External hard drive for the iMac - recommendations?
Discussion
Which iMac?
Western Digital 250GB MyBook - £80, IIRC.
Not sure whether it's USB2 only or has Firewire as well.
Hang on, I'll check........www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000F6SGB4/pricerunner-21/ref=nosim
Alternatively, LaCie D2 250GB USB/FW - £98 - www.ebuyer.com/ct.html?ct=eJwrsDQ3MDS0Lja2TjEyMDA3MDY0ss4xBAA%2FPwVa&_LOC=UK
Miglia Solo 160GB - £65 - www.allmacstuff.co.uk/?page=proddetail&prod=15331
Western Digital 250GB MyBook - £80, IIRC.
Not sure whether it's USB2 only or has Firewire as well.
Hang on, I'll check........www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000F6SGB4/pricerunner-21/ref=nosim
Alternatively, LaCie D2 250GB USB/FW - £98 - www.ebuyer.com/ct.html?ct=eJwrsDQ3MDS0Lja2TjEyMDA3MDY0ss4xBAA%2FPwVa&_LOC=UK
Miglia Solo 160GB - £65 - www.allmacstuff.co.uk/?page=proddetail&prod=15331
Edited by PJ S on Monday 12th March 14:10
Basically what PJ S says.
- Unless you want a network device (on an Ethernet network, and so available to every computer in the house), look for one with USB2 & Firewire.
- It should just Plug-&-Play (plug it in, and it appears in the Finder window sidebar; press the eject button in the sidebar and unplug the device)
- I'd use the Firewire connection if you can. Firewire 400 is slightly faster than USB2 in the real world. And you're probably not using the Firewire chain, so there's always a free socket, and no daisy-chaining problems.
- Formac and LaCie have good Mac credentials. Western Digital & Seagate are always good.
- There are some Mac-style designs. Try www.computerwarehouse.co.uk (a good Mac store, note the Mac/Win compatible on each item) and browse Hardware/Hard Drives/External/ Sort by price. I can recommend CW, but you might find better prices or sales deals elsewhere.
- Go for the biggest size you can for your £100. 250GB is a good start, 320GB is achievable.
You might find some backup software bundled, but I've never been particularly impressed. Just as easy is to create a folder called Backup/date, then drag & drop the relevant items across.
- Unless you want a network device (on an Ethernet network, and so available to every computer in the house), look for one with USB2 & Firewire.
- It should just Plug-&-Play (plug it in, and it appears in the Finder window sidebar; press the eject button in the sidebar and unplug the device)
- I'd use the Firewire connection if you can. Firewire 400 is slightly faster than USB2 in the real world. And you're probably not using the Firewire chain, so there's always a free socket, and no daisy-chaining problems.
- Formac and LaCie have good Mac credentials. Western Digital & Seagate are always good.
- There are some Mac-style designs. Try www.computerwarehouse.co.uk (a good Mac store, note the Mac/Win compatible on each item) and browse Hardware/Hard Drives/External/ Sort by price. I can recommend CW, but you might find better prices or sales deals elsewhere.
- Go for the biggest size you can for your £100. 250GB is a good start, 320GB is achievable.
You might find some backup software bundled, but I've never been particularly impressed. Just as easy is to create a folder called Backup/date, then drag & drop the relevant items across.
MacUser magazine did a recent lab test on external 3.5" HDD and the Western Digital MyBook cam up as the winner. www.computerwarehouse.co.uk do the 250GB for ~£80
If you need some backup software try www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/ its great.
If you need some backup software try www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/ its great.
Edited by wildeep on Monday 12th March 15:43
I saw a returned 160gbit HD in the bargain bucket of one of the usual Mac shops. Opened but not used, 30 odd quid and bought an external case with firewire also on sale somewhere else for around £15. Right place at the right time I suppose.
Edited to add, not sure if it was Cancom or not
www.cancomuk.com/
Edited to add, not sure if it was Cancom or not
www.cancomuk.com/
Edited by jmorgan on Monday 12th March 15:50
I have just bought a WD MyBook (320Gb Pro) to use with my iMac. Note two things however:
1. By 'whisper quiet', they mean 'a hell of a lot louder than the iMac'
2. Although I paid extra to get the 'Pro' version for Firewire, due an implementation issue it turns out USB2 is 3 times quicker than Firewire, when used with an iMac. WD might fix the issue with a firmware update, if they can be persuaded the issue exists.
I wouldn't get another one...
1. By 'whisper quiet', they mean 'a hell of a lot louder than the iMac'
2. Although I paid extra to get the 'Pro' version for Firewire, due an implementation issue it turns out USB2 is 3 times quicker than Firewire, when used with an iMac. WD might fix the issue with a firmware update, if they can be persuaded the issue exists.
I wouldn't get another one...
Edited by page3 on Monday 12th March 15:52
RoadRailer said:
cactussed said:
Anyone got any views on network storage for a mac?
I used one windows box filled with cheap ide and sata disks and a copy of FreeNAS it boots off a 64meg USB key into FreeNAS or XP Pro/Server2003.
It's got gigabit ethernet but it's not very good looking.
That'll be the BPHOIBE* version then, I take it?
* Blue Peter, here's one I built earlier
PJ S said:
RoadRailer said:
cactussed said:
Anyone got any views on network storage for a mac?
I used one windows box filled with cheap ide and sata disks and a copy of FreeNAS it boots off a 64meg USB key into FreeNAS or XP Pro/Server2003.
It's got gigabit ethernet but it's not very good looking.
That'll be the BPHOIBE* version then, I take it?
* Blue Peter, here's one I built earlier
*ahem*
I will get round to putting it in a nice case one day.
When the sticky back plastic one breaks....
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