MacBook Pro users...portable HD question.

shack
shack Posts: 11,154
edited February 2010 in The Clubhouse
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.
"Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

"For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

"Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
Post edited by shack on
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  • bklynNupe
    bklynNupe Posts: 728
    edited January 2010
    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.

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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2010
    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.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited January 2010
    Demiurge wrote:
    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.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2010
    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.
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2010
    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.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
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  • bklynNupe
    bklynNupe Posts: 728
    edited January 2010
    Demiurge wrote: »
    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.

    emotiva xpa-2
    emotiva xpa-3
    Denon 3312ci
    Rtia9 /csia6 / FXi A6
    Samsung LN46A650
    SVS PB-12-NSD sub

    Audio Research SP-9 MKIII (GNSC mods)
    W4S ST250
    Lsi 9 (mods)
    W4S DAC-2
    Mac Mini
    Audio Aero Prima CD player
    Pro-Ject debut
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  • bklynNupe
    bklynNupe Posts: 728
    edited January 2010
    vc69 wrote: »
    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!

    emotiva xpa-2
    emotiva xpa-3
    Denon 3312ci
    Rtia9 /csia6 / FXi A6
    Samsung LN46A650
    SVS PB-12-NSD sub

    Audio Research SP-9 MKIII (GNSC mods)
    W4S ST250
    Lsi 9 (mods)
    W4S DAC-2
    Mac Mini
    Audio Aero Prima CD player
    Pro-Ject debut
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2010
    bklynNupe wrote: »
    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?
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited January 2010
    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-Digital-FireWire-External-WDH1CS5000N/dp/B000WGSAAE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1264360459&sr=1-4

    http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-FireWire-External-WDBAAJ0020HSL-NESN/dp/B002RL8IAY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264360578&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.
    HT setup
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  • bklynNupe
    bklynNupe Posts: 728
    edited January 2010
    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. :rolleyes:
    Great fun in MS when I wasn’t working, IMO the local culture hospitality is greatly underrated.

    emotiva xpa-2
    emotiva xpa-3
    Denon 3312ci
    Rtia9 /csia6 / FXi A6
    Samsung LN46A650
    SVS PB-12-NSD sub

    Audio Research SP-9 MKIII (GNSC mods)
    W4S ST250
    Lsi 9 (mods)
    W4S DAC-2
    Mac Mini
    Audio Aero Prima CD player
    Pro-Ject debut
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited January 2010
    ^^And how does that pertain to the subject at hand?
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
    Polk Surroundbar 3000
    Samsung BD-C7900
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  • edbert
    edbert Posts: 1,041
    edited January 2010
    bigaudiofanatic wrote: »
    ^^And how does that pertain to the subject at hand?
    vc69 wrote: »
    Yep. And thanks! I really like working here. What were you here for?

    Because he asked.
    I know just enough to be dangerous, but don't tell my wife, she thinks I'm a genius. :D

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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited January 2010
    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.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • Ranger0912
    Ranger0912 Posts: 50
    edited February 2010
    I'll second (or third) the recommendation on G-Techs. They've been good for me.
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