If you use two computers, a desktop (Mac mini/iMac) for heavy work and a MacBook for mobilit, you’ve probably faced the frustrating challenge of keeping everything synced.
Whether it’s video editing projects or photography, the struggle to maintain consistency between devices can be a challenging.
Many creatives, remote workers, and tech enthusiasts deal with this issue daily. You work on one machine, only to find that the latest version of your project isn’t available on the other.
This becomes even more of a hassle when traveling or just trying to get some editing done in bed without the bulky desktop setup. Cloud solutions help, but they aren’t always practical for large files like RAW photos or video projects.
So what’s the solution? A hard drive that’s fastest enough to run an OS and large enough to keep everything on it.
How I Stumbled Upon This Idea
For a long time, I struggled with manually transferring files between my desktop and laptop using external SSDs and cloud storage. While these solutions worked to some extent, there was no way to keep the same editing workflow.
After buying a new m4 Mac mini, I wanted the base model, but it only had a 256 GB SSD. This quickly led to solution of having all my files, applications, and OS on one drive.
The Solution: OWC Enclosure
I quickly realized after reinstalling my default OS on my OWC 1M2 Portable enclosure, I was actually able to use it on any computer. By using an ultra-fast external drive as a central hub, I can keep my entire workflow portable. Instead of storing projects locally on both machines, I work directly from the OWC drive, ensuring that I always have the latest version, no matter which computer I’m using.
Since the OWC enclosure offers speeds greater than the internal SSD on the M4 Mac mini, this drive make it possible quickly open applications and edit photos and videos without lag. Plus, it’s compact enough to carry anywhere, making it perfect for travel or late-night editing sessions from bed on my M1 MacBook Air.
The Only Problem: Time
While this method solves the syncing issue, it does have one minor drawback: connection and boot-up time. Unlike an internal drive, an external solution requires an extra step: Plugging in, making sure the drive is recognized, and updating iCloud settings. It’s a small inconvenience, but it only adds a minute to boot times.
What SSD should you get?
The OWC doesn’t include an SSD, so I purchased the 2 TB Samsung Evo plus. I looked other faster drives, but due to the limitations of this Thunderbolt 4 enclosure it doesn’t really matter what SSD get.
Just make sure the drive has speeds greater than 5000 MB/sec. The Evo plus has speeds of 7800 MB/sec, great heat dispensation, and when paired with the OWC enclosure it’s silent and only slightly warm.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been juggling two computers without a proper sync strategy, an external drive like the OWC thunderbolt enclosure might be the game-changer you need. It eliminates the hassle of cloud syncing delays and manual file transfers, letting you focus on what really matters—your work.
