Any Recommendations for External HD to use with Time Machine?

Question

Any Recommendations for External HD to use with Time Machine?

Have been using Time Capsule wireless as my drive for Time Machine back-ups for a couple of years with mixed success. It also serves as a wireless router for internet service between all devices in my household.

Was recently recommended to me to invest in an external firewired hard drive to use for Time Machine so now I'm presented with a dilemma: Which one to choose?

Need 3 Terabytes and I'm looking at the Iomega Mac Companion (3TB) but see that Apple has discontinued selling it from its store and there's an issue with using USB and FW simultaneously.

Looking for feedback from anyone whose used this device and/or recommendations on another 3TB drive to purchase.

Thanks in advance.

Mac Pro Xeon 64-bit Workstation, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

Posted on Jan 2, 2013 9:50 AM

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Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Jan 2, 2013 12:39 PM in response to KatieOConnell

http://www.macsales.com/firewire

You have two SATA ports on t he logicboard.

You can buy NewerTeck PCI extender to run it out PCI to an external case $49 also from OWC

I avoid name brand like LaCie, Iomega, WD and definitely Apple.

Then t hrow in whatever drive you want. Green or other in sizes you need (two SATA ports, and dual SATA case, all native)

And you aren't sharing or affecting other interfaces or devices.

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Answer 2

Jan 2, 2013 12:48 PM in response to The hatter

From that broad page The hatter suggested, these specific enclosures (with or without a drive pre-installed) are pretty good.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB

The one at the bottom that says 0GB is the same enclosure empty, so that you can pick a separate drive mechanism to install in it. That way you can order the exact drive you want, instead of having them choose from what they have on hand.

Wireheads will choose the 0GB and install the drive they prefer, most "regular" folks just buy it with a drive already installed and it works (after initializing) right out of the box, no assembly required.

.

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Answer 3

Jan 4, 2013 5:43 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you both for your advice. I'm not very technical and so don't understand some of what you're describing.

I basically need to purchase a "plug and play" device that doesn't require any technical know-how.

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Answer 4

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Jan 4, 2013 7:32 AM in response to KatieOConnell

Okay, then this from Grant's link is very much plug and play:

3TB with USB and Firewire interface to play in and use:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEAQ7H30TB64/

OWC are reliable, easy to use, and they have support as well as install video guides where needed.

Disk drive case like theirs means you can in the future swap out the hard drive easily yourself and put in a new drive.

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Answer 5

Jan 4, 2013 7:47 AM in response to The hatter

Thanks hatter ... just ordered the 3TB OWC drive. It gets great reviews and seems to be just what I need!

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