External Hard Drives for Mac Question

[patterfr]

Bought 2 Seagate 320 GB External portable drives for backing up some shots and didn't realize they were Windows only compatible.
Do I need to return them or is there some way I can make them Mac compatible.

Yes, i know, I'm an idiot.

[greenmatter]

Originally Posted by patterfr

Bought 2 Seagate 320 GB External portable drives for backing up some shots and didn't realize they were Windows only compatible.
Do I need to return them or is there some way I can make them Mac compatible.

Yes, i know, I'm an idiot.

I think you.re better off returning it and getting the mac version. I know the pc and mac have different file systems so beside reformatting the hard drive you may need to install additional firmware. so its just safer and easier to get a mac version.

[felix.reichardt]

LOL ... Disk is Disk IMHO. Should work with MAC, Linux, PC. Re-format as suggested.

[patterfr]

How might a stupid person like me accomplish that Felix.

[Stercus Vultus]

Originally Posted by patterfr

How might a stupid person like me accomplish that Felix.

Connect the disk, open Disk Utility (Applications>Utilities), select your new disk in the left column, click 'Erase', get a cup of coffee. Cream and sugar?

[gryphonslair99]

If it was me I would return it for one of the Mac formatted disks in the firewire version. Much faster data through put. I have one for the Mac Pro and for my Mac Book Pro. Never an issue with either and with firewire you can daisy chain them.

[Stercus Vultus]

Originally Posted by gryphonslair99

If it was me I would return it for one of the Mac formatted disks in the firewire version. Much faster data through put. I have one for the Mac Pro and form my Mac Book Pro. Never an issue with either and with firewire you can daisy chain them.

Absolutely. Firewire runs rings around USB2.

[patterfr]

Thanks all. I appreciate it.

[andrejan]

Originally Posted by Stercus Vultus

Absolutely. Firewire runs rings around USB2.

If I may ask: Is Firewire still faster than USB 2.0 (480 Mb/sec) when you have a Firewire 400 connection on your Macbook? Is it worth the extra money?

Thanks,
Andre

[gryphonslair99]

Originally Posted by andrejan

If I may ask: Is Firewire still faster than USB 2.0 (480 Mb/sec) when you have a Firewire 400 connection on your Macbook? Is it worth the extra money?

Thanks,
Andre

Since my MPB is Firewire 800, yes.

[andrejan]

Originally Posted by gryphonslair99

Since my MPB is Firewire 800, yes.

I was asking this because I have a MB without a P, which has only Firewire 400.

[gryphonslair99]

Originally Posted by andrejan

I was asking this because I have a MB without a P, which has only Firewire 400.

Now we know what P stands for.

[cyclohexane]

Originally Posted by andrejan

If I may ask: Is Firewire still faster than USB 2.0 (480 Mb/sec) when you have a Firewire 400 connection on your Macbook? Is it worth the extra money?

Thanks,
Andre

I've never done a scientific test, but yes. "480 Mb/s" is the top possible speed for USB 2.0; I've never seen anything move that quickly. The limitation is the hardware- in practice you're not going to get that kind of performance. All the USB 2.0 drives I used with my MacBook were slower than the 500 GB SeaGate FreeAgent I was using.

I have since upgraded to a MacBook Pro and now use Firewire 800 drives for most of my storage needs, but I am typing this message on my old white MacBook...