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SYNOPSIS:
After a fast and powerful CPU, the next thing any video editor needs is storage. So we brought in a few of the hard drives designed to match the Mac mini to see how they, um, stacked up: the Maxelerate from WiebeTech, the MiniMate from Micronet, the Mini from LaCie, and the MiniStack from NewerTechnology.
the Mac mini is winning attention with its compact construction and admirable capability. For instance, it ships with iMovie HD and iDVD 5. For editors with gear just a few years old, the mini's single 1.42GHz processor and internal DVD±R/RW burner is pretty capable. The small size and near-silent operation of the mini-compared to a big, old, multi-fan tower-is also pretty desirable.
After a fast and powerful CPU, the next thing any video editor needs is storage. The size of the mini precludes cramming a 3.5" drive inside. Since some editors work with clients in the editing bay, storage that looks as good as it works has its place. So we brought in a few of the hard drives designed to match the Mac mini to see how they, uni, stacked up.
We tested (from top, as shown above) the Maxelerate from WiebeTech, the MiniMate from Micronet, the Mini from LaCie, and the MiniStack from NewerTechnology. Another entry in this category is the Pal from AcomData, but we were unable to secure one in time for this review.
STACKING UP
All four drives that we tested are designed to stack conveniently under or on top of the Mac mini (second from top). Some maintain the look of the Mac mini better than the others, but all are very similar in appearance. Three of the four drives offer both USB and FireWire hubs on the back of the drive enclosure. Having both connectivity options is critical to augment the mini's limited space for ports. If you are used to the plethora of ports available on most towers, you may be surprised that the mini only has space for one FireWire and two USB 2.0 ports, so the amount of peripherals you can connect is more limited than what you'll find on most desktop editing systems.
All the external drives rely on external power supplies. While handy in terms of...