i need an external HD, but which one?

[OrangeCuse44]

Alright, here's my scenario. I have a new Macbook which has 120 gb hard drive space. I want to backup my entire system using SuperDuper every week or so to avoid losing my data in case something went wrong. I'll probably create a bootable backup but either way i just want everything i have to be safe. So, which route should i take in terms of USB or firewire? What size would be good for my situation? Any brand hard drive that i should look at and/or stay away from?

 

[epochblue]

You'll want a drive that's at least the size of your disk, and probably some extra just in case.

For large transfers, I recommend FireWire over USB2. I have a LaCie Triple Interface 250GB drive that I love and has worked out very well for me. I'd highly recommend it.

 

[-Alan-]

I just bought an Icy Dock and put a 320GB Seagate in it (shows 298.1GB). I'm currently using it to back up files from my Windows box before I migrate to a MacPro. The Icy Dock is a bit pricey but it feels rugged and looks beautiful...and, for what I've read, it has the right chip set (Oxford) which makes it bootable for a Mac.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...000090092+50008336+1054207135&name=USB+&+1394
http://www.icydock.com/product/mb559uea-1s.html

 

[cubbie5150]

You'll want a drive that's at least the size of your disk, and probably some extra just in case.

For large transfers, I recommend FireWire over USB2. I have a LaCie Triple Interface 250GB drive that I love and has worked out very well for me. I'd highly recommend it.

Do the LaCie drives use the Oxford chipset? The spec sheet on laCie's product page doesn't reveal that info; neither does the specg sheet on newegg...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

You could always build your own - select whatever hard drive you want and put it in an enclosure that uses your preferred interface; you can get all the necessary bits from newegg. I would of course check product reviews for an enclosure with a good chipset and reliability.

 

[kitki83]

Do the LaCie drives use the Oxford chipset? The spec sheet on laCie's product page doesn't reveal that info; neither does the specg sheet on newegg...

Didnt someone mention how the HD in LaCie had Maxtor and if the HD failed its not LaCie job but Maxtor, I think best deal would be to build your own external Hard Drive.

 

[crazycat]

Buy the biggest one you can afford, if you will only backup stuff on your laptop then get 300GB model, if you are thinking of adding more files then i recommend you buy a larger one.

 

[OrangeCuse44]

found this deal on amazon, i know id be sacrificing a firewire port for only usb 2.0 but ill be backing up my system in the middle of the night so speed wouldnt matter much. should i go for it?? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...6725537?ie=UTF8&qid=1176402589&sr=1-1&seller=

 

[kellen]

If you wanted to, you could upgrade your internal HD to 160gigs for 120$, then buy a 2.5 holder for your HD in the macbook.

Then you would have more in your MB and an external, although depending on the size you are looking at, it may not be large enough.