MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.
Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1256627
The Solid State Of Storage Western Digital Presents: Sandisk's Extreme Pro Portable SSD & Gtechnology's Gdrive Mobile SSD By Thomas Bender As the capture technology for creative professionals continues to evolve, file sizes are expanding right along with them. Just take a look at the picture files from modern smartphones compared with a couple of years ago to see how file sizes have ballooned. And with the general availability of 4K-ready video devices on the rise, consumers are going to be expecting 4K content as the new standard. Photographers and videographers need to be ready with cutting edge content in cutting edge formats, and all that data needs to be stored somewhere. While most creatives are hopefully using a cloud-based solution for storing their final portfolio pieces, the online transfer speeds leave a lot to be desired. For works in progress and more frequent backups, physical storage is still the most convenient and affordable solution. Luckily, while file sizes are getting bigger, the actual devices to hold that storage are actually getting smaller. Western Digital, a name synonymous with file storage, has a couple of different products for creative individuals working with large file sizes. For sleek, on the go storage, an Extreme PRO Portable SSD from Sandisk is the way to go, while creators seeking a slightly more rugged option may opt for the G-DRIVE Mobile SSD. Extreme Pro Portable SSD by Sandisk The Extreme Pro Portable SSD by Sandisk has been upgraded to incorporate USB-C and NVMe (non-volatile memory express) storage technology to operate as fast as the SSD drives found in your laptop. As long as your own computer's hardware is up to the task, the Extreme Pro Portable SSD can hit transfer speeds of 1050 megabits per second. That makes it easier for professionals to work directly from the external drive, making edits to the files on the drive instead of transferring back and forth between your local drive and the external drive. The drive operates on a USB-C connection and comes with cables for both USB-C and USB-A drives if your computer is still lagging behind the USB-C trend. Other than a single cable, there is nothing else you need to get up and running. At less than half an inch thick, this thing is also truly pocketable. It's smaller than a smartphone, measuring 4.3" by 2.3", and it can really go anywhere. Sandisk has put some thought into the aesthetics as well, making more than just an aluminum box. While there isn't much more to the SSD, it still looks nice sitting next to your laptop at your local coffee shop. The Extreme Pro Portable SSD is IP55 certifi ed for mild water and dust resistance, but you should still try not to spill your coffee on it. An aluminum core at the center provides both heat dissipation and protection, while a silicone cover gives this drive 2 meters of drop protection.