USB2 Harddisk

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12-10-2004, 04:23 PM
pyro

USB2 Harddisk

Right-o I need a hardisk, big enought so I can save a lot of stuff into, cheap, and that doesn't need a power supply, so far I am thinking about this combination:

hdd case:
http://www.directusbstore.co.uk/cnb/...dCategoryID=22

20gig 2.5" hdd
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=74131

or the 40gig one instead...
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=62698

What you reckon? It's around £80 with the 40 and just over £70 with the 20gig, obviously the 40, but I was just wondering if this is a nice idea...

Cheers
12-10-2004, 05:39 PM
mr_anderson187

a cheap 2nd hand hdd from someone on here (i have a few, pm me if interested) a usb to ide cable will set you back around a tenner, from the bay of flea's but that uses a power supply, or you can use a molex part from your psu
12-10-2004, 05:45 PM
Nomadd

Well, the Maxtor OneTouch USB2 with an 80GB drive is available for £84 (inc. VAT), so why not go that route instead? It's already built (so no compatability issues) and it comes with software and a manufacturers warranty. Note sure if it's powered by the USB connection, but still worth looking at.

Nomadd
12-10-2004, 06:46 PM
Zathras

You won't get 3.5" USB host-powered external drives - only the expensive notebook drives of 2.5" can be host-powered. This will add significantly to the cost of the drive, but it is really really handy. The cheap externals are all 3.5" and need power adapters.
12-10-2004, 06:46 PM
ed^chigliak

Just got a 40GB lacie mobile HDD host powered USB2 also available in 60 & 80GB capacities. Nice drive IMO... check em out since they are reasonably priced, very small and nice metal enclosure.

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...6243&GroupID=0
12-10-2004, 06:56 PM
Zathras

The larger 3.5" Porsche Lacies are also fantastic in both design and build. Only prob with them is they're not dual firewire/usb otherwise I'd have snapped one up - my laptop only has firewire/usb1.1 internally. They're dirt cheap at Ebuyer.
12-10-2004, 10:58 PM
Howard

I have a 160GB LaCie (The Porsche one) and it's great :)
12-10-2004, 11:02 PM
5cupa

but he wants it to be usb powered. i had a freecom one which was really nice and smaller than a floppy drive or as stated the mobile lacies are meant to be some of the best performers
13-10-2004, 01:09 PM
pyro

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5cupa

but he wants it to be usb powered. i had a freecom one which was really nice and smaller than a floppy drive or as stated the mobile lacies are meant to be some of the best performers

That's the thing, I already had the light up drive, 150gig from WesterDigital, with usb and firewire, I need something that is usb2 powered! I am ok with paying MAX £100, but as far as I can tell the hdd I chose is 2.5" so it can be powered by a usb, right?
13-10-2004, 01:38 PM
5cupa

yup seems so. and as long as the drives arnt bigger than 9.5mm

''Draws power from the USB ports but can also be powered by the main adaptor (supplied with USB & Firewire Combo version only)''
13-10-2004, 02:18 PM
Mulda

Personally, I went with this enclosure from Komplett and this HDD (30Gb) from Dabs.

Reasoning was that most of the enclosures seem to require additional power once the drive reaches 40Gb.
13-10-2004, 03:32 PM
nichomach

Can I add that I've recently experienced the joy of trying to extract support from Lacie UK. They're email or web form only and so far they haven't responded to either, and I tried both last week. Consequently, I find it hard to recommend them anymore. The drives may be very good, but if they go wrong, I think it's fair to say you'll be on your own, warranty or no warranty.
13-10-2004, 06:18 PM
Nomadd

Quote:

Originally Posted by nichomach

Can I add that I've recently experienced the joy of trying to extract support from Lacie UK. They're email or web form only and so far they haven't responded to either, and I tried both last week. Consequently, I find it hard to recommend them anymore. The drives may be very good, but if they go wrong, I think it's fair to say you'll be on your own, warranty or no warranty.

Yep, I tried a simple question to them last year, to their Sales Dept. I never got a response. I thought if they couldn't even be bothered to answer a simple question on availability of their products, they weren't worth dealing with. Took my business elsewhere.

Nomadd
13-10-2004, 06:33 PM
nichomach

It's a bit crap, isn't it? I mean they make a big deal of their support to their resellers, and of their quality but when it comes right down to it, they're happy enough if the end user ends up with a £450 paperweight; after all, they've already got your money, so they don't need to care.