External HD - Win to Mac (FAT32)

[Universal]

Going to get one of those fancy Lacie external mobile hard disks. If I partition it as a FAT32 partition I will be able to transfer any file from my pc to my powerbook? Such as mp3s and videos.

I wouldn't run into any problems should I?

Cheers

[bsodmike]

Nope you shouldn't. It'll just mount up on your desktop I'm not sure if the Lacie drives are good tho? Or are they?

Thanks,

Mike

[Universal]

Thought so, just checking.

Was going to get one of these - http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10560

Not sure what size yet though. Any better alternatives?

[thet2]

you can buy an external aluminium enclosure and drive cheaper than those

would work just as good

[Jonny M]

LaCie drives are very high quality, go for it.

[Universal]

thet2 - Don't look as nice though. However one would come in handy. Which is the best external enclosure for an internal HD?

Cheers

[bsodmike]

I'm thinking of going for a LaCie drive as well. Right now I'm trying to decide with - speed/capacity (£125 for 160GB, 7200rpm) vs. portability (£225ish for £100, 4200rpm bus powered FW 800/400)

hrm...prolly go for the 160Gb...hrm.

Mike

[Universal]

Mike, as I am using it for mp3s/video files and graphics, I thought it would be best to buy the biggest I can afford with firewire connection. I think for what I am using it for capacity is more important than speed.

As I will mainly be using it with a laptop I will probably go for the mobile one. Where do you think the cheapest place to get them is?

[Jonny M]

£125 for a 160gig?

You can get a 250Gig for around £100. Unless you want a FW800 drive.

[bsodmike]

Actually that's the one of the portable range that caught my eye. Portability is key here...Still it's probably the most expensive 100GB out there. I got a 300GB Maxtor, 7200rpm 16mb cache (Yes, it's internal) for a little over £130.... So close to twice the price for 1/3rd the space....for portability.

I'm still split between FW HDD & Mac mini. I think I now know how to handle shipping from TNT...so I might order the Mini later on...hrm not sure.

As for price I'd have a look around at the usual places, Amazon, Dabs etc...If you got a KRCS AppleCentre near you check with them as well...

Good luck in finding the best deal

Update: Try www.ebuyer.com < they rock!

Mike

[nichomach]

I have one of the Lacie d2 (USB2/FW/FW800) drives at work; the drives themselves are OK (well built, good performance) - as long as nothing goes wrong. If it does, getting support is a nightmare.

1. They won't deal with end users directly most of the time. Try using their web support request form or phoning...then, as the song goes..."Enjoy the Silence".

2. It can take weeks to get them to RMA a faulty drive.

Knowing what I do now, I'd have to say get a Maxtor.

[bsodmike]

I ended up ordering this:

Lacie 300767 100GB Firewire & USB2 Bus Powered Mobile Drive

From eBuyer.com

There is one more in stock

Mike

[Stoo]

As for the mac mini, there's an Applecentre in Leeds:

KRCS Group Plc
80 Merrion Street, Leeds
Tel: 0113 245 4245

Order it from there and go pick it up at your leisure?

[bsodmike]

Stoo, I'm a regular there. It's just that I can can get HE discounts via the AppleStore HE whereas KRCS only support the 'regular' edu discount.

I've ordered the FW drive now and won't be getting a mini any time soon.

My idea for the Mini is as simple as this:

Access over ssh/sftp/samba/afp/vnc when here in my room @ Uni, running headless.

When I'm mobile:

Geneva: Connect to my Uncles TFT or spare CRT (they may have trashed them...these Swiss are crazy you know...) and leave torrents running...

Colombo: Mobile solution for anime

What did I forget?

Got a 1.6Ghz G5 at home....and I could equally hook up a fw hdd to the shuttle I put together for my uncle in geneva.

I think this just might work

Got another 9 - 5GB of space on the iPod anyways

Mike

[thet2]

i would have to disagree, i got an icy box and looks great, with the mesh centre and aluminium top and bottom.

[bsodmike]

There are also a few things keeping me away from the mini. 4x Superdrive, come on, the Americans are getting 8x now. Also, you won't be carrying the mini with you when you travel. It will be mini + power supply (when travelling from place to place that already have display, kb and mouse). I really hate this task of carrying adaptors.

When I travel it's a case full of wires for me. iPod dock, cable, PDA charger, dock, camera dock, cable, charger (this time I'm just gonna take the cam on full charge..it has a crazy powerfull battery), mobile charger - and when I had my pbook, it's charger. (note: docks for extended vacations)

That's a lot of wires. I've had customs look at me in suprise, all the wires make them feel uncomfortable lol.

So, adding to that collection will be a FW hdd + 1 cord, no charger...

Mike