which external drive to use with macbook pro

ringo747 · 16 Jan 2007 at 02:20

hi guys,

am lookin for an external drive for my macbook pro. I was looking at the 250gb western digital mybook on this week only. Are these probably the best externals to go for? I will be moving a lot of video files to and from the disk so need good transfer speeds.

Are there any other good alternatives?

rpstewart · 16 Jan 2007 at 08:49

If your Macbook has firewire then it's worth investigating drives which can use it, you'll get better performance than with USB2. You might also want to consider building your own by buying the caddy and drive separately, that way you can get the features you want more easily.

ringo747 · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:47

would you be able to recommend any of the caddies that you mention?

rpstewart · 16 Jan 2007 at 16:09

The IcyBox ones are the only ones which OCUK sell, there are a couple of Firewire/ USB combo ones so it's really down to looks.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-000-BT

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-006-BT

ringo747 · 16 Jan 2007 at 19:07

none of the above seem to support sata drives. why is this? are they not made or does ocuk not sell them?
cheers

rpstewart · 16 Jan 2007 at 19:18

There's a SATA to USB version of the second caddy here or an Enermax one here .

IcyBox don't do SATA to firewire at all which is strange.

ringo747 · 16 Jan 2007 at 20:59

rpstewart said:
There's a SATA to USB version of the second caddy here or an Enermax one here .

IcyBox don't do SATA to firewire at all which is strange.

yeah i think id need firewire for moving large video files from laptop to external disk. I think the caddy is the way to go tho as you can use multiple disks in it. Not simulteously tho!

Doug · 17 Jan 2007 at 11:15

I'd highly recommend the My Book Pro. FireWire 800 is astonishingly fast

That's on my G5.

jimblowscash · 17 Jan 2007 at 15:57

if its mac its lacie, they used to make externals for apple themselvs, theres a new lacie drive out with sata fw 400 , 800 and usb connections so oyur spoilt for choice

ringo747 · 18 Jan 2007 at 00:16

cheers, il have to decide which one i want. proper external drive or normal disk in an external enclosure.

As long as its firewire it will be grand.

tsinc80697 · 18 Jan 2007 at 18:09

cant decide this myself.
External drives are decent but i dont want to be carrying it around in the house with my macbook, NAS is a decent option but need SATA, prefer more than 1 hard drive and cheap