Dealing with limited internal storage

[CSMR]

Lots of machines these days are very thin and can't fit a hard drive, and SSD space is expensive. Those of you with lots of files, how inconvenient do you find this?

I'm really impressed by the Surface Pro 4 but could only afford a 256GB version and that would require a lot of downsizing and archiving. Currently I have a laptop with 128GB SSD for OS and apps and 1TB HDD for files and both are close to full.

How do you find the inconvenience of limited storage and having to rely more external drives? Do you manage to organize your files so your working files fit in the internal storage? Or is your system incomplete unless it's attached to one or more external drives?

 

[Red Storm]

While I'm sure there are various careers that create the need for that much storage always being on you at all times (and the OP may have one of those jobs), for most everyone else it's really just "digital hoarding" and the inability to let go.

Do you really need that much storage space on your machine? How much of the 1TB of storage do you interact with daily?

For me personally, I don't need more than 256GB on a laptop, and by that I mean 256GB is plenty. I consider 128GB the minimum amount of acceptable storage.

 

[corkyg]

Microsoft would like it if you used their cloud.

 

[jihe]

Delete stuff you don't need. Get a NAS. Buy a large SD card.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

All of the above. I've got an ultrabook with a 256GB SSD, and it's plenty, provided I:

1) archive my video projects on the NAS when they're done.
2) only install one or two games at a time via Steam. (Not 30+.)
3) rely on video/audio streaming from Netflix, Hulu, or my Plex server rather than relying on local storage.

 

[ShintaiDK]

500GB is more than plenty for me. So SSD all the way.

Cleanup is the answer and services like Steam.

 

[OlyAR15]

I, for one, would be extremely nervous about having that much data stored on a mobile device. There is always the chance that it can get lost or stolen. Encryption may make the data inaccessible to someon else, but you are still dealing with the hassle of lost data. Seems better to have only the bare minimum on your mobile device and have some form of network storage availabe for the rest.

 

[ninaholic37]

I'm getting by just fine with 500MB (0.5GB). 240MB for my two OSes, 100MB for Firefox 28, the rest is just for fun things I've added that take up 1-10MB each.

 

[CSMR]

I guess I am a glutton for data.

I find that Windows + Visual Studio + Adobe CC + Office + Mathematica take up 100GB by themselves.

My music library is >100GB with lossless compression. Add work files, ebooks, photos, recordings, and room for expansion in the next 5 years and I don't think a main 256GB drive is feasible for me.

I think I will go two separate systems instead: an old Surface Pro 2 for tablet and secondary desktop use and a NUC5i7 as a main system.

 

[Blue_Max]

If you really need that much storage, it's time to either carry external drives with you (at greater risk of physical damage) have more permanent external storage options where you need them most, or trade up your laptop to something that can hold 2-3 physical hard drives.

And back up regularly... that sounds like it'd be a painful loss of work-stuff data. (Music & movies - who cares, you have master files on a desktop or drive at home, right?)

 

[firewolfsm]

Put an SD card in your laptop. Up to 256GB.

 

[JeffMD]

I, for one, would be extremely nervous about having that much data stored on a mobile device. There is always the chance that it can get lost or stolen. Encryption may make the data inaccessible to someon else, but you are still dealing with the hassle of lost data. Seems better to have only the bare minimum on your mobile device and have some form of network storage availabe for the rest.

Why not both?

 

[squirrel dog]

large thumb drives are cheap , and easily stored safely .

 

[Oyeve]

My main PC has 5TB ssd, my main laptop has 1TB ssd, my secondary laptop/tablet (dell venue) has .5TB SSD m.2, my clunker macbook pro has 1TB ssd. Spend the $$$ or delete your files. Hell, 2 TBs on my main system are just files from the last 10 computers I had over the years. I have .doc files going back to the 80s. I'm a hoarder.

 

[sdifox]

External 2.5" hdd