I was thinking of getting an external hard drive as both my desktop and laptop always seem to fill up too quick, especially with photos and video files.

I was looking at this which looks like a bargain, but can anyone tell me is USB2.0 gonna be fast enough to transfer lots of big files?

 

I use a pair of Maxtor 250Gb on USB 2.0. I've had no problems getting files on and off and that includes playing videos files directly from them. Couldn't live without them.

Cheers

Ian

 

I've used a USB2 drive for capturing digital video with no problems, and large file transfer speed seems pretty reasonable...

 

I'd go firewire personally, much faster. IT drive you've seen looks reasonable but I've never heard of that make. What warranty does it have ?

I'd always buy Lacie personally as they always come up tops for reliability, speed and design ( nice FA Porsche design) and some of the products have 2 or even 3 year warranties.

http://www.macwarehouse.co.uk/product.aspx?SKU=E525574
or if you did want USB 2.0

http://www.macwarehouse.co.uk/product.aspx?SKU=E525574


AllanB

 

another vote for for firewire

 

Yup, Firewire & Lacie (http://www.lacie.com/uk/)I have a customer using a Lacie drive for main storage of dtp files. He's very pleased with it.

 

buy your own case/enclosure at www.qtds.com and buy your own HDD at www.ebuyer.co.uk.

i have been using HDD enclosure since they first came out, so it was USB 1.1. iw as slow but will get there eventually even so, i still can watch a movie via USB 1.1 (on a 2.5inch HDD using the USB port for power).

so in terms of speed, USB 2.0 and firewire is more than enuf speed to do your data transfer.

 

Actually, if you look at the offical specs, firewire is rated as 400mbs and usb2 is rated at 480mbs, so in theory, usb2 ought to be slightly quicker.

I've got an external enclosure with both usb2 and firewire connections, and to be honest I can't tell any difference in the speed. Depends on the quality / speed of the usb or firewire card in your machine as to which will work better....

Iain

 

Thanks for your help chaps, Iain those were the figures I was after and confirmed my suspicions.

I got it in the end, seamed too much of a bargain, it does have 2 years warranty.

 

PS, that Lacey drive - 'designed by Porsche'???, yeah just like the Kayenne (or however it's spelt) - methinks FUGLY

 

Lacie support Firewire 800.

 

From what I can see, (here) they support connection to Firewire 800, but the interface speed is still only 400mbs, so there's no point really, (don't get the speed advantage).

 

IEEE1394 (Firewire) is substantially slower than USB2. It is accepted that 'Firewire' will not approach its standard maximum DTR of 400Mbps whilst USB2 usually runs at its maximum DTR of 480Mbps.

When you consider that USB2 kit is substantially cheaper as well as faster, it makes a convincing argument in its favour.

Simon

 

I have a 2.5 laptop hard disk enclosure with USB2 interface. Enclosure was about £10 off ebay (search for "2.5 USB enclosure") It's also powered via USB which means just one connecting cable. I don't know how big your drives could get before you require separate power connection but I'm running a 30Gb disk and it's very reasonable transfer speed. Certainly fast enough to watch movies.

Joolz