What is the best xternal HD for my mac-dont say lacie!!!

I have a lacie, and the problems begun about a month after I backed up everything on my computer. The simple thing of a power failure caused all of my files to get ruined on it. Then Lacie told me to spend 100 bucks on disk warrior to try and repair my files and the drive. Well, it didnt recover anything for that matter. Then I was forced to reformat my HD. When I tried to do that, my HD would not reformat due to vairous error and mounting issues. Then I sent it into Lacie, and they tried tellling me nothing was wrong with the drive for the most part. So I got the drive back, and the drive will not allow me to write on the drive after attempting to write a variety of files of all types. It said that the item description names are too long or it says that it cannot write the files because of error -36. Then I was told that the files on my computer may be corrupted. Please note that these were the some of the same files that were written just fine on the HD about 3 months prior. Anyway, I still attempted to take the drive to another computer to see if it was my files or the HD. However, this time the HD would not even mount on the computer. LACIE *****!!!!! The computer was operating on the latest version Mac osx tiger. There is no reason why I should be having this many problems. The whole idea is ludacris. Please suggest a good quality, easy going , and reliable hard drive for me.........

I can recommend two models:
My favorite so far, is the Other World Computing "Neptune".
I have a "Neptune 120 GB" FireWire drive from OWC (Other World Computing)
They are at:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/owc-neptune-drives/
They are great, low-cost drives and work very well.
I got it with a 7200 R.P.M. Hitachi / IBM DeskStar drive. It is 120 GB in size.
The enclosure provides two FireWire 400 ports, and also provides it's own on/off switch.
The performance is great. It outperforms the internal drive installed in my Mac Mini. I haven't had a single complaint about the drive. So, that's pretty good
The drive does come with it's own power supply. So, you can use it with any computer (most computers don't provide enough power to run hard drives solely from the FireWire ports).
Mine is quiet.
It uses a fan-less design.
The inside chassis is made of steel, and is able to help dissipate heat from the hard drive.
It sometimes gets warm. But, I've never felt it being hot. Just slightly warmer than room temperature.
I had it running for over an hour yesterday (backing-up my main hard drive to it), and after a full hour of running constantly and writing files, it was just slightly warm.
I'd say it's a very good design, and dissipates the heat from the 7200 R.P.M. drive quite well.
Otherwise, I can hear the drive spinning if I specifically listen for it. But, don't ever hear it unless I am trying.
I have used the drive with Windows XP Home, and then later with my Mac. It's been used with both OS 10.3.x through 10.4.6.
It has been used with 2 different iMac G5 systems, a Compaq PC, a Mac Mini G4, and an iBook G4.
So, compatibility should be fine with just about anything.
The other model I have used is not as nice, but I can say it is built very, very solid.
That one is a Maxtor Personal Storage 3100 External USB 2.0 hard drive.
http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Maxtor/menuitem.5d2b41d3cef51dfe29dd10a1913460 68/?channelpath=%2Fen_us%2FSupport%2FProductSupport%2FExternal+Storage%2FPersonal+Storage+Family%2FPersonal+Storage3100
It has a 7200 R.P.M. Maxtor hard drive with a 2 MB cache in it. Mine is 80 GB (but it is available in larger capacities).
It is a good performer. But, it is slower than the FireWire Neptune that I mentioned above.
The durability of this particular unit is amazing though.
I purchased it used, and when I got it out of the box, my hands slipped and it fell about 6 feet onto a hard vinyl floor. No padding at all, a good solid and firm drop.
At that point, I knew that I had probably just wasted my money. I knew that if I plugged it in and it didn't work, that I would never know if it was defective when he sold it to me or if I damaged it.
But, I plugged-it in, and ran a full diagnostics on it. And, to my pleasure it worked great.
It didn't even suffer a single mark.
And, it is still working reliably today (on my wife's iBook G4).
I would personally recommend the FireWire "Neptune" from OWC the highest. But, I am impressed with the survival of the Maxtor. But, the Maxtor drive is noticeably slower due to the USB interface.
Hope this helps.

Similar Messages

  • What is the best virus protection for a Mac?

    What is the best virus protection for a Mac?

