How do you cope with 128GB?

chrisrosemusic1 · Sep 7, 2012

November is soon round the corner and my buyer for my 2011 Pro is finally coming good with the money so I am going to buy an Air.

I have a student friend who is getting me the basic student discount so the prices are a bit different to what I have seen online, however, I really wanted 256GB but the price difference is insane.

I'm going for the 8GB ram upgrade, but not going to bother upgrading the CPU (I have an i7 in my MBP and I bet I haven't even used it at 50% capacity).

So the base model with the RAM upgrade is £1079, but the 'ultimate' with 8GB upgrade is £1329, £260 more...

So to my question, how do you manage your data on 128GB, and also, what is the installed actual available memory?

I used to DJ and produce music but the passion is burning out so I will cut some of the fat when I migrate, but I play a few games (Diablo 3, Minecraft, CS:GO etc) so I need some file space for those and others.

And what other post purchase upgrades are available third party? Apple in store prices are outrageous so that's probably out of the question.

Is 128 just 'too little' for practical use?

Dark Void · Sep 7, 2012

It depends on the user of course. 128GB is enough storage for some but others need more. There are always externals, too.

GGJstudios · Sep 7, 2012

This may help: Freeing up space in Mac OS X

Another space-saving method is to have one iTunes library, with your favorite music stored on your internal drive, so it's available when you're mobile, with the remainder stored on an external drive.

How to split a single iTunes library over two or more media locations

chrisrosemusic1 · Sep 7, 2012

GGJstudios said:
This may help: Freeing up space in Mac OS X

Another space-saving method is to have one iTunes library, with your favorite music stored on your internal drive, so it's available when you're mobile, with the remainder stored on an external drive.

How to split a single iTunes library over two or more media locations

Nice one, this will help heaps

----------

Dark Void said:
It depends on the user of course. 128GB is enough storage for some but others need more. There are always externals, too.

I have a 500GB external drive that I use for Time Machine at the moment - is it possible to partition it so I have a TM backup for 128GB and the rest for external storage of video, app libraries etc?

ipodlover77 · Sep 7, 2012

I always get the 128gb size b/c I have itunes match. Saves me from loading 80 gigs on my HD.

GGJstudios · Sep 7, 2012

chrisrosemusic1 said:
I have a 500GB external drive that I use for Time Machine at the moment - is it possible to partition it so I have a TM backup for 128GB and the rest for external storage of video, app libraries etc?

Yes.

Dark Void · Sep 7, 2012

chrisrosemusic1 said:
I have a 500GB external drive that I use for Time Machine at the moment - is it possible to partition it so I have a TM backup for 128GB and the rest for external storage of video, app libraries etc?

Yes it is, connect the drive and pull up Disk Utility, divide it up and format it then you're good to go.

chrisrosemusic1 · Sep 7, 2012

Dark Void said:
Yes it is, connect the drive and pull up Disk Utility, divide it up and format it then you're good to go.

Oh, great - 100% will go for the smaller size then and just keep my stuff on the external.

Thanks guys!

Zeke D · Sep 7, 2012

I'm sporting 64GB, so I would love to get a 128GB SSD

jmgaul · Sep 7, 2012

If you need some on the go extra storage I got this...

MicroSD Card

and this...

USB MicroSD reader

For an added 32 GB of storage. The USB sticks out a bit, but I don't find it to be too much of an eyesore.

When it ships, I will also have this...

http://theniftyminidrive.com/

With another 32 GB MicroSD.

I got the MicroSD cards on sale for about $15, so for a grand total of $70 I will have added 64 GB. I probably should have bit the bullet and gotten the 256, but the lower initial price made my wife happy, and as we all know: Happy wife, happy life.

stchman · Sep 7, 2012

Buy the model that has 256GB SSD.

OnceYouGoMac · Sep 7, 2012

My MBA is my secondary computer so I only put the essential stuff on it and everything else is stored on my MBP and an external hard drive.

Wokis · Sep 7, 2012

20GB windows partition. Final cut pro, adobe production premium, office, various smaller programs.

