Transcend Offers JetDrive Lite 330 Expansion Cards Up to 512GB for 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro

[DaveMcM76]

Am I the only one struggling to work out what they've actually updated here in these new(?) models that are being offered for the 14 and 16 inch MBPs, because there doesn't look to have been any change in either read/write speed or form factor from the 256Gb Jetdrive Lite 330 that I used to use in my late 2013 MBP which fits and mounts perfectly in the XD slot in my 2021 14" MBP.

Is this just a marketing push mentioning the new MBP models to remind people that JetDrive still exists?

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Would actually advise against that. These things are known for low reliability. You don't want to store anything on them that you aren't okay losing. So they may be okay for backup, but I'd NEVER put my only copy of anything on them.

You should never have an only copy of anything you fear to lose.

Cloud, external, internal, at least.

Between my iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, iCloud, and external SSD, I'm covered for every scenario.

 

[Tagbert]

Am I the only one struggling to work out what they've actually updated here in these new(?) models that are being offered for the 14 and 16 inch MBPs, because there doesn't look to have been any change in either read/write speed or form factor from the 256Gb Jetdrive Lite 330 that I used to use in my late 2013 MBP which fits and mounts perfectly in the XD slot in my 2021 14" MBP.

Is this just a marketing push mentioning the new models to remind people that JetDrive exists?

I think the change was to release new models that fit flushly inside the new 14”/16” MBPs. That is what the article says. Most other SD cards stick out. Does that older Jetdrive fit flush to the surface?

 

[pducharme]

I think the change was to release new models that fit flushly inside the new 14”/16” MBPs. That is what the article says. Most other SD cards stick out. Does that older Jetdrive fit flush to the surface?

No. the older one for old 2013 13in MBP are the same, they fit flush. They might only have bumb the size of the SD. I have an early one from the 2013 and it is only 64GB, works but is slow.

 

[gene731]

Love how these are back after a 5-year hiatus.



2016-2021 aka the years of Jony Ive and his MacBook Pro madness age.

AKA “the thin is in” era.

 

[DaveMcM76]

I think the change was to release new models that fit flushly inside the new 14”/16” MBPs. That is what the article says. Most other SD cards stick out. Does that older Jetdrive fit flush to the surface?

It fits as flushly as it ever did in my 2013 MBP. This 256 GB was bought in January 2021, so well before the new MBPs were announced. I also have a (much) older 128GB Jetdrive bought in 2014, and while I can’t find that to test it in my 2021 MBP right now I remember it being the exact same size as the 256Gb when I compared them.

 

[SSDGUY]

This is actually not a bad idea. For most people their pictures and music take up a lot of space but really never need stellar disk performance when being accessed. Moving music and pictures to the SD disk would be pretty smart.

If I'm not concerned about speed, I'd opt for cloud storage for extra photo storage. For music, nowadays it's either streaming, or good ole vinyl in my living room.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

ICloud is not a very deep backup. If you change a file or delete it, the iCloud version is synced and the damage is propagated to the cloud. Time MAchine or other true backup solution will retain deleted file or previous versions of changed or damaged file. There are local file versions but those are not synced to iCloud, so if something happens, you don’t have those older versions.

Yes, that's why I use both. There's been cases when Time Machine saved me by restoring a previous version of a file.

 

[Anson_431]

Read and write speeds are abysmally slow. But does get you half a terabyte if you need it.

I’d pass and go for a modern SSD.

I have a 256GB one for the old retina 13” MBP, and I have to admit the read write speed is quite noticeably slow.

I would totally go for a SSD instead if I could go back in time and change my decision, but then with the form factor, I’ll admit it’s a nice to have backup storage space, or act as a thumb drive too.

 

[theluggage]

Would actually advise against that. These things are known for low reliability. You don't want to store anything on them that you aren't okay losing. So they may be okay for backup, but I'd NEVER put my only copy of anything on them.

Who said anything about "only copy"? This is about having a copy that you can carry around with your laptop.

Plus, most people's "media library" is full of stuff that can be re-ripped from the original media, re-downloaded or (if it's your own work) re-built from source. Even so, mine is in about 3 different places including one copy in a fire-resisitant safe.