    1. This comment applies to malicious software ("malware") that's installed unwittingly by the victim of a network attack. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the victim's computer. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. If you have reason to suspect that you're the target of such an attack, you need expert help.
    OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
    2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user, but internally Apple calls it "XProtect." The malware recognition database is automatically checked for updates once a day; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
    The following caveats apply to XProtect:
    It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
    It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
    3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't actually been tested by Apple (unless it comes from the Mac App Store), but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. For most practical purposes, applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed can be considered safe.
    Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
    It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
    A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could find some other way to evade Apple's controls.         
    4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is presumably effective against known attacks, but maybe not against unknown attacks. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
    5. Beyond XProtect, Gatekeeper, and MRT, there’s no evidence of any benefit from other automated protection against malware. The first and best line of defense is always your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and the malware attacker. If you're smarter than he thinks you are, you'll win.
    That means, in practice, that you never use software that comes from an untrustworthy source. How do you know whether a source is trustworthy?
    Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one, is untrustworthy.
    A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
    Pirated copies or "cracks" of commercial software, no matter where they come from, are unsafe.
    Software of any kind downloaded from a BitTorrent or from a Usenet binary newsgroup is unsafe.
    Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. If it comes from any other source, it's unsafe.
    6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style "virus" affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful. Fortunately, Java on the Web is mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
    Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it — not JavaScript — in your browsers. In Safari, this is done by unchecking the box marked Enable Java in the Security tab of the preferences dialog.
    Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a specific task, enable Java only when needed for the task and disable it immediately when done. Close all other browser windows and tabs, and don't visit any other sites while Java is active. Never enable Java on a public web page that carries third-party advertising. Use it, when necessary, only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a lock icon in the address bar with the abbreviation "https" when visiting a secure site.
    Follow the above guidelines, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself from malware.
    7. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good, if they do any good at all. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use the free software ClamXav — nothing else.
    Why shouldn't you use commercial "anti-virus" products?
    Their design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere.
    In order to meet that nonexistent threat, the software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
    By modifying the operating system, the software itself may create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
    8. ClamXav doesn't have these drawbacks. That doesn't mean it's entirely safe. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
    ClamXav is not needed, and should not be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful only for detecting Windows malware. Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else.
    A Windows malware attachment in email is usually easy to recognize. The file name will often be targeted at people who aren't very bright; for example:
    ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥!!!!!!!H0TBABEZ4U!!!!!!!.AVI♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.exe
    ClamXav may be able to tell you which particular virus or trojan it is, but do you care? In practice, there's seldom a reason to use ClamXav unless a network administrator requires you to run an anti-virus application.
    9. The greatest harm done by security software, in my opinion, is in its effect on human behavior. It does little or nothing to protect people from emerging threats, but they get a false sense of security from it, and then they may behave in ways that expose them to higher risk. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.
    10. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.

  • What is the best DVD Creator for a Mac Book Pro to replace iDVD?

    What is the Best DVD Creator for a Mac Book Pro to replace iDVD?  Have Maverick OS.

    I have already looked at other threads in this forum, so 'I venture forth' to ask my question here:
    I have a 44 minute carefully edited iMovie with several chapter markers. I dimly recollect that when you 'dump' the entire movie into iDVD (my version is 7.1) it should detect the markers and create buttons to link to specific scenes. Well, the 'dumping' process obviously doesn't work.
    How do you get iDVD to recognize the markers and ceate buttons to link?
    I can create with iDVD a DVD that will play the movie in its entirety. This is not suitable for my purposes. I need access via a menu to specific scenes.
    Thank you,
    Klaus

  • What is the best security system for a Mac?

    I am curious as to what is the best security system for a Mac. Is it Norton or something else? I have a Macbook Pro with Lion and I want to make sure I avoid all of the viruses and malware out there.

    Hi c,
    General consensus here is to stay far, far away from Norton, and that most anti-malware software for Mac causes more issues than they will ever avoid.
    Most Mac users run bare.
    I still haven't seen anything in the wild, no OS X virus really going beyond proof of concept; some malware, yes, but not a virus. And the existing malware requires users to "open the door" and basically tell the malware it's ok to do its thing. I'm not sure there'll ever be software which can overcome the actions of such a user.
    For those who feel the need, ClamX has been often suggested.

  • What is the best PDA/Phone for a Mac?

    I know all the new pda's sync with Outlook. What are the best solutions for us Mac users? I just use Mail/Address/Calendar but could also use Entourage if that was a better solution for synching with PDA's such as Windows Mobile or Palm.

    I use a Treo 650 and find it great. Address and phone info on my contacts also my calendar. ... I sync it to my desktop computer (G5) and sync my powerbook via .Mac.
    I use Apple's iCal and Address book

  • What is the best video format for a Mac?

    I use my MacBook Pro (Mountain Lion) to project videos to my class. If I'm converting them, what is the best format to use?

    An unwritten standard is MP4,...  avi files are questionably a close second.

  • What is the best scribe program for a Mac Book Pro?

    I am looking to purchase a scribe program for my new Mac Book Pro.  I need support as my arms/hands get numb.  I do a lot of writing.  What do you think would be the best for my Mac Book Pro?
    Many Thanks!!

