Best external HD?

I've using a WB 1TB Passport for about 15 months, and have had no problems at all - though that's a sort of short time to verify long-term reliability, I'll admit. I would buy another with no qualms.

The only thing I don't quite care for is that it doesn't spin down when ejected. This doesn't cause any actual problems, as you just pull the cable after ejection, but there's always this paranoid thought in the back of my mind that it seems 'wrong'.

bj klin said:

Looking at external HDs. Thinking about the WD Passport for Mac (1TB). Anyone have any experience with this or suggestions for others?

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I'm using one of these for my Time Machine backup. I've had it for several years and never had an issue. When I first got it, I was using it on my PC. I reformatted it when I went to my iMac and set up Time Machine without a hitch.

That said, I've read online horror stories for *every* major brand of HDDs. Be sure to base your decision on the body of evidence, not just one (possibly ticked-off) user's review or the high school student working part-time at your local superstore.

CPLittleton

bj klin said:

Looking at external HDs. Thinking about the WD Passport for Mac (1TB). Anyone have any experience with this or suggestions for others?

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While I haven't used this particular model, I have five other WD's that have been running fine for several years. Due to my personal experience with their reliability, I recently purchased a 4TB WD My Book to run Time Machine on. Had to reformat it for the iMac but that really wasn't a problem.

That's just my experience. I'm not 'pushing' WD's as I'm sure other well known brands are probably just as good if you get a good copy.

Nick

I've an older My Passport, 1TB USB 2 that I use for Time machine backups. It works just fine - reliable, silent, though not the fastest disk. USB 3 is probably faster.

My only gripe with it is the auto mounting partition for WD Smartware, which is completely useless and which you can't get rid of. You can ignore it though, and it's only a couple of hundred MB. Just don't install any of the software WD deliver with the drive. You don't need it and it can cause problems with newer Macs (I have heard).

I think the "for Mac" (Mac formatted) version is more expensive than the "Windows" version. Don't bother with it; get the Windows version and reformat it.

If you're using it with a desktop, the My Book range with 3.5" disks may be a better option - faster disks, greater maximum capacity. Downside is it's larger and needs a discrete power supply. I have one of those too, attached to my Airport Extreme, again for Time Machine backups. Again, never had a problem with it.

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John Bandry

I've had a 1TB external from OWC that's run virtually nonstop for 3 years without a hiccup. Here's a link: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB

Jack

your last stop...

jforkner said:

I've had a 1TB external from OWC that's run virtually nonstop for 3 years without a hiccup. Here's a link: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB

Jack

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For me, it's OWC in #1, G-Tech as #2, based on my own experience on my home system. Do not buy Glyph brand HDD's at any cost.

I am only using WD external HDDs for several years. Currently I have 2 WD My Passport drives, no problems ever since I bought them years ago. I do prefer the 1TB size and more of them contrary to higher capacity disks, if data would ever get lost it's better to lose not all in one shot.

I maintain backups for my university's division... I used to have to replace a laCie or WD external every few months. After I switched to CalDigit my problems disappeared. I have a number of externals that have been running without problems for over 7 years now.... 24/7.