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admin
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 Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:53 am Post subject: Mac mini Drives: Spring 2007 Price Per Gigabyte |
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Mac mini Drives: Spring 2007 Price Per Gigabyte
Friday, March 16, 2007
Posted by: Brian
Last year, I put together a little article that compared all of the Mac mini-style external hard drives on a price-per-gigabyte basis. The response to the article was fairly positive, so I thought it would be a good idea to put another one together this spring. Once again, the comparisons are on a price-per-gigabyte basis only. There are other factors that you should consider before buying. You should also look at what the enclosure is made out of (metal or plastic), how many USB and FireWire ports it offers, the cache size of its hard drive mechanism, and the length of its warranty.
The prices listed below are the manufacturer's suggested retail price as of 03/16/07. You might be able to do better with certain models if you shop around some. I think and Amazon and PriceGrabber are always good places to start looking.
Brands/Models:
Iomega MiniMax
- 250GB @ $179.95 = 72 cents per GB
- 500GB @ $269.95 = 54 cents per GB
LaCie mini
- 160GB @ $119.99 = 75 cents per GB
- 250GB @ $139.99 = 60 cents per GB
LaCie mini Hard Drive & Hub
- 250GB @ $179.99 = 72 cents per GB
- 320GB @ $199.99 = 62 cents per GB
- 500GB @ $269.99 = 54 cents per GB
Micronet miniMate
- 80GB @ $119.95 = $1.50 per GB
- 160GB @ $119.95 = 75 cents per GB
- 250GB @ $139.95 = 56 cents per GB
- 300GB @ $179.95 = 60 cents per GB
- 400GB @ $389.95 = 97 cents per GB
NewerTech miniStack V2
- 80GB @ $114.99 = $1.44 per GB
- 160GB @ $129.99 = 81 cents per GB
- 250GB @ $149.00 = 60 cents per GB
- 320GB @ $179.99 = 56 cents per GB
- 400GB @ $239.99 = 60 cents per GB
- 500GB @ $259.00 = 52 cents per GB
- 750GB @ $469.00 = 63 cents per GB
Trans Intl miniD
- 80GB @ $99.00 = $1.24 per GB
- 160GB @ $125.00 = 78 cents per GB
- 250GB @ $139.00 = 56 cents per GB
- 320GB @ $169.00 = 53 cents per GB
- 400GB @ $189.00 = 47 cents per GB
- 500GB @ $229.00 = 46 cents per GB
- 750GB @ $429.00 = 57 cents per GB
WeibeTech Maxelerate
- 250GB @ $129.95 = 52 cents per GB
- 500GB @ $267.95 = 54 cents per GB
- 750GB @ $449.95 = 60 cents per GB
Comparison:
80GB
- Trans Intl miniD @ $99.00 = $1.24 per GB
- NewerTech miniStack V2 @ $114.99 = $1.44 per GB
- Micronet miniMate @ $119.95 = $1.50 per GB
160GB
- Micronet miniMate @ $119.95 = 75 cents per GB
- LaCie mini @ $119.99 = 75 cents per GB
- Trans Intl miniD @ $125.00 = 78 cents per GB
- NewerTech miniStack V2 @ $129.99 = 81 cents per GB
250GB
- WeibeTech Maxelerate @ $129.95 = 52 cents per GB
- Trans Intl miniD @ $139.00 = 56 cents per GB
- Micronet miniMate @ $139.95 = 56 cents per GB
- LaCie mini @ $139.99 = 56 cents per GB
- NewerTech miniStack V2 @ $149.00 = 60 cents per GB
- Iomega MiniMax @ $179.95 = 72 cents per GB
- LaCie mini Hard Drive & Hub @ $179.99 = 72 cents per GB
320GB
- Trans Intl miniD @ $169.00 = 53 cents per GB
- NewerTech miniStack V2 @ $179.99 = 56 cents per GB
- LaCie mini Hard Drive & Hub @ $199.99 = 62 cents per GB
400GB
- Trans Intl miniD @ $189.00 = 47 cents per GB
- NewerTech miniStack V2 @ $239.99 = 60 cents per GB
- Micronet miniMate @ $389.95 = 97 cents per GB
500GB
- Trans Intl miniD @ $229.00 = 46 cents per GB
- NewerTech miniStack V2 @ $259.00 = 52 cents per GB
- WeibeTech Maxelerate @ $267.95 = 54 cents per GB
- Iomega MiniMax @ $269.95 = 54 cents per GB
- LaCie mini Hard Drive & Hub @ $269.99 = 54 cents per GB
750GB
- Trans Intl miniD @ $429.00 = 57 cents per GB
- WeibeTech Maxelerate @ $449.95 = 60 cents per GB
- NewerTech miniStack V2 @ $469.00 = 63 cents per GB
http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/617.html
Last edited by admin on Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:21 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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ShaneHale
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:29 am Post subject: |
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Nicely done. You bring up great points about enclosure build material, connection types etc... Definitely bookmarking this for later reference.
