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Dilemma With Mac Mini

T

Tuned MP5T

macrumors regular
Original poster
The Mac mini comes with only one FireWire connection and Two USB connections. What I wanted to do is store all my music and office files on an external HD but my iPod will be connected to the FireWire. So now I don't know if I should use the FireWire connection for the external HD or iPod. Or just dump the idea of a external HD. But I read on the site it's good to back your system up and also that the FireWire connection for the HD is better then USB.
 
USB 2.0 is actually faster than firewire by 80 mbps. (fw=400 mbps, USB 2= 480 mbps) so i'd say use the firewire for your ipod, and plug in the external hdd with one of the faster usb 2 ports. firewire 800 however is faster than USB 2, but there is no firewire 800 included on the mac mini, so no worries. short answer: firewire--->ipod, USB2--->external hdd. hope that helps!
 
Most external FW drives have more than one port on them (to allow daisy-chaining). Just plug the FW HD into the mini and plug the iPod into the FW HD.
 
Yeah it helps. On my PC the C:/ drive is use just for program files. While the D:/ is use for Music, Photos, and Office files. Can this be done on the Mac mini with an external HD?

Sorry but coming from the Windows, Mac is like learning a different language. 🙁
 
Tuned MP5T said:
Yeah it helps. On my PC the C:/ drive is use just for program files. While the D:/ is use for Music, Photos, and Office files. Can this be done on the Mac mini with an external HD?

Sorry but coming from the Windows, Mac is like learning a different language. 🙁
Click to expand...

Yeah, external HDs just appear as separate volumes on your desktop, in Finder, etc.

And I'd say Mac isn't a different language, just a different dialect. 🙂
 
switchedanhappy said:
USB 2.0 is actually faster than firewire by 80 mbps. (fw=400 mbps, USB 2= 480 mbps) ...
Click to expand...
Actually, most multi-port drives (including the iPod) work faster connected to FW than USB because FW achieves closer to its rated capacity than USB tends to. I go with the suggestion to plug the iPod into the drive FW piggyback port.

You can try both, but I'd be willing to bet you lose performance with a USB2.0-connected drive over a FW400 one.
 
sjpetry said:
My bad. 😱
Click to expand...
Don't be embarrassed - I thought the same thing, and I own a 4G. I had to plug it in during my original reply to stop me from writing the same thing you did. I'd never used the USB plug.
 
dejo said:
Most external FW drives have more than one port on them (to allow daisy-chaining). Just plug the FW HD into the mini and plug the iPod into the FW HD.
Click to expand...
I do this with mine

jsw said:
Actually, most multi-port drives (including the iPod) work faster connected to FW than USB because FW achieves closer to its rated capacity than USB tends to. I go with the suggestion to plug the iPod into the drive FW piggyback port.

You can try both, but I'd be willing to bet you lose performance with a USB2.0-connected drive over a FW400 one.
Click to expand...
I definately agree that Firewire is faster. While USB 2.0 has a faster initial burst, Firewire tends to have a faster average speed
 
jsw said:
Don't be embarrassed - I thought the same thing, and I own a 4G. I had to plug it in during my original reply to stop me from writing the same thing you did. I'd never used the USB plug.
Click to expand...

Thanks 🙂 , I always thought that firewire was the only one that charged devices. I would be guessing it would also charge the 3G iPod. Am I right?
 
sjpetry said:
Thanks 🙂 , I always thought that firewire was the only one that charged devices. I would be guessing it would also charge the 3G iPod. Am I right?
Click to expand...
I don't think it does. Don't have a 3G to play with, don't want to download the manual. AliensAreFuzzy's reply suggests that it doesn't, but I don't know. 🙂
 
sjpetry said:
Thanks 🙂 , I always thought that firewire was the only one that charged devices. I would be guessing it would also charge the 3G iPod. Am I right?
Click to expand...
And, of course, it charges the Shuffle! 😛
 
jsw said:
And, of course, it charges the Shuffle! 😛
Click to expand...

Sorry to be off-topic but on eBay people are paying around $170 - $200 for the 512MB Shuffle which retails at $99. 😱
 
sjpetry said:
Sorry to be off-topic but on eBay people are paying around $170 - $200 for the 512MB Shuffle which retails at $99. 😱
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They're insane.

And I'm an idiot for not buying ten of them yesterday.
 
jsw said:
They're insane.

And I'm an idiot for not buying ten of them yesterday.
Click to expand...

I am buying 3 on Saturday to throw on eBay. Buying them at the Chicago Store - North Michigan Ave. 😀

Edit: are they selling them at the stores yet. As in tomorrow? 😕
 
sjpetry said:
I am buying 3 on Saturday to throw on eBay. Buying them at the Chicago Store - North Michigan Ave. 😀

Edit: are they selling them at the stores yet. As in tomorrow? 😕
Click to expand...
I bought mine at an Apple Store in NH yesterday. Those eBay prices are going to plummet in a few days.
 
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