Why not save with say a $240 2TB external SSD with read/write ~1GB/s?
It's better value than going from 256GB to 512GB.
It's better value than going from 256GB to 512GB.
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M1 Mac owners who have more than base storage... why?
- Thread starter Hexley
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My previous iMac had 256 GB SSD, and while I managed with that I felt it was just a tad bit short. So with the M1 Mini I went with 512 GB that is plenty for me.
I also have a NAS with 12 TB of available storage for files/data. That sorts all my non application storage needs.
I also have a NAS with 12 TB of available storage for files/data. That sorts all my non application storage needs.
Depends. For the MBA you also get the 8th core. And a 512 SSD is slightly faster than the 256, plus depending on usage, how full it gets, it may do more memory swapping thus wearing down a smaller region and more uneven wear leveling, resulting in less durability. Finally, I prefer to have stuff accessible locally rather than carry around external drives. Seems more future proof too. A nice option to have more space. Totally worth the few extra bucks, since you can’t add more later.
Same point of view 16GB Ram 256GB internal ssd, external Thunderbolt 3 nvme ssd. If this machine works, the company I work for will buy more with larger ssds.
But it does not work as we want.
Windows 10 is not running, Remote Desktop is not helpful in using Dragon naturally speaking - it is enabled via group version - but recognition result are not usable.
The Dicom viewer we use ( OsiriX MD ) does only run with Image-artifacts on the M1 Mac (unfortunately it crashes also under big surf on the Intel Mac).
But it does not work as we want.
Windows 10 is not running, Remote Desktop is not helpful in using Dragon naturally speaking - it is enabled via group version - but recognition result are not usable.
The Dicom viewer we use ( OsiriX MD ) does only run with Image-artifacts on the M1 Mac (unfortunately it crashes also under big surf on the Intel Mac).
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I didn't want to take up one of the two Thunderbolt ports with an external drive and also felt that I was ruining the perfect form factor by adding an extra attachment.
I'll still need an external drive (1tb). Just my system and a few of my primary apps will fill up the internal 256 on day one. Double the internal, and that's no longer a problem. There are certain apps that are drive-intensive enough to make a difference off the internal, and I keep those on the primary drive. The new systems also use a lot of swap, so it's good to not fill it up completely. That's important if you're like me and want to use the system for 5+ years. Remember, the larger the internal, the faster the internal SSD, and, while I won't be getting the 2tb, there are some who probably will just for that.
Because that SSD you posted is significantly slower than what’s in the M1 Macs - more than half the speed - and a large part of why many people (like me) get an M1 Mac is for the speed and responsiveness. We aren’t prioritizing best value, but best performance, and you can never add to the speedy internal storage, so might as well get as much as you think you’ll want over the lifetime of the computer up front.
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I haven't paid attention to any specific tests of this, but in other "recently" released Macs, e.g. the 2018 Mac mini, the storage capacity increases came with speed increases, with quite a big difference in speeds at the low to mid level, and less so at the high end. E.g. from memory going from 128 to the 256GB was essentially double the speed, and going to 512 was another 50% faster again. IIRC, only the base 128GB was slower than your referenced 1GB/s external.
Then there's the ports issue. The M1 Macs are very port constrained, and to get the speed referenced, you'd have to use one of the two TB3 ports even on the mini: the type-A ports are still only 5Gbps ports, so they'll be a bottleneck for that drive (e.g. if you tried to use it with a A-to-C cable, and save the TB3/USB-C ports for other stuff).
Lastly: - and I say this as someone who *lives*, work wise from an external TB3 M2 SSD - most people won't want the hassle of an external drive for core storage, if they have the option to just get more internal space when they buy the thing.
Same here, I consider 256 more than adequate 'working' storage, much more in fact!
Anything beyond that will be stuff that could be comfortably kept on an external SSD so I've purchased a T7 Samsung with double the storage of the 1st step upgrade and for less than half the price.
Saying that you buy the upgraded storage in a MBA to get the 8 core processor is probably pointing to the fact that you should just have bought a MBP and got all the other benefits of the Pro anyway.
Why would I want to carry an external and slower SSD around with me?
If you buy the Sandisk extreme pro you get the same speed as the internal one. I also got the 16 256 because i have a external ssd and i wont pay 240€ for 250 GB. For this amount i can get 2TB with the same speed and use it also on my other pcs
They're portable machines, and having to carry around another device reduces that portability. If I've already decided to spend £1400 on a Mac, I'd rather pay and extra 15% and not have to compromise.
I am curious what you're storing on the 512GB internal drive?
If it's video, I can't see that drive lasting much longer than 256GB in all honesty.
If it's video, I can't see that drive lasting much longer than 256GB in all honesty.
Yeah, those extra 3oz's can be a struggle right enough! ?Like the extra size and weight?
Because I then have to carry a cable and external hard drive everywhere? What do I do? velcro it onto my laptop?
I guess I should also not bother with any laptop screen larger than 13" and Just buy an external display I take with me?
Having a single device and knowing everything is on it is worth the small price increase. Pickup laptop, done.
