MacBook Pro users...portable HD question.

[shack]

I need to buy an external portable HD for a MacBook Pro laptop and definitely need firewire capability. We have used a Western Digital Passport and it seems to be good but only using the USB 2.0. Recent research has shown there are problems with it's firewire cables and/or firmware causing the Macs to freeze. That would be a problem because I need this drive for operational use and not as a mere backup. I am also considering a Iomega eGo Mac Edition 500GB/1TB which seems to be very highly thought of (especially with it's Firewire 400/800 capabilities) except for a few reported issues with it getting too hot and causing the plastic cover to separate from the frame.

Has anyone had any experience with current WD Passports (especially with firewire) or the Iomega eGo? Anyone have any experience with any of the other portable external harddrives for Mac that have firewire?

Thanks for any info.

[bklynNupe]

http://www.g-technology.com

I can tell you that g-techs are recommended by NYU Tisch school of the arts for their students because of their high reliability. I have a g-tech, it has never crashed in two years. I also know several indie filmmakers/producers for the Public Television System that switched out their Lacie drives for G-Tech. They also think the USB is more stable than the firewire ports.

[Demiurge]

I have a 1 TB Western Digital MyBook that I use with a fire wire cable on my MacBook Pro and I have had zero issues with it. Of course, the hard drive is nearly 3 years old so I am probably not answering your question.

[shack]

I have a 1 TB Western Digital MyBook that I use with a fire wire cable on my MacBook Pro and I have had zero issues with it. Of course, the hard drive is nearly 3 years old so I am probably not answering your question.

I have two MyBooks that I use with no problems with my PC and my oldest daughter uses a WD Passport with her MacBook Pro that she likes a lot...but I was just a little concerned about some of the reveiws on several different sites with the recent firewire issues. I was a done deal to get a new Passport till I started reading those reviews.

[Demiurge]

Yeah, I have read bad reviews on them too. I only use it to store product videos on it so it doesn't get much use other than for that.

Check out these:

http://www.lacie.com/us/products/range.htm?id=10033

LaCie's are pretty good and get great reviews (check out Amazon) on Macs.

[vc69]

LaCie's are ok. We use a ton of them in production here at MPB. Having said that, the G-Tech's are equally as reliable.

[bklynNupe]

Yeah, I have read bad reviews on them too. I only use it to store product videos on it so it doesn't get much use other than for that.

Check out these:

http://www.lacie.com/us/products/range.htm?id=10033

LaCie's are pretty good and get great reviews (check out Amazon) on Macs.

Lacie's are great when they work. I had one fail after 6 months, I know with the same experience.

[bklynNupe]

LaCie's are ok. We use a ton of them in production here at MPB. Having said that, the G-Tech's are equally as reliable.

MPB – Mississippi Public Television ?
I was there about two years ago for a weeklong conference. Great facility and people!

[vc69]

MPB – Mississippi Public Television ?
I was there about two years ago for a weeklong conference. Great facility and people!

Yep. And thanks! I really like working here. What were you here for?

[bigaudiofanatic]

I have a mac and have been using a WD usb external drive but it take 5.5 hours for my backup. I am looking into these two.

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digita...4360459&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digita...4360578&sr=8-4

It might take me so long because I formatted the drive to fat32 so both I can use the drive for both my mac and my pc. I know if I get a 1 TB drive I will not be able to do this so I will probably keep the one I have and use the new one for dedicated backup for the mac as well.

No matter what WD drive you get I would think highly of them. I use to have a passport but had to use a Y usb cable as my port was not providing enough power for the drive.

[bklynNupe]

Back then I was working for a CPB film funder/presenter org that co-sponsored a new media event. Workshops, shoots, panels and a couple of dinners. The usual CPB stuff.
Great fun in MS when I wasn’t working, IMO the local culture hospitality is greatly underrated.

[bigaudiofanatic]

^^And how does that pertain to the subject at hand?

[edbert]

^^And how does that pertain to the subject at hand?

Yep. And thanks! I really like working here. What were you here for?

Because he asked.

[shack]

As I continue to do research, I find that almost every mfg has products with some issues and some negative reviews. The G-Tech looks nice and I like the G-drive mobile, but can't find it for sale anywhere, even the G-tech site. Plus they are a bit pricey for my needs. The LaCie's have some "reported" reliability issues and tend to be difficult to power via bus..along with many excellent reviews. The WD issues seem to be limited to some firewire problems and the Iomega eGo seems to be universally highly rated by the "pro" reviewers but with a few "gets too hot" reviews. Hell, I'm only talking a $125 or so for a 500GB HD, so maybe it's a coin flip...or best price issue.

[Ranger0912]

I'll second (or third) the recommendation on G-Techs. They've been good for me.