...and if it's not good enough for a media library, it is definitely not good enough for a backup!

 

[octhegreat]

where can i find these wallpapers?

 

[Digital Skunk]

I wouldn't suggest using it for a 'backup'. The point is to use it for more seldom used files that you'd still like to keep near and dear, but thus allowing you to free up space on the super fast internal drive.

The full backup would of course be kept somewhere else.

Exactly, not even a great temporary backup solution. But even seldom used files are better kept in the cloud, or on a larger flash drive that can be removed and not take up a port.

 

[seanbperiod]

This is pretty great news. Though I always liked the Nifty drives with mini SD card better because you could upgrade those. I hope one of those will also come to the new MBPs.

I currently use the nifty for the 2015 13" retina in my 14" - works 100%

 

[branana]

Is this gonna be constantly unmounted when your Mac sleep/wake cycles?

 

[Ebarella]

These were great options back in 2013. With how affordable fast and small SSDs are these days I don't really see the benefit anymore

 

[theluggage]

But even seldom used files are better kept in the cloud

...in a world where you have safe, reliable, unlimited, high-speed WiFi everywhere you work.

 

[zorinlynx]

This isn't a bad solution for Time Machine. Grown tired of lugging around an external drive...so my MBP is only getting backed up when I get home and connect to my external display.

If you use this for Time Machine, GET TWO OF THEM. SWAP THEM FREQUENTLY and keep the unused one in a secure location.

You don't want your backup to always be in the same place as your live data.

 

[Nicole1980]

Exactly, not even a great temporary backup solution. But even seldom used files are better kept in the cloud, or on a larger flash drive that can be removed and not take up a port.

The use case is for those of us who know we will pretty much never use the SD card slot. So for me, it's a perfect use of a port that would otherwise be completely neglected.

As for iClould, I don't use it, and never will. So that's not on the table for me.

 

[Nicole1980]

...in a world where you have safe, reliable, unlimited, high-speed WiFi everywhere you work.

You forgot to put the sarcasm signal in there

 

[Nicole1980]

It fits as flushly as it ever did in my 2013 MBP. This 256 GB was bought in January 2021, so well before the new MBPs were announced. I also have a (much) older 128GB Jetdrive bought in 2014, and while I can’t find that to test it in my 2021 MBP right now I remember it being the exact same size as the 256Gb when I compared them.

View attachment 1967400

Yep, it's the exact same size as the JetDrive made for the 2015 13" mbp. The only change here is that until now, I never saw an option for a 512gb version. Previously the only sizes were 128gb and 256gb.

I too have been using a 256gb JetDrive (made for the 13" retina mbp) in my 2021 14" mbp and it's fit perfectly. Upon reading this article, I ordered a 512gb version since that's the size I wanted in the first place.

 

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

Did the word get out on these? Amazon's listing states, "Usually ships within 1 to 2 months."
Ain't nobody got time for that!

 

[mannyvel]

convenient slow-line storage is important. Not everything needs to be super-fast. Do fusion drives still work? It would be nice if storage was automatically tiered with this. For example, I have android studio & Xcode installed, but I only use them a few times a month. They have a relatively large footprint, and it would be nice if they were auto-offloaded to slower storage if necessary.

 

[aliasfox]

For anybody who wants access to their photo/music/video files while on the go - car, plane, train - I'd much rather rely on an SD card for entertainment or a little light work than rely on spotty or expensive wi-fi or phone tethering to get to the cloud. The cloud is good when you're at a desk with a stable internet connection, it's downright horrible when you're not.

 

[SpringKid]

I can't imagine putting large files on something that slow.

 

[csdesigns]

I'm using one of these that I originally purchased for my Late 2013 15" MBP years ago. The 128Gb model I have has seen migration from that MBP to a Late 2015 27" iMac and now my Late 2021 16" MBP. It protrudes slightly from my new laptop, and is quite slow comparatively to other more bulky solutions, but for reliability and low-use files, it still has a high convenience factor. While storing to iCloud or OneDrive is actually usually faster with my fast internet connection, my company's IT blocks remote storage, so having additional local access to small files I don't access very often is a big bonus.