I guess I should also not bother with any laptop screen larger than 13" and Just buy an external display I take with me?
Having a single device and knowing everything is on it is worth the small price increase. Pickup laptop, done.
I use iCloud to sync files for work. That precludes using external devices for for those projects. I'll use external drives, but I'm over half full with my 500GB M1 mini already and will return it once my 2TB model gets off backorder.
But, yes, that extra $$$ was hard to swallow. Apple's premiums are getting a little excessive. If component prices remain low post-pandemic I think we'll see either a drop in upgrade prices (on the Mac, never on the iPhone!) or an increase in base storage.
But, yes, that extra $$$ was hard to swallow. Apple's premiums are getting a little excessive. If component prices remain low post-pandemic I think we'll see either a drop in upgrade prices (on the Mac, never on the iPhone!) or an increase in base storage.
If you don’t mind my asking what kind of issues have you experienced with having an external drive for core storage? Most of what I read has been positive (just wondering)
If the connection is fast and TB3 then it should be as straightforward as reinstalling macOS onto the TB3 drive (the hardest part) then it’s smooth sailing, no?
(agreed on the ports, one can use a TB3 hub but you’re still using valuable thunderbolt bandwidth, but for most using up one of the ports should be fine, idk, just thinking aloud)
Thankfully they invented laptop cases that you can put that stuff in. I get minimum storage for laptops usually. However if it was my only pc or Mac I might pay the apple tax for more.
As priorities go I’ll spend on processor. Ram. Storage not so much. With m1 I’m good with base given it’s first gen and a play device. I couldn’t use these for work. (Mac mini at home). Maybe down the road if windows arm runs on them or if work software supports m1.
Partly to get the extra GPU core, but mainly because 256GB just isn’t enough base storage for me.
The files and apps I want to have available on my Mac at all times, comes to a smidge under 300GB, and I want to have those without the need to use an external drive (though I do also have a 1TB SSD which I will also use for less important data).
The files and apps I want to have available on my Mac at all times, comes to a smidge under 300GB, and I want to have those without the need to use an external drive (though I do also have a 1TB SSD which I will also use for less important data).
I used to have 128GB and that’s not enough for me, even if you use iCloud and external SSDs (as I do). For example, to install Big Sur I had to have 35GB of free disk space. That's ridiculous if you have just 128GB in total.
256GB should be all right for most people. If you get 512, you pay for convenience and for speed. Price per GB isn't great. But you won't have to worry about running out of storage nearly as often as when you have 256. It's also much easier to have all your iCloud photos and data on you main drive as well.
1TB is even better. But few people should get more than 1TB in my opinion, because above 1TB the prices really start to skyrocket. In that case you're off much better with external storage.
My next computer will have 512GB by the way, which I think is very convenient while still being affordable.
One thing to note is that, if Microsoft will ever enable ARM Windows to run on Boot Camp, you'll want to run it on your internal drive as well (running it on an external drive isn't possible without tricks anyway). In that case even 256GB will be small if you need to divide it between two partitions.
256GB should be all right for most people. If you get 512, you pay for convenience and for speed. Price per GB isn't great. But you won't have to worry about running out of storage nearly as often as when you have 256. It's also much easier to have all your iCloud photos and data on you main drive as well.
1TB is even better. But few people should get more than 1TB in my opinion, because above 1TB the prices really start to skyrocket. In that case you're off much better with external storage.
My next computer will have 512GB by the way, which I think is very convenient while still being affordable.
One thing to note is that, if Microsoft will ever enable ARM Windows to run on Boot Camp, you'll want to run it on your internal drive as well (running it on an external drive isn't possible without tricks anyway). In that case even 256GB will be small if you need to divide it between two partitions.
oh so now I have to have a laptop case, the laptop and the external drive. nightmare
I'm opening and closing my laptop, and moving it about the house often. Its worth every penny to not have to have another device dangling off the side/being moved about too.
For those that don't mind external storage - I'm going to assume this is because its not full of data you use often? i.e. not always attached and accessing files from there?
As someone new to the Mac family, "a little excessive" is a bit of an understatement in my opinion.
Their base models can pretty much hold their own against the competition price wise, but once you start upgrading they quickly become only relevant to those hell-bent on owning a Mac for whatever reason.
That having been said, until it starts loosing them sales then there's no need to change and plainly the faithful are prepared to pay without question.
I'll probably be buying a Mini in the future (after it's upgraded!) but even then I'll prioritise RAM and won't be paying for something which I can provide much cheaper in another form.
After installing all my apps, Logic sound library and OpenEmu library, I already consume 250GB.
Then I have 12GB of encrypted disk images containing my office documents and accounts.
If all I had left was less 230GB that wouldn’t be enough for working with and installing even more stuff.
I don’t download any of my Apple One Music and Movies, imagine if I wanted to though.
External drives are for my back ups not for my installs.
Then I have 12GB of encrypted disk images containing my office documents and accounts.
If all I had left was less 230GB that wouldn’t be enough for working with and installing even more stuff.
I don’t download any of my Apple One Music and Movies, imagine if I wanted to though.
External drives are for my back ups not for my installs.