External FireWire Hard Drive advice please

[dcv]

OK so the iMac is b0rked and I desperately need to back it up before I take it in for repair.

I currently have a LaCie Porsche design external FW drive, which is fine, but I need more space.
I could buy another one, or I could build myself an external drive.

I like the look of the Trans International miniG FireWire 400 enclosure

It supports up to a 500GB 3.5" ATA hard disk, which I think should be sufficient to cover my 250GB iMac, plus 60GB PowerBook (or upgrade to 120GB MacBook/Pro or whatever in the future) plus a possible Mac Mini purchase.

I've found it for £81.08 at MacUpgrades - is this a good price? Or can anyone suggest any alternative but similar looking FW400 enclosures? Links to UK sites please!


Next question: which 500GB hard disk should I buy, what should the specs be (7,200 rpm?), how much should it cost and where's a good place to buy from? A quick search seems to suggest Seagate as a good manufacturer but the prices/links I've found on MR are for non-UK sites.


Please help this damsel in distress! Thanks

 

[Blue Velvet]

Ok, having built a couple for work recently (2 x500gb) I can recommend Icy Box enclosures from www.overclock.co.uk. There's all sorts of colours and types of interfaces, ones with blue lights and ones without. Takes about 10 mins from opening the boxes to having them up and working.

Drives I get from www.dabs.com/uk
(Seagates)

 

[dcv]

Thanks BV... I do rather like that miniG though!

You mean something like this Seagate from dabs.com? Is £174 for that a 'normal' price for 500GB? I have *no* clue...



(you see I could just be a tight-arse and get that other LaCie disk for about £85ish but this will only backup the iMac; mind you I already have the BabyBook™ backup sorted and still some space left over for the future Mac mini)

 

[Blue Velvet]

No, most enclosures take ATA drives, not SATA drives... the main difference between the two is merely a different connection although you could get a SATA enclosure if you want. It may be more future-proof that way...

One reason why I like the Icy-Box enclosures is no fans in them. Much quieter... I go for silence over looks any day (but not in men ).

I don't mind giving you a hand if you want... you know where you can find me.

Something like this would be ideal for these enclosures...
http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=44FH

 

[dcv]

No, most enclosures take ATA drives, not SATA drives... the main difference between the two is merely a different connection although you could get a SATA enclosure if you want. It may be more future-proof that way...

*ooops* you mean I found the wrong type of disk? Told you I knew nothing!

Thanks for your help BV, I'll have a look at your suggestions.


The more I think about it though, perhaps just having 2 LaCie disks (i.e. separate backup drives) would be 'safer' than having everything in one place. My existing LaCie disk would be redundant you see. Hmmmm.

I go for silence over looks any day (but not in men ).

 

[dogsbody]

WD My Book External HD

Hi,

The Western Digital My Book HDs are good and look nice - they even have a little light dial on the front that shows the capacity used. I think the 500Gb one is about £180 exVAT (being from Guernsey I don't pay it, but I do get reamed on shipping).

They do 3 types - Essential, Premier and Pro (or something like that) with either USB2; USB2/FW400 and USB2/FW400&800.

Nice and black and very small - can imagine slowly increasing the collection of them just to fill a shelf above the computer!

http://www.dabs.com/productview.asp...&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

Justin.

 

[iGav]

I like the look of the Trans International miniG FireWire 400 enclosure

I know this is breaking my staying off MR for a couple of months promise to myself, but that's hideous. Truly.

Why don't you just buy a 500GB drive, and swap it over with the one currently in the Porsche case?