External Hard Drives?

[Anynym]

Powered at 200mb via USB cable?
I don't think there is any out there, could be wrong, but doubtful.

A USB port can supply 100mA at 5V (+/- 0.25V), or up to 500mA on request.

A "regular" hard drive apparently wants 1800mA at 12V (and also 500mA at 5V) to spin up when power is first applied, although its ongoing requirements are less. This isn't going to be met by a USB port.

A "notebook" hard drive apparently only requires a 5V source, although the power draw seems to vary among models (I find one source citing about 4W for a 2.5-inch harddrive, which would still exceed the power spec'd for a single USB port). For example, see the note near the bottom of this first page:
http://www.bixnet.com/pocusbenkitf.html
http://www.storagereview.com/articles/200511/notebook_1.html

 

[luvulong]

A USB port can supply 100mA at 5V (+/- 0.25V), or up to 500mA on request.

A "regular" hard drive apparently wants 1800mA at 12V (and also 500mA at 5V) to spin up when power is first applied, although its ongoing requirements are less. This isn't going to be met by a USB port.

A "notebook" hard drive apparently only requires a 5V source, although the power draw seems to vary among models (I find one source citing about 4W for a 2.5-inch harddrive, which would still exceed the power spec'd for a single USB port). For example, see the note near the bottom of this first page:
http://www.bixnet.com/pocusbenkitf.html
http://www.storagereview.com/articles/200511/notebook_1.html

I bought a USB case that has 2 USB connectors, one of which provides additional power. I bought it at TigerDirect on Woodbine in Markham, although I'm not impressed with their support/service at the store. Shop around. There are half a dozoen store on Kennedy road south of the 401. You can get a case for about $30. In my experience, a 3.5" drive with external AC power give you the best performance, unless you REALLY need the portability.

I'm no techie and I 'built' (using that word loosely) several external drive myself.

 

[Berlin]

Can someone recommend a good external hard drive?

There are so many brands out there, although some are slow and some are fast, it's tough to decide.

What's a good manufacturer and model?

Looking for one with a least 200 - 250gb space max.

Whatever you need your external for, back up your new drive.

Unless you are into 3D animation graphic/Hi res video thingy, the speed out there should be more than enough for the common net/word processing/photo editing chores.

 

[Never Compromised]

My thoughts on 'firewire' is it's flakey, plus SP2 breaks it. See:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885222

I have a number of Firewire 400 and 800 drives and have never had a problem. My guess is that because Firewire is an Apple technology, Microsoft deliberately does not fully support it.

 

[Cobster]

Isn't USB also an Apple creation?

 

[Cobster]

Definitely not confusing IEEE with USB, but I could have sworn I heard that USB was Apple's.
Regardless, doesn't matter, but good to know the right info, thanks.

 

[tboy]

Definitely not confusing IEEE with USB, but I could have sworn I heard that USB was Apple's.
Regardless, doesn't matter, but good to know the right info, thanks.

Well, didn't you know? apple invented everything to do with computing from GUI's to USB, to this thing called a hard drive....oh, and they never crash.......coughcough......ever. Oh they also invented this thing called COLOUR, before apple came along, everything was in black and white!

 

[Cobster]

So who takes credit for the monochrome screen then? huh...huh...huh...?