External Hard drive (Page 4): I have small external drives . . . . I got a dock like the one below, so I can use internal drives for backup. They're often less expensive than externals...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

ygelman wrote:

jerryc41 wrote:

deej wrote:

Just wondering what most UHH's are using for external hard drives and sizes? . . . .

I have small external drives . . . .

I got a dock like the one below, so I can use internal drives for backup. They're often less expensive than externals because they don't need a case, etc.
. . . .

Jerry, Can you tell us how to use these docks? What else needed, etc. Cost?
Thanks.

It was someone on the forum who mention these things, so I'm passing it on. The dock comes with a USB cable and a power cord. Plug it into power and into a USB port on your computer. Insert an internal-type hard drive, and then push the button to turn on its power.

From that point on, it's like having another drive installed in your computer. There's no special software required and no setup or installation. And they're cheap!

0627ramram32 Loc: Orange County, CA, USA

B&H Photo has an external 3 TB drive with USB 3.0 (and 2.0 too, of course) for $129, free shipping and no tax. The 3.0 gives a wonderful speed improvement, and it's well worth buying a card for your desktop computer if your MoBo doesn't already have a 3.0 connection.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

0627ramram32 wrote:

B&H Photo has an external 3 TB drive with USB 3.0 (and 2.0 too, of course) for $129, free shipping and no tax. The 3.0 gives a wonderful speed improvement, and it's well worth buying a card for your desktop computer if your MoBo doesn't already have a 3.0 connection.

For customers in NY, we pay sales tax.

uniqueimage Loc: Adelaide South Australia

I use a Desktop PC Jerry, but here is the website for what I use. Hope they have something for a mac. www.hdsentinel.com/

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

uniqueimage wrote:

I use a Desktop PC Jerry, but here is the website for what I use. Hope they have something for a mac. www.hdsentinel.com/

Thanks for the link. Take a look at CrystalDiskInfo, also free. Lots of info.

ygelman Loc: new -- North of Poughkeepsie!

jerryc41 wrote:

quote=ygelman quote=jerryc41 I have small extern... (show quote)

Sounds easy and good. But what about "internal-type" drives? (I'm still a newbie about these things.) I see a lot of jargon when I look, and don't know the implications and/or requirements. I'll be using a macbook running 10.5 and a desktop imac running 10.6 .

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

ygelman wrote:

Sounds easy and good. But what about "internal-type" drives? (I'm still a newbie about these things.) I see a lot of jargon when I look, and don't know the implications and/or requirements. I'll be using a macbook running 10.5 and a desktop imac running 10.6 .

They're drives intended to be installed inside a computer, so they have no case - just the drive itself.

Naps Loc: New Jersey USA

Hi Jerry,
Would you please explain to me how to use the setup that you show here? I have been using the WD 1T portable HD backups, and just got a 2T. Was wondering if it would be cheaper to use your system, but I don't know what that would mean as far as equipment and cost.
Thank you,
Naps
Sorry, I see you responded to another. Do you just insert the HD into the unit? I feel like they would be sturdier than the portables that I have

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Naps wrote:

Hi Jerry,
Do you just insert the HD into the unit? I feel like they would be sturdier than the portables that I have

Right. You just insert the drive into the dock and push the button to turn it on. When it has power, the light is blue. When it is working, you get both blue and red.

Of course since there is no protective case, you have to take precautions against damage and dirt. As far as the cost goes, you don't want to build your backup system around the cheapest drives you can fine.

Another consideration - you can find hard drive cases for drives like this. Then you connect the power and USB cables to the case, and the drive is always protected.

Naps Loc: New Jersey USA

Thanks! I thought maybe I wold be able to get a high end internal drive

OZMON Loc: WIGAN UK

I use Hitachi 1tb and allseem ok, I had a seagate which failed after 18months.I have two external drives and copy all my what I consider my best pics to both just in case one fails, unlikely that both will fail at the same time. fingers crossed..