibay. We can share the shipping. BTW, other than MCETech, newmodeus also sells optical bay caddies, much cheaper at USD42 but doesn't come with the USB2 enclosure for the Superdrive. http://www.newmodeus.com/pics/OBHD/OBHD-Matrix-6.html eBay also has lots of "optibays" for USD10-20.

3rd gen SSDs, do you mean the SATA-3 ones? The Crucial C300? Fast. I spose next year's MBPs should SATA-3.

If you're on Mac Pro, the OCZ Revodrive is the one to get. SSD on a PCI-E card. Something 750MB/s read. Phew.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Dec 11 2010, 05:05 AM

The Corsair F240 is 80grams. How heavy is a HD? 120grams? Taking out the DVD would definitely lighten your notebook. I'm considering taking out my Superdrive and putting in another SSD in there. Maybe one of the cheap 160GB Intels some forumers are selling here.

Very nice. The OCZ was the one I had my eye on initially. Mind sharing where and how much you bought it for?

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Added on December 13, 2010, 12:56 amI think all the mobile i7s are dual core only. I know the one in my MBP is dual core.

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Added on December 13, 2010, 12:57 amNice. Where are you getting the operation done?

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Added on December 13, 2010, 12:58 amI looked at the Kingston also before I bought the Corsair. Does anyone know why the specs on the older V model is higher than the specs on the V+ model? I'm referring to the read/write speeds on the retail box.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Dec 13 2010, 01:00 AM

That's wierd, how long was the boot-up before and after the OCZ? I'm also thinking of putting in an SSD in my old MacBook. Hope to give it new life.

3rd boot was the fastest for me. Almost as fast as the SSD. Why not just use normal ram from Kingston or Corsair? Isn't the RAM from Apple Reseller expensive?

Up to you lor but even Apple states in black & white that all you need is:

-DDR3 SODIMM
-30mm
-1, 2 or 4GB
-204-pin
-PC3-8500 DDR3 1066Mhz

Almost exact wording.

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Added on December 13, 2010, 11:09 pmMine is 10 secs from Apple Logo to LoginWindow or 20 secs from power button press to LoginWindow.

Are you timing with fresh OS install?

Optibay, found 3, ori Optibay with ext usb case for orphaned SuperDrive ($99), newmodeus.com ($45) & eBay ($10). USD. Not including shipping. Haven't seen any locally.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Dec 13 2010, 11:09 PM

Haven't really looked for it but probly not. You interested in sharing the shipping if we order from the US? Actually the USD10 eBay ones ship from HK.

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Added on December 14, 2010, 12:01 amThat's what I'm using. Not Kingston, I think it's Corsair because Kingston no stock when I bought it. Same price.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Dec 14 2010, 12:01 AM

If you're going for a 13", get the 13" MBA. The SSD makes it fly. If possible get, 4GB ram & 2.13 GHz. That'll smoke any 13" MacBook, Pro or not.

Or go for a 15" Macbook Pro. Get the cheapest one and upgrade the RAM and HD yourself.

Dun have meh? I'm quite sure 2.13GHz is available in last month's lineup. I think a lot of people new to Macs in this forum, try not to confuse them with wrong and incorrect info. Check first, OK?

Oh I see, you're talking about Machines cash & carry, you're right then. You know that Apple doesn't sell in Machines alone, right? You can try other shops for the higher gigs.

In addition, don't based a buying decision on Geekbench. Go to a shop and try out the MBA 13" 1.86 vs a MacBook Pro 13" 2.4.

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Added on December 18, 2010, 11:36 amWow, close both eyes and pay the money now. That is worth it.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Dec 18 2010, 11:36 AM

Unfortunately yes, my first experience with the backlit keyb was with the 1st gen MBA. Didn't think much of it at first. Sounded like a novelty but grown to like it a lot. Now only can get lighted keyb with 15".

I had the 1st gen MBA for 2.5 years. No probs with the keyb. What kind of problem have you heard? Now using MBP 15" for a few months already. So far keyb OK.

That's to eject the CD/DVD from the drive. Every Mac has one since the drives got no button.