External Enclosure Suggestions?

[furryrabidbunny]

I just got back helping a friend upgrade their memory and hard drive on a dell dimension 4600c. All in all, it ended up being about four hours of work. I walked away with a free 60 gig hard drive (she is very nice). So can anyone recommend a good enclosure. I need a firewire one, I dont have usb 2 on my emac. Also, what size would the hard drive be in a slim case dell computer?

[liketom]

any caddy should work , but what type of HDD is it ? IDE Serial ?

[furryrabidbunny]

any caddy should work , but what type of HDD is it ? IDE Serial ?
it is a western digital ide hard drive

[furryrabidbunny]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145003
would this work?

[furryrabidbunny]

http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=710&p_created=1037284376
i am pretty sure this is the drive.

[liketom]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145003
would this work?
nope thats a Lapptop HDD Encloser you need the 3.5" enclosure

[iMeowbot]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145003
would this work?
That enclosure is for a 2.5" notebook drive. Is that what you have, or is it a desktop 3.5" one?

[furryrabidbunny]

That enclosure is for a 2.5" notebook drive. Is that what you have, or is it a desktop 3.5" one?
it is a desktop. I was dumb, didn't even look at the size. So i do need a 3.5"? my second question is... once i have an hooked up, I can clear the drive right? Windows and all her files are still on there.

[liketom]

it is a desktop. I was dumb, didn't even look at the size. So i do need a 3.5"? my second question is... once i have an hooked up, I can clear the drive right? Windows and all her files are still on there.
yep format that baby under Disk Utils and happy days are here again

[iMeowbot]

http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=710&p_created=1037284376
i am pretty sure this is the drive.
OK. I use this enclosure (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817146608) a lot for that flavor.

EDIT: Those photos are old, the current revision does have a power switch.

[furryrabidbunny]

yep format that baby under Disk Utils and happy days are here again
sweet. my other question is how are these external drives used? I've never owned one, and the purpose is to do backups. Would i just connect it when i need it and disconnect it and store it when i dont need it?

[liketom]

sweet. my other question is how are these external drives used? I've never owned one, and the purpose is to do backups. Would i just connect it when i need it and disconnect it and store it when i dont need it?
Backups / running apps on everything you want to really

connect it just plug in and power on the HDD , mac will pick it up - to disconnect just drag the HDD icon to the trash and it will eject it and then you can power off the HDD


i use my 200GB Firewire to boot off when i'm at home on my Powerbook

[furryrabidbunny]

OK. I use this enclosure (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817146608) a lot for that flavor.

EDIT: Those photos are old, the current revision does have a power switch.
i love macally stuff. I have a mouse from them... works great... does the thing run super hot?

[iMeowbot]

sweet. my other question is how are these external drives used? I've never owned one, and the purpose is to do backups. Would i just connect it when i need it and disconnect it and store it when i dont need it?
It words a lot like you might use a CD. You plug in the FW cable, turn it on, and there it is. Drag it to the trash when you're done, then it's safe to turn off and unplug.

[furryrabidbunny]

the mspr on that macally is 89... good deal through new egg.

[iMeowbot]

i love macally stuff. I have a mouse from them... works great... does the thing run super hot?
I have a stack of those sitting on the desk and they do get warm piled up like that. Just one won't be bad at all, and they give you a little plastic stand so it can sit vertically if you prefer.

[furryrabidbunny]

I have a stack of those sitting on the desk and they do get warm piled up like that. Just one won't be bad at all, and they give you a little plastic stand so it can sit vertically if you prefer.
i guess i'll pick up the macally one.. only brand i've heard of. I am not too worried about the heat... i have to do one major backup, then i am going to use smart folders to keep track of what needs to be backed up. I know that hard drives are fragile, how does the macally protect it?

[prostuff1]

If you want something to match the emac then maybe this enclosure http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817155215

The enclosure i like is this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817173003 but it is more expensive.

The best thing to do is look on a site like newegg.com and find one you like

[iMeowbot]

i guess i'll pick up the macally one.. only brand i've heard of. I am not too worried about the heat... i have to do one major backup, then i am going to use smart folders to keep track of what needs to be backed up.
Yeah, the heat really isn't a major issue. The power supply is separate, so they do fine without fans.
I know that hard drives are fragile, how does the macally protect it?
You screw little silicone grommets into the mounting holes on the side of the drive, and those slide into slots in the enclosure. Lots of enclosures don't bother with cushioning at all, so I'm not really sure how important it is to have it in real life, but it's there.

[sw1tcher]

Still my favorite (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817173003)

My 2nd favorite (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=17-146-602&depa=0)

[tuartboy]

Still my favorite (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817173003)

My 2nd favorite (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=17-146-602&depa=0)

your 2nd choice is available at best buy for employee pricing of $26 branded as aopen. Helps to have friends in "low" places :p

[furryrabidbunny]

i want to get the macally one, but i am debating if i should just get the firewire one or spend the extra cash to get the usb & firewire case.