>Concluding that the 2014 model is "slower" than the 2013 models from a sample this small is totally inappropriate, though.
You only need one sample to make the point that it may be slower, and that's very much contrary to expectations.
You only need one sample to make the point that it may be slower, and that's very much contrary to expectations.
2013 models had drives from different manufactures and some of those were slower than others.
Here's an example: Say 2013-A-SSD > 2013-B-SSD and we have the same two A and B SSDs in 2014 machines.
Then 2013-A-SSD > 2014-B-SSD.
With just one machine (and without knowing the specifics) you can deduce from the above that "2014 drives are slower than 2013s" when in fact they are the exact same 2 models that 2013 Air's had.
I think what you mean is "You might get a machine that's slower than _a_ 2014 model". Assuming every 2014 model performs at the baseline, unless that baseline is lower than the previous generation's you're still getting better performance than the _official_ 2013 model.
If I have a 2013 MBA I expect the SSD when I upgrade to a 2014 one to be at least as fast as the old one.
It just tells you you'll get a speedy SSD of X capacity (true), and you're not supposed to obsess over manufacturer and a couple percentage points of performance. Else, you wouldn't have bought the Air, but some custom rig.
That's a perfectly reasonable expectation to hold, as well. One really shouldn't end up worse off (for whatever reason) merely by buying a more recent model, especially when it's a computer that's being purchased.