- shane
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Fox
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Could I suggest a comparison chart of all those items Shane mentions, plus those related to the fan (presence/absence, number of settings, whether it shuts off during sleep or not).
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James T Kirk
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:43 am Post subject: |
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Is the Sabrent not available anymore?
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jthawke
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:34 am Post subject: Re: My Experience |
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Just for informational purposes, I debated for a long time over which model to purchase and finally went with the LaCie 250 GB model. Partitioned it into two drives, one which I use as a cloned backup using Super Duper and it's Smart Update every Sunday night, the second I used to store my iTunes Library and symlink to the main drive so as to keep that space free on the boot volume. The LaCie is a little louder than the mini itself, but so far has been trouble free and does sleep perfectly when I put the mini to sleep.
I also like knowing that when performing an OS X update, etc. that I am only seconds away from being able to boot right back up from the LaCie should anything go wrong. Great investment. |
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Brian
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:06 am Post subject: |
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| ShaneHale wrote: | | Nicely done. You bring up great points about enclosure build material, connection types etc... Definitely bookmarking this for later reference. |
Thanks! I thought having all of the prices in one place again might come in handy.
| Fox wrote: | | plus those related to the fan (presence/absence). |
Iomega MiniMax
- Has fan on rear panel
LaCie mini
- No fan
LaCie mini Hard Drive & Hub
- 250GB model doesn't have a fan
- 320GB and 500GB models have a fan on rear panel
Micronet miniMate
- No fan
NewerTech miniStack V2
- Has fan on rear panel
Trans Intl miniD
- Has fan on rear panel
WeibeTech Maxelerate
- Has fan on side
| James T Kirk wrote: | | Is the Sabrent not available anymore? |
I could be wrong, but I think it has been discontinued.
Here is a list of empty "add your own drive" enclosures:
- ADS Tech Mini Drive Kit @ $59.99
- NewerTech miniStack V2 @ $69.00
- NewerTech miniStack USB @ $49.99 (works great with AE 802.11n base station)
- Trans Intl miniD @ $64.00
- WeibeTech Maxelerate @ $29.95
| jthawke wrote: | | I also like knowing that when performing an OS X update, etc. that I am only seconds away from being able to boot right back up from the LaCie should anything go wrong. Great investment. |
Congrats on your LaCie. It's one of my favorites.
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jalyst
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Pleiades
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:20 am Post subject: |
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| jalyst wrote: | What about these tri interface enclosures?
Has nobody not bought any of them yet?! |
You missed the main point of this article - Mac Mini style enclosures. However nice, none of the enclosures you linked use a Mac Mini style case.
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g5g5
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:25 am Post subject: |
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I'm glad to see the miniD was included in the comparison. I almost ordered the 250GB model the other week. I also thought about getting one of the empty miniD kits for a larger drive. But after seeing it laid out like this, I'm going to take a second look at the 250GB Micronet MiniMate. The fact that it has an aluminum enclosure, no fan and can be had for the same amount of money as the miniD, has me leaning in that direction now. I also bought a 320GB WD MyBook at Circuit City after Christmas. I would buy another, but it doesn't look that hot sitting next to my Mac mini and iMac. I also figure one of the mini drives will save me some deskspace.
