anyone using an external HD?

[hmac]

My solution was to get a firewire-based DriveDock from WeibeTech
http://store.yahoo.com/wiebetech/
The is a slick little doodad that lets me convert any old ATA hard
drive into an external drive that is exchangeable and
hot-pluggable. It can be either firewire or USB2.0.

I use Ghost to back up my computers' entire hard drives as well as
store all of my image files. It allows a lot of flexibility, making
it well worth the cost to me.

I happened to have some old 3.5 inch drives sitting around that I wasn't using so this was good solution for me. I like the flexibility, and I didn't feel that the hassle and expense of an enclosure was necessary.

Setting the thing up was easy..all I did was plug it in and format the drive from windows using the drive utility built into XP. Now, whatever drive is attached to the Drive Dock just comes up under My Computer as a regular hard drive with whatever letter I assigned it when I formatted it.

For me, it solved several problems...large, convenient removeable storage and a drive platform from which I could back up and restore my entire hard drive using Norton Ghost in the event of a major crash of Windows XP (which has happened twice) or a physicial crash of my C: drive.

I believe that the Firewire version will actually spin up a 5400 rpm drive without an external AC supply but even with the Spin Boost thingy, it woudn't get my 7200 drives up and running, so I'm glad I opted for the one with the external AC adapter.

I note that they also have a similar device for use with 2.5 inch drives such as any notebook drive. http://store.yahoo.com/wiebetech/firnotdriv.html These are smaller and are powered completely from the firewire bus, although I note that the drives themselves tend to more expensive on a $ per gigabyte basis.

--
H McCollister

 

[Robert Whiteman]

Hi Robert: That is exactly my situation. My 20 gig notebook was
full, so i purchased the external 200 gig Maxtor 5000DV
(firewire/USB) I cleared everything but my programs onto the
external drive..Works so easily, but you still really need to back
up those valuable files, images onto DVD's. My opinion. good luck,
allen

My current workflow starts with file from CF card to CD directly. After that the converted TIFFS go to a folder then keepers are renamed and numbered, saved as jpeg or tiff depending on the need and then those are burned to CD as backups. Final print order files are also backed up on CD. Job complete. I don't trust ANY hard drive as the sole storage for my files. Oh yes, the original shoot RAW files are stored on the Gold CD's.

Robert

 

[Steve-WP]

Maxtor 200 Gig is great!

I am tired to backing up on DVDs. So I am getting an external HD
with either firewire or USB 2. The question is whether a packaged
ext. HD like from LaCie or TEAC etc etc is better than buying just
a normal HD and the Housing separately. This way I can swop HDs
around as when needed.

Anybody here know how stable it is or from speed difference?

thanks for any input,
babe

--
LIFE ON THE FLY.

--
Stephen E. Morton

Event Coverage is nothing more than 'Dancin' with Wolves'

 

[Bill T]

Hi Babe

I do use a couple of external HDs for backup purposes. I like external ones as I can easily connect it to either the desk top or lap top. Its a bit more expensive than the internal ones though.
Bill.

I am tired to backing up on DVDs. So I am getting an external HD
with either firewire or USB 2. The question is whether a packaged
ext. HD like from LaCie or TEAC etc etc is better than buying just
a normal HD and the Housing separately. This way I can swop HDs
around as when needed.

Anybody here know how stable it is or from speed difference?

thanks for any input,
babe

--
LIFE ON THE FLY.

 

[Marceloc]

Hello,

I had the same problem that you. Now i use at home with my PC and in the field with my notebook an external hard drive. I own from 1,5 years a MAXTOR 200 GB with USB 2.0 and FireWire conection. Right now there are drives like this with 250 and 300 GB. This hard drives are great for buckup digital photos at home and at the field.

Thank you,

Marcelo

I am tired to backing up on DVDs. So I am getting an external HD
with either firewire or USB 2. The question is whether a packaged
ext. HD like from LaCie or TEAC etc etc is better than buying just
a normal HD and the Housing separately. This way I can swop HDs
around as when needed.

Anybody here know how stable it is or from speed difference?

thanks for any input,
babe

--
LIFE ON THE FLY.

 

[wing88]

for large drives ..
hot swappable 200G drives at resonable price ..
with power from sata connector .. no case required
use it .. unplug it .. put it in shelf .. I use a bunch
of 200G drives for my projects ..

I always use 2 drives mirrored (logical not RAID) using
RT Mirror .. I work on the one drive and automatically
mirror changes to the other drive ..
I always keep copies during work .. when a project is finished
I copy to DVD or leave it on 2 Harddrives ..
I have repeat customers and dont want to copy the old
data again when I need it .. so I keep one copy on DVD
and one on Harddrive .. when the data is obsolete I delete
the harddrive and keep 2 copies on DVD

good luck
gmd

--
People who quote others have nothing to say - GMD

 

[GodSpeaks]

How fast do you want? An 8x DVD burner can write a DVD in about 7.5 minutes. That's about 600K/minute.

Babe, I too use the Maxtor external firewire drives. Very convenient. Can be easily moved from computer to computer. The newer Maxtor drives seem to have both Firewire and USB interface.

I currently have 4 external firewire drives, one of which I put together from an enclosure and HD. All work, but I like the Maxtor best.

Declan
--
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
I can feel an angel sliding up to me

 

[Robert Whiteman]

How fast do you want? An 8x DVD burner can write a DVD in about
7.5 minutes. That's about 600K/minute.

Really?! I was told it was about 1/2 hour. hmmmmmmm.

Might have to look into that.

Robert

 

[John Lai]

May I recommend a backup software?
http://www.fileback-pc.com/

I have been using this highly customisable software for about 4 years. You can download it and try it for free.

John

I am tired to backing up on DVDs. So I am getting an external HD
with either firewire or USB 2.