The dilemma of space

Hard drive space is a rather perplexing problem, especially for mobile users. MacBook Pro hard drives max-out at 120 GB, and if you opt for the faster 7200 RPM drive, you’re stuck at 100 GB. In this day and age, 100 GB just isn’t enough to hold even the majority of your files on. Here is an approximate breakdown of some space-eating items:

• System & OS – about 4 GB
• Applications & User Library – 15 GB
• iTunes library – varies, but mine’s about 40 GB (~6,500 songs)
• Video library – maybe about 5 GB (from iTMS & ripped DVDs)
• iPhoto library – 5 GB, friends/family shots w/ P&S camera
• Final Cut Studio – 4 GB for apps, 42 GB for content
• Windows partition – 5 GB, not everyone needs this

All of this (not including the 5 GB Windows partition or the 42 GB of content for FCP) leaves a mere 20 GB free. (Remember once formatted, a 100 GB drive is actually a 93 GB drive). 20 GB may sound like a lot, but really it isn’t. Take into account room for documents, Photoshop files, iMovies, GarageBand stuff, downloads, and room for your photos, music, and videos to grow, and that 20 GB disappears really fast. Plus don’t forget, OSX needs at least a few GBs to function properly, especially if you’re going to be running memory intensive apps.

I wish I had an answer to this dilemma. Unfortunately the only things I can suggest are external hard drives for storing things like an Aperture library, FCP video files, or 42 GB of FCS content. Check out the FireLite drives from SmartDisk or other portable drives from LaCie.

[Hat tip: Dan via comments]

Comments (3)

This is a situation where the MacBook Pro NEEDs Firewire 800 for super fast external drives.

Chris P

April 10, 2006

10:59 PM PT

Yes, it does need it. It also has it--via the ExpressCard/34 slot. Look for an upcoming post I'm preparing all about the ExpressCard/34; it will go live tomorrow afternoon.

Scott Silverman

April 10, 2006

11:20 PM PT

That express slot is going to help out a lot.

Dan

April 11, 2006

4:45 AM PT