External Hard Drive for Time Machine - Firewire or USB?

[tnsmart]

I did a little bit of searching but didn't find the answer I was looking for.

I'm trying to decide between these two drives:
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Desktop-External-Designed-301304U/dp/B0010YWPZ8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251042742&sr=1-2
and
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-FireWire-External-Poulton-301315U/dp/B00170M64K/ref=pd_cp_e_2

I'm wondering if the speed difference with Firewire 400 over USB 2.0 is worth the extra $30. I'll primarily be using this for Time Machine backup, but also to store other large files when necessary. Any recommendations? Thanks.

[MacFanUK]

I did a little bit of searching but didn't find the answer I was looking for.

I'm trying to decide between these two drives:
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Desktop-External-Designed-301304U/dp/B0010YWPZ8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251042742&sr=1-2
and
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-FireWire-External-Poulton-301315U/dp/B00170M64K/ref=pd_cp_e_2

I'm wondering if the speed difference with Firewire 400 over USB 2.0 is worth the extra $30. I'll primarily be using this for Time Machine backup, but also to store other large files when necessary. Any recommendations? Thanks.

If you're mainly planning on using it with Time Machine, I'd say USB would be sufficient. Firewire if you'll be accessing loads of files from it.

[steve knight]

firewire is nice in that you can copy or and from another usb drive without taking the speed hit between two usb drives. so with my first mac I needed another external so I could move my files to it and reformat the old one I bought remember it is also a sata drive and if and when you can use that it will be even fastener.

[NT1440]

I just bought a 320GB WD portable external that can be powered via usb or FW800 for $85 on overstock. The speed is great and noticeable when compared to using the USB.

[Hrududu]

I've never been a fan of external USB drives. When I got my TM external, I went with a Seagate drive with FW on it. I also use the disk for lots of other storage too though.

[jbrettz]

I ran across this site yesterday. Firewire significantly faster then USB. I would go with drive that had both usb and firewire. OWC has a good selection, plus they include the cables and software.

http://macperformanceguide.com/Storage-Drive-SATA-vs-Firewire.html

Brett

[iGary]

Real Mac purists do not engage such a question. :D

FireWire, FTW.

[slpdLoad]

It's worth it the first time you need to restore from your backup or generally do anything that's not just happening silently in the background.

FireWire is $30 faster. :cool:

[GGJstudios]

The difference between FW400 and USB 2.0 isn't that great. I prefer FW800 for external drives. Much faster!

[tnsmart]

I ran across this site yesterday. Firewire significantly faster then USB. I would go with drive that had both usb and firewire. OWC has a good selection, plus they include the cables and software.

http://macperformanceguide.com/Storage-Drive-SATA-vs-Firewire.html

Brett

This compares USB to FireWire 800. The drive, and my MacBook, only have 400.

I did go ahead and get the one with just USB.

Real Mac purists do not engage such a question. :D

FireWire, FTW.

Wouldn't you consider Apple to be a Mac purist company? There the ones who dropped Firewire from the 13" MacBook (before they put it back in with the 13" MBP.)

[rkdiddy]

The difference between FW400 and USB 2.0 isn't that great. I prefer FW800 for external drives. Much faster!

This is very true. As a few have mentioned, once you do your first back-up (which takes forever) TM over USB will be fine.

If you do want to transfer files, read/write, etc - then go FW800. I have a TC for my TM back-ups and it runs in the background and I don't have to worry about it.