External Harddrives - Manufacturers using the words 'for Mac'?

Hi,
I've learnt about the difference between PC and Mac HDD formats, and was about to buy an external HDD when something got me questioning my knowledge. I see that some manufacturers use the words 'for Mac' in their product name. And that the models with 'for Mac' in the name are about 20% more expensive than the same model name without the 'for Mac' wording. Eg
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=700
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=719
The manufacturer specs don't seem to explain anything, so I wanted to ask here: are these products exactly the same, except that the 'for Mac' version comes pre-formatted in HFS Plus?
Can I just buy the standard model, and then do the formatting myself with Disc Utility?
I questioned my knowledge, because it seems daft that a manufacturer can charge 20% more just for pre-formatting the disc in the correct format. Is there anything special about the 'for Mac' models?
Are there any other considerations I need to make? Is there anything special I need for the disc to work with Time Machine?
Thanks,
Yeti

Hi Yeti
Welcome to Apple Support Communities
You can reset the Partitions Scheme and Format of most all off the shelf External HD's. I have several that came MS-DOS/FAT-32 that I have changed to GUID Partition Table/Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
See > http://www.kenstone.net/fcphomepage/partitioningtiger.html
Some manufactures include partitions with windoz backup programs that should be eliminated, as they are of no use to you anyway.
Time Machine will format the drive to it's own liking, however I always reset the Partition Scheme and Format to make sure it is properly cleaned and setup.
See: Time Machine 101 > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427
and Time Machine -- Frequently Asked Questions > http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1964018
Lastly you might want to consider a desktop drive over a portable for Time Machine, Time Machine need lots of room and you can get more GB for your money.
Dennis

Similar Messages

  • In using MS Word for mac, and using track changes, and I send a copy, the recipient cannot see the track changes, nor do they show up on the printed copies, even though I highlight show changes in print

    In using MS Word for Mac, and in using Track Changes, when I send an email with the changes, the recipient cannot see the highlighted changes, nor do the printed pages show the highlighted changes, even though I have checked "show highlighted changes"

    In using MS Word for Mac, and in using Track Changes, when I send an email with the changes, the recipient cannot see the highlighted changes, nor do the printed pages show the highlighted changes, even though I have checked "show highlighted changes"

  • Lost use of word for mac 2004 when upgraded to mountain lion OSX

    IVe just upgraded to Mountain Lion OSX and lost use of word for Mac 2004. how can i get in to work again

    Office 2004 and Other Applications Don't Work in Lion/Mountain Lion
    If you have Office 2004 which is a PPC-only suite, it will not work in Lion/Mountain Lion. You need to upgrade to Office 2011 - Mactopia - or you can try the freeware suite, Libre Office, that is functionally similar to Office 2007 for Windows except it works on Lion/Mountain Lion.
    You may want to consider as well:
    These two suites are similar to Libre Office but not as current or as well-supported:
    NeoOffice
    Open Office
    And, then there is Apple's iWork suite:
    Pages - word processing and layout
    Keynote - presentation
    Numbers - spreadsheet
    Each can open and save Office compatible files. They may be purchased separately via the Mac App Store for $19.99 each.
    As for other software, any PPC-based software will not run in Lion or Mountain Lion because Rosetta is no longer part of OS X. You will need to upgrade to Intel versions of the software.
    (Access to the Mac App Store requires Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or higher and an Apple ID.)

  • When I open the word for mac, I could not see the Turkish characters. How can I fix it?

    When I open the word for mac, I could not see the Turkish characters. How can I fix it?

    Ask in the MS Office forums - http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/mac.
    Good luck,
    Clinton

  • My macbook won´t operate the word for mac app

    I have a Macbook from 2009 with snow leopard operating system.  i had installed a word for mac app; a copy our teacher at college gave us.  Today the app crashed and it wont continue to work.  I re-install the app and it wont work.
    i dont understand what is going on.

    CarlitosCelis wrote:
    I have a Macbook from 2009 with snow leopard operating system.  i had installed a word for mac app; a copy our teacher at college gave us.  Today the app crashed and it wont continue to work.  I re-install the app and it wont work.
    i dont understand what is going on.
    Exactly what "app" did your teacher give you?

