Best 1tb external hd (time machine)
Seeing how data gets lost so easily in today's fast paced world of doing clean installs of new OS's and putting new applications on my Mac daily I thought I would be good to invest in a external HD. I was wondering what HD the AppleInsider users think is the best. It needs to be 1tb and it needs to work with time machine. I'm primarily using it for iPhoto backups and I'm on a budget. I'm backing up less than 100gb of data but drives under 1tb seem to be the same price as larger drives... Also, should I pay extra for Firewire or stick with USB?
Here's some that I've found (tell me your opinion if you own):
Here's some that I've found (tell me your opinion if you own):
- NewerTech miniStack FireWire 400, FireWire 800, USB2, and eSATA Storage Solutions with integrated hubs http://bit.ly/7qoiy
- Amazon.com: Iomega Prestige 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive 34275: Electronics http://bit.ly/1aQbS9
- Amazon.com: Western Digital Elements 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive WDE1UBK10000N (Black): Electronics http://bit.ly/1CPnRF
- Amazon.com: LaCie 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive, Designed by Neil Poulton 301304U: Electronics http://bit.ly/ggYoD
Comments
Seeing how data gets lost so easily in today's fast paced world of doing clean installs of new OS's and putting new applications on my Mac daily I thought I would be good to invest in a external HD. I was wondering what HD the AppleInsider users think is the best. It needs to be 1tb and it needs to work with time machine. I'm primarily using it for iPhoto backups and I'm on a budget. I'm backing up less than 100gb of data but drives under 1tb seem to be the same price as larger drives... Also, should I pay extra for Firewire or stick with USB?
Here's some that I've found (tell me your opinion if you own):
Storage has never been cheaper per GB. Get the best deal from one of the major brands.
My preferred brand for external HDs has been LaCie in the last decade. Only one sofar crashed on me, out of 5. For Time Machine backups I have 3 mirroring each other. One is offsite.
For the next step up I'm considering a Drobo set. It's pricey, but can you put a price on your photos' and documents' security? What if you lose 'm...?
So you never backed up before?
You live on the edge of the volcano, my friend.
Firewire runs rings around USB800. But eSATA run rings around Firewire.
OTOH: if you're using it only for Time Machine backups – not as a daily working HD – you don't need superfast data transfer. So why pay for it?
Another aspect you need to consider is the HD's spin speed. 7200 rpm is a third faster than 5400 rpm. Reads and writes a third faster too.
If you plan on playing back HD videos stored on that external HD you will want the fastest set up you can afford. But you don't need that kind of speeds for backup purposes.