Did any of you choose an 8TB internal SSD?

[Riot Nrrrd]

I’m nearing retirement and face a daunting prospect: downsizing a HomeLab. (First World problem for sure.)

I’m hoping to retire to a warm tropical island and I think my next Mac has to be a MacBook Pro as that’s my best hope for repairability in a place with potentially limited computer resources.

But I have about ~7.5TB of “media” (movies/videos/music/disk images/archive files/etc.) currently. With my HomeLab I have 3 copies across 2 RAIDs and my Synology NAS. I doubt I’ll be able to drag all that to some island.

I imagine most people would probably say “Jesus. So buy a 1TB MacBook Pro and an 8TB external SSD. Problem solved.”

But I’m hesitant to do that. Right now I have a 4TB Time Machine external SSD (Samsung T9) attached to a USB-C PCI-e card in my 2010 Mac Pro. It quite often disconnects for no good reason. Also, I previously had a 5TB 2.5” SATA USB drive as the Time Machine volume, and it died within a month of the warranty expiring. I am highly suspicious of depending upon external drives as a result.

Also, there’s the whole “It’s another thing to cart around and potentially get lost or stolen” aspect.

Now, I don’t want to pay the atrocious Apple tax for an 8TB internal SSD, believe me. But for the peace of mind alone, I’m starting to lean that way … plus the ease of portability.

If you bought a MacBook Pro and put 8TB on it (internal or external), what influenced your decision?

 

[daneoni]

Anything above 2TB means you should be looking at third party solutions

Or use cloud storage. Apple pricing for iCloud storage is not bad.

 

[Canubis]

Just got myself an M4 MacBook Pro maxed out to 8TB. No regrets.

Yes, it's a pricey upgrade but I am in the same boat as you – I like to have most of my regularly used media like photos, videos and music with me and accessible without connecting to a server or plugging in a disk.
Plus I use this machine for design and dev work and what I learned over the years – there's never enough disk space (the 4TB on my previous Intel MacBook were already filled to limits).

What helped with the decision here certainly was that I could use the machine as a tax write off for my business.

 

[russell_314]

But I have about ~7.5TB of “media” (movies/videos/music/disk images/archive files/etc.) currently.

Even an 8 TB internal SSD isn’t going to fix your problem. You’re going to have 500 GB or actually a little less for the OS and swap. That’s absolutely terrible.


Unless you need those files every day or at least once a week they don’t need to be on your laptop. If you haven’t touched it in 30 days, put it on an external SSD.

I’m not saying don’t get the 8 TB MacBook, but that won’t fix this problem. Hoarding files is something everyone does, but you can’t keep all of them on your laptop.

 

[Regulus67]

But I have about ~7.5TB of “media” (movies/videos/music/disk images/archive files/etc.) currently. With my HomeLab I have 3 copies across 2 RAIDs and my Synology NAS. I doubt I’ll be able to drag all that to some island.

... in my 2010 Mac Pro. It quite often disconnects for no good reason. Also, I previously had a 5TB 2.5” SATA USB drive as the Time Machine volume, and it died within a month of the warranty expiring. I am highly suspicious of depending upon external drives as a result.

edit: I see my suggestion was not what you would consider. So removed it
No point in this discussion

 

[splifingate]

But I have about ~7.5TB of “media” (movies/videos/music/disk images/archive

That's a novel folder structure!

files/etc.) currently. With my HomeLab I have 3 copies across 2 RAIDs and my Synology NAS. I doubt I’ll be able to drag all that to some island.

Great job on the Backups!

As for using "one drive to store them all": putting all your data into one bin is creating an opportunity for disaster, and loss.

You dd you, but backups are always wise.

 

[G5isAlive]

I’m hoping to retire to a warm tropical island and I think my next Mac has to be a MacBook Pro as that’s my best hope for repairability in a place with potentially limited computer resources.

You lost me here. Why would you think a laptop would be easier to repair?! An apple laptop uses very specific parts that are highly unlikely to be easy to find on an island. The keyboard goes, you’re screwed. Screen goes, your screwed. I’d buy a Mac mini or Mac Studio, at least then you can use standard component screens etc.

But I have about ~7.5TB of “media” (movies/videos/music/disk images/archive files/etc.) currently. With my HomeLab I have 3 copies across 2 RAIDs and my Synology NAS. I doubt I’ll be able to drag all that to some island.

You just named backup solutions. Just take one to an island. A synology NAS is smaller than a toaster oven. Back up to a smaller DAS.

