Problem with star ratings in Bridge

[Brian]

Here is a shot of all my EHDs that are hooked up to my Mac: 

Yours should be similar. 

[Brea]

Ok, everything is working, thanks!  I guess I've been doing it wrong for a while, but if I were to add all my photos to the internal HD I would quickly be over capacity, so a long time ago I moved them to an external drive and backed them up to time machine and backblaze.  So, to do it right, I guess I would need more storage on my Macbook?  I have a 1TB hard drive.  I'm not sure how to interpret this but here's some info on my internal drive currently:

 

 

[Brian]

The main issue is, you need A LOT more storage than you think you do! 

A Mac Computer does not distinguish between an internal or external hard drive; as far as the macOS is concerned, they are all mounted devices. What does this mean? If you go above 80% ON ANY HARD DRIVE, INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL, >>> PERFORMANCE TAKES A HIT!!! <<<

Unfortunately, I'm seeing full hard drives everywhere. You NEED like 12TB or 18TB or larger. Stop it with these smaller hard drives!!! 

As far as getting a bigger internal HD for your Mac...I've got news for you...

It's not possible.

Surprise!!!  

When Apple switched over to the Apple Silicon Chips (M1-M4, and soon to be M5,) there is no upgrading after the fact. Why? Because the HD controller chip is built into the CPU Chip itself. The only HD media that works with the Apple Silicon is Apple HDs, and guess who doesn't sell Apple Internal HDs? Apple!! Same thing with RAM, what you buy is what you get. If you want to add more RAM or get a bigger internal HD, you are buying a whole new computer. Think of the new Mac Desktops / Laptops as glorified iPads; if you find that you want more RAM or bigger HD a few years down the line after the initial purchase, you are SOL. Upgrading RAM & HD? That thinking was 20-30 years ago. Now they want you buying new computers sooner, rather than later. Fun Times...

This is why I configure my recommendations of WTB as I do, yes...they are expensive, but there is a "Method to my Madness." I'd rather have you fork out more money up-front, and grow into your purchase and have it last as long as possible. When I configure my computers, I have a 7-8 year lifespan in mind. Otherwise, you are buying a new computer every 18-24 months, if Apple had their way. 

So what do I recommend?

Honestly? I'd get a Sandisk 18TB Thunderbolt HD and hook it up to a TB port on your Mac. The Throughput on a TB Drive is like working off an internal HD, even if it's a spinning EHD. Then store your images there. Now, I'm sure you just clicked that link and said out loud,

"$693 for a fucking EHD? Are you serious?!?!!!" 

I'm dead serious. $693 (plus tax) is WAAAAAAAAAYYYY cheaper than forking out $4000-$5000 for a new Mac.