3 Logic / Mac BookPro / HD Questions

Question

Folks, a few questions for you.... Thanks in advance.
I currently run the latest version of Logic Pro on a Dual 1.8 G5 and am about to purchase a Macbook Pro 2.16GHz, 2 Gig Ram in order to run Logic 'on the move'
Firstly, are there any compatability issues between running Logic on my current machine and then on a Macbook Pro? I've heard that there's an upgrade needed to run the software on a Macbook Pro?
Secondly, am I able to run my Logic Pro software on a second machine - are there any issues re. this? Never attempted to run any software on more than one machine before. What are the logistics involved?
Thirdly, I want to buy a fast, external HD to help with running Logic (A seperate Audio Disk if you like) on the laptop and have been looking at the Lacie 80gig, triple input one (orange / silver / rubber clad thing!) It's a 5400 rpm one that can operate as a USB 2.0 OR Firewire 800 HD. Is this sufficient speed in your experiences for Logic / Audio, or would a higher rpm HD be preferable?
Any info on the above points would be gratefully received. Apologies for the length of this request and thanks again.
Cheers.

Answer 1

oh boy, don't trust those reviews of 'rugged' triple interface lacie d2 drives.. I've opened them up before (with a technician friend authorised to do repairs) and I can tell you, it's all cheap componentry crammed into a 'designer' looking case. noeq is right though.. they perform well enough, and as long as you always maintain a good, consistent backup routine you will be safe. but really, those drives are marketed as something more than what they really are. I've had 6 lacie d2s over the years and all but one of them has had a serious, fatal problem after a period of time. the 2nd last one I got no longer works on FW400, the port has become sort of loose and you can tell the shoddy connector inside it has broken or is no longer stable enough for it to work. and more recently it has started making that 'tick of death' sound, so I've migrated all of my important data off it. the earlier 4 d2s I had all failed eventually.. sure you could say this is guaranteed to happen with any drive after a certain period of time, but these ones didn't last long enough IMO. and one of them just died over night with no warning, it just wouldn't mount anymore. another one fried it's own power supply. my latest one, the 500GB extreme, is still going fine.. but I've relegated it to the backup role for my new g-tech because I don't really trust it.
of course I could just be one of those people that has had a bad run with a product and just slams it from then on.. but, as I said, I don't know anyone that works in music that doesn't cringe when you mention lacie drives, from their own personal experience of a meltdown. so, go ahead and get one if it suits your budget, 7200rpm for sure. but be sure and remain consistent and religious about your backups just in case you fall in to the told ya so category. this applies to any drive you buy of course..