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jalyst
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:42 am Post subject: |
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My point (which I should've mad cleaer) is why so much emphasis on this site about form as opposed to functionality?
I'd much prefer a more functional device versus a device that simply looks better sitting on, next to, or below the MM.
If there was a device with the same functionaility as the last two I listed, but with the same form as the MM, I'd buy it in a heartbeat!
Alas I've searched exhaustively and to get the functionality I expect, I've had to throw the 'look-alikes' by the wayside.
As blasphemus as that is!  |
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g5g5
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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| jalyst wrote: | | I'd much prefer a more functional device versus a device that simply looks better sitting on, next to, or below the MM. |
No offense, but that extra functionality is unnecessary for many of us. A triple interface drive with an eSata port is useless with my Mac mini and iMac. I only have USB and firewire 400 ports. But that's not to say that you shouldn't buy one if it costs the same amount of money. You might want to have those options down the road. I can only speak for myself, but I just want something this time around that saves space and looks good with my gear. I also agree with ClunkClunk's comment about missing the point. This article was about the cost of the mini type drives. To criticize it for being nothing more, doesn't make much sense. I'm sure that many people looking around for one of these kind of drives will find it helpful. I did.
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Pleiades
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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| jalyst wrote: | | My point (which I should've mad cleaer) is why so much emphasis on this site about form as opposed to functionality? |
I also subscribe to the functionality over form ideals (I have a huge ugly black 9 bay hard drive enclosure holding four drives and a DVD-R), but I can understand the point of the article. This is a Mac Mini site, so why not feature some Mac Mini specific items? Any other Mac-related site can give you info on the multitude of available enclosures out there, but this site focuses on Mac Minis, so why not focus an article on Mac Mini specific enclosures?
Another point is that the Mac Mini is currently limited to FW400 and USB2.0, while the enclosures that you pointed to use a few different connections that the Mac Mini currently does not support. They're great if you use other types of Macs that supports them, but not so much for your average 123MM member.
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g5g5
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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| ClunkClunk wrote: | | Another point is that the Mac Mini is currently limited to FW400 and USB2.0, while the enclosures that you pointed to use a few different connections that the Mac Mini currently does not support. They're great if you use other types of Macs that supports them, but not so much for your average 123MM member. |
Hey, that was my point! 
No Mac does eSata out of the box, and the MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Pro are the only ones with firewire 800. The Mac mini and MacBook only have 400. Which, to be honest, is all that I really need. I'm not moving around huge video files or anything. Although, I guess it would be sweet booting from firewire 800. 
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aquaman
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I wish LaCie had continued to make a 500GB version of the LaCie mini without the ports on the sides. I've heard the higher capacity LaCie minis with the side ports are a little on the loud side. That is the only reason why I don't have two of them stacked now. I still don't understand why they felt compelled to include a fan on those models. Was it purely for a data safeguard or do the higher capacity drives actually run warmer? If it was for a safeguard, why didn't they include a fan on the model without the side ports? |
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Bandit Bill
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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| aquaman wrote: | | I wish LaCie had continued to make a 500GB version of the LaCie mini without the ports on the sides. I've heard the higher capacity LaCie minis with the side ports are a little on the loud side. That is the only reason why I don't have two of them stacked now. I still don't understand why they felt compelled to include a fan on those models. Was it purely for a data safeguard or do the higher capacity drives actually run warmer? If it was for a safeguard, why didn't they include a fan on the model without the side ports? |
LaCie USA has a 80GB hubless LaCie mini (firewire) in the clearance corner for $50. I'd jump on that if I lived in the USA. Upgrade the drive and sell the 80GB drive.
http://www.lacie.com/us/products/clearance/products/?id=10007 |
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