You've got to be kidding. What an abomination!
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Mac mini M4 (2024): docks, stands and other accessories
- Thread starter MiniApple
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You've got to be kidding. What an abomination!
Two stand/hub/hd enclosures for Mac mini M4 on the way
RayCue New M4-2024 Mac Mini Hub & Stand with NVMe- M.2 SATA SSD Enclosure;
Satechi: satechi.net/landing/new-stand-and-hub-m4-mac-mini
RayCue New M4-2024 Mac Mini Hub & Stand with NVMe- M.2 SATA SSD Enclosure;
Satechi: satechi.net/landing/new-stand-and-hub-m4-mac-mini
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This was mentioned a few pages agoTwo stand/hub/hd enclosures for Mac mini M4 on the way
RayCue New M4-2024 Mac Mini Hub & Stand with NVMe- M.2 SATA SSD Enclosure;
Satechi: satechi.net/landing/new-stand-and-hub-m4-mac-mini
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
If I were to get a new M4 mini, I would buy another satechi when theirs come out. Have one for my M1 mini. It’s been rock solid since day 1. Have a 4TB SSD drive in it. The others look good but no experience with them.
...here's another Company offering several variations of the Hub/Stand...
...there is one that has 40Gbps but that one only has the NVme Slot with one USB-C Portand no other Ports...
...you can see all of the options by clicking on the various buttons on the Right Hand side...
movespeed.com
...there is one that has 40Gbps but that one only has the NVme Slot with one USB-C Portand no other Ports...
...you can see all of the options by clicking on the various buttons on the Right Hand side...
2024 M4 New Mac Mini 10 Ports/4 Ports Hub & Stand Max 10Gbps/40Gbps Transfer Speed with NVMe M.2 /SATA SSD (512GB-4TB)/SSD Enclosure
New MAC MINI NVMe SSD,NEW MAC MINI Stand & Hub,M4 Macmini，Mac Mini Hub 2024，Mac Mini 10 Ports Hub，2024 Mac Mini USB-C Dock，Best Mac Mini Hub for Professionals，Mac Mini Hub 10Gbps/40Gbps，Built-in SSD (512GB-4TB) for Mac Mini
movespeed.com
Is adding the extra storage a better advantage than installing it in the M4 mini?
Do you have to drag things or whatever it’s called to the additional storage versus doing it automatically if it’s built-in to the mini?
I know my questions must sound ridiculous, but in my defense, I’m 74 years old, and I’ve only had Windows computers; I’m trying to sort this all out before jumping into the $$$ pit.
It really depends on how you like to organize things, and how much money you are willing to
As for the setup, this was not ideal with my USB 3 2 TB Samsung T7 Shield because with my M1 Mac mini, every once in a while that Samsung T7 would disconnect (and reconnect automatically) at sleep. However, this disconnect-reconnect phenomenon never happens with my 4 TB Samsung 990 Pro in an external USB 4 enclosure.
To put that 665 GB database on an internal drive would have been prohibitively expensive, because a 1 TB internal drive would not have been big enough with my other files included. It would have meant paying for a 2 TB internal drive, which is $$$$. So instead, I got a 512 GB internal drive, and that 4 TB USB 4 external drive for less money.
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You can't install after purchase 3rd party SSD storage in modern Macs, except maybe the Mac Pro (which is VERY expensive).
So your question gets down to paying Apple's storage upgrade price vs. instead buying a 3rd party external SSD device.
It's simpler, and usually quite fast, to simply buy a larger internal SSD with your Mac when you configure it for purchase. One major drawback is that it's drastically more expensive.
Yes, there are hassles with doing with an external Thunderbolt (or even USB-C) SSD drive, but you can save hundreds of dollars by doing so, and have the option to move the drive to use with different computers, or also use it with your next computer after you replace your current one.
Internal storage is always better but Apple reams you bad when you increase the internal ssd. My M1 with 1TB ssd is for programs and miscellaneous stuff. The external 4TB in the hub holds my photo library (1.5TB) and my movies (1.8TB) for streaming to my ATV. The hub stays on when the mini is on. I also have an external ssd drive I use for backup. It’s off until I do a backup. Am not far from you in age. If you do buy a mini, get at least a 1TB ssd drive. If you have a large photo library, get a 2TB if money is no object. Are you getting one for just surfing the net and possibly checking out your bank info, or are you going to be using it for something like video editing or photo shop stuff?
Thanks for the insight. I'm surfing, shopping, checking on stocks, and banking with my wife. We have way too many pictures.
I posted in another thread about why I was thinking about changing from a Windows computer to an Apple computer. It seems like our pictures are somewhere in all the clouds from Microsoft, Google, and Apple and stored in our phones and iPads. I’m guessing that by going all Apple, we would be able to find our pictures and know where they’re at. We currently have several iPads in the house, and we both have iPhones, so I guess the next step is to get a mini.
We won’t be doing video editing; instead, we'll use the built-in photo editors to highlight a picture or something similar.
So multiple users use multiple devices to access the same large photo collection? And cloud storage can be an expensive money drain over time.
