Filip Novotny Our portable devices are gradually becoming thinner and thinner. Whether it's mobile phones, tablets or computers, this trend is clearly taking its toll. The arrival of Retina displays marked the end of easy additional exchangeability of a number of components, and if these actions are not downright impossible, few users would want to do them themselves at home. One of the few relatively simple upgrades is the replacement or expansion of the storage, and it is precisely these steps that we have now focused on at Jablíčkář.
We tested a pair of products from the Transcend brand - the 1TB JetDrive flash memory (along with an external frame for existing storage) and also its smaller brother JetDrive Lite, which works using the SD interface. They helped us in the company with the acquisition and installation of all these products NSPARKLE.
This week we already they looked to the Transcend JetDrive internal flash memory, which offers up to 960 GB of space and is also very fast. However, the Taiwanese manufacturer also offers a more compact and faster solution for those who may not need as much space, but want to expand their computer quickly and cheaply. It is the Transcend JetDrive Lite, a compact SD card slot storage. It is available in various models for MacBook Air (2010-2014) and MacBook Pro with Retina Display (2012-2014).
You may have seen a similar device in the past, in the form of the kickstarter success Nifty MiniDrive (see our review). However, there is one major difference between this product and the Transcend JetDrive Lite – while the Nifty is basically just a microSD reduction, the JetDrive Lite contains the memory hardwired in a closed chassis. What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution and expansion through the SD slot in general?
Ease of installation comes first. Just take the JetDrive Lite out of the box and insert it into the SD slot. There is really nothing more complicated than that. The size of the card corresponds exactly to the specified computer model, and only enough plastic protrudes to allow the card to be removed without the use of any tools.
That was also something I didn't realize at first. Experience with the Nifty, which requires a special "puller" or at least a bent clamp, dictated that I try to remove the JetDrive Lite with some kind of tool. I've tried grabbing the card with tweezers, but this approach will scratch the JetDrive Lite as much as possible. All you have to do is grab the card from the sides between your fingernails and wiggle it back and forth to remove it in a few seconds.
It's not that complicated, but if you use the SD slot to read cards, I can imagine that removing the card could be easier. So, for example, if you are a photographer who uses an SD card reader every day, you need to think about whether constant handling of the JetDrive Lite will bother you. However, if you do not use the slot, you will appreciate the inconspicuousness of this card.
When we talk about expanding your computer's storage space, we can't help but mention speed. Since this is SD technology in the end, we certainly can't expect miracles. Still, there are big differences between the different types of cards, so it's important to find out how fast a card Transcend used for the JetDrive Lite.
The manufacturer states a maximum reading value of 95 MB/s and 60 MB/s writing. Using Blackmagic Disk Speed Test (and additionally AJA System Test), we measured speeds of about 87 MB/s when reading and 50 MB/s when writing.
For comparison - with the Nifty MiniDrive from last year, we measured values of 15 MB/s when reading and 5 MB/s when writing. Of course, the microSD card in the Nifty can easily be replaced with a faster one, but this brings us to the fundamental difference between the two products mentioned.
Nifty supplies for its MiniDrive less than a thousand crowns very slow 4GB microSD card. By itself, the device does not make much sense, and additional costs must be added to the initial investment 900–2400 CZK for a Micro SDXC card of 64 or 128 GB.
On the other hand, with the Transcend JetDrive Lite, you get non-removable but fast and large storage for one price. For example, at a company NSPARKLE, which lent us the product, you will pay CZK 64 for the 1GB JetDrive Lite, and CZK 476 for double the capacity.
The non-interchangeability of the cards in the product, which at first glance appears to be a shortcoming, is in the end an advantage given the approach of the competition.
Transcend JetDrive Lite is currently probably the best way to easily and elegantly expand the capacity of your MacBook. If we don't need a really big expansion and don't use the SD slot often, JetDrive Lite is a better solution than external hard drives. At the same time, it offers very decent speeds considering the limits of technology and is fully sufficient for certain types of files (music, documents, older photos, regular backups).
We thank the company for lending the product NSPARKLE.
As with the previous article, thank you again. This article just came in handy as I was really thinking about making a purchase.
