External HDD for rMBP

[KevinKristensen]

Just a quick question.
Are there any external HDD's with USB 3.0 compatible with the Mac out there?

If not, is it possible to turn a "normal" (only compatible with Windows) external HDD into a Mac compatible HDD?
If yes, how?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Weaselboy]

Any standard, USB drive will work. Just plug it in and start Disk Utility and reformat the new drive to Mac OS X Extended and you will be good to go.

There really is no such things as a Windows only drive. If you just reformat any drive it will work with a Mac.

I have been using one of this from Western Digital and it works well.

 

[KevinKristensen]

And it won't have any limits whatsoever when it comes to read/write files?

I was thinking of buying the drive you mentioned, but I was unsure whether it would work with the Mac or not.

Last, thanks for your help - I really appreciate it.

 

[miles01110]

And it won't have any limits whatsoever when it comes to read/write files?

Every device has "limits" - whether it's speed, capacity, noise, etc.

I was thinking of buying the drive you mentioned, but I was unsure whether it would work with the Mac or not.

All hard drives work for Macs once they're formatted to do so.

 

[iVeBeenDrinkin']

There are plenty of 3.0 usb externals out there. I am using a WD passport essential. WD has a full line of usb 3.0 drives.

 

[Arcsylver]

How about this one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822165478


USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, with cables included.

 

[spdntrxi]

How about this one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822165478


USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, with cables included.

that's the one I"m using.. so far so good... it's 5400rpm though which is the only bummer. I'll see how it does and maybe swap in a 7200...but my feeling is that it will be good enough.

 

[KevinKristensen]

Every device has "limits" - whether it's speed, capacity, noise, etc.

Okay, let me ask in a another way: Will it behave any different from a "Mac-compatible" external HDD's?

----------

How about this one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822165478


USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, with cables included.

Thanks for your suggestion, but I think I'm gonna go with the WD My Passport 1 TB

 

[Weaselboy]

Okay, let me ask in a another way: Will it behave any different from a "Mac-compatible" external HDD's?

No. These drives that are marketed for Macs are often just pre formatted in the OS X HFS+ file format and that is all. Take any drive and format it to HFS+ and you have the same drive with all the same functionality.