I WANT to make the switch!!! - Page 3

eric2006 · #17 December 1st, 2006, 11:54 PM

It really depends on how you use it, but if I'm not careful, I can easily fill up a 160 GB drive (though I currently use a 60 GB drive with few problems..). Eventually, you'll probably use whatever space you put in there. Of course, all that space is useless without backup. More RAM will make your system faster, and if that's you chief priority, go for it.

Qion · #18 December 2nd, 2006, 12:24 AM

You'll use whatever space you're given. Honestly, you could work with a 20 gigabyte hard drive just as well as a 500 gigabyte one. It's not going to kill you not having 40 or 80 extra gigs, especially if you have a backup -which is in reality inexorably worth having-.

I currently use a 40GB internal and an 80GB external for backup and large files like my iTunes library. It's making me a tad anxious, but I've still got 15GB left on my internal and 30 on the external.

I have about 24 movies on iTunes, all DVD quality, plus all my graphics and images from the past 4 months. 120GB plus an external will be fine.

Bio-Gene · #19 December 2nd, 2006, 10:30 AM

Ok so I will go with the 120GB HDD, and yes I do agree that what ever space you have you can work with it. Currently I am working on a 60GB HDD on my PC and when ever it is full I try to delete files or clean up as much as I can!

But I guess Mac is better at the back-up stuff! Anyways what I wanted to know was which external Hard Drives are really good to buy with a new MBP? I have never bought one so any help or tips would be nice. I was thinking maybe something that I can carry with me, such as one of those 2.5" that are thin! But then not sure, if you could give me your opinion and expertise please. Thanks!

EDIT:
I have heard people use their ipod's (if it big enough space) as an external hard drive or backup sometimes. Is this true and is it recommended or not?

ora · #20 December 2nd, 2006, 11:35 AM

I wouldn't use an ipod for this, its not such a durable drive as the full size ones. I like the Lacie d2 triple interface drives, they have USB2, Firewire and Firewire800 (for crazy transfer speeds). Just don't get the Lacie Porche drives. I have an 80, 250 and 300gb lacie d2 and they've been great.

Qion · #21 December 2nd, 2006, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ora

I wouldn't use an ipod for this, its not such a durable drive as the full size ones. I like the Lacie d2 triple interface drives, they have USB2, Firewire and Firewire800 (for crazy transfer speeds). Just don't get the Lacie Porche drives. I have an 80, 250 and 300gb lacie d2 and they've been great.

What's wrong with the Porsche drives? I've got one at my studio...?

Collectively, they make some pretty good laptop-form factor external hard drives. A lot of them are reinforced with rubber or whatnot because they are intended for travel. Just look around online a bit.

eric2006 · #22 December 2nd, 2006, 11:13 PM

Like ora said, Firewire 800 drives will give you the best speeds, and you could even use them as a capture/scratch disk if you wanted. (They're fast) You'll want a drive at least as big as your main drive, preferably bigger. You'll also need backup software, but Leopard should take care of that if you plan to get it.
Whatever you get, make sure it has a warranty. Hard drives break, no matter who makes them.
I have an ACOM drive, and I got it replaced under warranty with little fuss when the drive died.

ora · #23 December 3rd, 2006, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qion

What's wrong with the Porsche drives? I've got one at my studio...?

They have a fearsome failure rate, i know of 4 dead straight out of the box and 3 more ead in a month from people I work with. As eric says, all HDs break in the end but those ones seem to break a lot faster.

Bio-Gene · #24 December 3rd, 2006, 11:30 AM

Hey I was looking at the Canadian Best Buy online store and I found a pretty good Acom external drive. It is 160GB HDD, so I wanted to know what you guys think of it?

.::LINK::.

EDIT:
Hey, I wanted to know from the people who have a MacBook Pro or are using the latest OS-X version. What are the differences between it and Leopard aside from being 64 bit. Is it a good decision to wait until Leopard is out and get a laptop with it pre-installed or just try to buy one now?