Question 1

What's the difference between this mini and the thunderbolt?

Accepted Answer

If I understand the question, the only difference between the two drives is that the one you are referencing has a USB 3.0 port, and the other has a Thunderbolt port.  The drives themselves are identical.  If you have a computer with a USB port, of any generation, the drive with the USB 3.0 port will work well with it.  The drive is fastest when it's plugged into a USB 3.0 port, but is backwards compatible with a USB 2.0 port.  The drive with the Thunderbolt port will work only with a computer that also has a Thunderbolt port.  Thunderbolt is faster than USB, but is not yet in really wide use.  Step one:  Determine which ports your computer has.  The LaCie drive itself is a gem, regardless of which port it uses.  (P.S.  Some drives have BOTH USB and Thunderbolt connectivity.)

Question 2

Is this a solid-state (flash storage) drive?

Accepted Answer

I searched Amazon for a LaCie solid state (SSD)  external portable drive and was brought to this page.  Most of the reviews don't mention SSD and it appears that all the reviews for the several different models of this LaCie external drive are combined together. So, 4 people said no, this is not about drives with SSD, and then one person said yes. Far more people are not going to have an SSD model because it's WAY more expensive. Most people will prefer to get one that is in the $150-$250 price range at most. The ones with SSD cost a lot more than that. And worth it too if you have the money because they are so fast, no comparison.  If i scroll up from this Question section, this is what is at the top of the auction page but again these same questions and reviews will show up no matter which model  you search for, with a different name at the top:
LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 SSD 1TB Portable Hard Drive LAC9000602

Question 3

can i have a new macbook pro. can i get either the thunderbolt usb-c or the usb-c?

Accepted Answer

A USB-C hard drive is compatible with Thunderbolt 3 ports on a Mac, so this will work. Also works of course with USB-C ports, and older USB 3.0 ports using supplied cable.

Question 4

How does usbc differ from the thunderbolt usb-c option? i see thunderbolt usbc is more expensive

Accepted Answer

USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 share the same physical connection type (USB-C).  USB-C devices can be connected to Thunderbolt 3 ports, as TB3 supports USB-C devices. However, TB3 drives cannot be connected to USB-C ports on computer. So, this USB-C drive will connect to USB-C ports, Thunderbolt 3 ports, or using included cable, USB 3.0/2.0 ports.

ASIN	B01MSSJ32J
Additional Features	Drop Resistant, Dust Resistant, Portable, Rain Resistant, Shock Resistant
Best Sellers Rank	#10 in External Hard Drives
Brand	LaCie
Built-In Media	External Hard Drive, Quick Start Guide, Usb-c Cable
Cache Memory Installed Size	4
Color	Orange
Compatible Devices	Desktop, Laptop, Mac, MacBook, Pc
Connectivity Technology	USB
Customer Package Type	Standard Packaging
Customer Reviews	4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (3,051)
Data Transfer Rate	5 gigabits_per_second
Digital Storage Capacity	4 TB
Enclosure Material	Aluminum, Polycarbonate, Rubber
Form Factor	Portable
Global Trade Identification Number	00763649111697, 03660619400164
Hard Disk Description	Mechanical Hard Disk
Hard Disk Form Factor	2.5 inches
Hard Disk Interface	USB 3.0
Hard Disk Rotational Speed	5400 rpm
Hard-Drive Size	4 TB
Hardware Connectivity	USB 3.0 Type C, USB Type C
Hardware Platform	Mac, PC, Windows
Installation Type	External Hard Drive
Item Dimensions L x W x Thickness	3.5"L x 2.3"W x 0.87"Th
Item Length	2.6 centimeters
Item Type Name	LaCie Rugged USB-C and USB 3.0 4TB Portable Hard Drive - STFR4000800
Item Weight	8.8 ounces
Item Width	8.6 centimeters
Manufacturer	LaCie
Media Speed	130
Mfr Part Number	STFR4000800
Model Name	Rugged Usb-c
Model Number	Stfr4000800
Number of Items	1
Read Speed	130 megabytes_per_second
Specific Uses For Product	Backup, Data Storage, Mac Compatible
UPC	763649111697
Unit Count	1 Count
Warranty Description	2 Year Limited

Rugged USB-C, 4TB, Portable External Hard Drive, Drop, Shock, Dust, Rain Resistant, for Mac & PC (STFR4000800)

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