  • Can i conect my external storage device using the adaptor for a USB conection to my I-Pad 2 and read my files on the I-pad

    Can I conect and read my files form an external storage device, using the USB conection, on an I-pad2

    The camera connection kit USB connector can only be used for import of photos & videos. Can't be used for export of any files.
     Cheers, Tom

  • Can I have separate pages (using Microsoft word for mac 2011) utilizing a new iMac and a second monitor?

    Hardware - new iMac 21.7, Software Mirosoft word for Mac 2011.
    I presently adjust the text to allow two pages on my iMac monitor.
    If I add a second monitor can I have two different pages on it so I can
    see four consecutive pages (e.g. pages 31 and 32 on the iMac and pages
    33 and 34 on the second monitor)?  I am sure I can move items like
    pictures from one monitor to the other, but will the word processing
    software indicated above work like I would like it to?

    why would one of the pages be split?
    Because you'd stretch the Word window across both displays and the screen bezels would be larger than the page split. The page spacer in Word is much smaller than any bezel I've seen, so the two bezels would cause it to break up a page somewhere.

  • Use docs on my iPhone 5 when they were created on MacBook Air using Microsoft Word for Mac

    I'm looking for a FREE solution for my iPhone 5.  I want to be able to read/edit/save on my iPhone 5 the  docs I created on Microsoft Word for Mac on my MacBook Air (running Mountain Lion).
    I would like to be able to sync the edited/saved docs back to my MacBook Air and be able to open/edit/save them in Microsoft Word for Mac.  I really want to make sure that my edited docs don't become unusuable when put back on my MacBook Air.  Thanks!
    Can someone give me a solution?

    Hi,
    I'm glad to hear you got the advice here, and we support Office for Windows in the current forum, if you have further question about Office for Mac, I suggest you post the question in Office for Mac forum:
    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/mac/forum/macoffice2011?sort=lastreplydate&dir=desc&tab=Threads&status=&mod=&modAge=&advFil=&postedAfter=&postedBefore=&threadType=All&tm=1412299054037
    Regards,
    George Zhao
    TechNet Community Support
    It's recommended to download and install
    Configuration Analyzer Tool (OffCAT), which is developed by Microsoft Support teams. Once the tool is installed, you can run it at any time to scan for hundreds of known issues in Office
    programs.

  • Can I use the MsOffice for Mac license in the IPad ?, Can I use the MsOffice for Mac license in the IPad ?

    My name is Rafael Matheus from Brazil.
    I have a MacBook Pro and I have bought a MsOffice for Mac license to be use at 4 devices. But I just use 1 license, so I would like to know: Can I use the the 1 from de 3 other license to install at my new IPad mini. Please help me!!!
    I am looking forward the answer.
    Thanks.
    Rafael Matheus

    Welcome to Apple Support Communities
    You can only use the license in other Macs because Microsoft hasn't released Office for iPad yet. That's because iPads and Macs use different operating systems and different apps, so you can't run Mac applications in a iPad

  • Why does word for mac 2011 error

    When I am using the word for mac that came installed on my Mac Book Pro, it frequently errors and has to close and I loose my work.  Even though I choose the option to send the report and recover my work, i have lost many things.
    Why does this happen?

    Amy wrote:
    When I am using the word for mac that came installed on my Mac Book Pro
    To my knowledge, Apple does not supply MacBook Pros with MS Word installed.
    Pls specify exactly what app and what version you are talking about. If it is really MS Word, then it's possible it wasn't correctly installed. You should re-install MS Office, and then update it, if applicable.

  • How do I send a fax using Word for Mac Lion?

    I have an iMac with Lion 10.7.4 and use Microsoft Word for Mac 2011.  My internet connection is Broadband ADSL.
    I wish to periodically send a fax - in days gone by I have used PageSender.
    Any suggestions?

    Can you send a fax over that line? I don't think so. I think you'll have to purchase a fax modem, maybe like this one:
    http://www.amazon.com/USRobotics-USR5637-FaxModem-Windows-Linux/dp/B0013FDLM0
    I assume it installs a "printer" that is actually a fax driver. You would then print to that "printer". Whether that's how it works or not, I'm sure the fax modem comes with some utility for sending faxes through it.