    This would be speech recognition software. There is only one satisfactory product for this available on Macs - Dragon Dictate. From my limited experience it works exceptionally well given the state of the technology.
    It will require an appropriate microphone for best results plus the willingness to commit several hours to train the program to your voice. It can be used in most word processors/editors as well as work with many different applications' commands and OS commands.

  • What is the best GB version for my mac running 10.6.8 and where can I get it?

    Trying to find where I can get GB for my mac running 10.6.8

    is GB 11 the best one for what I have?

  • What's the best system upgrade for 'older' Mac Mini?

    My MacMini is about five years old:
    Model Name:    Mac mini
    Model Identifier:    Macmini4,1
    Processor Name:    Intel Core 2 Duo
    Processor Speed:    2.4 GHz
    Number Of Processors:    1
    Total Number Of Cores:    2
    L2 Cache:    3 MB
    Memory:    2 GB
    Bus Speed:    1.07 GHz
    Boot ROM Version:    MM41.0042.B00
    SMC Version (system):    1.65f2
    This mini is still running  System 10.6.8, with the 'latest' version of Safari being version 5.1.10.
    Lately, Safari fails to perform certain features correctly on certain websites, and I have to switch to Firefox to make the websites work.
    Is it time for a system upgrade, so I can run a newer version of Safari?  If so, which newer OSX system version would be the best for me to upgrade to?

    A few other things to consider if you want to upgrade your OS.
    If you are using any apps that are still PowerPC apps, they will not run on
    any newer Mac OS.  So you will need to find replacements ($$$$).
    Also, in terms of apps, you need to make sure the apps you are currently
    using are compatible with the newer MacOS.  You may need to upgrade ($$$$)
    or find alternatives.
    Also, you will need to make sure any external hardware that you use with
    your Mac is also compatible with the newer MacOS.  You may simply need to
    update drivers or the hardware may no longer be supported ($$$$).
    So, upgrading your MacOS could end up costing more than just adding RAM!!!

  • What is the best anti virus for a mac

    any auggestions i have a file that wont delete or open it appears to be an excel the file # is 331A5000

    The best anti-virus is no anti-virus. Most software of the sort can actually harm your computer. No, I haven't heard of this file, but you can tell us more info about it by right clicking (control + click) on the file, then selecting Get Info.
    Once you have called up the Get Info screen, take a screenshot of it by pressing
    ⌘ + Shift + 4.
    Then post the screenshot here.

  • What is the best audio interface for new mac ?i

    I'm new to Apple and have been with tacsam neo 2488 and would like to know witch audio interface would to start with

    Is there a reason you don't want to use your current Tascam?

  • What is the best RAID configuration for a MacPro as a Logic User?

    There ought to be a universal answer to this question: what is the best RAID configuration for Logic Mac Pro users? I will be more specific.
    I use Logic Studio, Reason, Ableton, and Motu Symphonic Instrument simultaneously.
    I want to fail safe my precious audio files and improve performance as the system reads/writes data from multiple files, from audio tracks to digital samples.
    I want to run video files simultaneously to do nifty audio soundtracking to video.
    Here is the configuration I have in mind.
    HD 1: OS and Logic Studio, Reason/Ableton samples etc. software (non-raid) (250 GB)
    HD 2/3: MIrrored RAID set for AUDIO FILES (500 Gb identical pair)
    HD 4: Video files / Bouncing (1 TB)
    Makes sense right? A disk for reading software. A pair of 500 GB disks for reading/writing audio files and sessions in mirrored array. A 1 TB disk for video and bouncing. The main question I have is, for audio files only, is striped or mirrored better? 64K blocks the best? And are there any more details. I assume to do this in Disk Utility.

    Well, both Mirrored and Striped have their pros and cons. If you use mirrored, it will offer no better performance than the spec'ed drive along with it's sata bus speed. The plus point is, if one drive goes down, you have the second as a backup as the complete contents of one drive are mirrored on the other.
    With striped you will get a performance boost because all files (for example a single project) will get written across both drives and hence split the load on the drives and the SATA busses. The drawback is that you'll have to make sure you have a good, regular backup schedule in place because when one of the drives goes to drive heaven, you're going to be stuffed without a full backup of both drives.
    Exactly what performance boost you'd get will depend on your project, number of files, size of files, fragmentation of files, track count etc. You may find it would be easier to use the 3 drives straight, with no raid and have:
    HD 1: OS and Apps. No samples at all.
    HD2: Audio Files for Logic projects
    HD3: Reason, Ableton, Logic etc instrument sample library
    HD4: Video and bouncing.
    Which is what I ended up doing although I use HD4 as an interchangeable backup for HD1 and 2.
    There is no universal answer to this as each must make their own choice based on their preferences and needs. Mirrored will give you full backup but on-site, in machine backup. Not much good if something untoward and drastic happens to the physical machine. I think a few people toy with striped RAID but fall on the side of using the drives straight, as in their projects they don't see a big enough gain over splitting the data across your 3 remaining drives without RAID. Studios that seriously consider raid often go out and get a dedicated raid that can offer more variations than raid 0 or raid 1 (Striped and Mirrored) and better throughput.
    I hope this helps a little and not just added to the dilemma.

