| Solid-State - SSD flash memory computer disk drives | | | | Many Apple computer models make it easy to swap |
| are no longer just the future of data storage. SSD's | | | | in a solid-state drive. With the right tools to open your |
| are here today and can offer dramatic improvements | | | | MacBook, iMac or Mac mini - a SSD drive swap can |
| to your Apple Macintosh computer's performance. | | | | often be performed within minutes. Using any number |
| Solid-State drives use high-speed flash memory chips | | | | of disk drive cloning utilities for OSX, you can then |
| to store data. | | | | transfer your existing setup, programs and data onto |
| With no moving parts, a SSD offers multiple benefits: | | | | the SSD. For those lacking the technical skills or |
| Silent operation, shock resistance, and low-power | | | | courage to perform a do it yourself hard drive |
| requirements. But the most compelling reason to have | | | | upgrade, the Apple Store online offers Build-To-Order |
| one in your Mac is sheer speed. Current SSD's now | | | | SSD options. You can simply opt for an SSD drive to |
| deliver data read and write speeds that simply | | | | be installed when you place an order for a new |
| outperform any conventional spinning platter hard drive | | | | Macintosh computer. |
| available. Some SSD's transfer data nearly three times | | | | Capacities of Mac compatible SSD drives currently |
| as fast as the fastest convention hard drive you can | | | | range from 32 Gigabytes up to 1 Terabyte of storage. |
| buy; they're that fast! With no moving parts, the | | | | The most affordable and practical sizes a Mac owner |
| reliability of SSD storage is another real-world benefit. | | | | should consider might be in the 128GB to 256GB |
| Conventional hard drives are notorious for wearing out, | | | | range. There you'll find ample room to store your |
| growing noisier over their lifetime, or simply dying from | | | | documents and media files without breaking your |
| mechanical failure. SSD is so reliable, manufacturers | | | | budget. Solid-State drives still command a price |
| offer warranties up to 5 years. | | | | premium over conventional hard disk drives, so for |
| Most recent Macintosh computers use the widely used | | | | those with Terabytes of data, the cost of the largest |
| SATA II drive interface standard for maximum | | | | SSD's may not be practical. Many Mac owners opt for |
| performance. Although you can find older ATA | | | | a smaller capacity SSD as a boot drive for the OSX |
| interface SSD drives for aging Macs, the ATA | | | | operating system and applications. Others can then |
| interface just can't fully deliver the speed throughput | | | | use an external USB or FireWire hard drive for |
| SATA II now offers. In fact, flash memory speeds are | | | | additional storage of larger media files: The best of |
| increasing so rapidly that even the SATA II 3GBps | | | | both worlds. |
| interface specification is beginning to limit the potential | | | | Breathe new life into your Macintosh with a Mac |
| of SSD technology. The next generation of SATA III | | | | compatible SSD upgrade. Whether old or new, you'll |
| 6GBps Solid-State drives are just beginning to reach | | | | find it delivers dramatic improvements to |
| consumers. We expect Apple will adopt the new | | | | EVERYTHING you do on your Mac. Faster boot times, |
| interface in its next-generation of Mac laptops and | | | | rapid application launch, saving files instantly and quick |
| desktops to keep their computer performance on the | | | | program switching will prove the productivity value of |
| leading edge. | | | | Solid-State storage. |