I'm running out of disk space on my PB

[EssentialParado]

I have a 80GB (real space=75GB) HDD on my PowerBook G4, and I only have 4GB left! I was in this problem a while back when my music library reached 25GB, so I bought a 300GB Firewire drive to cover myself. I managed to move some stuff over there and it was fine for a while.

But now my music library is 40GB (I work in the music industry you see), and it's taking up most of the space. But I don't want to move my music onto my FW drive, because I like my music to be available at all times.

What do you think I should do? Do you think I should go at my other files and move them across to the other drive, or should I do something else?

One friend suggested I keep my high quality files on my 300GB drive for desktop listening, but make low quality files for laptop listening. While that does make sense, it's gonna be a real problem having to import 2 different formats all the time, let alone having to transfer one type to another drive, plus all the problems relating to my iTunes library. Maybe there's some kind of fangled thing I can do with syncing?

-Luke

 

[gman71882]

Seagate just released a 160 GB notebook drive with a 5 year warranty for $245. NewEgg has the best price
Looks like you would be a great candidate to switch out your HD's.

Ifixit.com has all the guides you would need to do the change out.

NewEGG.com segate drive

 

[ibilly]

I would also like to knowif there is such a utility... one that preserved playlists and all, preferably ipod savvy

 

[generik]

1) Geez, stop pirating music.

I don't care who you are, nobody has 40gb of legitimate tunes. Nobody.

2) You don't need all your music everywhere. A laptop is small for a reason, don't believe all that fad about how laptops are replacing desktops yada yada, I have a 2TB Raid 5 drive array under my desk, last I checked there isn't even a RAID solution for any portable to date

 

[EssentialParado]

1) Geez, stop pirating music.

I don't care who you are, nobody has 40gb of legitimate tunes. Nobody.

2) You don't need all your music everywhere. A laptop is small for a reason, don't believe all that fad about how laptops are replacing desktops yada yada, I have a 2TB Raid 5 drive array under my desk, last I checked there isn't even a RAID solution for any portable to date

1: I do really like how you're fighting music piracy and criticizing people who don't pay for their music, because I do that exact thing on forums. However, I don't like how you just made that assumption about me. I DO have a totally legit 40GB library as a matter of fact. I run my own record company and I receive hundreds of demos weekly, let alone the fact that I import at 256kbps AAC and buy digital at 320kbps mp3, or wav, if possible. So because I run my own record label, I am constantly having to battle against music pirates and nothing frustrates me more. But maybe next time ask a couple of questions to find out if they likely are a pirate before having a go at the person, because at least in my case you made the wrong assumption.

2: I haven't seen any hype about laptops replacing desktops... ? I'm planning to buy a 2nd gen Intel PowerMac as soon as available, because a portable doesn't live up to my demands anymore. So this is why I kind of don't want to upgrade my PB's HDD, because I am going to upgrade the computer entirely soon enough.

 

[EssentialParado]

Just had a thought. Is there a way to split an organized iTunes Music folder between multiple drives?

 

[saxman]

1) Geez, stop pirating music.

I don't care who you are, nobody has 40gb of legitimate tunes. Nobody.

Over 10,000 tracks, 65GB of music, all mine... I have the CDs to prove it too. Some people do like to pay for what they use

 

[generik]

Just had a thought. Is there a way to split an organized iTunes Music folder between multiple drives?

Yes, symbolic links.

Apologies on accusing you of being a "Arh matey!" pirate

 

[GoCubsGo]

My only downfall about my laptop is the need for space. Mine is about 600 cds that I owned and ripped into mp3 format (so yes I bought them) and then music that I've bought from itunes and such. Most of my space is taken by photos that I've taken. Nonetheless, I have a 80 gig in an external usb enclosure (which is about to go away and be swapped for a firewire enclosure), a 160 lacie external, and then my 80 gig laptop internal. I am about to buy a 250 lacie as well. I think that is your best and least expensive bet. Get an external. No brand in particular, but best buy has a 320 gig internal for $150 and $50 for a firewire enclosure and you have 320 for $200 which is a reallty good price if you ask me.

Good luck.

 

[EssentialParado]

Yes, symbolic links.

Apologies on accusing you of being a "Arh matey!" pirate

No harm done But keep up the evangelism.

It's funny you say 'symbolic links'. Someone else told me to do that today but for a totally different problem. Yet I have no idea how to do it :s

 

[generik]

It is not hard, simply go to Terminal, change to your iTunes folder

cd ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music

And then create a symbolic link

ln -s <target folder> <the name of the link you want>

 

[EssentialParado]

Oh ok. I'll have to consider that. I'm currently going through to see if I have any major folders I can move across. Ideally it would be awesome if I could put all my music onto a little wireless box which I could connect to wirelessly through shared music. I guess if there's no special way to sort this, I'll have to do it the old fashioned ways

Oh, and Jessica, thanks for the advice, but I already have an external FW drive. It's just a problem figuring out how to get it to all work together nicely.

 

[Halsey12]

1) Geez, stop pirating music.

I don't care who you are, nobody has 40gb of legitimate tunes. Nobody.

