URGENT - Question on HD versus Solid State Drive.

Dear all:
This is an important question and also a little urgent.
I am about to purchase a new MacBook Pro 17" and am faced with the choice of either a conventional hard disk or a solid state drive. My understanding is that SSD's are faster and more reliable while less likely to experiencing a crash or other mechanical failure. However, the difference in price between a conventional 500 GB HD and the same size SSD is $ 1,250 which is half the price of the computer itself (a 50% increase in cost compared to the baseline system with the conventional HD).
Is this really a good choice ? Is the SSD that much faster and that much safer than a typical HD that it would make this additional expense worthwhile ? Or is the difference only really marginal and not worth this huge cost difference ?
Any input you can offer will be very appreciated.
Thanks,
Joseph

Dear all:
First I wish to thank you for the answers and thoughtful replies you have all posted in response to my original post.
It seems to be a general consensus that the speed difference between SSD's and conventional HD's isn't just marginal but measurable and orders of magnitude greater. This is good and certainly something I can benefit from. In my case I need the largest hard disk available so going for the 128 GB SSD drive to save money just isn't an option. I would prefer to go with a conventional 500 GB HD instead of a 128 GB SSD just because I need to carry a lot in my computer and my notebook (despite the fact that I also own a desktop) is often used as my main and/or only computer.
The questions now are:
1. All responses focused on performance but nothing has been said about reliability. I've read somewhere (although I can't remember the source) that SSD's can also "crash". It is not the same type of mechanical crash one would experience with a conventional HD but they can also fail. How exactly is it that SSD's can fail and compared to HD's what is the likelihood of one experiencing a failure with a SSD ? Have any of you experienced failures with a SSD ?
2. Is the upgrade from a 500 GB HD to a 500 GB SSD worth the $ 1,250 price tag ? This question is more difficult to answer and I know that part of the answer has to do with me (my own willingness to pay this amount and just how much the speed and/or safety of a SSD can be of benefit to my personal needs and workflow) but I would still like to hear your input.
Thank you again for all your helpful and detailed replies.
Best regards,
Joseph

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[http://eshop.macsales.com/item/ACARD/AEC6880M>
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Would a controller card need to be installed for an SSD to work in this machine?
One like this:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Sonnet%20Technology/TSATA/
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Message Edited by singularity2006 on 02-19-2008 03:48 PM
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The above requested information can be found on the bottom of your computer or inside the battery compartment. Please do not include your serial number. Please enter the model/product information into HP's Online Consumer Support page and/or post it here for our review.
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Thanks!

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Do I need a mount to instal a 2.5 inch solid state drive in my iMac?

Hello all,
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Looks like an old unanswered question, you need a cheap and simple U-like metal stand, which has the contour of a 3.5 inch HDD, upon which you fix the SSD or any 2.5 ' HDD. This is not absolutely necessary, but you need to fix is somehow there, otherwise you need an adhesive strip or else.

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Greetings,
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This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hello Jurgen.
Here are some pointers when reinstalling the OS and all your applications. You may use the W7 tools to mirror image your hard drive and create a system repair disc. These two applications work to restore the OS at the time of creation. If the new SSD is smaller in size, this method will not work. You will have to use your HP recovery DVD's in this case or you can install a retail version of W7 and use your product key from the underside of the laptop. For this to work it has to be the exact same version and it has to be installed as a trial. When it's time to enter you OEM key, go to Computer Properties and at the bottom of that page you will find "Change Product Key". Here is where you enter your OEM key.
A safe download for W7.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/download-windows-7-iso-official-32-bit-and-64-bit-direct-download-link... Don't use rewritable and make sure it's a good brand name. If you choose this method I can show you exactly where to get all you drivers and even get the hotkeys working. You "eject" Volume OSD Bass and treble etc, will all be gone with retail version of W7.
I use Adobe CS4 and you will be amazed how fast your CS5 will run !

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MikeY

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URGENT - Question on HD versus Solid State Drive.

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