Computer drive question

[CricketSail]

Everything in my life Big has got to get Small (really small). I have been used to my tower Mac Pro, two monitors forever. I'm transitioning to an iPhone for mobile communications, and have decided that I will swap the old Mac Pro for a new iMac (2.7GHz Quad-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB 1TB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm). The issue is customizing the drive for something that will be bouncing all over place. I want loading speeed - don't we all - but also plenty of storage for all those photos I'm going to take. Should I configure with Fusion, all Flash, or leave as is?
1TB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm as is ?
1TB Fusion Drive [Add $250.00] ?
or
256GB Flash Storage [Add $300.00] ?
Any thoughts on this?

[Rufflesgurl]

Are you still working? Wondering why you need a big tower, etc. I've had a MacBook Pro laptop for the longest - has almost 9000 pix (and still adding) as does my newer MacAir which s what I take along in the RV now - lighter and easier to carry. Also always have iPhone and some times iPad mini which takes great pictures! Hope you find the right setup for you.

Linda

[avalen]

got rid of my tower a few years ago and use a laptop. I use the cloud for all my storage and also burned all my photos onto cd. My games
are copied on flash drives and I also use memory cards. My son has a laptop but he also has a external terrabyte drive for storage. He's
tried to talk me into getting a terrabyte as well, says it will hold everything for me for the rest of my life. I just don't want to make the
purchase, the way I do it now works for me.

[Bethers]

When I started out on the road, I was running a business from my computer - and did so on a laptop with just the basics and a good external hard drive to save everything to. I'd never go back - and, in fact, while I travel with two laptops, I rarely use them except when working (and don't run the business as much as before) - instead use my phone (I know, most hate typing on their phones, but I've gotten used to it), my Nook HD, or my other pad (yes, I've got way too much when it comes to this stuff - but I use it all lol (I actually had to get the 2nd computer when there were problems with the first - but got the first fixed - that's the only reason for two of them ... one is in storage ... but there should/when I need it).

Really, isn't a reason anymore for all the bulky stuff. Just my thoughts.

[JudyJB]

I have two laptops that I use for teaching online and storing photos (one primary and one cheaper backup), plus I use a couple of external hard drives for backup storage. I swap them out and keep one backup hard drive at my son's house.

I keep them in storage sleeves and the primary one is in a soft sleeve and in a small laptop backpack. The backup is in a closet with my jackets, so it is well-padded. I put the primary one in a place where it will not fall as I drive, and it has been fine for over a year. (Other than my hard drive dying once, but that was not due to travel.) Some laptops are tougher than others, however, such as the Dell Latitude. I would think they would all be tougher than a tower because they are built for travel and you can more easily put them in a padded compartment.

You can get a lot of speed and power in a laptop these days, although you will probably have to order one, instead of buying an off-the-shelf model.

[CricketSail]

Well thanks, you tech savvy women. I think the iMac will do fine since it's a bit less expensive than the laptop, and it's still giving me twice as much as the tower did. I also got am iPhone this week. It will all be great, but new tech systems make me grumpy until I get used to them. I got a stylus for the iPhone today, but then it downloaded a new interface. I will be doing some work with this, but everything in my life is electronic connection, so I just have to get with it and upgrade so I'm not "lost", wherever I am. See you all on the road. - Sharon & pups

[Redwahine]

I have had a couple iMacs! But then got a Mac MIni. This compact desktop computer is about the size of an iTV box. You can get the power, speed and space you want. I use external drives for photo storage beyond the over 1,000 that are on my current iPhoto on the hard drive. You can use any monitor(s) you already have. Or connect to your TV. I love how portable and flexible it is for RV travel.

Here is a link; https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/