  • What is the Best Safari Version for OS 10.9.5 Maverick on a MacBookPro, 2.4Ghz, 8 GB Mem.?

    What is the best Safari Version for OS 19.9.5 Maverick on a MacBook Pro. 2.4 Ghz, with 8 gb memory?

    The best version for Mavericks, in fact the only version, is an integral part of OS X. In other words you already have it.
    Its version number is 7.1.5.
    Keep OS X up to date: Update OS X and App Store apps on your Mac - Apple Support

  • I am a new mac user and I switch to mac due to the graphics that it brings. I do website in pc and I heard iweb is the best.NOW i heard that iweb will be discontinue. so what is the best application there for website using MAC OSX lion?

    I am a new mac user and I switch to mac due to the graphics that it brings. I do website in pc and I heard iweb is the best.NOW i heard that iweb will be discontinue. so what is the best application there for website using MAC OSX lion?

    It is now confirmed  that iWeb, and iDVD, has been discontinued by Apple. This is evidenced by the fact that new Macs are shipping with iLife 11 installed but without iWeb and iDVD.
    On June 30, 2012 MobileMe will be shutdown. However, iWeb will still continue to work but without the following:
    Features No Longer Available Once MobileMe is Discontinued:
    ◼ Password protection
    ◼ Blog and photo comments
    ◼ Blog search
    ◼ Hit counter
    ◼ MobileMe Gallery
    All of these features can be replaced with 3rd party options.
    I found that if I published my site to a folder on my hard drive and then uploaded with a 3rd party FTP client subscriptions to slideshows and the RSS feed were broken.  If I published directly from iWeb to the FPT server those two features continued to work correctly.
    There's another problem and that's with iWeb's popup slideshows.  Once the MMe servers are no longer online the popup slideshow buttons will not display their images.
    Click to view full size
    However, Roddy McKay and I have figured out a way to modify existing sites with those slideshows and iWeb itself so that those images will display as expected once MobileMe servers are gone.  How to is described in this tutorial: #26 - How to Modify iWeb So Popup Slideshows Will Work After MobileMe is Discontinued.
    It now appears that the iLife suite of applications offered on disc is now a discontinued product and the remaining supported iApps will only be available thru the App Store from now on. However, the iLife 11 boxed version that is still available at the online Apple Store (Store button at the top of the page) and those still on the shelves of retailers will include iWeb and iDVD. Those two apps were listed in small, gray text on the iLife 11 box that I bought.
    Personally, if I didn't already have a copy I would purchase one to have it for reinstallation purposes if ever needed.
    This might be of some interest to you at this time: Life After MobileMe.
    OT

  • HT1338 What is the best online storage for photos. Specifically one that allows the original image quality to be downloaded should your hard storage goes belly up

    What is the best online storage for photos. Specifically one that allows the original image quality to be downloaded should your hard storage goes belly up

    I'd put them on an external hard drive(s) and burn them to a DVD as well (at least 2 - 3 copies on different drives/media); I prefer having control and a local solution instead of relying on a server and the possibility of someone (who shouldn't be)  downloading my work.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Reg SDCCN and USMM - Abap runtime error

    Dear Friends, Runtime Errors : DBIF_RSQL_SQL_ERROR Exception : CX_SY_OPEN_SQL_DB When I run a T.Code SDCCN and USMM, got abap run time error "SQL error in the database when accessing a table" that errors are below. Internal Call code is ..........[RS

  • I have registered products under multiple appleIDs. I would like to merge them into a another. How?

    I have registered products under multiple appleIDs. I would like to merge them into a another. How?

  • Ipod sync

    after loading itunes update, ipod is no longer seen in itunes... tried all the usual things...even did a whole restore on ipod...now i cant get music back on since it aint syncing... roger

  • Error in codepage mapping for source system. Error text:

    guyz, im facing the below issue in prod. Error in codepage mapping for source system. Error text: Message no. RSDS_ACCESS013 Collection in source system ended Error message during processing in BI Diagnosis An error occurred in BI while processing th

  • PL/SQL process and popup URL

    Hi, I have a PL/SQL process which is called on submit but a button. This Pl/SQL creates a file on the web-server and I then want to open this file in a new browser window using the URL path to it. Can this be done from pl/sql or do I need to embed so