What is the difference between the La Cie 2TB drive and the mini?

Okay, the first one is a backup drive for use with Time Machine, etc, and the second is a computer ( a Macintosh) with limited built in storage capacity( eg, an SSD or in older models, a Fusion Drive or a hard drive) , with the older models you could have possibly upgraded it after you bought it, the newer models, no. They are built-to order, all one piece… before you bought it… yes… afterwards, no.

John B

That would be a question for LaCie, however if you provide the links to the 2 specific drives you are looking at, we can probably tell you the difference.

I assume you are not referring to a Mac Mini are you?

lovesdablues wrote:

Thank you. I decided to just purchase the regular 2 TB from Apple.

The difference is probably just in the physical size. But i have found some and its also likely the mini is an SSD (solid state drive) and the regular one is an HDD (mechanical, with moving internal parts).

For Time Machine backups, it doesn’t really matter.

lovesdablues Said:

"I want to buy a suitable external back up drive, and I am not sure which one to purchase."

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About Backing Up:

Save the data elsewhere, and then format it to APFS format using Disk Utility in Recovery Mode

Refer to these Links:

• General Info: Back up and Restore your Mac - Apple Support
• Backing Ups: How to Backup your Mac - Apple Support
• Restoring: Restore your Mac from a Backup - Apple Support

Which Drive to Get:

Purchase an external drive 1.5 times the internal storage. Make sure that the original packaging reads that it is compatible with the macOS.

So, what to Do:

Use Time Machine Backup - and not a third party app. You would....

1. Open: Disk Utility***
2. Erase: the drive
3. Format: with APFS format (for macOS13 and after) or Mac OS Extended (for macOS 10.12 or earlier).

***To Open Disk Utility: Go to: Applications > Utilities

lovesdablues wrote:

Oh my, I thought this forum existed for users to get answers and support from other users.

It sure does, and more than one reader invited you to post links to product to compare and contrast for you.

But do ALL your research for you ?

Sorry, that is a bit more than the volunteers here are ready to take on.

MAC PRO 2019 constantly ejects external hard drives, including:

24T, La Cie - 2Big, thunderbolt Drive

2 tb, La Cie - mini thunderbolt Drive,

8tb, OWC - NVME thunderbolt drive

Clent's - external hard drives

Apple is aware of this.

Amazon search is known for being divergent. A search for wheat also brings up page after page after page of chaff.

YOU go on Amazon, and post links to the drives you are considering.

oh +1 !