I just want to ask one more question. Did you test the 128GB or 64GB version?
I have been using it for several months (128GB version on 15″ Retina – 2/3 occupied, 40GB free). Better than a wire in the eye, but the area of real use is limited. I have iPhoto and iTunes libraries on it and also a Win7 disk file for Paralles Desktop. The same test program as in the article indicates a write speed of sometimes only 11MB/s, sometimes even over 40MB/s. The reading speed is stable around 80MB/s. In practice, this means that it is fine to use with iPhoto and iTunes, but it is practically impossible to run a virtualized OS from such a disk - downtime in the reactions of virtualized Win is in the order of minutes. So just to summarize - the behavior is roughly the same as a normal ordinary "flash drive" and this is how it is necessary to think about the deployment - it is almost impossible to run an OS (virtualized) from it.
Well, that makes a lot of sense. I don't know who would put a system on it. It's stupid.
... so maybe I put it there :-) because 256GB of disk space is a hell of a lot and giving a tenner for a larger internal SSD is still against me. But I have to keep the waste somewhere, and I let it out once a week, so I always have to put up with it.
if you play it once a week, isn't it better to get a 2,5″ external drive?
due to the lack of space on the internal ssd, I bought this card and cleaned up the bulky and little-used items there - that is, the disk image of the virtualized widli - I will certainly not acquire and manipulate the external disk because of this garbage.
true, why buy a 3000″ 2,5TB external drive for 2,- :-). I assume that you carry the MBP or MBA in a bag anyway... it is better to cry here that the card is not actually used to start OS virtualization. (y) thank you for making the morning pleasant, I haven't had so much fun in a long time
I was happy to bring you positive emotions ;-) … however, I don't know why you have a problem with the fact that someone else doesn't feel the need to either buy or carry an external drive. This is exactly why I wanted an SD card reader in my Rerina, so that I don't have to carry anything around and have additional space available - and of course, knowing that I'm buying cheap technology, so it won't have the same parameters as the internal SSD, and after all, I stated in the opening post, that for one of the uses (disk image of a virtualized OS) this solution is on the edge or beyond the edge. And if you find amusement in this message, you must be a very positive person. If so, I envy you without irony.
I'm also planning to buy an MBP (but I'm waiting for the next model with Broadwell series processors). the extra charge for a 512GB SSD is really a racket. This article caught my attention and the acquisition of 128GB in the form of an SD card is interesting. The truth is that I was a bit disappointed by the speeds. On the other hand, the 2,5″ disks are relatively cheap and they are not that big (in terms of size).
So I guess I'll go that route. Nowadays, you always read and listen to people criticizing and complaining somewhere, so it's much better to take things in perspective and positively :-).
That "rise" is so hideous...
How would you put it out without her?
It should be like Nifty Drive
Yes, I agree. This is definitely a better solution (even in color).
Nifty is only a reduction for micro SD cards max 128 - i.e. nifty costs 999 + 128 micro sd approx. 2300.... but the design is better with the nifta
But now I see that the price is almost twice as much :-(.
I don't know, but 128GB for 2600 will be enough for me, because My Air costs 128 and 256 disks with a difference of 5000, but the speed is somewhere else entirely... – of course you have to decide in time.
Then there is the option of buying a disk from a competitor and replacing it (but it is a slightly slower disk). I think it will be better priced than buying the original from Apple (when purchasing). I saw that it is sold quite freely in America.
I bought a 2TB disk and have quite successfully filled it up. Besides, my iTunes store is currently 800GB, so this wouldn't help me much ;-).
Just probably interesting, if someone just needs a bit of space and doesn't mind speed.
I do it in such a way that when we don't have iTunes running, I disconnect the disk and I have peace. If I want something in iTunes, I'll plug it in.
http://jablickar.cz/transcend-jetdrive-interni-uloziste-pro-macbook-nabidne-az-1-tb-mista/ – I really like this solution better. It's expensive (480GB for 9625 CZK), but it's already quite usable (even if it still wouldn't be enough for my data in iTunes ;-) ).
what about this?
http://www.alza.cz/corsair-voyager-gtx-128gb-d2121907.htm