Portable HD for Time Machine?

[AnotherFanBoy]

Hey guys

So I currently have a Lacie "Porsche designed" 320GB external hard drive which I use for Time Machine. The major problem is that it is huge and requires an external power source. Also, the rubber bits on the bottom came off because I have had it for a while and so now whenever Time Machine backs up, you can hear the drive on the table.

I have been thinking about getting a portable drive like a WD Passport Essential because it doesn't need a power source. Does anyone have any experience of these drives with Time Machine or any others to recommend?

Also how much will running the drive when my 13" 2.53 MacBook Pro is on battery power affect the battery life? Secondly, if I have a 250GB internal HD, how big an external drive should I be looking at?

Any suggestions and opinions are appreciated. Thanks

 

[NC MacGuy]

I use any 2.5" SATA disk with an enclosure. If you go that route, you can always pop it in your notebook if you really had to.

The enclosures can be had on ebay for <$10. I use a 500GB WD Scorpio Blue.

 

[AnotherFanBoy]

I use any 2.5" SATA disk with an enclosure. If you go that route, you can always pop it in your notebook if you really had to.

The enclosures can be had on ebay for <$10. I use a 500GB WD Scorpio Blue.

Thanks for that. Slightly off the topic, I want to upgrade my internal to roughly 500 too. Is the Scorpio Blue a good drive for this?

Thanks

 

[NC MacGuy]

Thanks for that. Slightly off the topic, I want to upgrade my internal to roughly 500 too. Is the Scorpio Blue a good drive for this?

Thanks

It's a great drive for an upgrade. I was using it without noise/vibration and it's pretty quick too. Replaced it with an Intel X25 so now it's an external TM drive.

 

[AnotherFanBoy]

Thanks! I found it in the UK for like £65 which seems like a good deal.

 

[AnotherFanBoy]

Another question for you NC Macguy or anyone else, does the scorpio blue affect the battery life of the 13" MBP 2.53?

Thanks

 

[cluthz]

Buy a WD Passport Essential 500GB, pop it open and you'll find a WD Scorpio Blue 500 GB, install that one in your machine and put the old one in the WD Passport Enclosure.

Done this twice (with own computer) and my sisters.
Working great and it's a cheap solution to get both an external HD for backup and upgrading the internal!

Opening the WD is very easy, just pry it open with a guitar pick (or something else plastic) and you have the HD out in less than a minute!

 

[AnotherFanBoy]

Buy a WD Passport Essential 500GB, pop it open and you'll find a WD Scorpio Blue 500 GB, install that one in your machine and put the old one in the WD Passport Enclosure.

Done this twice (with own computer) and my sisters.
Working great and it's a cheap solution to get both an external HD for backup and upgrading the internal!

Opening the WD is very easy, just pry it open with a guitar pick (or something else plastic) and you have the HD out in less than a minute!

is it definitely a scorpio blue?