Mini USB or Firewire for connecting a ext. HDD

Morning.
What's better and why: To connect an ext. HDD via mini USB or via Firewire with a Mac Book Pro?
TIA and kind regards, Friedrich

There's mini USB port on the MBP?
The advantages of the USB is the flexibility, but FireWire is less resource heavy for backups. There HDD enclosures that incorporate both USB and FW.

Similar Messages

Old firewire/mini USB Iomega Drive, power & connectivity

Hi Sorry I don't come here often and don't know where to post this. So if it's in the wrong place apologies in advance.
We plan to do a lot of travelling now and I've ordered a Mac Book Air, my preference to using an iPad and the Cloud for managing photos.
I've got a couple of older portable hard drives inc a 1TB Iomega which is/was excellent but has firewire and mini usb connection. I understand the Firewire to Thunderbolt adaptor is useless for providing power to portables.
Does anyone know if it is possible to double connect the drive i.e. using both the one mini USB and the Tb/Fw adaptor to boost the power and performance?
Many thanks guys

Well, it turns out that somehow the enclosure was making my drive unreadable. I borrowed my brother's Pismo and installed the drive in it, and it wasn't readable the same as with the enclosure—but it let me format it, and it worked fine after that. But when I put the drive back in the enclosure, it popped up with 'unreadable' again - and it was still unreadable when I put it back in the Pismo again. For some reason using that enclosure totally scrambled the drive's directory.

Solution for worn mini-USB port? (charging connection unreliable)

I thought my battery was going bad, but just realized that my mini-USB port is apprently worn. When I plug in either my automobile cigarette lighter charger, or my regular plug-in charger, the charging connection is not reliable. Unless I position everything just right, the charging connection isn't made.
Has anyone else experienced this issue -- and hopefully found a solution for it (short of replacing the whole BlackBerry)?
TIA
Tom

A specialized small electronics repair house in your town might tackle it... takes a bit of soldering in the new one.
It's nothing something I would do myself unless that is your expertise.
1. If any post helps you please click the below the post(s) that helped you.
2. Please resolve your thread by marking the post "Solution?" which solved it for you!
3. Install free BlackBerry Protect today for backups of contacts and data.
4. Guide to Unlocking your BlackBerry & Unlock Codes
Join our BBM Channels (Beta)
BlackBerry Support Forums Channel
PIN: C0001B7B4 Display/Scan Bar Code
Knowledge Base Updates
PIN: C0005A9AA Display/Scan Bar Code

USB or Firewire for ipod mini

Hi all!
I'm anxiously awaiting my new iBook, but am sweating the fact that i didn't get a Firewire cable for my ipod mini dock. My iBook has version OSX 10.4, and didn't realize the dock came with nil connector cables. My Ipod was formatted on a friend's PC (couldn't wait to try it out, and my laptop wouldn't support it!), and was purchased with a USB connector. Does anyone know of a work around (should i need one) so that i'll be able to sync/reformat my ipod when the ibook gets here (hopefully tomorrow...can't stand it anymore!!), since we'll be leaving for vacation shortly after. No Apple stores in my area, so it would have to be a mail order!....any ideas?
p.s. any mac users in the Montreal Canada area? where do you get accessories?

There's mini USB port on the MBP?
The advantages of the USB is the flexibility, but FireWire is less resource heavy for backups. There HDD enclosures that incorporate both USB and FW.

I accidently pluged a mini usb to firewire and **** happened! how do i test

hi. i did a stupid thing lastnight.
i thought i had a firewire 800 cable and tried to plug my Motu Ultralite in to my NEW Macbook Pro.... but in fact it was a mini usb!!!
when they touched i got some sparks and my MBP shut off.
however it did turn on again and i think is ok. but im wondering if it has done any internal damage or could affect it in some way in the future.
is there any way of doing some tests???
many thanks

Insert your Install DVD (that came with your MBP) and reboot with the d key pressed, which will run the Apple Hardware Test:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509

USB to firewire for car charger?

I have a car charger for my iPod that accepts a firewire cable. I'd like to charge my iPhone with the same device. Does someone make a USB-to-firewire adapter I could use? Any chance it would harm my iPhone?

Bumping this once in hopes of getting an answer.

