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External Hard Drive Question

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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
posted this in M&A but im gunna buy it in an hour or so and need some feedback NSG has way more traffic.

im buying my 2nd one... and i have a few questions

Money is not really an issue, 200 is my max
it must be a bus drive (the computer is the power source)
i have a MBP so USB 2.0 or Firewire 800

1. Which company/HDDs are the most reliable?

2. Should i partion it (to keep time machine from filling it up)

3. how do you backup your files? (movies, .dmgs, pictures, etc)

4. I want to keep a copy of my comp just incase something fucks up, is time machine the best?

so these are just a few questions that ive been thinking about... if there is anything i should know about external drives tell me

if there is already a thread about this, plz link, teh searchbar is bad

thanks NS



Feb 1 2011 11:34AM
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
well, at my job we work with a shit ton of data and we've had good luck using OWC raid systems through super duper, using sparse bundles. and we use eSata connections but FW800 and USB2 both are fine, ive never noticed preferring one to the other

some we partition, some we don't. i guess it just depends on what you're doing and what you prefer, but do you plan on putting files on it other than your backups? we don't partition ones that are exclusively for the big backups

i guess i didnt really answer your questions (and i cant tell you much about time machine, besides that they used to use it here before i worked here and they now use super duper) but i just thought i'd tell you that we've had no trouble with the stuff i listed above..

Feb 1 2011 12:25PM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
ok, well im gunna go to best buy or an apple store to get my external disk and i dont think they carry OWC.
It would be great to get fw800 cuz that leaves my 2 USB ports for my iphone, camera, gopro, other external.
i want to have it like 2 or 3 backups deep, so ill partion it for 3 and the rest will be for movies, pics, music etc. so its like an extention on what i have now.

you did answer all my questions thanks.

so its time machine vs super duper... anyone here used both. input would be greatly appreciated.

Feb 1 2011 12:49PM
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easiestEC
Posts: 2471 - Karma: 489
i heard the time machine was extremely dope, but very pricey. I have a Western Digital book 1.5 TB and it works awesome!
Feb 1 2011 12:52PM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
yeah the think is legit, but im talking about the way to backup the files.
Time machine vs a copy of the hard drive. i think i may just go with the time machine way and portion like 400GB or something for backing up my comp. then the rest for like more room on my internal drive Ns what do u think?

i now have a WD 500gb drive and its been great so far. got it for 17 bucks/claim
Feb 1 2011 1:31PM
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five0
Posts: 11466 - Karma: 36
I just ordered a Western Digital My Passport 1tb that's powered by the USB 2.0/3.0 cable for 120$ shipped.  Best Buy offers just about the same deal, I think I either ordered mine from bhphotovideo or amazon.  My cousin and my old roommate each have one and have never complained.  Mine should be here today or tomorrow
Feb 1 2011 1:43PM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
i have this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/Western-Digital-Passport-ELITE-500GB-WD5000MLC-CASE-/180618554655
Click for larger image

im probs gunna get this one...
http://store.apple.com/ca/product/H2222ZM/A?n=portable&fnode=MTY1NDA0Nw&mco=MTg4Mjk2ODQ&s=priceHL
its 1TB, firewire, rugged (ill be tossing it around in my luggage and backpack, etc)
its a little on the expensive side. but meh.

anyone have this one?
Click for larger image
Feb 1 2011 2:32PM
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[evan]
Posts: 5628 - Karma: 117
I have a Seagate 1TB portable external backup/storage device. It comes with software that allows you to schedule automatic backups. It's USB 2.0, but also can take advantage of USB 3.0. I can post pictures to demonstrate the size if wanted.
Feb 1 2011 2:41PM
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five0
Posts: 11466 - Karma: 36
Deezy how much is that orange one, I've seen it at the Apple store.  But I bet if you look elsewhere you'll find it for at least 30 bucks cheaper, everything at the Apple store is marked up like crazy
Feb 1 2011 3:11PM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
its like 210 at the apple store. ill check my local camera store, and future shop before i buy it anyway.

Feb 1 2011 3:15PM
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five0
Posts: 11466 - Karma: 36
200$ at the apple store online with free shipping but tax will get you there.  Amazon has them for 190$, might be able to get cheap shipping and save 10-15$
Feb 1 2011 3:31PM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
yeah yeah, but for 10 bucks... id rather just go to a store and get it right away.
Feb 1 2011 3:41PM
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five0
Posts: 11466 - Karma: 36
I hear ya, I ordered mine off Amazon because I have a month trial that gives me free 2 day shipping which they haven't exactly held up their end of the bargain so far.  Also the closest Apple store/Best Buy is an hour away
Feb 1 2011 4:14PM
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8785 - Karma: 6,242
i got the 1TB rugged. good shit so far. use fw800 and its nice and fast
Feb 1 2011 6:02PM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
never ended up getting that external drive, i was planning on waiting for a sale...
i plugged my HDD into my comp today. its corrupted. there goes 90GB of pics (up to 160,000 pics) my computer backups (time machine for 2 years) and all my disk images (CS5 master collection, FCP7, etc)
if anyone knows how i could fix this. i would be very happy. right now im sad.
heres a nice tip. make 2 backup drives.

Feb 7 2011 9:27PM
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five0
Posts: 11466 - Karma: 36
seems counter-productive to have 2 backups but I've thought the same thing before.  I've been lucky with my last external, and this new my passport is the tits.  If I had a way to send you my master collection I would lol  but I only have cs4 and fcp6?
Feb 8 2011 12:35AM
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koober
Posts: 111 - Karma: 9
i do. 200 or 250 gb. something around there i guess, i forget. but i literally have had no problems with it in my 2 years of owning it. rugged as a fucking rock. seriously. the name is 100% truthful. im probably going to upgrade to a 1tb external hd soon, just cause... and id definitely buy this again
Feb 8 2011 1:05AM
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Jordan
Posts: 4079 - Karma: 2,122
The way to do it is to buy a firewire hardrive enclosure and buy 3.5" disks.


SO so so much cheaper.
Feb 8 2011 1:07AM
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five0
Posts: 11466 - Karma: 36
My cousin and my old roommate each have the My Passports each for over a year with no problems and no cases.  I got a nice hard case for mine for like 15 bucks to be safe.  All in all I ended up at like 135 for drive (1tb) and the hard case.  2 year warranty is nice too.  I do have a Lacie drive that's been very dependable but it isn't portable.
Feb 8 2011 1:12AM
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BMskier
Posts: 3363 - Karma: 365

didnt read the thead, but lacie is the only way to go. i have a 500 gb d2 for my personal computer and then a 320gb rugged that i bring to class to use with final cut and store documents and such. never failed. works perfect and its compatable with both macs and pc

Feb 8 2011 1:16AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
I've had the Lacie Porsche drives (3,5 and 2,5) models for several ages right now.
And I've had four Lacie D2's for like 5 years, never ever had a problem with them.
Lacie is a great brand, good design, solid products.
Feb 8 2011 1:17AM
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