Now, I don’t want to pay the atrocious Apple tax for an 8TB internal SSD, believe me. But for the peace of mind alone, I’m starting to lean that way … plus the ease of portability.

Portability… check. That’s true. I think the rest is rationality to get you to portability.

Btw, congrats to retiring to an island.

 

[BotchQue]

If I could retire to a tropical island, I don't think I'd bring a computer, nor even a phone, with me. Canteen, chef's knife, and a wok, I'd be good.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you want to pay Apple's price for an 8tb SSD, it's up to you.

But I don't see that as a wise decision.

You'd do better to go for 2tb (internal), and perhaps one or two 4tb USB3.1 gen2 SSD's for the "non-essential" data.

AND... you'd want at least one (two is better) backups for the external data drives. Platter-based drives for backup would be cheaper and good enough.

"I’m hoping to retire to a warm tropical island and I think my next Mac has to be a MacBook Pro as that’s my best hope for repairability in a place with potentially limited computer resources."

Somehow, reading the above just doesn't make sense to me.
The MacBook Pro -- as it exists today and probably into the future -- is not much of a "repairable device" at all. When it works, it works. When it has some kind of hardware failure, it's probably going to require a trip to Apple service to fix it.

 

[oink_oink]

Hilarious. I've got 12TB across 4 SSDs in my alienware laptop, with the option to upgrade that to 20TB. Removable battery, removable, user-upgradable RAM, removable, user-upgradeable storage.

But of course, it's no $10k MBP.

 

[fatTribble]

My 2018 MacBook Pro has 4TB which was the maximum at the time. If I bought a new one today I’d get 8TB. I like having everything in one Time Machine backup plus having everything in iCloud. Congratulations on your retirement! 🏝️

 

[anakin44011]

I bought the 8TB and have never regretted it.

If you can afford the 8TB and you don't plan to buy another laptop in the near future, then the time value of the money over the years of service will make the upgrade more palatable. The same goes with RAM. Buy for what you'll think you'll need for the life of the laptop. Files tend to get bigger (and more plentiful) and apps get more memory-intensive.

There are always ways to save money. Most come at the expense of convenience or simplicity. And given the current economic climate, you may never be able to buy new gear at these prices again.

Finally...back up - back up - back up. Use Time Machine for daily AND Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper for periodic. Ideally, keep one of your backups in another location in case of fire or theft.

Congrats on the retirement.

 

[kevcube]

can you just host your NAS at a friend's house and use Tailscale? unless you need frequent or rapid access it's the cheap cloud, and very cloud-ethos (someone else's computer)

 

[Hajj.david]

I didn't, I am not a believer in external storage but I only recently started rubbing against my 1 TB limit so with my Mac Studio M4 Max I got 2 TB this time around. I don't keep devices for more than 3-4 years before switching them out because my job and business requirements needs maximum performance so, the extra space isn't worth it because if I need more in the future I will just switch it out.

 

[novagamer]

Yes. I triple boot for 2 pro workflows and one semi-pro, it is necessary for me.

Especially for laptops, external drives are a royal pain in the ass even beyond the annoyance of dealing with SIP etc. You sure pay through the nose for it though and I won’t argue it’s a good deal. It is fast as hell though:

speedtest

 

[TechnoMonk]

I don’t buy 8TB but in your case get 8TB internal and an external drive with 8-10 TB nvme drive.

 

[TechRunner]

I considered it when I recently bought my 14" M4 MBP, but my bank had already been robbed once last month and I felt guilty about putting them through that again 🤣

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I’m nearing retirement and face a daunting prospect: downsizing a HomeLab. (First World problem for sure.)

I’m hoping to retire to a warm tropical island and I think my next Mac has to be a MacBook Pro as that’s my best hope for repairability in a place with potentially limited computer resources.

But I have about ~7.5TB of “media” (movies/videos/music/disk images/archive files/etc.) currently. With my HomeLab I have 3 copies across 2 RAIDs and my Synology NAS. I doubt I’ll be able to drag all that to some island.

I imagine most people would probably say “Jesus. So buy a 1TB MacBook Pro and an 8TB external SSD. Problem solved.”

But I’m hesitant to do that. Right now I have a 4TB Time Machine external SSD (Samsung T9) attached to a USB-C PCI-e card in my 2010 Mac Pro. It quite often disconnects for no good reason. Also, I previously had a 5TB 2.5” SATA USB drive as the Time Machine volume, and it died within a month of the warranty expiring. I am highly suspicious of depending upon external drives as a result.

