Tips for managing a smaller SSD

[NeuralControl]

To those of you who have come from high capacity HDDs on older MBPs and now have smaller capacity SSDs, can you discuss what you do do manage your storage space?

I have a 750GB HDD in my current (2011) MBP. I hopefully will be upgrading to a new MBP soon, and it's likely it will be a 256GB SSD, although a 512GB would be ideal. In the 7 years of owning my MBP, I've managed to use about 250GB.

I plan to keep my iTunes Music library on the old computer. Additionally, I think I'll transfer other videos to a flash drive or backup drive, and just access them when I need them.

Separate question - I have a 2TB drive that I use as a Time Machine backup drive for my 2011 machine. Is it possible to access those files on a different machine, without restoring from the backup? Do I have to have a separate drive to manually save files from my old computer to put on a new one?

 

[Fishrrman]

Put the stuff you really really need on the internal drive.
Keep the stuff you don't really need on an external drive.

IF you're not going to be using the 2011 MBP, you might consider taking the internal HDD out of it, and then putting it into a USB3 external enclosure. You could still access all your old stuff that way.

Another approach:
Buy an external USB3 SSD, and keep your "overflow" items on it.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

To those of you who have come from high capacity HDDs on older MBPs and now have smaller capacity SSDs, can you discuss what you do do manage your storage space?

I have a 750GB HDD in my current (2011) MBP. I hopefully will be upgrading to a new MBP soon, and it's likely it will be a 256GB SSD, although a 512GB would be ideal. In the 7 years of owning my MBP, I've managed to use about 250GB.

I plan to keep my iTunes Music library on the old computer. Additionally, I think I'll transfer other videos to a flash drive or backup drive, and just access them when I need them.

Separate question - I have a 2TB drive that I use as a Time Machine backup drive for my 2011 machine. Is it possible to access those files on a different machine, without restoring from the backup? Do I have to have a separate drive to manually save files from my old computer to put on a new one?

Go or the 512 GB spec you’ll have all the space you need.

Your best bet is network attached storage for external you can access all your stuff anywhere with WiFi.

You can just attach the back up disk and migrate any files You want to the new machine using migration assistant.

If you are on high Sierra and backed up you can just restore you new machine as you have it now if there is enough space.

If you need extra storage for iTunes files plugged in all the time then a sandisk usb stick that is small enough to leave in is the cheapest option.

 

[jav6454]

To those of you who have come from high capacity HDDs on older MBPs and now have smaller capacity SSDs, can you discuss what you do do manage your storage space?
[...]

Separate question - I have a 2TB drive that I use as a Time Machine backup drive for my 2011 machine. Is it possible to access those files on a different machine, without restoring from the backup? Do I have to have a separate drive to manually save files from my old computer to put on a new one?

What is your budget for SSD upgrade? You can get ~500GB easily and perhaps have to sorta cut a little for a 1TB SSD. However, if you only can get a 250GB, then have an external drive with media and work files. Keep only essentials and apps on the SSD.

 

[NeuralControl]

Truth be told, I don't need my iTunes files on a future computer. I stream from Apple Music and Podcasts 100% of the time these days. I just don't want to completely get rid of all my music files.

The main things I want on my future computer would be my Photos and all of my Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and PDF files from grad school. I also want my EndNote library to be the same on both machines.

Would it be better to buy a USB 3.0 flash drive for backwards compatibility (via an adapter for the new machine) or a USB C flash drive?

 

[Audit13]

You could also replace the existing HDD with an ssd and replace the optical drive with the HDD by using an optical disk drive caddy.

 

[mroy16]

Would it be better to buy a USB 3.0 flash drive for backwards compatibility (via an adapter for the new machine) or a USB C flash drive?

You can get double-ended flash drives that have both USB-A and USB-C connections on them. If you want an offline method for moving files around, this is probably the most convenient. I'm sure a quick search on Amazon will find you some excellent options for reasonable prices and with good reviews.


I'm in a similar situation, though my 2011 MBP died shortly after I upgraded it to an SSD. My new laptop only has 250GB of storage, and the software and everyday work files I need on it for grad school take up space faster than I had anticipated. As a result, all of my media is in an external drive that lives on my desk at home. 250GB is plenty for the OS, software, and non-media work files (Office files, etc.), but it does require a bit of attention to keep the disk from getting too full.

 

[NeuralControl]

You can get double-ended flash drives that have both USB-A and USB-C connections on them. If you want an offline method for moving files around, this is probably the most convenient. I'm sure a quick search on Amazon will find you some excellent options for reasonable prices and with good reviews.


I'm in a similar situation, though my 2011 MBP died shortly after I upgraded it to an SSD. My new laptop only has 250GB of storage, and the software and everyday work files I need on it for grad school take up space faster than I had anticipated. As a result, all of my media is in an external drive that lives on my desk at home. 250GB is plenty for the OS, software, and non-media work files (Office files, etc.), but it does require a bit of attention to keep the disk from getting too full.

The suggestion for the double-ended flash drive is great, thank you. I will end up purchasing one of those, as that seems to be the most convenient method for offline data transfer between older computers and the new USB-C only machines.

I also think 256GB will be enough for work files. It's just that with my 750GB HDD, I never once had to think about store limitations. With 256GB, I will have to pay much more attention to what I'm storing locally and whether it is absolutely necessary.

 

[jerryk]

I would get a refurbished unit with a larger driver versus a new unit with a smaller drive.

Look on the Apple website for refurbished units. The come with the same warranty and AppleCare+ option as new systems and look brand new.