[lokie]

Looking at this one:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/VLU2SD22XLS/

I am most concerned with ripping quality, error correction, etc..   

Any thoughts good or bad with this choice?

Thanks,

Doug

[Levi]

If it's me, I would try to replace it with OEM.

However it's your money so Go for It! 

[Mike Nomad]

I'd take out the slot drive and put a second hard drive in, and get a good external burner (I'm partial to Plextor & Pioneer).

[Crimson]

I'd take out the slot drive and put a second hard drive in, and get a good external burner (I'm partial to Plextor & Pioneer).

+1

[Levi]

That's actually an ingenious idea. Hopefully you don't have problem reloading the OS in the future. Computers are wierd most of the time.

[Levi]

Looking at my MBP, I think this idea is better for laptops.  Mini's normally does not travel external drives are more convenient and proves to have more capacity.  So, I take that back. 

[Pez]

Why get an internal burner or just a second hard drive drive when you can get both!!!!
 
http://www.mcetech.com/optibay

[Levi]

Why get an internal burner or just a second hard drive drive when you can get both!!!!
 
http://www.mcetech.com/optibay

I would buy one soon when I upgraded my MBP to SSHD. 

[lokie]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm glad I posted the question.

Regarding having a second hard drive:

On a dedicated music only mini, how are/would you split up the tasks between the two drives for optimum sonics?

Anybody hearing improvements with SSD? If you put a SSD on one of the drives, would that change the tasks configuration?

Thanks again,

Doug

[Mike Nomad]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm glad I posted the question.

Regarding having a second hard drive:

On a dedicated music only mini, how are/would you split up the tasks between the two drives for optimum sonics?

Anybody hearing improvements with SSD? If you put a SSD on one of the drives, would that change the tasks configuration?

Thanks again,

Doug

Put the OS & Apps on the 1st drive. Music, movies, etc. on the 2nd.

Not sure what you mean by 'tasks configuration.'

[Mike Nomad]

That's actually an ingenious idea. Hopefully you don't have problem reloading the OS in the future. Computers are wierd most of the time.

Loading the OS from an external disc / disk drive has never been a problem.

[lokie]

Put the OS & Apps on the 1st drive. Music, movies, etc. on the 2nd.

Well... that's what what I'm doing now with my external hard drive.

Looking at my MBP, I think this idea is better for laptops.  Mini's normally does not travel external drives are more convenient and proves to have more capacity.  So, I take that back. 

Sorry for being a little illiterate but I'm not following you on this. Would you mind explaining: "MBP" and "Mini's normally does not travel..."?

I am also thinking that external drives would be more convenient w more capacity flexibility. But, since the gang above are in agreement with having a second internal hard drive, I feel like I'm not understanding something.  Maybe a cleaner package and using my external as the backup?? I don't see any sonic advantages.

Thanks

[Crimson]

MBP = MacBook Pro.

I think he's commenting on the fact that the two drive solution is probably better suited for laptops, and I agree. The Mini is not really meant to be a portable machine and, as such, can do quite well with external drives. And as you mentioned, it gives you greater flexibility with drive size.

[skunark]

Well... that's what what I'm doing now with my external hard drive.

Sorry for being a little illiterate but I'm not following you on this. Would you mind explaining: "MBP" and "Mini's normally does not travel..."?

I am also thinking that external drives would be more convenient w more capacity flexibility. But, since the gang above are in agreement with having a second internal hard drive, I feel like I'm not understanding something.  Maybe a cleaner package and using my external as the backup?? I don't see any sonic advantages.

Thanks

It all depends on the amount of music/media you have but external drives give you the best flexibility for storage.  I believe there's a few folks with USB DACs that have experienced problems when connecting up a USB HDD and a DAC.   That hasn't been an issue with my mac mini though.

I think picking up a USB or FW cd-rom is fine.  If you have an apple store close by you might ask them about it and the brand of drive.   Normally they can swap it out overnight.   I've had to replace my cd-rom drive on my old mac mini because someone pressed down on the top while there was a disc spinning inside.  I can only assume that was the cause.

You can also just disconnect the USB cd-rom when not needed.

My approach is to typically use three drives:
1) boot OS - internal
2) Media Drive(s) - external
3) Time Machine drive - external - size needs to be 1.5 that of 1 and 2

For the external drives, I prefer to use the mobile, bus-powered drives to minimize any chance of getting a noisy wall-wart, but lately I've had to switch my backup drive to a g-tech and went with FW800 on that one.  This probably means I'm back to wall-warts when I fill up my media drives unless the capacities on the 2.5" drives double again soon.

[Levi]

+1

MBP = MacBook Pro.

I think he's commenting on the fact that the two drive solution is probably better suited for laptops, and I agree. The Mini is not really meant to be a portable machine and, as such, can do quite well with external drives. And as you mentioned, it gives you greater flexibility with drive size.

[lokie]

Git it- Thanks.