What operating system are you running?

[coastercrazy10]

Wait for them to go on Shell Shocker at newegg. They seem to have one every other week or so. I paid $90 for my 64GB which, yes, is a lot, but I'm using my machine for code development in addition to gaming so quick loading and compile times are important to me. Also check FatWallet.com, I've seen a few SSDs dip below $1/GB and they'll only get cheaper. If you don't need it, wait for the $/GB to reach about .75 and then it'll definitely be worth it.

-Ben

[isiolia]

So, is an SSD really worth the exorbitant prices that they are selling for right now? I am considering getting one for my next laptop, but it essentially means half the space for twice the price.

Depends on what you're expecting out of it I suppose. They do what they're shown/benchmarked to do. The end result is a zippier, more responsive system - but depending on usage, that may not make a huge difference to you. IE, if you're playing games on it constantly, it might reduce load times a little, but overall performance would be boosted by putting more into the GPU.

On the other hand, if you're often frustrated by starting your PC up and waiting for the system tray apps to load up, startup items to finish, programs to open while you bounce between them...there's not a single thing you can buy for your PC that's more effective at reducing that than an SSD.

For a laptop, you're getting overall drive performance well above high end HDDs, much less your average 2.5" HDD. Dead silent, runs cool, uses less power...hard to argue with that. That said, it is harder to deal with the smaller size in a laptop, unless you're running two HDD bays.

IMO, worth the money. Storage performance is a huge bottleneck, and SSDs are the best you'll get currently for alleviating it.

Related to the discussion...the only Windows OS with TRIM is 7 (well, and Server 2008 R2). So it's rather preferable to use that if you're going with an SSD.

[RCBH928]

i really wouldnt buy an SSD
64 gb is at $120
while a 500gb regular drive is at $50!

i will only buy it if storage does NOT matter

[Hatta]

SSDs are for operating systems and applications. Spinning platters are for mass storage.

[kiteJargon]

Thanks to a hard drive faliure I made the leap of faith from XP to 7 (64-bit) about a week ago and I must say that I'm impressed. Everything I want to run on it works without a hitch, though I haven't ventured into all of my obscure old games and doujin stuff yet. Once you turn off all the annoyances like UAC and the like, it really is a great OS. I was really skeptical initially as XP did everything I needed it to do. But I do notice the difference with the newer games and upgrade from DX9 to DX11? (is that what it's at now?). Just throwing on Battlefield Bad Company 2 on max settings and enjoying the scenery is a blast! I think I may be a believer.

[SkyLlama]

I have no less then 6 computers running right now with three being personal use and the other three running BONIC 24/7.

Three are running Windows XP, on is running Mac OS X 10.6 (last Mac I'll ever buy) and the other two are running Ubuntu.

I should just install ubuntu on them all and get it over with.

[arion]

Well you also gotta figure, most people don't know how to configure their computers good. Like I said, 7 is very customizable. It sucks that your customers have it on default settings, or worse, a third party like Dell or something configuration. If you ever make the switch, and figure out how to set it all up to your likings, I swear you'll eventually realize it's much better than XP.

I actually HATE most of the default 7 settings. So I know exactly what you're saying. I couldn't imagine using 7 the way it is by default.

As far as the start menu goes, it's a gazillion times better than XP once you set it up the way you want it and get use to it. It's MUCH faster too if you utilize the search box. For an example, I can hit the window key on my keyboard, type "notep" and hit enter in 2 seconds. On XP, it would take me WAY longer to get notepad opened.

Yes that sounds way faster than windows button + r and typing in notepad. I guess the last two letters make a huge diffrence

[Stark]

Well you also gotta figure, most people don't know how to configure their computers good. Like I said, 7 is very customizable. It sucks that your customers have it on default settings, or worse, a third party like Dell or something configuration. If you ever make the switch, and figure out how to set it all up to your likings, I swear you'll eventually realize it's much better than XP.

I actually HATE most of the default 7 settings. So I know exactly what you're saying. I couldn't imagine using 7 the way it is by default.

As far as the start menu goes, it's a gazillion times better than XP once you set it up the way you want it and get use to it. It's MUCH faster too if you utilize the search box. For an example, I can hit the window key on my keyboard, type "notep" and hit enter in 2 seconds. On XP, it would take me WAY longer to get notepad opened.

Yes that sounds way faster than windows button + r and typing in notepad. I guess the last two letters make a huge diffrence

Oh come on, that is a extremely valid point, just a poor example. In your example several things have to be true:
1.) The executable you are typing has to be in a folder that is part of the WINDOWS path, which notepad happens to be in.
2.) You have to know the exact name of the executable, in the case of notepad it is notepad.exe, but in the case of something like the calculator it is Calc.exe, if you type calculator it will fail, it will also not start autopopulating suggestions.

[Hobie-wan]

Oh come on, that is a extremely valid point, just a poor example. In your example several things have to be true:
1.) The executable you are typing has to be in a folder that is part of the WINDOWS path, which notepad happens to be in.
2.) You have to know the exact name of the executable, in the case of notepad it is notepad.exe, but in the case of something like the calculator it is Calc.exe, if you type calculator it will fail, it will also not start autopopulating suggestions.

Or if your things on the start menu are organized and in order where they can be found like having a games folder instead of EA\Awesomestudios\MOH\MOH2ElectricBugaloo and Activision\CallOfDuty\COD5TheShitHitsTheFan and whatnot. I suppose for people that have icons vomited all over their desktop and 60 things off of program files the search is useful. Not directing that at anyone in particular, I see customer's machines like that all the time.

[isiolia]

Or if your things on the start menu are organized and in order where they can be found like having a games folder instead of EA\Awesomestudios\MOH\MOH2ElectricBugaloo and Activision\CallOfDuty\COD5TheShitHitsTheFan and whatnot.

Every Vista/7 install has a Games folder in the Start menu. Many newer games automatically place their icon in there to boot - or at least in the Games Explorer that's also part of those OSes.

Personally, I just take things I use frequently, and put them on the task bar. /shrug