Using an external drive to share video on network?

[kat.hayes]

I want to put a bunch of videos on a small portable G Tech drive and connect it to my iMac so I can view them on my MBP and my iPad.

1. As long as the drive is connected to the iMac and the iMac is shared, will the drive show on the network?

2. Can these types of drives handle being always connected and used a lot or is it a bad idea for any reason? Is it better to use one of the larger external g tech drives that also get plugged into the wall?

3. Does drive rpm make a difference for viewing video?

Thanks.

 

[Apple_Robert]

1) yes
2) Yes and doesn't matter
3) It won't really make a big difference.

 

[kat.hayes]

Why buy a larger drive that needs to get plugged into a wall vs. one of the small portable ones that do not need to?

Thanks.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Why buy a larger drive that needs to get plugged into a wall vs. one of the small portable ones that do not need to?

Thanks.

Plug the external drive into the iMac.

 

[kat.hayes]

But what is the advantage of getting a larger external drive that requires being plugged into the wall vs. one of the really small ones that just plug into the Mac without needing external power?

Thanks.