Just Re-visiting this topic - does anyone 'in the know' know if external Thunderbolt SSD's at reasonable prices are on their way any time soon?

I know there are other solutions for storage but really want to hold out for Thunderbolt SSDs, but apart form Lacie's too expensive offering, I see no discussion / info on the Web suggesting further imminent releases, or even a user demand for Thunderbolt SSDs.

Any info from anyone in the know would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Kevin.

any time soon?


No.


they will only happen as SSD technology matures and becomes the norm, rather than the extreme...


this will take some time, more likely a couple of years, not the next six months.


there are devices available now, and more will come along (especially when Western Digital are fully back up to speed after their recent flooding) , but the price will not be coming down all that quickly...


you could look at some of the hybrid drive technologies..... the sorts of thing with say 4GB SSD and 1-2 TB platter based storage all in one device....

if they get it right, it ought to give near on SSD performance, with Platter sized storage.

I'm a very rare visitor to the SOS forums these days - bought a modular so some of you may know where I waste my time ...

But, whenever I do visit, if I ever see a thread on the Mac forum asking about the v latest, fastest tech that's going to be future-proofed for say the next 5 years I think 'I'm guessing that's Kevin Nolan...'

I'm not having a go but what on earth are you doing that requires this kind of I/O performance?

If you're doing HD video production using RED 2K files, fine - and if you are maybe a video production forum would be a better place to ask?

SSDs are still nowhere near mainstream, until they are prices will only decline slowly - 4 of them in an array, irrespective of interface is going to be £1,000'ish

As Chris said

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I don't think any of us can comprehend the sheer amount of I/O performance Kevin needs...

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Well look Steveman, this is a technology forum - so I think the default 'OK' situation is to be interested in - 'technology'. And - music technology pushes the boundary so I also think it's OK to ask about the latest technologies.

But in my view you're a tad incorrect in your appraisal - I accept that SSDs are not the norm (yet) - but they are are not in the situation you propose. For example, I purchased (albeit expensive) a MBP with a 500GB SSD last summer (and it is jaw-droppingly impressive in its performance and hence while I'll wait for SSDs from here on in). Furthermore, even smart phones and iPads and other tablets are build around SSDs so they are here now and to stay.


The only issue is capacity - and this is fairly close too (as in getting big capacities relatively cheap). Similarly - given the hype about Thunderbolt and its apperance on all Macs, I think its reasonable to expect Thunderbold devices soon too.


So with respect, I think you appraisal of my post is unfair - surely it is reasonable to post to an forum like this every 3 months or so to see if there is anyone in the know with latest info or insight?

(thanks Off Duty BBQ Lighter... for your pointers)

Kevin.

I just noticed that Lacie are about to release a 1TB Thunderbolt external HD (7200rpm):

http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10549


Would this be worth considering over a USB2 7200rpm disk (for using Komplete 8 and for Logic recording).


Kevin.

Quote Kevin Nolan:

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So I'll live without installing my Eastwest Libraries and recently arrived Komplete 8 Ultimate until SSDs are available - as it stands I have a load of libraries on the machine, and though still only getting used to it, even on this one drive Logic Pro runs without blinking.

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That makes absolutely no sense! So instead of having your sample library installed on a mechanical disk, you would rather not have it installed at all! Just because it takes a few seconds extra to load?! What the ...

Yeah SSDs are amazing and totally drag computers out of the dark ages, but with sample libraries they either work or they don't work, and modern mechanical drives are good enough for huge amounts of polyphony as it is. Yes a little bit more loading time, but 800 quid to save 10 seconds when you load a project? Get a grip!

Hi Johnny -

Thanks for your reply - and I'm totally willing to be shot down if I've got it a bit wrong - but for better or for worse, I'm actually relatively inexperience with using DAW environment, plugins and sample packages (even though I own many of them). I own a sophisticated project studio and believe it or not, to date, I have done all work - including many media projects - on hardware sequencers and ADAT (a combination of SY99, QY700 and OASYS sequencers and ADAT all synced via a BRC). (to date I have still never completed one piece in Logic Pro because I'm till configuring / integrating this MBP into my current set up).

I am very hardware orientated and simply found computers not up to the task of integrating with large amounts of hardware synthesizers (to my satisfaction) till recently and hence find myself genuinely lagging w.r.t computer experience in music.

In recent years I used a Dell Laptop with Adobe Audition to master my projects - and though that worked well, the absolute bain of the system has been USB External Hard disks. In particular, they all seem to 'switch off' if inactive for a short while, and hence I found them quite poor for audio.

So it's the USB aspect of external hard disks more than the mechanical versus SSD issue that I'm most fearful about using USB 2 disks. Hence when I saw the thunderbolt 7200 rpm disks mentioned above (and well after the comment you point to which was about avoiding USB2 external disks in particular) that's why I reposted here just recently to find opinion on whether it'd be OK for Komplete 8 Ultimate - and would still value your and other thoughts on if this particular Hard Disk would be useful to house and use NI Komplete 8 Ultimate - that's a heavy package and honestly I can't see USB 2 managing it but perhaps Thunderbolt 7200 rpm disks can (and also housing East West Orchestra XP Pro, Symphonic Choirs, Pianos, RA, Stromdrum and Voices of Passion too!!!).

lastly - the SSD disk in the MBP is absolutely incredible - this alone makes it hard to ever want to go back to spinning HD's.

But my need for advice from those with actual experience of USB 2 external disks for housing large packages and for Logic Pro recording is very real - and I'm personally very sceptical - but wonder if Thunderbolt 7200 rpm disks will be noticeably better (and indeed adequate to the task)?

Cheers,
Kevin.

Quote Kevin Nolan:

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So it's the USB aspect of external hard disks more than the mechanical versus SSD issue that I'm most fearful about using USB 2 disks. Hence when I saw the thunderbolt 7200 rpm disks mentioned above (and well after the comment you point to which was about avoiding USB2 external disks in particular) that's why I reposted here just recently to find opinion on whether it'd be OK for Komplete 8 Ultimate - and would still value your and other thoughts on if this particular Hard Disk would be useful to house and use NI Komplete 8 Ultimate - that's a heavy package and honestly I can't see USB 2 managing it but perhaps Thunderbolt 7200 rpm disks can (and also housing East West Orchestra XP Pro, Symphonic Choirs, Pianos, RA, Stromdrum and Voices of Passion too!!!).

lastly - the SSD disk in the MBP is absolutely incredible - this alone makes it hard to ever want to go back to spinning HD's.

But my need for advice from those with actual experience of USB 2 external disks for housing large packages and for Logic Pro recording is very real - and I'm personally very sceptical - but wonder if Thunderbolt 7200 rpm disks will be noticeably better (and indeed adequate to the task)?

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USB2 is not suitable for SSD use at its way too slow. It maxes out at about 25-30 Mb per second. A normal mechanical hard drive goes way faster than that, and a SSD up to 20x faster, so don't do it!

Most elegant option is to remove the cd drive from the macbook and install a big internal mechnical hard drive, will take care of all your storage needs.