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Post your External Hard Drives!
- Thread starter fuzzn
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Missed the Lack of firewire remark, sorry about that. No doubt that USB is fast, but if you are working directly off the drive for Audio or Video, you should go with Firewire because of the sustained higher rate. Alright, lets call this one, no need for another one of these depates, I will waive the white flag.I realize the numbers are peak speeds. How big of files are you talking about? I move 7 gig folders to my USB drive all the time in about ~2 mins.
Not trying to get into a FW vs USB debate here, but USB is pretty fast.
The OP said they weren't using it bc their Macbook didn't have FW. The speed difference isn't enough to NOT use the drive. That was what I was trying to convey
I have been reading through this thread and have been considering getting a new (larger) external hard drive to use via Airport Extreme with 2 Macs. One of them is a Macbook Pro, the other is my girlfriend's Macbook.
I am currently using a WD 320gb External drive via USB 2.0. I've noticed its a huge pain to plug and unplug our macs all the time. Therefore I presumed I could solve that by hooking up the Airport Extreme. Now for my question.
I have a few files that I use regularly that are very large. Being that my WD External drive is formatted as fat32 at this point. OS X will not allow me to transfer these files of such large size. So my question is: When i purchase my new dirve, what is the best way to format it so that mac's can read & write to it while windows computers can only read the drive??
Thanks,
I am currently using a WD 320gb External drive via USB 2.0. I've noticed its a huge pain to plug and unplug our macs all the time. Therefore I presumed I could solve that by hooking up the Airport Extreme. Now for my question.
I have a few files that I use regularly that are very large. Being that my WD External drive is formatted as fat32 at this point. OS X will not allow me to transfer these files of such large size. So my question is: When i purchase my new dirve, what is the best way to format it so that mac's can read & write to it while windows computers can only read the drive??
Thanks,
hhmm where to start..
i have one of these:
which is a 1tb (my newest purchase) it is only USB 2.0
How do you like that drive? I was thinking about getting it but opted not to due to the lack of a 5-year warranty and I believe it is only 5400rpm.
It's not a constant 480Mb/s
Yeah we established that, and I was already aware of that. That minor speed reduction is enough to keep you from using the drive entirely on your MacBook??
Two of these, 500GB. One on USB, the other on FW800.
One of these, 320GB. USB only.
One of these, 160GB. USB only.
So yes, I rather like Western Digital drives.
allright , don't want to get into the FW/USB debate, the speed 'reduction' is important for when I'm using Serato and other audio software. and I haven't bought the Macbook , I couldn't: it has no Firewire, I'm holdin off hoping they sort it out or release a new mini then I can have decent drives hooked up at home and use a MBP on the rd
its pretty decent, not fast enough for my liking (its USB only) but it was extremely cheap and WD has always been good to me.
p.s. im going to purchase another external case like the one i posted in my original post & put it into that.
it would be great for you as long as your not doing excessive file moving!
Serato..as in videos or MP3s?
MP3s are fine with Serato through USB. Videos on the other hand, 200+ MBs VOBs might not like USB too much.
Mp3's mainly but video will be happening for me soon I imagine , and I'd like to use my machine for producing a bit too(Logic) , so a USB audio interface just won't cut it I'm afraid , unfortunately .
Minor?
There's the speed reduction, which is important, and how about the fact that USB transfer actually requires the CPU to be involved, slowing down your system. So while all that data is being transferred, you'll have to go watch a TV show or something, although you couldn't watch from your laptop, since it has already slowed down enough as it is.
I have a feeling the Mini is going to be updated really soon, so you probably wouldn't have to wait for very long.
Minor?
There's the speed reduction, which is important, and how about the fact that USB transfer actually requires the CPU to be involved, slowing down your system. So while all that data is being transferred, you'll have to go watch a TV show or something, although you couldn't watch from your laptop, since it has already slowed down enough as it is.
I have a feeling the Mini is going to be updated really soon, so you probably wouldn't have to wait for very long.
Minor
it's laughable if it where not for the fact that it's screwed a lot of folks out of money.I sincerely hope your right the Mini update comes soon, I've that feeling too and you know what, I reckon were all in for a big surprise
.. why else would they wait two years to update? major new product line up coming me thinks ....bye bye iMac
I've been copying several GB of data today via FW 800 and kernel_task is hogging 79% of the CPU (of one core that is). Normal?
I have this drive too. I also have one of the newer 500GB Western Digital My Book models.
I have a couple of these.....
Connected to my MacMini by FW and joined together using the drives FW800 port.
Connected to my MacMini by FW and joined together using the drives FW800 port.
I got myself one of these, in my opinion the best looking external ever.
The thing is I can't seem to find (or take myself) a singel picture that really does it justice. It alway looks extremly cheap and plastic, which it neither looks or feels like irl.
Defiantly nice.. wish they came with firewire