What I'm about to describe is an option that may be more hassle than you want to get into, but then again, it might be worthwhile.
NAS - network attached storage. I don't have one myself. Here's a basic concept. Imagine what looks like a really big external drive with 2 or 4 drive bays to hold hard drives or SSDs, and by having more than one, it can copy the data so you've got automatic backup done. Cool, but not a great trick. Now imagine this thing is really a computer itself with its own operating system (granted, no monitor so you won't be using it like a computer), so you can install ap.s and get it to do various things. Okay, so it sounds like it's got optional gimmicks, but big deal, you want multiple people with multiple devices to access your photo collection. It's be nice if that didn't involve paying into perpetuity for cloud photo storage.
Well, that NAS can store your entire photo library (even if it is huge) and act as a server to deliver it to any of your devices. You can even set it up to do this over the Internet, IIRC, so it serves as a big disc drive/server (and maybe backup system for at least some of those devices) over wifi (and/or ethernet) for your household and also allows online access from abroad.
Synology seems to be the dominant brand I see in reviews.
If a NAS sounds to you like more drama than decent users need, cool. I just want to make sure you are aware that option exists.
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Get a M4 mini with 1TB memory. Get an external hub that you can put a 4TB ssd (stick kind). Once set up, move your photo library to the external. Pull all your photos into it. You can use this way to access it with your iPads and iPhone. You need to get another external SSD for back up though. Another 4TB. Only turn it on for your backup. Shut it off after you unmount it. You can decide if you want to do a backup when you add more photos or any thing new on the mini. In photos, you have to configure it so you can access the photo program from your tablets and iPhones. If you get stuck setting it up, come back here to ask questions or pm me. Good luck.
This is my setup, although I have a 4TB regular HD (instead of SSD) configured as a Time Machine for my backup so I don’t disconnect it. I also have the 2TB iCloud plan, so everything important is up there to be accessible on all my devices, and stored offsite in case something happens to both my desktop and my Time Machine backup drive.
Honestly, this is way above my head. Thank you for showing me another option.
I ultimately want the KISS set up mainly for our pictures.
Will I still need a cloud service with that setup?
I'm specing out a Mini with the 1TB you suggest. How much Memory should I get: 24GB or 32GB + $180? Also, there is a selection for Gigabit Ethernet or 10 Gigabit Ethernet + $90. What do you recommend?
The display costs $1439, but I'd like one cheaper. Is there a more affordable Apple knock-off that looks as good as the real thing?
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@HuskerHarley,
If you're getting an external 4 TB drive, why would you need a 1 TB internal? 512 GB may be sufficient. I guess 1 TB can't hurt though if you have the cash.
For your usage, 16 GB would be OK, but if you want to future proof, then get 24 GB.
10 GbE is a cheap upgrade, although for many people it would be unnecessary, especially if your home network and internet access don't support anything above Gigabit.
With an external 4 TB drive, I personally was considering get 1 TB / 24 GB / 10 GbE but decided to get 512 GB / 24 GB / 10 GbE and am happy with that.
If you're getting an external 4 TB drive, why would you need a 1 TB internal? 512 GB may be sufficient. I guess 1 TB can't hurt though if you have the cash.
For your usage, 16 GB would be OK, but if you want to future proof, then get 24 GB.
10 GbE is a cheap upgrade, although for many people it would be unnecessary, especially if your home network and internet access don't support anything above Gigabit.
With an external 4 TB drive, I personally was considering get 1 TB / 24 GB / 10 GbE but decided to get 512 GB / 24 GB / 10 GbE and am happy with that.
24GB is fine for what you plan to do with it. Gigabyte Ethernet is fine. Once all your photos are on the SSD, you will be using WiFi to swap between the mini and your devices. Don’t get an apple monitor. Way too much money. Dell sells some nice display. Am still running a 24 inch dell with my current M1 mini. Works just fine. Just decide on size of monitor you want, then start looking at specs on the ones you find. You can go into the accessories forum and see what folks are using. Best to ask questions there on monitors. No need for cloud service. I shut that crap off. Just plug your iPhones in the mini for a full backup. Why pay someone else to store your photos.
So my stand showed up from Qwiizlab (same as Colorii). Very nice. Sturdy aluminum and a perfect fit. I'm attaching a couple pics. Not bad for $24.95. I didn't opt for the hub versions as I didn't want to use a TB5 port for a low speed hub. Instead I plan to put my Element hub in the space under the mini.
Yes
BTW, Colorii says they’re working on a USB 4 version of the dock/stand. That might be more attractive to some than their current USB 3 version, even at higher cost.
Sort of on-topic, can someone explain how/why the exact same stand gets sold under five different brand names?
There is one OEM / wholesale manufacturer and several companies that rebrand it at marked up prices.
This is quite common actually, amongst various products.
A KISS setup should be an iCloud 2TB plan at 9.99$/month in my opinion.
I also have several iOS devices in my family, all signed in under my Apple ID.
I use only 200GB plan (3$/month) and feel very happy with them.
Probably I will upgrade my plan to 2TB next year.
More importantly, usually the actual manufacturer only sells locally, while a select few "vendors" take these products and then market them globally.