I burned my entire cd collection and sold my discs- 37 gb library for me. My girlfriend burned her entire cd collection as well- 160 gb library for her. All legal, so don't make stupid assumptions when that isn't even part of the conversation.

 

[EssentialParado]

I burned my entire cd collection and sold my discs- 37 gb library for me. My girlfriend burned her entire cd collection as well- 160 gb library for her. All legal, so don't make stupid assumptions when that isn't even part of the conversation.

Erm... if you burned the music then sold the CDs, then you sold the ownership of the music along with it.
Just because you bought the CD originally, doesn't mean making copies then taking it back to the store for a refund, or selling it on means you still own the music on the CD. The person you sell it on to now owns your music. You don't anymore.

 

[puckhead193]

I only have 233 MB left

 

[Vader]

iPod to always have the music with you, and in reach of being put back onto the laptop.
Then keep your music library on the external and switch iTunes to use it off of there. (as previously mentioned)

 

[Electro Funk]

1) Geez, stop pirating music.

I don't care who you are, nobody has 40gb of legitimate tunes. Nobody.

I DO... And have friends who have much larger legit collections than I

 

[EssentialParado]

iPod to always have the music with you, and in reach of being put back onto the laptop.
Then keep your music library on the external and switch iTunes to use it off of there. (as previously mentioned)

i thought about that! It is quite a good idea. I could get a 60GB iPod and dock it to my speaker system, and I could keep a backup of it on my 300GB disk. I think if I get desperate, I'll do that rather than installing an expensive, larger laptop drive.

 

[Les Kern]

Over 10,000 tracks, 65GB of music, all mine... I have the CDs to prove it too. Some people do like to pay for what they use

Damn, beat me. I have 8,500 tracks and counting. Anyway, a new hard drive (hard to install most of the time) , or use a 100GB SmartDisk, uses power over FW, and damned portable (I use them, bought 50 for my business, and they are failure-proof as far as I've seen.) Re-sample/batch compress the music? got a spare century?
SmartDisks run about 225.00, so get two.

 

[Vader]

i thought about that! It is quite a good idea. I could get a 60GB iPod and dock it to my speaker system, and I could keep a backup of it on my 300GB disk. I think if I get desperate, I'll do that rather than installing an expensive, larger laptop drive.

I thought it would be a good choice for you, since you might not be keeping that laptop for the long run, if you get rid of it, you still have the iPod, and everyone loves the iPod!

 

[EssentialParado]

I thought it would be a good choice for you, since you might not be keeping that laptop for the long run, if you get rid of it, you still have the iPod, and everyone loves the iPod!

Yeah... that's quite true. I am holding out for a widescreen, touchscreen iPod. Hopefully someday

 

[runninmac]

I only have 233 MB left

Yeah yeah yeah, stop whining. Last night i had zero KB left. Talk about a heart attack! I quickly went though and deleted all the Podcasts and crappy photos. Now I have a crisp 1.3 GB

 

[hayduke]

How to determine drive RPM?

Seagate just released a 160 GB notebook drive with a 5 year warranty for $245. NewEgg has the best price
Looks like you would be a great candidate to switch out your HD's.

Ifixit.com has all the guides you would need to do the change out.

NewEGG.com segate drive

I've been thinking about getting this drive as an upgrade, but was also thinking about a 7200RPM 120Gb drive. I'm not sure if my current drive is 5400 or 7200. If it's 5400, then I'll probably get the 160Gb drive, because I don't think I'll notice the speed increase as much as I'll appreciate all that space. On the otherhand if I currently have a 7200 (which I doubt I do) and don't think I want to purchase a 5400 drive. I couldn't find anything listed in the System Profiler. Thoughts?

 

[Stridder44]

I have a 80GB (real space=75GB) HDD on my PowerBook G4, and I only have 4GB left! I was in this problem a while back when my music library reached 25GB, so I bought a 300GB Firewire drive to cover myself. I managed to move some stuff over there and it was fine for a while.

But now my music library is 40GB (I work in the music industry you see), and it's taking up most of the space. But I don't want to move my music onto my FW drive, because I like my music to be available at all times.

What do you think I should do? Do you think I should go at my other files and move them across to the other drive, or should I do something else?

One friend suggested I keep my high quality files on my 300GB drive for desktop listening, but make low quality files for laptop listening. While that does make sense, it's gonna be a real problem having to import 2 different formats all the time, let alone having to transfer one type to another drive, plus all the problems relating to my iTunes library. Maybe there's some kind of fangled thing I can do with syncing?

-Luke

Hahaha...I have a similar situation with my 80 GB (75 actually) HDD in my G4 iMac (with about 25 GB of music). So I bought an external HD Casing (just the case, you add in your own internal HD in it...so its an external internal HD) which is at 120 GB....both are running low on space (no not from porn you pervs).

 

[m-dogg]

1) Geez, stop pirating music.

I don't care who you are, nobody has 40gb of legitimate tunes. Nobody.

I beg your pardon? It's actually not that difficult - And that's assuming that it's ripped at a low quality. My collection is 41.71 GB / 8113 songs. Average quality is ~160 kbs.

And that's not even counting people that rip their collections at a high rate or use lossless formats.