Buying Apple hardware: Struggling with SSD storage options. iCloud? Dropbox?

[Abstract]

I used to follow tech websites like this (apparently, I have 24,000 posts at MR?!??!????), but I no longer follow tech, and need help understanding what I should buy.

My last few laptops have had 256GB SSD (2011 MBA, and a 2016 Surface Pro 4). In 2019, 256GB still seems to be the norm. I currently use Dropbox for my work files (free account, only 5 GB storage), and a paid iCloud account for personal files and backups.

Anyway, I need a new primary device, storage for photos (hobby), and backup storage. I'm looking at 1 of 2 options:

1. iPad Air or 11" iPad Pro now, and in 1-2 years, a Mac.
2. A 12.9" iPad Pro only.

Either way I go, my biggest question is around storage, because SSD storage options on laptops and tablets are so damn expensive.

The "old school" option is to go for the most internal storage I can afford on every single device I own. That means going for the 512 GB iPad Pro, and a 512 GB SSD on a future MBP. That, or the 12.9" iPad Pro with 512 GB storage. Most of that cost is for the flash storage!!!

However, with cloud storage, video streaming services, and the simple ability to attach a basic HDD or SSD to my WiFi router for accessible storage, is this mindset of having the most expensive on-board SSD really dated?

My main reason I need so much storage is to be able to access around 15 years of digital photos, and I don't edit or access photos all the time. I'm a physicist, not a pro photographer! My most accessed photos are PDFs, Word docs, Excel, and a few other basic files. Several years ago, I deleted ALL my digital music (Apple Music or Spotify will always exist), and did the same for videos. Photos are the only big files left.

I guess my questions are:

(a) If I go with Option #1 above, am I just better off getting an iPad and Mac with low (128GB) storage, saving the money I was going to use for stoage, and spending it on more cloud storage instead?? Or maybe getting a 64GB iPad and paying for a Mac with more storage?​

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(b) Is an external SSD better than cloud storage? Neither would provide more store on my iPad (and/or Mac), but cloud storage is better for backups in case of a house fire, or my house gets robbed. It's slow though. Thunderbolt would mean the SSD drive would be super fast!​

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(c) If I decide to go with an iPad-only setup (12.9" iPP), does cloud storage like iCloud or Dropbox work as effectively as it does on a regular laptop or desktop? I haven't had an iPad since my iPad Mini (1st gen!!!). If I access my files stored on Dropbox via the Dropbox app, open a file, make changes, save the file, and close it, does it automatically get uploaded back to Dropbox, or would it also get backed up on iCloud too?​

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Thanks for the help!

 

[SBlue1]

For me personally cloud storage is too slow due to my internet provider. My 50.000 Kbits/S connection means it's just 1 MB upload per second and 6 MB download. Even transferring to my SD card is faster with 22 and 88 MB/S. The attached SSD is 415 MB/s read and write. Surely I do use Dropbox and GDrive but not for backups or large constant read and write work.

So once my ol trusty 2012 MacBook Pro dies and I need a new one I may just go for the 256 GB model and velcro a SSD to the back of the screen. Or maybe I will just attach the SSD to the router, depending what Wifi speed the 2020 MacBook will have. My 2012 MacBook Pro has just 802.11n so the fastest I can connect to my Airport Extreme drive is around 30 MB/S which is 10 to 15 times slower than USB3. A friends 2018 MacBook Pro has 802.11ac which gives him around 90 MB/S which is still less than a quarter speed of an USB attached SSD.

 

[Abstract]

Hmmm....maybe an external SSD is in my future then, because Apple are charging roughly $200 USD for the upgrade from 256 to 512 GB, and it seems like a lot when, ideally, I'd rather upgrade to 1 TB. I just can't afford it. Again, my 2011 MBA came with a 256 GB SSD, as does my Surface Pro 4 (2016). I expected 1 TB of storage to be standard after 9 years, though I realise that the technology itself has improved over that time.

I wasn't sure if built-in SSDs are the only game in town anymore, but it sounds like speeds may be an issue. My current internet is 47 Mbps (at 8:26 PM, no less), which works out to be around 6 MB/s. It's not THAT slow, but obviously an external SSD (and cloud backups) is a better long-term solution.


Thanks for replying!

 

[Ruggy]

An external SSD on the router is a good way to go but have you thought about setting up a NAS and connecting it to the router?
Yous should be able to set one up for roughly $400 and that should give you 2x2tb hard disks in a raid for back up. The two big names are Synology and Western Digital as far as I know and I went for Synology.
It's accessible from outside your LAN as well so that may be an advantage to you.
How accessible they are depends on the upload speed of you ISP, and they can be a bit slow to start up if they are sleeping, but it's really easy to keep all your photos there and upload photos directly from the phone, use it for file transfer as a dropbox etc.
It's way cheaper than having large SSD on each device especially if you mostly need storage and as long as you realise it might take a few more seconds to get to what you want sometimes.

 

[Spudlicious]

For me personally cloud storage is too slow due to my internet provider. My 50.000 Kbits/S connection means it's just 1 MB upload per second and 6 MB download. Even transferring to my SD card is faster with 22 and 88 MB/S. The attached SSD is 415 MB/s read and write. Surely I do use Dropbox and GDrive but not for backups or large constant read and write work.

So once my ol trusty 2012 MacBook Pro dies and I need a new one I may just go for the 256 GB model and velcro a SSD to the back of the screen. Or maybe I will just attach the SSD to the router, depending what Wifi speed the 2020 MacBook will have. My 2012 MacBook Pro has just 802.11n so the fastest I can connect to my Airport Extreme drive is around 30 MB/S which is 10 to 15 times slower than USB3. A friends 2018 MacBook Pro has 802.11ac which gives him around 90 MB/S which is still less than a quarter speed of an USB attached SSD.

The most repulsive suggestion I've seen today. By far.

 

[SBlue1]

I just saw iJustine and she had an external drive velcroed to her MacBook in a video last week. I liked the idea and googled and also saw somebody use those sticky dash mats. Great ideas.

 

[Abstract]

Surely it depends on the colour of the drive.

Choose the right drive, and it may blend right in.

An external SSD on the router is a good way to go but have you thought about setting up a NAS and connecting it to the router?
Yous should be able to set one up for roughly $400 and that should give you 2x2tb hard disks in a raid for back up. The two big names are Synology and Western Digital as far as I know and I went for Synology.
It's accessible from outside your LAN as well so that may be an advantage to you.

Cool. I’ll look into Synology. They were the recommended choice for home RAID systems a decade ago (QNAP), so it makes sense that they’re still a recommended brand.

Do wireless modems come with fast USB C (Thunderbolt??) now? If I go this route, it may be worth investing in one if it exists...