Differences between Ministack v1 and v2?

Fw400, 750gb...

The v2 adds FireWire 400 and allows you to install a 750GB HDD. The v1 sold by OWC seems to be limited to 500GB. (Or, at least, they don't seem to offer a 750GB option with the v1.) There might be some technical issue preventing the latter. I honestly have no clue.

Personally, I think that 750GB in such a small enclosure is a pretty cool thing. Also, the FireWire connector can come in handy if you want to bring your multimedia library to a friend's house. Some computers - like my old iBook G3 - have FW400 connectors but no USB 2.0. Let me tell you, using an external hardrive over USB 1.1 can be quite painful when you're used to seeing your drive fly on your regular machine.

Go with what fits your needs, but if you are spending big bucks for a giant drive, I would recommend that you keep your options open.

 

Hmmm... This is confusing. I am not 100% sure whether or not we are talking about the same product, but I think the confusion comes from the pictures on the page of the v1.

I hadn't really noticed before, but on this page - http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/U2MS500GB8/ - the pictures in the "Cooling Fan" and "Extra Ports & Added Security" sections show the three FW400 ports that you mentioned. However, if you scroll down to the "Rear View" section, you'll notice that it doesn't show the three FW ports. My guess is that you should trust that picture rather than the other two as the page doesn't mention FireWire anywhere. I don't recall precisely how the MiniStack evolved, but I think there might have been a v1 with FW at some point (but now replaced by the v2). Maybe that's where the first two pictures come from.

If you want to know for sure though, I suggest that you e-mail OWC. They'll probably clear up this thing pretty fast. But as far as I'm concerned, the technical details of the v1 seem to make it pretty clear that it's a USB-only drive. If it supported FW, I think they'd say it a bit more clearly. My two cents. ;-)

 

Looks to me like V2 added ports on the side of the enclosure (#6 and #8) and a connection switch (#2 - whatever that is)...and thats about it my V1 has Firewire - so maybe I have a v1.5

v1



v2

 

I was not looking at the same product you were. The v1 comes in a USB2-only version, and in a FW/USB2 version as well. OWC offers both v1 as enclosures, but only the USB2 v1 when you look at enclosures+HDD combos.

There is a note on the v1 FW/USB page saying: "*Some Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 and 7200.8 drives will not physically fit into the enclosure. We recommend Hitachi, Western Digital, and Maxtor drives for this enclosure." The v2 FW/USB doesn't have that comment. They probably moved two of the ports to the side to get the newer mega drives to physically fit into the ministack. My guess is that that's the main difference between the v1 and the v2: the v2 will accept larger drives. I couldn't find anything else.

You can write them and ask.

 

How quiet are these drives (before the fans kick in) I have an older 40GB in an enclosure that I have been using with my Mini, but it is so loud in comparison that I only use it when necessary. I would like a larger external for stroing my media on instead of the internal, but I want one that is quiet. Thanks.