This Mac Mini SSD base overhauled my images workflow

After I’m not writing about cars for Pocket-lint, I am taking photos of them at racetracks all throughout the nation. From NASCAR to the native filth observe scene, every weekend I am someplace with my digicam in-hand, usually delivering round 400 images to shoppers and racers alike. That is a whole lot of information, and it takes loads of time to edit each.

Lately, I made a decision to drag the set off on the brand new Mac Mini M4, however like most consumers, I discovered myself needing extra port choices for issues like exterior onerous drives and, most significantly, SD playing cards. I am the kind of person who likes my desk house to be extensive open, and I had chords and attachments working all over the place on Sundays once I sat right down to edit. Then, I obtained this Satechi Mac Mini base, and it fully overhauled how I work via my libraries.

Upgraded storage for pennies in comparison with Apple

The most effective factor in regards to the Mini is its value, nevertheless it comes at a price

The Mini’s $600 beginning value is the perfect factor about it, contemplating that it comes commonplace with 16GB of reminiscence and the lauded M4 chip. Nevertheless, for that value, you solely get a measly 256GB of storage, and for somebody who edits a whole lot of giant information, that is barely sufficient to carry all of your precise enhancing software program, by no means thoughts the information. It is an enormous upgrade over the previous generation of Mini, however nonetheless leaves you wanting extra when you do a whole lot of enhancing.

That is the place this enclosure turns out to be useful. Not solely does it improve the usability of the mini tenfold (extra on that later), nevertheless it additionally means that you can dramatically improve the storage out there on the precise dwelling base. It does not include the bottom itself, which is a disgrace, however a visit to Greatest Purchase or a fast scroll on-line can treatment that. Personally, I opted for the WD_BLACK 2TB model, which was simple to put in and has to date match seamlessly into my workflow. For comparability’s sake, the brand new Mini with 16GB of reminiscence and simply 512GB will run you a cool $800 from Apple. I now have practically 4 occasions that quantity of storage with 4 extra ever-important ports.

Why do ports matter for images

With so many gadgets, it is onerous work to maintain up with

You may discover that though I’ve already purchased an SSD for the bottom itself, I nonetheless have an exterior plugged into one of many two 10Gbps USB ports out there, together with an SD card slot, which helps SD4.0.

That is as a result of, whereas this base enormously elevated the storage of my mini, I nonetheless retailer all of my RAW information on exterior drives to be organized after they attain capability. The bottom right here is ideal for that utilization, as a lot of the budget-friendly choices on the market for exterior onerous drives are nonetheless USB 3.0 versus USB Type-C, just like the tens of MaxOne 1TB external hard drives I’ve sitting in my closet.

That is particularly helpful for file transfers, as I can simply slide the 2 storage gadgets into their assigned slots, preserve my desk away from muddle and allow them to switch away between each other to their little plastic hearts’ needs. Beforehand, I had to make use of a USB Type-C adapter, which was funnily sufficient additionally made by Satechi, to maintain all the pieces related. It was a large number of wires all counting on one sole Sort C connection, and that all the time made me nervous. Now, I now not fear about my information corrupting or shedding any pictures, as a result of the switch course of has by no means been simpler.

It fixes the Mini’s most obvious problem

I now not have to select up the complete system to show it on

All of those options are great, and I’m immensely grateful for them. Nevertheless, what this base does for the precise construction of the Mini itself is all it took for me to need one on my desk. For these unaware, the Mini’s energy button is totally hidden on the underside aspect of the unit itself within the rear left nook. In essence, you must fully choose up the Mini with the intention to flip it on when you have fingers that are not as skinny as, say, a chopstick. This problem has sparked fairly a dialogue even among the most faithful Apple techies, and as an M4 Mini proprietor, I get it.

Nevertheless, some designers at Satechi walked in someday with an answer — simply reduce a finger-sized gap within the base the place the facility button is. I wish to think about the remainder of the boardroom that this concept was introduced to shouting and clapping in reward of this good thoughts, however which will simply be me.

The one factor I’d change

An excellent commerce off could be good

Honestly, I’ve no main gripes with this enclosure base. It does all the pieces that it is marketed to do, and is nicely well worth the price ticket to appear like a factory-grade accent when you like your tech to match, which I do. Nevertheless, my lone problem is that it does take up one of many Thunderbolt ports on the again with out giving any in return. I do know that house is proscribed, so it might be tough to incorporate one on the face of the bottom itself.

That being stated, I might do with out the far proper USB 2.0 port if it have been changed with a a lot quicker Thunderbolt port, and it might additionally deliver my complete variety of front-facing Thunderbolt ports to a whopping three, after which I might in all probability take over the world if I needed. (Severely, although, why is everybody so stingy with these items?) That is not at all the primary Satechi product I’ve ever had in my dwelling workplace, and it probably will not be the final. This enclosure is simply one other instance of paying slightly bit extra for one thing that actually will not allow you to down.