Firewire/USB 2.0 External HD For Powerbook
Hey everyone!
I'm a 6-7 year veteran on AI but have hardly ever posted much after the long ago loss of accounts. Anyway more on my question at hand.
I am looking to purchase a Firewire or USB 2 external drive for my 1.25 15" powerbook and was wondering which one is the fastest, best priced, and is of best quality? I think I would prefer the drive to be both firewire and USB as I will probably just attach it to a USB 2 hub along with my printer, scanner, and digital camera. That would always give me the option of plugging it into the firewire port if I ever needed to. I would say I'm looking to spend around $200 to $300 but I could go higher if I need to. What is the speed difference between USB 2 and Firewire 400 or even 800? I know USB 2 is 480Mbs and Firewire is 400Mbs and 800Mbs. I'm talking about speed differences in real world use. Do they make a combo firewire 800 and USB 2? I am not looking for the most portable drive as I would like the bigger A/C powered 7200rpm drive for speed. The storage would need to be 100GB or higher. Which ever is best value versus price. Lastly I would be interested in the case being upgradable down the road for a bigger drive replacement.
Sorry if this is a little hard to follow I'm just not much of a writer nor do I have the time. Anyway thank you everyone for you help and for entertaining my late night reading "safaris!"
I'm a 6-7 year veteran on AI but have hardly ever posted much after the long ago loss of accounts. Anyway more on my question at hand.
I am looking to purchase a Firewire or USB 2 external drive for my 1.25 15" powerbook and was wondering which one is the fastest, best priced, and is of best quality? I think I would prefer the drive to be both firewire and USB as I will probably just attach it to a USB 2 hub along with my printer, scanner, and digital camera. That would always give me the option of plugging it into the firewire port if I ever needed to. I would say I'm looking to spend around $200 to $300 but I could go higher if I need to. What is the speed difference between USB 2 and Firewire 400 or even 800? I know USB 2 is 480Mbs and Firewire is 400Mbs and 800Mbs. I'm talking about speed differences in real world use. Do they make a combo firewire 800 and USB 2? I am not looking for the most portable drive as I would like the bigger A/C powered 7200rpm drive for speed. The storage would need to be 100GB or higher. Which ever is best value versus price. Lastly I would be interested in the case being upgradable down the road for a bigger drive replacement.
Sorry if this is a little hard to follow I'm just not much of a writer nor do I have the time. Anyway thank you everyone for you help and for entertaining my late night reading "safaris!"
Comments
USB can go up to 450 mps
Firewire 400 can go up to 400 mps
BUT! there are major speed differences, extraneous variables if we must call it something. Though USB has a faster base speed, it is not as fast as firewire for larger file. This is because with USB it is only the computer communicating with the device. While firewire devices also communicate with the computer, so less data loss is caused through the transfer. In a 500 mb file transfer a firewire 400 will go 40% faster then USB, a 1 GB transfer goes 65% faster then USB.
Also, USB can power small devices like mice, but cannot power items such as, cameras. Firewire can power and even recharge components with higher energy requirements.
SO, in conclusion, firewire HD all the way
http://forums.appleinsider.com/showt...threadid=36076
Havent really heard much else about other products but i am very satisfied
good luck