  • Markup in Word for Mac 2011

    I have a document that always shows the "markup" (changes) when I open the document. No matter how many times I uncheck  View-Markup (and do a save) it always comes back next time. Anyone know how to turn if off permanently for this document? Thanks.
    Oh, and if it matters, this is a password-protected document.
    I am using Word for Mac 2011. Version 14.4.8

    Steve,
    Please re-post your MS Word for Mac question in Microsoft's Office for Mac product forums. That is where the Word for Mac guru's hang out.

  • Re too many layers in word for mac

    Hi all,
    I use word and have done for 15 years. I am very fond of what is is capable of. usually.
    However when it comes to designing charts which have multiple images and text boxes and shapes and layers it is not great.
    I have tried grouping and messed around in publishing mode to rearrange layers but the whirly cog of doom starts spinning and its tedious and unreliable.
    Now i know the macbook has oodles of ram so its definitely just  a word issue.
    so either it isnt really designed for doing lots of layers or at least its isnt coping well.
    So do i bite the bullet and buy photoshop? or is there some similar package that will create 16 boxes and let me edit text and then layer pictures in jpeg form and allow me to resize and move em all about without feeling like im about to crash the program?
    I do weekly alot of work in word and am used to the fonts, insert menus etc . incidentally I tried Pages but it wasnt any better at handling lots of boxes and didnt seem to be pixel accurate when copying and pasting.
    what do you guys/girls use out there in design world. Open to suggestions. im downloading a trial of photoshop essentials but im not sure it will do lots of boxes and allow text etc.
    or do i painstakingly print to pdf and re insert. quite daunting as i intend making 50 or so of these charts for a project im organising and it will take forever.
    Learning curve must be easier with the right tools?
    Niall

    Steve,
    Please re-post your MS Word for Mac question in Microsoft's Office for Mac product forums. That is where the Word for Mac guru's hang out.

  • Word for mac is failing and always asking me to format another disc..kindly help me

    Hello there, i'm using macbook pro bought in late 2011. I;m using word for mac and recently the programme kep on crashing and i was not able to autosave my work. ive tried varifying my disc and it still not working. Can i remove and reinstall my mac office. Would it effect my office document that is already saved in my notebook.
    Kindly help me..

    Which version of Office are you running? If you want to remove and reinstall, follow the remval instructions here - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2398768?wa=wsignin1.0. Although I expect removing Office isn't going to fix your problem... which version of Office 2011 are you running? There was an update earlier this week for version 14.2.5 - are you sure that you're running the latest version?
    I would first make certain that you're running the latest version before you do something as drastic as uninstalling and reinstalling. You might want to take your problem to the Word for Mac user forum - here. Let the community know the problems that you're having and see if there are any solutions that the Word experts may have before doing an uninstall and reinstall.
    Good luck,
    Clinton

  • HT1338 Mail Merge for Microsoft Word for Mac 2011

    I am trying to do a mail merge on my Macbook, using Microsoft Word for Mac 2011. I get as far as choosing the data source, however, a pop-up appears saying, "Word was unable to open data source." I cannot get past this point. Help!!

    Seeing as how Word is a Microsoft product, you might have a better chance of an answer on the Microsoft forum.
    Allan

Maybe you are looking for

  • Bit of a problem

    Whenever I start up my computer I get the following message: Error- Could not find java machine-Class not registered Everything about Java works fine. Just wondering how to get rid of this error message. Any help would be appreciated.

  • RSZC Error

    Hi Gurus, We have upgraded our BI system from BW3.5 to BI7. We are facing issue with RSZC transaction, When i tried to copy a query we are getting a dump that a program does not exists, even in BEX query designer we are not able to save any query. Ha

  • DB statistics for BW DSO table

    Hello, We have performance problems with one of our DSO tables which contains 16m rec of CATS data. The ABAP program reads from the DSO table by sec.index (trace shows that the index is used) but still we get like 500k cpu and 280 iocost. I was looki

  • Fatal Exception

    Hello, I am using Dreamweaver MX Windows, and in the past week I am getting an error that shuts me down when I: 1: try to change the name of a file from the Dreamweaver site panel (you know, the "geneology tree" thingie on the right side window. I'm

  • Reformatted and need to get MS Office back.

    I apologize if this is the wrong area for this questions, but I reformatted my Macbook which had Microsoft Office loaded onto it when I bought it.  I have my receipt showing that I paid for MS Office, and I don't think I have any installation discs f