Extra storage MBPr : USB 3.0 or SDXC Card?

imageWIS said:

So I'm getting a new MBP Retina sometime next week, and I'm going to need to quickly transfer large files (photos / illustrator / photoshop files) quickly from my Macmini to my MBP and I want to be able to take the external storage with me.

Is it better to buy an external USB 3.0 HD drive or an SDXC card?

Thx!

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A USB 3.0 drive is definitely much faster but they are usually less portable. Based on your usage needs, a fast and large (capacity) USB HDD seems to be the best option.

Another thing to consider would be to buy a thunderbolt cable (provided that your Mac Mini is 2011+) for "ultra fast" tranfers and then a USB Flash Drive for portable storage whenever necessary.

How large? If less than 62 GB then a SD card is convenient. Otherwise a USB3 enclosure with a SSD is much better than a rotational drive in a USB3 enclosure. A portable thunderbolt SSD even better, if both Machines have thunderbolt ports. Fast is not cheap so is a minute for large file transfers fast enough for you... or do you need 10 seconds.

You can grab 2TB USB 3 externals very cheaply now...I have a WD that I've put in a CIT enclosure and use with my rMBP. Works very well and is fast enough and small enough to carry around.

I dislike self powered drives so mine has it's own dedicated PSU.

Why do you have to choose? I have both.

I use both. I generally keep an SDXC card mounted in my rMBPs. For most files, by the time I locate my SSD, locate my cable, mount the drive, copy my files, dismount the SSD, pack my SSD... I could have copied the files to the SD card and been out the door!

MBPr extra storage

I have a MBPr with 1TB flash storage plus using a 128gb SDXC mini sandisk. I also use the Airport Time Capsule 3TB to wirelessly backup my files on my MBPr. I dont use a USB for extra storage but keep a 1TB usb to transfer files when need be.