Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Lou Taggart

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 18, 2019
6
1
I just bought a brand new MacBook Pro ---- exact same "model" as my old 2012 MacBook Pro that finally died. I transferred everything that I had backed up on an external hard drive to the new MacBook, and it's saying "disc is almost full." How can my brand new MacBook, which should be more powerful and advanced than the old one not have as much storage? Thanks in advance - I not good with technology!
 

LogicalApex

macrumors 65816
Nov 13, 2015
1,458
2,302
PA, USA
Did you buy a model with less storage than your last? Surely, you know how much storage you had and how much you purchased...
 

kohlson

macrumors 68020
Apr 23, 2010
2,425
737
It's possible your old one had a hard disk drive of 500GB or more - and the new one has an SSD that's only 256GB.
 

Lou Taggart

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 18, 2019
6
1
Did you buy a model with less storage than your last? Surely, you know how much storage you had and how much you purchased...
I don't know how much storage my old MacBook had b/c it's totally dead now and I no longer have the box it came in. I guess I could call Apple and give them the serial # and they could tell me.
[doublepost=1555641513][/doublepost]
It's possible your old one had a hard disk drive of 500GB or more - and the new one has an SSD that's only 256GB.
Thank you! A friend suggested that might be the case, but why would my newer one have LESS storage than the old one, when I believe I bought the same "model," only newer?
 

theapplehead

macrumors 6502a
Dec 17, 2018
786
933
North Carolina
I don't know how much storage my old MacBook had b/c it's totally dead now and I no longer have the box it came in. I guess I could call Apple and give them the serial # and they could tell me.
[doublepost=1555641513][/doublepost]
Thank you! A friend suggested that might be the case, but why would my newer one have LESS storage than the old one, when I believe I bought the same "model," only newer?
Definitely check the serial number online with a Google search or with Apple Support.

As far as your new MBP is concerned, just because it is the same screen size or model does not guarantee that you will get the same storage. Go to the "About this Mac" section under the Apple logo at the top left of the screen, then select "Storage" to determine how much storage you have. It is very possible that your new Mac has less storage than your old one. If that is the case, you may want to consider exchanging it for a model with a greater level of storage. I would talk with Apple to decide the best amount of storage for you.

Good luck and let me know if you have any further questions.

Cheers!
 

pshufd

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2013
10,143
14,570
New Hampshire
I don't know how much storage my old MacBook had b/c it's totally dead now and I no longer have the box it came in. I guess I could call Apple and give them the serial # and they could tell me.
[doublepost=1555641513][/doublepost]
Thank you! A friend suggested that might be the case, but why would my newer one have LESS storage than the old one, when I believe I bought the same "model," only newer?

Large HDDs are cheap while SSDs are expensive. On the 2019 iMac, the options, in order of price are 1 TB Fusion, 2 TB Fusion, 256 GB SSD, 512 GB SSD, 1 TB SSD, 2 TB SSD. The 1 TB SSD is a $600 or $700 uplift from the 1 TB Fusion drive. So that's why storage on new models may be lower - because there are different kinds of storage with wildly differing prices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: theapplehead

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
Download and run OmniDiskSweeper (its free) It will provide a sorted list of your files/folders and show you where all your space is going. It includes system and hidden folders
 

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,223
13,292
You DON'T WANT a drive (on a brand-new Mac) that is "almost full".

It's time to start thinking critically, and to separate "the wheat from the chaff".
That means looking at what's on the drive, and start throwing stuff out.

I'd pare it down to about 60% full.

You're going to have to start using an EXTERNAL drive to supplement your internal storage. Put the less-accessed or seldom-accessed stuff on the the external drive.
 

Lou Taggart

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 18, 2019
6
1
Definitely check the serial number online with a Google search or with Apple Support.

As far as your new MBP is concerned, just because it is the same screen size or model does not guarantee that you will get the same storage. Go to the "About this Mac" section under the Apple logo at the top left of the screen, then select "Storage" to determine how much storage you have. It is very possible that your new Mac has less storage than your old one. If that is the case, you may want to consider exchanging it for a model with a greater level of storage. I would talk with Apple to decide the best amount of storage for you.

Good luck and let me know if you have any further questions.

Cheers!
Thank you so much!!!!! What you say is very helpful to a novice like me!
[doublepost=1555726951][/doublepost]
Large HDDs are cheap while SSDs are expensive. On the 2019 iMac, the options, in order of price are 1 TB Fusion, 2 TB Fusion, 256 GB SSD, 512 GB SSD, 1 TB SSD, 2 TB SSD. The 1 TB SSD is a $600 or $700 uplift from the 1 TB Fusion drive. So that's why storage on new models may be lower - because there are different kinds of storage with wildly differing prices.
Thank you so much for your response! Being so ignorant of technology I had no idea. The info. you shared with me is very helpful -thank you again for taking the time!
[doublepost=1555727071][/doublepost]
You DON'T WANT a drive (on a brand-new Mac) that is "almost full".

It's time to start thinking critically, and to separate "the wheat from the chaff".
That means looking at what's on the drive, and start throwing stuff out.

I'd pare it down to about 60% full.

You're going to have to start using an EXTERNAL drive to supplement your internal storage. Put the less-accessed or seldom-accessed stuff on the the external drive.
I've spent hours today getting rid of stuff! I really appreciate your helpful advice - I'm starting to understand what's going on I think! Everyone on this forum has been so helpful - Thank you again!!!!
[doublepost=1555727257][/doublepost]
Return it while you still can and order one with more storage.
Thanks - I'm considering that!
 
  • Like
Reactions: theapplehead
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.