Etiqueta: storage

HOW TO USE A 64 GB IPAD EVERY DAY AND STILL HAVE SPACE LEFT OVER

FIRST: AN IPAD IS NEITHER AN IPHONE NOR A STORAGE UNIT

iPad Air 5

The way you use an iPad is not the same as how you use an iPhone.

>The iPhone always goes with you in your pocket, the iPad does not.
>The iPhone is your photo and video camera, the iPad is not.
>The iPhone is your main MESSAGING device, the iPad is not.
>The iPad is your video editor, the iPhone is not.
>The iPad is your device for watching videos and browsing the Internet, the iPhone is not.

The iPad should not be a storage unit. You should:

  • Only have the necessary apps
  • Have some «cloud» to store multimedia and files. A flash drive also works.

I HAVE MORE THAN 21 GB (OF 64) FREE


Firstly, I control the apps I need and not one more. Even so, I have Telegram and Signal duplicated on iPhone and iPad, but not WhatsApp (fortunately, there is no WhatsApp for iPad).

Secondly, my photos and videos go from the iPhone to a cloud and are always available there.

Thirdly, when I edit videos on the iPad, I save them on an external SSD drive.

Fourthly, every few months, I empty the chats of Telegram and Signal that accumulate photos, videos, etc., and also clear Safari’s cache.

Fifthly, my iCloud is half empty because the photos go to another cloud and documents or PDFs as well.

It’s true that I don’t play games and only have a small game on the iPhone for boring waits.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE ENOUGH SPACE ON THE IPHONE, LESS IS NEEDED ON THE IPAD

If you have at least 128 GB on your iPhone and some cloud, you can manage with 64GB on the iPad.

THE CHALLENGING TASK OF CHOOSING AN EXCELLENT, EFFICIENT, AND AFFORDABLE EXTERNAL SSD

External disks

First Things First: What’s the Purpose?

Why would one need an external SSD?

Well, the reasons are aplenty:

  1. To seamlessly edit videos directly on the iPad, without encroaching upon its internal storage.
  2. To effortlessly manipulate photos, all while conserving valuable disk space.
  3. To swiftly transfer and safeguard files downloaded from the PC.

To Facilitate Seamless Video Editing, the SSD Must Possess Exceptional Read and Write Speeds.

While this may seem like common knowledge, it’s actually quite intricate. The speed is contingent upon various factors:

  • The device’s motherboard.
  • The USB connection port and its speed (both on the computer and the SSD).
  • The quality of the cable employed.
  • The transfer speed capabilities of the SSD.
  • The disk format: there are formats optimized for Apple devices that deliver superior performance but are incompatible with PCs. If compatibility is a concern, the ExFAT format is recommended, albeit with a slight sacrifice in speed.

For instance, consider my current external SSD, a somewhat outdated 250GB Sandisk Extreme, which exhibits varying transfer speeds when used with an iPad Air versus a PC.

Sandisk Extreme

State-of-the-Art SSDs Often Clearly Indicate Their Performance Characteristics.

However, it’s imperative to ensure these speeds translate effectively to YOUR devices. As previously mentioned, the interplay between ports, chips, and cables can significantly impact performance. The USB-C port on the iPad Air, for instance, boasts a maximum transfer speed of 1250 MB/s.

WD disk

Conducting Speed Tests for SSDs: PC and iPad

Undoubtedly, there is a wider range of speed tests available for PCs compared to the iPad.

One particularly popular benchmarking tool is CRYSTALDISK MARK (as mentioned earlier).

Disk Test PC

Unfortunately, for the iPad, options are limited, and I have only come across a single test:

Disk Test on iPad
According to this test, the same SSD operates at half the speed on the iPad compared to a PC.

Disk Test iPad


Once the desire for an SSD with commendable speeds arises, one is confronted with the quandary of price and storage capacity.

Certainly, there are enticing deals to be found, such as those on Amazon. However, exercising caution and patience while scrutinizing options is necessary to find the SSD that perfectly suits your requirements.

Personally, I find it helpful to peruse YouTube videos featuring detailed reviews of each model I’m interested in. It’s worth noting that these reviews predominantly focus on popular models and well-known brands, and one must remain vigilant against mere marketing tactics.

Rest assured, when I finally make my SSD purchase, I will create an informative video to elucidate my decision-making process.

The Conundrum of Size: Is 1 TB Essential When 250 GB Suffices?

In my case, a 250GB Sandisk SSD has served me well for years without running out of storage space. I don’t consider myself a prolific video producer.

Nevertheless, it’s worth mentioning that larger capacity drives command higher price tags. However, there are occasional offers, like those from CRUCIAL, which provide 1 TB at the price of 500 GB.

Generally, 1 TB drives start around €80, while 500 GB options begin at approximately €60. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to consider that speeds can vary significantly, necessitating careful examination.

Ideally, a perfect SSD for me would offer 250 GB of storage, boast speeds of 1000 MB/s, and be available starting at €40. Is such a solution too good to be true?

While not readily abundant, I believe I have finally discovered the sole SSD that meets these exacting criteria.

For further details, stay tuned for my upcoming post.