USB or Firewire for Final Cut Pro and or Premiere Pro

I have a macbook, and i need to do a crap load of final cut/ premiere rendering, and i need to get a external for the capture scratch and ect.
But what i want to know is, what one to use? USB or Firewire 400,
I was originally gonna get a LaCie Rugged, cuass its buss powered and extremely portable, but my friends told me, seeing ive got only one firewire port, im gonna have to get something like the 320gb o5 500gb LaCie, which has two firewires on the hard drive, although its not that portable.
So i asked, why cant i get a USB external, that was a dumb thing to ask. They gave me reasons like USB speed isn't constant, not secure stuff like that.
So what should i do, and which is the best one to get?
Cheers
Message was edited by: BlueDingo

Don't know about PPro.
For FCP, you really should have FW. The problem you'll run into, is that the Mac Book only has 1 FW bus. It doesn't matter how many ports the computer or external have, they will all run on the same FW bus. And I don't believe the MacBook has the capability of using an Express34 card (or any other FW expandability). I could be wrong, but don't think so.
One solution is to capture directly to your internal harddrive, then copy the files over to the external FW drive. Others have posted about daisy-chaining your camera/deck through the external FW drive, but I've not done that and can't tell you how.
Even capturing to the internal may not work, depending on what format you're capturing.
Hang around for other possible solutions and search this forum for 'capturing to Mac Book' or some such language.
K
and yes, USB delivers content in packets vs. a continuous stream using FW. FW is the way to go. You might have success with USB, but you'll be lucky. Try to get FW 800 if you can.

USB or FIREWIRE for audio interface?

Hi,
what will you prefer to , USB or FireWire of your audio interface?
and why?

mactreouser wrote:
Hi,
what will you prefer to , USB or FireWire of your audio interface?
and why?
Here's the "pecking order" for performance and stability :
1.- Internal PCI or PCIe card to audio interface. These units are the best overall, both in audio quality, low latency, and reliability. Some have built in processing cards, with which you can use instead of the computer's CPU, for audio processing tasks.
2.- FireWire audio interface. These are reliable, but can have issues if not set up properly, due to the FireWire drivers which need to be used to run these units. Some have onboard "low latency" mixing facilities, and some have CPU processors for processing audio.
3.- USB 2.0 audio interface. These are also reliable, however are more limited in bandwidth than the FireWire counterparts. This is due to the different nature of the USB audio protocol VS the FIreWire one. Still, it is not that bad for home recording.
4.- USB 1.0 and 1.1 audio interfaces. These are reliable, but not recommended if a lot of realtime audio recording is going to take place. In other words they are great inexpensive units for doing programming, sequencing, editing and mixing, BUT not so much for live audio use, or live audio recording. this is due to the limitations on the USB audio protocol architecture. It simply cannot handle low latency audio very well.
Cheers

T41 not recognised USB Western Digital Passport 2.5" Ext HDD

My T41 used to worked fine with my WD 2.5" ext HDD. For the past 3 months, do not know what happen every time i plug my ext HDD it just not recognised. When i plug this ext HDD to other computers, it just work absolutely fine.
Can anybody help, please.

I had same issue with same type of pc and USB Western Digital Passport. Problems was on laptop usb ports that had gone broken. Laptop didnt have warraty anymore so i had to connect USB-DISK to docking stations usb port that is still working.
Other solution is to buy usb2 PCMCIA adapter.
Mouse worked on laptop port but no harddrive so i think its was some power issue that laptop usb cannot give enoght power to run harddrive.
Message Edited by outouser on 04-03-2009 12:04 PM

Does anyone know if the new ipad air has a usb port. This is the only downside to the ipad to me? My samsung galaxy tab has 2. 1 being a micro usb. Great for connecting to the tv. Thanks, greenlady5.

Does anyone know if the new ipad sir, not yet available will have a usb port? This is the only thing that is prevented me from purchasing so far. Doesn't make sense when you can connect to tv.
ggreenlady5.

The standard external connection and charge port on all recently-announced (October 2014) models in the US is the Lightning connector, introduced with the iPad 4 in Sept 2012. http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/12/apples-new-lightning-connector-what-it-does-and -doesnt-change/
This includes iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad mini, iPad mini 2 with Retina display and iPad mini 3.
https://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/
NOTE: The original iPad (2010), iPad 2 (2011), iPad 3 (early 2012) came with a 30-pin connector, also common to original iPhones and iPods.
Additional adapters are available to connect TV's, cameras, SD memory cards, and similar devices, from many sources, including the Apple Store online. (Adapters are still available for the older iDevices using the 30-pin connector as well)
http://store.apple.com/us/ipad/ipad-accessories/cables-docks
Some common Lightning adapters available from Apple online:
Lightning to USB camera connector with a 'standard' USB cable.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD821ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-camera-adapter
Lightning to HDMI adapter (requires an HDMI cable as well as this adapter)
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD826ZM/A/lightning-digital-av-adapter
Lightning to micro-USB connector
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD820ZM/A/lightning-to-micro-usb-adapter

