What kind of HD for my macbook pro?

[JHNguyen]

Hi,
I occasionally do light video editing on my macbook pro, and I stream videos to my xbox in another rooom. I need more space than my internal 5400 rpm 160GB HD.

I can either get an internal, or an external. I don't move my computer at all, so an external would be just fine. If it doesn't require a power outlet, even better.

So my question is.. what kind of HD should I get? eSATA, FW800, USB 2.0?
Should I buy the HD, and enclosure seperate? Should I buy something already assembled like the WD Mybook?


I've had a few HD + enclosures that I had assembled. I liked them, except for the fact that they were a bit loud. Not sure if it was the enclosure making all the noise, or the HD.

 

[hodgjy]

If you want external, you won't be able to use an SATA connection because the Macbook Pro doesn't have a port. I would definitely get Firewire over usb for any kind of hard drive application. Since you want to video edit, I'd get a 7200rpm external drive and use Firewire 800.

I like this company a lot:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/800+USB2/

 

[screensaver400]

Don't get a MyBook.

If you're going to be on-the-road, get a 200GB 7200RPM 2.5" drive in a FW800 enclosure. Its not huge, but its bus-powered, so you can run your whole setup from the laptop battery if you have to.

If you're mostly desk-bound, get a 150GB Raptor 10,000RPM 3.5" drive in a FW800 enclosure for top-speed, or whatever size 7200RPM drive you want. The downside to this is that its not portable, and you need to plug in the drive to its own power source.

 

[JHNguyen]

If you want external, you won't be able to use an SATA connection because the Macbook Pro doesn't have a port.

I've got the first MBP's that came out, and from what I've read, it doesn't have FW800. Only FW400.. (unless I'm wrong?)

Either way though, I was going to buy an expresscard, FW800 or eSATA. I thought buy the eSATA card since it's supposedly faster.

 

[hodgjy]

Oops, sorry. If you're getting a card with eSATA, get that kind of drive enclosure. The company I recommended also sells drives with eSATA connections. Should be plenty fast for your needs.

 

[wallaby]

eSATA is definitely your fastest option, although fw400/800 are more readily usable on Macs due to the implementation of firewire ports. Rosewill makes a pretty cheap eSATA expresscard (check newegg). For an external HD, I bought a OWC Mercury Quad-AL Pro, and I'm pretty happy with it. It has all four standards, so you can use eSATA or fw400/800.

Also, there exist cables that change the plug from a fw400 to a fw800, so if you find yourself without your expresscard, you could buy one of these to still make your drive useful from the fw400 port.