After my first impression based on the looks, it looks like the performance is not what I've hoped.
I am sure someone else will enter the market.
I am sure someone else will enter the market.
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Satechi Previews Mac Mini Hub With SD Card Slot, Three USB-A Ports, and Up to 4TB Storage Slot
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I have two of the older models. They're garbage. The USB ports work fine, but the SD slots are all dead and the SSD disconnects randomly. Moving to a hub and a separate ssd enclosure.
Agreed, but I assume it's a matter of support. Satechi didn't design the USB-NVMe bridge chip. They are probably quoting its published specs, and that chip may have been designed before 8TB modules were available.
At least that's my theory.
Bandwidth is not capacity. You could put 25,000TB of storage in an enclosure and it would use the same amount of USB bandwidth as a 250M device in that same enclosure. So no, that doesn't explain the published 4TB maximum capacity.
If you're talking about the 10 Gbps USB limit, note that this is a USB device, not a Thunderbolt device. 10 Gbps is about what I'd expect from such a device even though there are USB-C specs for 20 and 40 Gbps. Those speeds would require a much more expensive bridge chip and would probably result in a hub too expensive for the target customer base.
I picked up this hub which is virtually the same for 22 bucks. You don't need to pay big bad prices for these types of product.
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If you must spend big $$$ then you can pick up one of these for 40 bucks. It's designed for the Mini but you can balance the new Mini on top of it or balance it on the new Mini, if you must.
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My M1 Mini has sat on top of the larger version since I got it. 500GB spinner in its drive pocket and I am very happy with it. One issue is the SD card reader balks at accepting a card - so use a hub in a type A slot when I need it. Great value.
Found a page with more infos:
ORICO、Apple M4チップ搭載のMac mini (2024)と同じフットプリントで重ねて使えるデザインのThunderbolt/USB4ストレージ「Mini Mate」を発売。
中国のサードパーティメーカーOricoは、新しいのMac mini (2024)と同じフットプリント(底面積)で、Mac miniに重ねてつかえるデザインのThunderbolt/USB4ストレージ「Mini Mate」を11月28日に発売すると発表しています。
applech2.com
You are right, it’s only an external SSD. But I am afraid for a real Thunderbolt hub you have to wait much longer.
I was thinking the same thing. If this were strictly a hub it might be okay but the integrated storage means it could really benefit from added bandwidth.
I have the larger (earlier) version. There is a cover on the top of the hub that opens and you slip the SSD or HD in. Put cover back on and forget about it. And since the hub itself has Tbolt that plugs right into Mac the drive is fast. Mind you, all the other ports on that hub run through that one TBolt cable in/out of the Mac.
I have the old version for my M1 mini and can highly recommend it. Thunderbolt would be nice but it would probably also double the price, which is probably why they went with USB (mass-market appeal over higher end users).
I came here for reading about the power button and I am not disappointed.
A TB4-based device would cost almost as much as the base Mac Mini
What is it you would store on the hub? MacOS and the Apps folder would be on the. internal SSD. So on the hub, likely some data like video. Video does not need even 10Gbs.
I keep data on a Synology NAS and the network interface is nominally 10gbs for 10gbe Ethernet but it is effectively much slower and it works well. The advantage of a NAS is that every computer, phone and tablet in the house has access to the data and can even access it over the Internet from any place in the world (using VPN)
Hard pass for my needs (yours may vary). It adds ports I don't want, at slower speeds than I want, so why would I put in a fast storage card and choke its connection? I appreciate this is exactly what others want, but I left USB A behind years ago, my camera uses the faster CF express cards, and eh, USB C speeds?
For now I live with a TB4 NVME enclosure and a CF Express Card dongle. Alternatively I can hook up my camera directly with USB C.
For now I live with a TB4 NVME enclosure and a CF Express Card dongle. Alternatively I can hook up my camera directly with USB C.
Better if it had a TB enclosure, with at least a silent fan, and inspite of what they may claim, M.2 enclosures will produce an incredible amount of heat (if it's working correctly and not throttling). Then, the fan needs to be dead silent- DEAD.
Good luck with that. Stick with the perfectly fine external stuff.
Good luck with that. Stick with the perfectly fine external stuff.
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An SD card would have made this the perfect machine, so this product is awesome. Hopefully the M5 version adds the SD card slot.
Yeah. I stop watching any reviewer who complains about the USB-A and the Power Botton.
If you have mouse from 1995 and you want to plug it to your 2024 computer, then use a $0.99 adapter. You can buy a bulk of them from amazon for $5. Add them to all your USB-A cables.
If it's like the one for M2 minis, it's through a "door" on the bottom. Flip it open, slide in the nvrm, and close the door.
AC provided via the thunderbolt cable on the rear, which connects to the Mini for data transfer.
Unless there's a reason to think there's a massive redesign, looking at the M2 version likely will answer most of these questions - https://satechi.net/products/stand-hub-for-mac-mini-studio-with-nvme-ssd-enclosure
Guessing 98% of users will be fine with 10Gbps speeds to the SSD. Certainly don't need that for the USB-A ports or the SD card slot.
I own the last NVME M.2 version they released like a year ago, and it renders my M2 Mini Pro's WiFi and BT unusable. I've noticed they mention this version will keep the "wireless signal integrity" so thats a nice concept that they mention.
A design direction I would like to mention to Satechi, if they see this...Please, pretty please; lose the text under the ports on the front. It's cheap looking and takes away from the premium look and feel of this and the parent Apple device. If you absolutely have to put the text on there, use a removable sticker.
Also, and I recognize its a little extreme, but can you manufacture this to have the power lights lineup with the Mini? The rendering makes it appear its misaligned.
These may seem like absurd requests, but design and aesthetics are important.
A design direction I would like to mention to Satechi, if they see this...Please, pretty please; lose the text under the ports on the front. It's cheap looking and takes away from the premium look and feel of this and the parent Apple device. If you absolutely have to put the text on there, use a removable sticker.
Also, and I recognize its a little extreme, but can you manufacture this to have the power lights lineup with the Mini? The rendering makes it appear its misaligned.
These may seem like absurd requests, but design and aesthetics are important.
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this has neither an SSD not an SD card slot. not even remotely the same thing
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