USB or Firewire for a hard drive to store my photos

Hi, I am a new Mac user. I have a new iMac 20 incher, with 1Gig of Ram (soon to be 2 Gigs when the extra memory arrives), and a 128 mg video card.
The primary purpose for the Mac will be to serve as a digital darkroom. I will run PhotoShop CS3 on it, and, in the future may use LightRoom or Aperture. I think both products still need a bit of 'seasoning' before I am willing to make the jump. I will also use the iMac for itunes and to store my music.
I have a Windows XP laptop that handles all my other work such as e-mail, spreadsheets, etc. I am reserving the iMac for photography and Music.
Previously, I stored my photos on my DELL Windows XP machine and backed them up to a USB2 drive.
Because of the number of photos I take, I plan to store them on a drive that I attach to the iMac. I will probably get a 250 Gig or 500 Gig drive and use it to store the photos. I will NOT be storing photos on the iMac drive as it will become filled up in less than a year.
In terms of speed and ease of use, is there a difference between a Firewire drive and a USB 2 drive? Does either type of drive have an advantage over the othter? Any significant disadvantages of one type?

hi.
if you're just backing up then usb2 would be fine. basically in the real world on mac's usb1.1 is slowest, usb2 is faster, firewire 400 is faster still - good for audio and other media and firewire800 is even faster (good for video).
For some reason usb2 is faster on pc's than mac's. usb was a system developed for pc and by pc makers(?) and firewire developed as mac equivalent.
Firewire is faster than usb2 on mac's. if you're going to be working with your media from the external disk drive then go for firewire 400 or 800. Though fw400 will be plenty enough. Also important is the ext. drive speed. 7,200rpm is the standard and fast enough. Slower than that you'll find a 5,400rpm which are typically used in laptops and portable ext. hard drives.
If price isn't an issue go firewire and 7,200prm. Also, i understand that you won't be storing the photos on your imac drive. cool....just remember to back up your important photos onto separate media!
hope that helps
rounik

How to Output Digital Audio to Male Mini USB Connector?

I would like to input digital audio from my iPhone 5 to my headphone DAC/amplifier. The latter has a mini USB female connector for digital signal input. I envisage the following options, listed in the order of preference:
1. A cable with a male Lightning connector to a male Mini USB connector. This would be the most elegant solution but does such a cable exist?
2. Apple Lighting to female Micro USB adapter plus a male Micro USB to male Mini USB cable. Does this pass audio?
3. Apple Lightning to male USB connector (the cable which came with the phone) plus a female USB to male Mini USB connector. This should work technically because the Apple stock cable does output audio from the phone to my car audio system.
4. Any other ideas?
Which of the above options would be best to send digital audio from my iPhone 5 to my headphone DAC/amplifier? Thank you.

I believe you are not correct. You likely have not read my question entirely because I said that:
"This should work technically because Apple stock cable does output audio from the phone to my car audio system".
In other words, I connect my iPhone 5 using the supplied Lightning charging cable to the USB input of the car audio system and the music plays just fine.
However, I need a cable that has a Mini USB male connector, not a regular USB connector. Is there such a thing, or should I go with Options 2 or 3?
Thanks.

Mini USB cable connector

I do not have "Mini USB cable connector" for 6300 Nokia.
Can I use the mini USB cable connector of my cammera for connecting my phone to PC?
I can not find this cable for 6300 nokia phone in mobole phone stores in my country.
Please advice me. Thanks

Hi saeedebr
It is certainly worth trying as most likely that it will work!
Happy to have helped forum in a small way with a Support Ratio = 37.0

USB vs FIrewire drive

I'm wondering if there is a huge difference or benefit to using USB vs Firewire for Time Machine backup. I need to purchase a drive (either 500 gig or 1 TB) and didn't want to spend a lot. I'll never 'work' from this drive, it will only be used for Time Machine.
thanks in advance

Self powered drives will not make a difference in speed. However if you do have other USB devices attached, they might slow down your transfer speed. If you have a Mac Pro, you could add a separate USB PCI card. But otherwise, if you do encounter speed issues, then you can temporarily unplug the other USB devices to give your hard drive as much of the USB bandwidth as possible.
One other issue with self-powered drives is that some USB hubs do not provide enough power over the USB port. You may have to plug the drive directly into the computer. If you are short on available directly connected USB ports, and if as your profile says, that you have a Macbook Pro, this may give the Firewire drive an advantage as you'd not use up one of the limited USB ports, as most Firewire drives can daisy chain other devices so you can add multiple Firewire devices in the future even if you only have one Firewire port on the computer.

How to prevent USB or firewire drive from mounting?

If I have a USB or firewire drive connected to my mac at startup, but I don't want the Finder to mount it at startup, how would I go about it? If I can't prevent it from being mounted, is there a way to have it unmounted as soon as possible?
TIA
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Eject the drive and disconnect the cable to the USB or FW port.

Mini USB or Firewire for connecting a ext. HDD

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for