50GB free! (edit, windows partition got an additional 6GB free, but there's almost no software installed there)

But I practically do not store any media on the ssd other than what I need that day. I have games installed on an external USB3-drive, together with a little more of a media library.

Works for me. The air is my portable while I have a desktop machine and HTPC with lots of hard drives at home.

I will definitely welcome the nifty minidrive when it comes, though. Can keep downloads folder, some tv series and spotify cache on it or something

Already have the 64GB microSD that I intend to put in it.

robvas · Sep 7, 2012

I'm using only 25GB of 64GB!

chrisrosemusic1 · Sep 7, 2012

jmgaul said:
If you need some on the go extra storage I got this...

MicroSD Card

and this...

USB MicroSD reader

For an added 32 GB of storage. The USB sticks out a bit, but I don't find it to be too much of an eyesore.

When it ships, I will also have this...

http://theniftyminidrive.com/

With another 32 GB MicroSD.

I got the MicroSD cards on sale for about $15, so for a grand total of $70 I will have added 64 GB. I probably should have bit the bullet and gotten the 256, but the lower initial price made my wife happy, and as we all know: Happy wife, happy life.

Mini drive is awesome, really impressed with that!

Alameda · Sep 7, 2012

Two things consume gobs of disk space: Media, and a Windows installation. If you don't store hours and hours of video, or an insanely big music or photo collection, then 128 GB is going to be fine.

On my Air, I'm using 176 of 256 GB:
33 GB of Music
30 GB of Movies
31 GB of Windows Virtual Machines
4.1 GB of Lion Install Image
4 GB of photos

You get the idea... Windows VM's and Media are what eat storage.

technopimp · Sep 7, 2012

I have 91GB free on my 128GB drive. I probably could have gotten by with the 64. But then again, I don't carry any music or media files with me.

mertyz · Sep 7, 2012

I have about 90GB free space on my 128GB (formatted capacity: 120.47 GB) drive too. I could get rid of GarageBand and iMovie to gain some extra space but I have plenty, so there is no need

RightMACatU · Sep 7, 2012

How do I cope with 128GB SSD? I Don't! I use a 512GB SSD

Audio: 90GB
Movies: 160GB (And no, no porn

)
Photos: 12GB
Apps: 4.5GB
Other: 57GB (couple VMs)

That's about 325GB and growing with a 175GB free

and all backup on an external HD.

Ok, 512GB haters, back to you

sexiewasd · Sep 7, 2012

I don't keep games installed. Thats the only thing that kills my space. I also don't keep movies around, I have netflix and use that instead (I don't really watch much). I also have a USB Flash Drive that I keep next to the power adapter that I keep as backup space for random stuff. I also keep my VST's on it. Once I realized that I wouldn't be able to keep my entire steam library installed I've been ok. I'd still get the 256 though, so I could dual boot linux without being overly restricted.

glen e · Sep 7, 2012

Why do people keep movies on a hard drive or an SSD? you can go back and get them, how many times do you watch a movie and need it to eat up $$$ space?

GGJstudios · Sep 7, 2012

glen e said:
Why do people keep movies on a hard drive or an SSD? you can go back and get them, how many times do you watch a movie and need it to eat up $$$ space?

I'm assuming you mean an internal drive, rather than an external, right? If you don't store them on an external drive, where else would you keep them? I watch my movies quite frequently, and I like being able to do so without depending on an internet connection.

glen e · Sep 7, 2012

GGJstudios said:
I'm assuming you mean an internal drive, rather than an external, right? If you don't store them on an external drive, where else would you keep them? I watch my movies quite frequently, and I like being able to do so without depending on an internet connection.

per the conversation above, I mean the internal SSD or HD of your laptop....

GGJstudios · Sep 7, 2012

glen e said:
per the conversation above, I mean the internal SSD or HD of your laptop....

I do keep some music and movies on the internal drive, so they're available when I travel. You never know when you may be in an area without internet.

GBlansten · Sep 7, 2012

It really isn't hard when you have an additional 384 gb for storage.

How do you cope with 128GB?

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