Firewire Enclosure + Internal Hardisk

[nikfel]

I am a bit low on cash and I badly need to back up my iTUNES songs and i was wondering if an external firewire enclosure and internal harddisk would work with my PowerBOOK G4. I am obviously looking for a cheap alternative t buying a branded external harddisk that according to my calculation would be around double the price. However I have no clue if this would work does anyone have any experience with such a setup.

[Freg3000]

I am not sure if you mean you want to get one of these:

http://www.outpost.com/product/2777943/

It will work, you just have to pop it in there and hook it up with the FireWire cable. I have never done it, but it should be easy.

I think.

[alset]

Yeah, it's pretty simple.

Dan

[nikfel]

Thanks alot for your help ok and do u know if i could do the same for a cd-writer and what is the best mechanism to ensure compatibility with my mac.

[Freg3000]

Hmmmm......

I am much less familiar with an optical drive encloser. But a quick search on Google came up with this:

http://www.xpcgear.com/35alexhardri.html

I hope that it would be just as easy as the HDD. Good Luck.

[WannabeSQ]

Chek the site xlr8yourmac (http://www.xlr8yourmac.com) they have reports of which CD mechanisms work with macs. Most of them work fine, some don't, and even the ones that do work, some are not compatible with iTunes. They have a lot of info over there.

[smada]

yeah i have the ads enclosure that was first linked to. works perfectly but it's LOUD!!!! but overall it's a very painless process. you don't need to install drivers or anything. just plug the neccessary bits in and that's all.

[smada]

and regarding optical drives, just make sure you get a 5.25" enclosure (like the ads one that was linked to) and you shouldnt have any real trouble.

[skymaXimus]

If you don't already have a hard drive that you want to use you could try this
http://www.basoncomputer.com/HD120GBFW37/item.aspx
i have a couple of bason FW drives...they're really good

[aro]

Originally posted by nikfel
I am a bit low on cash and I badly need to back up my iTUNES songs and i was wondering if an external firewire enclosure and internal harddisk would work with my PowerBOOK G4. I am obviously looking for a cheap alternative t buying a branded external harddisk that according to my calculation would be around double the price. However I have no clue if this would work does anyone have any experience with such a setup.

Quite simple task, my friend.

- 1 IDE hard disk(low profile one) for laptop.
20 gig: 50$ USD
- 1 firewire enclosure(case) for these hard disk.m You could get the USB 2/Firewire enclosure for a couple more bucks. Nice investment that would let you plug the HD to a PC. There are
more PC's with USB 2 than Firewire.
Firewire enclosure: 25$ USD
USB 2/Firewire enclosure: 45$ USD
- 1 Firewire cable(if it not comes with the enclosure.
5$
You may find these items at lower prices. It is a rough estimation.

It is really easy to inserting the HD into the enclosure, closing the enclosure and connecting the cable from the enclosure to the powerbook Firewire connector.

Enjoy,
Andre

[primalman]

Originally posted by aro
Quite simple task, my friend.

- 1 IDE hard disk(low profile one) for laptop.
20 gig: 50$ USD
- 1 firewire enclosure(case) for these hard disk.m You could get the USB 2/Firewire enclosure for a couple more bucks. Nice investment that would let you plug the HD to a PC. There are
more PC's with USB 2 than Firewire.
Firewire enclosure: 25$ USD
USB 2/Firewire enclosure: 45$ USD
- 1 Firewire cable(if it not comes with the enclosure.
5$
You may find these items at lower prices. It is a rough estimation.

It is really easy to inserting the HD into the enclosure, closing the enclosure and connecting the cable from the enclosure to the powerbook Firewire connector.

Enjoy,
Andre

Point us to where you are getting thse prices!! Never seen them that low!

[aro]

Originally posted by primalman
Point us to where you are getting thse prices!! Never seen them that low!

All the items described in my previous post where bought in stores in
Montreal(Canada). I gave equivalent prices in US device. I found these
links for you to give an idea of the pricing out there.

Ohh, incredulity! (I do the same all the time)

USB 2 enclosure:
http://www.mittoni.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1221
USB 2/Firewire enclosure:
http://www.firewiremax.com/25powboydriv.html

IDE hard disk 2.5" 20 gig:
I admit that I was a bit enthousiastic for this item(by almost he half).
Still agood deal for alow budget.
http://www.memoryonly.com/ListNewCat.asp?DeptID=19

aro

[primalman]

Originally posted by aro
All the items described in my previous post where bought in stores in
Montreal(Canada). I gave equivalent prices in US device. I found these
links for you to give an idea of the pricing out there.

Ohh, incredulity! (I do the same all the time)

USB 2 enclosure:
http://www.mittoni.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1221
USB 2/Firewire enclosure:
http://www.firewiremax.com/25powboydriv.html

IDE hard disk 2.5" 20 gig:
I admit that I was a bit enthousiastic for this item(by almost he half).
Still agood deal for alow budget.
http://www.memoryonly.com/ListNewCat.asp?DeptID=19

aro

Looked around these sites, did not find anything lower than what I have seen at every other place. Actualy, most of the prices were higer. Too bad. :(

[rundevilrun]

I have had bad luck with the ADS enclosures, my powerbook always had a hard time recognizing the drive and one day while plugging and unplugging the drive trying to get it to work it killed my firewire port.
They work fine for optical drives, but they seem to have problems with hard drives. Well Western Digital drives anyway.

I also have a Lacie firewire drive that has worked flawlessly, you can get an 80G one from Amazon for $175, that's only about $20-$30 more than a separate drive + enclosure.

[merman637]

Forget all those other posts...this case is all that you will need...comes ready to hook up a cd/dvd/ OR any HD ...ide of course...firewire hookups...there is also a usb/firewire combo connection drive available for $3 more but isnt as nice...This one is only $43 and has aluminum finish...

http://www.pcmicrostore.com/part-detail.asp?id=408321

[nikfel]

The problem is more that i I get a firewire enclosure + 120GB harddisk it would only come up to $230 whereas if I get a lacie 80GB hardisk I would be spending around $400. Yes prices are quite steep where I live.

[WilliamGates]

You can get an external case for about $89 US here:

http://www.transintl.com/store/category.cfm?Category=170

You can also get hard drives up to 80 GIG in them. I had a couple of old HD's left from my 500 and 667 DVI Titaniums and use them in the external firewire case with my new 17". The case is transparent and has a cool blue light that flickers when the HD is in use. The external will run 720x480 full screen Quicktime video fine with no flicker, and that is with the 4800 RPM stock 20 GIG HD from my old 500 Mhz Ti. It is quick enough for me.

Also they have the new external 800 firewire drives, check out the reasonable price for the 80 GIG:

http://www.transintl.com/store/category.cfm?Category=2000

This makes me want to sell my 20 GIG HD/ firewire enclosure combo for a mere $75 and include a firewire cable so I could step up to a new 800 firewire rig.

[aro]

Folks, keep in mind that nikfel is looking for a cheap way to hook up an external HD to its POWERBOOK. Mobile! Remember? When you are on the move you want your gizmos to be small, right?
That is why the 160$ USD solution as a usb 2/firewire enclosure
+ a 20 gig IDE HD 2.5 would be the best one for nikfel.

[nikfel]

Thanks everyone u have all saved me hours surfing the web.....and cheers aro for putting the thread back into perspective!!