Also, there’s the whole “It’s another thing to cart around and potentially get lost or stolen” aspect.

Now, I don’t want to pay the atrocious Apple tax for an 8TB internal SSD, believe me. But for the peace of mind alone, I’m starting to lean that way … plus the ease of portability.

If you bought a MacBook Pro and put 8TB on it (internal or external), what influenced your decision?

Wow. You are currently using 2010 technology and OS. Trust me, that is a big deal; the first thing you need to do is generally get to 2025 tech before sailing into the sunset.

You need (multiple) mass storage for backup no matter what, so lose the idea of carrying all your archives around with your laptop. Do some homework and build a modern setup. The only bad thing about 8 TB is cost, so if you can afford it by all means carry as much as you like in one place, but not overfilled. Personally I will always start removing files if I reach 80% full.

 

[splifingate]

host your NAS at a friend's house and use Tailscale?

From somewhere in the Marshall Islands?!?

 

[Tozovac]

8TB MBP M1 Max and loving it. I want full anccess without needing a network connection. Always backup to TM regularly, and the important stuff lives duplicated on Dropbox. Bought it “new” but 3 years after its introduction tho, so 40% of new price, which was very much a part of my justification for that purchase. 8TB in a current model? Probably never.

 

[theorist9]

Right now I have a 4TB Time Machine external SSD (Samsung T9) attached to a USB-C PCI-e card in my 2010 Mac Pro. It quite often disconnects for no good reason. Also, I previously had a 5TB 2.5” SATA USB drive as the Time Machine volume, and it died within a month of the warranty expiring. I am highly suspicious of depending upon external drives as a result.

Can't give you advice on internal vs. external, but TM does tend to created additional issues with external drives—and hopefully you're only using TM for its great versioning features, and have a separate app, like Carbon Copy Cloner, for your backups. [TM is a great versioning app, but its complexity makes it non-robust as a backup.]

I’m hoping to retire to a warm tropical island and I think my next Mac has to be a MacBook Pro as that’s my best hope for repairability in a place with potentially limited computer resources.

I'm curious why you'd think that. MacBook Pro's are among the least repairable computers, and in remote locations, especially outside the US, you're much less likely to find Mac repair expertise than PC repair expertise.

 

[Tozovac]

I'm curious why you'd think that. MacBook Pro's are among the least repairable computers, and in remote locations, especially outside the US, you're much less likely to find Mac repair expertise than PC repair expertise.

In case any part of this is a logic puzzle, I’m guessing for convenience, to mail a small box out for repair instead of a big box (iMac).

If I could retire to a tropical island, I don't think I'd bring a computer, nor even a phone, with me. Canteen, chef's knife, and a wok, I'd be good.

And a volleyball?

 

[theorist9]

In case any part of this is a logic puzzle, I’m guessing for convenience, to mail a small box out for repair instead of a big box (iMac).

Ah, that makes sense.

 

[fgengineer]

Plain and simple it is not a smart financial move to get the 8 tb from Apple. For that much data, you need a backup so having another drive will be essential. Apple stuff can brake just like anything else. I don’t see much difference between one or two external drives.

With the money left over, you can buy replacement drives and get them shipped to your island and still have money left over for drinks.

Now, if money is no problem, then get the 8 tb, and a backup drive.

 

[AppliedMicro]

In case any part of this is a logic puzzle, I’m guessing for convenience, to mail a small box out for repair instead of a big box (iMac).

Mac mini is a fraction of the shipping volume - and weight.
And eliminates worrying about a display breaking in transit.

Even an 8 TB internal SSD isn’t going to fix your problem. You’re going to have 500 GB or actually a little less for the OS and swap. That’s absolutely terrible.

I don‘t see a problem with the storage.
My Mac mini has about 5-10 GB of free space - and runs just fine.

That’s absolutely terrible said, at 7.5TB today, an 8TB internal is nearly full from the get-go.
And the amount of data and „media“ tends to increase over time - not decrease.

I just „splurged“ on a 512GB MacBook Air for my mother (rather than the 256GB entry-level configuration), knowing that 512GB would be enough to store all of her files form the foreseeable future.

But wanting to store everything internally, I wouldn’t shell out thousands for an 8TB configuration - when I already have 7.5TB of data. If anything, I‘d recommend getting at least the next biggest, the 16TB configuration to have some headroom (we’re it available from Apple, of course).