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Best external portable hard drive for my Blackbook?

A

AdventurousJosh

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 11, 2008
300
19
Hey guys, I have a late 2007 150 GB Macbook Black. I'd like to finally backup my data and also use it for games or other storage to play directly from, cause I'm almost out of room on my my Macbook.

What kind of portable hard drive do you use, or recommend? Thanks so much
 
Thank you, but I'm looking for suggestions based a little better on my individual needs, that thread creator is using a MBP and in result is getting recommendations for drives that use firewire ports this MB doesn't have (800), as well as other things better set for a MBR over my black book, also solid state drives, etc.
 
Kusuri said:
Thank you, but I'm looking for suggestions based a little better on my individual needs, that thread creator is using a MBP and in result is getting recommendations for drives that use firewire ports this MB doesn't have (800), as well as other things better set for a MBR over my black book, also solid state drives, etc.
Click to expand...

There are plenty of recommendations, and the OP in that thread mentions nothing of firewire.
 
I would choose either the Seagate Free Agent or Western Digital Passport for portability. As far as the difference between Firewire and USB, I havent used Firewire yet but the speeds are close to the same by the one you have so its strictly user preference as I'm concerned.
 
since you have the drive you can do your own test, but in my experience, Firewire 400 is dramatically faster than USB for external HD use despite what the data rate specs say. i have a (non-portable) maxtor drive w/ firewire 400, that i got as costco a few years ago and have been very happy with. costco is very good about taking things back if you change your mind.
 
Kusuri said:
I'm asking if firewire 400 is even worth it over USB. Thanks.
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Yes

Firewire is faster, but the drives are also more expensive.
http://www.barefeats.com/mbpp10.html

Do you have many items that need USB (printers, keyboard, mouse, headphones, etc), then you will find firewire better, because the Macbook only have one shared bus (if im not mistaken?) and the HD will have to share the bandwidth. Also the nice thing about firewire is that you usually don't have to swap another item out when you hook it up (I have two USB hubs and at least 8 usb devices lying on my desk.. with only two ports you'll get a mess with hubs and cables)
 
Kusuri said:
Okay guys thanks, I got a WD Passport 500 GB for $120 at Costco, came with a case.
Click to expand...

:p for some reason i didn't see this post :)

The Passport is great, i have one myself.

You know you could take the 500GB inside the passport out and swap it with the one in your Macbook?

It's a really easy procedure.
 
Hey guys, thanks for replies! please keep advising cause actually I'm returning my drive due to finding one online for cheaper price (amazon) so if I can find anything else sweet I would consider.

Thanks.
 
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