[reststop]

I've had my Mini 9 for 2+ years now, and have waited (apparently in vain) for SSD drive prices to fall. So, it seems there are STEC, RunCore, Super Talent and KingSpec that seem to advertize for the Mini 9.

Prices seem to put RunCore a bit above the rest. Is it worth the extra money for reliability or speed?

I currently have a 16GB STEC and it has been reliable. I just have so much trouble with space with each upgrade that I've actually done the last 4 upgrades to an external USB drive, leaving my internal drive with 10.5.11, and my external on 10.6.4.

As I am about to upgrade to 10.6.8 (?) I am wondering if now is the time to get a larger SSD and install the upgrade on that, or even backup and wipe my 10.5.11 SSD and install 10.6.0 then upgrade with the combo 10.6.8 upgrade.

DO we have any data on the reliability of RunCore vs anyone else, and how well other people have fared with 16GB, 32GB, 64GB or even 128GB SSD cards?

[holmes4]

Prices will not fall on these. While I have myself no issues with the RunCore 64GB I installed 2.5 years ago, all brands have had issues. Kingspec is an underperformer. I will note that the larger drives perform better. RunCore discontinued ther 128GB drive.

[reststop]

Ok, good to know. I was considering the KingSpec on price, but it now looks like I should go with either the RunCore or Super Talent. Just need to decide if I want to spend the money for the 64GB or go with 32GB.

I was even considering getting a used Mini 9 with a 32GB STEC SSD for around 150, assuming the price didn't skyrocket on eBay. But my wife isn't interested in trying to work on the Mini 9's tiny screen or weird keyboard ;-) so it's back to looking at just SSD cards.

[grungysquash]

My recommendation is not to buy a bigger SSD but to investigate other laptop solutions. The cost for upgrading effectivly a 3 year old laptop even one as clever as the mini 9 is really a waste of cash.

As far as livespan is concerned I concr with Holmes I have two runcore 64gig SSD's running in two mini 9's both now over 2 years old with no problems, failures etc. One is running win 7 the other OSX, I have to admit while I do still enjoy the mini 9 - I'm typing on it right now if the SSD failed (OK I have spare 16gig SSD's which came with these units) I would not proceed with a new replacment runcore SSD.

As a side note - of the 3 mini 9's I purchased one had died not through SSD failure but motherboard failure, the other two run 100% perfect.

[holmes4]

I agree with grungysquash - I would not put more money into a Mini 9 today, especially not what a large SSD costs. I love my Mini 9 and it has been trouble-free for three years now, but its time has passed.

[lswartz]

Unless you can run OSX on a variety of laptops, a new SSD doesn't seem to be too $$ considering what apple laptops cost. For Linux & Windows users, I have to agree that I would also be looking at a new mini/laptop. If you think that you might need a new battery as well then I would only be looking at a new mini/laptop.

How about just getting a 16 GB SDHC & putting all you extra files & downloads on it? I have a smaller SDHC that never comes out of my Mini & haven't had a space problem yet.

Added.
Maybe I missed something here. Does upgrading OSX on you Mini really take more then 16 GB?