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Zimmer1956 Author

Level 1

9 points

best external hard drive for time machine

Replacing external hard drive - had a 2 TB drive formatted to 2 drives - one for Time Machine and the other for the clone. I was told by several drive manufacturers that I should be using two separate external drives - 1 for TM(1TB) and the other for the clone(500GB). Using FW800.

Looking at standard external drives versus the many mini drives. Considering the std vs mini in OWC versus the G-Drive Technology. Are the standard any more reliable or stable than the mini drives(bus powered) using an AC adapter?

I am exhausted from research and would appreciate any comments from users of any of the drives, standard, mini and I am aware both get very good ratings. Any ideas or suggestions??

Thanks!

OS X Mountain Lion, 2TB OWC External Drive for my IMac

Posted on Apr 9, 2013 9:27 AM

24 replies

Zimmer1956 Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 16, 2014 9:51 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas

It was mentioned that the Toshiba Canvio external drive had a Hitachi drive in it. I spoke to Toshiba and they purchased HDST external drives not too long ago. They use TOSHIBA drives in ALL external drives - which is contrary to what was posted.

Just wanted to clear this up.

Thanks,

Don

Apr 16, 2014 11:52 AM in response to Zimmer1956

I have endless piles of Toshiba drives, and often crack them open for HD extraction.

All Toshiba 3.5" ext. HD are , yes, Hitachi. Hitachi was forced to sell off its 3.5" division to Toshiba when they were aquired by WD.

"Canvio" refers to BOTH 2.5" and 3.5"

all 2.5" Canvio are Toshiba

all 3.5" Canvio are made by Hitachi inside, though marked Toshiba on the outside and box.

They use TOSHIBA drives in ALL external drives - which is contrary to what was posted.

Whoever told you that, including a know-nothing working for Toshiba, is lying to you, ....rather just uneducated on the subject. Likely just a uneducated person who answers general phone calls.

However its almost correct, the 3.5" division is OWNED by Toshiba, so it is a "Toshiba 3.5" " in a sense. But its made by Hitachi.

Any 3.5" ext. "Toshiba" HD case you crack open will have a Hitachi marked HD inside.

There are no better 3.5" except for WD server grade professional "black" HD. however the "black" drives are much more expensive.

confused yet? its actually simple.

HDST external drives not too long ago.

HGST you mean, rather only the 3.5" division was sold off to Toshiba

There are no such things as "external hard drives" as different from internal ones. All HD, either 2.5" or 3.5" internal or external are the same thing,

only difference is an external enclosure comprising a plastic or metal case, and a SATA interface card.

Zimmer1956 Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 16, 2014 2:35 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

It really isn't that important - sorry I mentioned anything....

Don

Zimmer1956 Author

Level 1

9 points

May 9, 2014 10:20 AM in response to PlotinusVeritas

Been considering a desktop but not sure. Right now, considering Toshiba 2TB vs Touro Desk 2TB - but the Touro looks like plastic.

From portable considering Toshiba Canvio connect 2TB and TouroS which is only 1TB.

Have read tons of great reviews on all these AND surprised at the excellent reviews ( Amazon, Best Buy, New Egg, others) on the NEW Seagate BackUp Plus Desktop and portable Slim 2TB. What is going on with Seagate?

I know my last iMac had a Seagate hard drive that was replaced on a recall with anoter Seagate.

I KNOW I am not buying a WD because Apple store had to clean off my drive because of an external drive that messed up my Mac - the employees told me to never download WD software because it puts files in so many different places and oftem freezes Mac's.

Because of the excellent reviews WD gets I have to be open minded, assuming they are excellent as long as you don't download any software?

Thanks, in advance for any suggestions to those mentioned earlier.

Don

Zimmer1956 Author

Level 1

9 points

May 9, 2014 10:59 AM in response to Zimmer1956

from a portable side, considering the Toshiba Canvio 2TB, Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB or OWC 2TB mini which uses a Seagate Momentus in the 2TB drive but the Hitachi in the 1TB where I would have to buy two and not sure the best investment.

Don

babowa

Level 9

78,103 points

May 9, 2014 1:09 PM in response to Zimmer1956

I like these (and have both the Mercury Elite Pro and the mini (with a power adapter):

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/

They use the Oxford chip and offer 7200 rpm drives (I do not care for the much slower 5400 rpm).

MichelPM

Level 10

80,974 points

May 9, 2014 1:36 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

I have been using LaCie Drives for a long time, now.

I have three. Two are 1 TB Drives and the newest one is a 2 TB drive.

Two that are over 6 years old and one I bought over a year, ago.

Do you know when Seagate bought LaCie and what Seagate drive is in my newer LaCie Drive?

Is it one of Seagate's better drives OR one of their low end crap drives that may fail sooner than later.

I am just curious because I never knew that LaCie was owned by Seagate. I thought LaCie was an independent company and their hard drives had always used better, higher quality Hitachi or WD drives.

I also, still have an older WD 256 GB hard drive that is still going strong and is almost 10 years old.

It is being used with my newer iMac, now.