EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES FOR MACS

djaward

djaward

6,413
2,901
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Sup fam,
What External Hard drive do you guys recommend for a MAC? I am looking for a 1 TB external for pictures, music and some home videos.

Please let me know what brands work great with MACs and what brands dont work with MACS.



Thanks.
 
I've only ever used a Western Digital, works fine, but you can ONLY use it for one OS.
 
bamez said:
I've only ever used a Western Digital, works fine, but you can ONLY use it for one OS.
Click to expand...
What do you mean?

I think I have LION right now, and if I upgrade to the latest version, it wont work?
 
I definately would not get an external that is oriented for Mac unless you just absolutely want everything to be aligned.

I made this mistake BIG TIME.

I have a 1tb WD External that had my USB port break off.

The drive is still fully functional and fine, but when I took it to several shops to have the data transfered, they couldn't do it because of the Mac OS formatting......sucks bruh

If I were you, I'd play it safe, get a decent universal 1tb drive, and call it a day.
 
I've heard that Western Digital and Seagate are the most reliable, with WD being the preferred. (On NT I believe)
On the market for one as well, so more info would def be appreciated
 
I have a Seagate 320 GB portable hard drive that I bought back in 2010 and it's served me well for 3 years now. It's supports USB 2.0 and Firewire 800. Speeds are great. Best thing about it is that it works for both Mac and Windows.

I'd recommend that if you do want to get a portable hard drive, make sure it supports USB 3.0 and has the new lighting connection. That way you'll get the great transfer rates and would work for both Mac and Windows.
 
I have a WD portable that I do my back-ups on.. My advise is to get on that is USB powered one.
 
Just get a traditional USB powered (USB 3.0 capable) portable external hard drive. Do not get one where you will have to plug another power source into the wall, you are just asking trouble eventually down the road.

If you get a traditional external drive, it will work with both OSs, you just will not be able to modify the folders (rename, delete), but you will be able to copy and add to the drive.

If you need to have full control, I paid $20 and installed this little piece of software: http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/
It comes with a 10-day trial if want to see if you really need it. I had the trial and liked and didn't think about using it until I went to make a change and it was expired and I could not do so.

I am using a 1TB portable external and have it partitioned into 2 separate 500GB allotments; 1 NTFS and 1 Journal, so that I can store some Time Machine backups on that section.
 
WrightOne86 said:
Just get a traditional USB powered (USB 3.0 capable) portable external hard drive. Do not get one where you will have to plug another power source into the wall, you are just asking trouble eventually down the road.

If you get a traditional external drive, it will work with both OSs, you just will not be able to modify the folders (rename, delete), but you will be able to copy and add to the drive.

If you need to have full control, I paid $20 and installed this little piece of software: http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/
It comes with a 10-day trial if want to see if you really need it. I had the trial and liked and didn't think about using it until I went to make a change and it was expired and I could not do so.

I am using a 1TB portable external and have it partitioned into 2 separate 500GB allotments; 1 NTFS and 1 Journal, so that I can store some Time Machine backups on that section.
Click to expand...

I own both a pc and a MAC (my wife and I have our own pros). We dont save/use anything on the PC anymore but would like to save whatever is on the PC onto the DRIVE. So if I dont plan on using this drive on the PC do I still need this program?
 
No, not this specific program, but they do make one for Windows PCs to be able to write to Mac drives. I know that you can copy/paste/move files from a Mac onto a "Windows" portable drive, but I am not sure if Windows can do the same with a Mac drive. I would test that for you, but I got rid of my Windows laptop and only have Mac systems in the house now.

But if I recall from when I had a Windows VM on my laptop, it would recognize the folders and I could copy to them. It sounds like that is all you really need to do anyways. If not there is always this program that you could use. Just copy the stuff within the trial period and uninstall when you are done with it.
 
HA384


LaCie 1TB Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series Hard Drive

kinda pricey at $200 but totally worth it, especially for the thunderbolt :pimp:
 
So I'm in the market for an external hd

I have a mac laptop and also a tower pc

I can just buy one universal hd without it being too complicated right?

reading this thread makes my head it hurt. All this damn formatting talk :lol:
 
I have a 2tb western digital that I had to do a couple things to in order to be able to copy straight to it.

Whatever you buy... A simple google will tell you how to get it set up properly

Now quit lying.... Pictures, music, and home videos my ***... We all know what it's for
 
LaCie... Iceeeeeeesaaaaaa(gucci voice) I say it's the best even tho it gives me problem from time to time
 
Seagate. Both Mac & Windows capable & priced at 60-120 for 1TB depending where you go.
Got the backup plus 1TB & have been happy ever since.
 
Are seagate drives reliable? There's a 3tb seagate on slickdeals if you're interested.

I personally would cop a western digital.
 
welcometothetonezone said:
HA384


LaCie 1TB Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series Hard Drive

kinda pricey at $200 but totally worth it, especially for the thunderbolt :pimp:
Click to expand...

I hate LaCie. Mine crashed and I've never gotten another since.

I suggest Seagate, or even for that $200 price tag, you can get a Buffalo Drive Station with 3TB's
 
iYen said:
Are seagate drives reliable? There's a 3tb seagate on slickdeals if you're interested.

I personally would cop a western digital.
Click to expand...

My Seagate has been through hell and back and has yet to let me down. I got a 1TB Goflex.
 
HReveur said:
Seagate. Both Mac & Windows capable & priced at 60-120 for 1TB depending where you go.
Got the backup plus 1TB & have been happy ever since.
Click to expand...

I first I bought a seagate and it was the most annoying process ever. I returned it the next day and purchased a toshiba 1.5 tb for 10 bucks cheaper. That one was easy.

all I had to do was down load the driver and another piece so it can read on both MAC and Windows. IT was the easiest process ever.

This is the one I bought, its more expensive now. I bought mine for 69.00

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Canvio+...65&skuId=5616558&st=Tshiba external&cp=1&lp=3
 
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