LaCie Rugged portable HD

[DRR]

Anyone have one? They seem to be pretty well reviewed from what I've read. I know they're bulkier than others but that's kind of the point. I don't need to fit it in a pocket, it's just going in my bag. But it'll be logging a lot of miles so I'm wondering if the extra "ruggedness" over a more conventional portable HD would be worth it. My bag is minimally padded, though I'm very careful with it. So I think it might be worth it.

I'd be getting the USB/FW flavor FWIW.

[Gareth]

I've seen lots of people using them, but I've never seen the point myself. Hard drives can handle a pretty good shock when they are off and the heads are parked. I also can't stand the fact that the LaCie only has 1 FW800 port which means you can't loop through to another FW800 device.

I put my drives in Case Logic cases: http://www.caselogic.com/compact_portabl...elid=80400&productid=1028096 (which I got for under $10, I think). It's a hard shell case, but not really any padding. They also have cases with foam padding.

But that's just me, I'd much rather have the drive I want and put it in a case, if I needed to than have a drive with 1 FW800 port. But if you only need 1 FW800 port, than the LaCie may work for you. I also prefer to buy drives and enclosures separately. That way if the enclosure fails, you don't void the whole thing's warranty taking the drive out to get the data.

[jdc]

I have a WD 400 gig FW800 portable (also with only one FW800 port) and I use a small hard shell case as well.

Its survived years in my bag, with plenty of tossing.

as for building vs buying -- its a wash.

$55 for a 2 port FW800 case + $65 for a 5400 rpm 500 gig 2.5" drive = $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLis...Submit=ENE&N=100007705+600006255+600006290&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&IsNodeId=1&Subcategory=92&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6822148374

$130 for it put together (in a better case):

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20W...QM5500GB8/

[DRR]

I only need one FW800 port.

Does it make any difference that it may incur some movement when the heads aren't parked? Picking up and going to a meeting (while still plugged in?)

[DRR]

I may also consider an SSD, but that would require a different partition scheme on the main drive.

[blooz]

DRR wrote:
I only need one FW800 port.

Does it make any difference that it may incur some movement when the heads aren't parked? Picking up and going to a meeting (while still plugged in?)

I wouldn't do that.

[deckeda]

jdc wrote:

$55 for a 2 port FW800 case + $65 for a 5400 rpm 500 gig 2.5" drive = $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLis...Submit=ENE&N=100007705+600006255+600006290&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&IsNodeId=1&Subcategory=92&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

I've had that Rosewill for just over a year. It's a solid enclosure but for two issues. The supplied 3M rubber footers don't stay on, and would have to be sacrificed whenever you open the case because the cover the bottom screws. It's the adhesive that's not strong.

The second issue is that if you need an adapter for it, it's not well documented how you'd get one. I haven't needed one with my MBP but I emailed Rosewill in Taiwan to ask about it. I received this info:

* External Power Adapter universal auto-switching (UL, cUL, PSE,
BSMI)
* Input: AC 100-240V, 0.3A, 50-60Hz
* Output: DC +5.2V/2A

So for all that, today I'd just get the one from OWC and be done with it, and get eSATA and USB in the bargain. Don't know about the OWC, but the Rosewill runs quite hot. It has a heat sink on the bottom.

[Gareth]

blooz wrote:
[quote=DRR]
Does it make any difference that it may incur some movement when the heads aren't parked? Picking up and going to a meeting (while still plugged in?)

I wouldn't do that.
Ditto. Given that the vast majority of people I know that have hard drive failures in MB/MBP's are the people who just pick up their laptop and walk around, I wouldn't voluntarily move any drive that way while it's running. Apple's laptop drives have rubber mounts also (albeit smaller) and also have sudden motion sensors, but still, the majority of failures seem to come from the "pick up and go" crowd.

[DRR]

blooz wrote:
[quote=DRR]
I only need one FW800 port.

Does it make any difference that it may incur some movement when the heads aren't parked? Picking up and going to a meeting (while still plugged in?)

I wouldn't do that.
Maybe SSD is the way to go then. Should be much more tolerant of bumps and jiggles, no? (I'm not talking about drops)

[mrlynn]

Gareth wrote:
Ditto. Given that the vast majority of people I know that have hard drive failures in MB/MBP's are the people who just pick up their laptop and walk around, I wouldn't voluntarily move any drive that way while it's running. Apple's laptop drives have rubber mounts also (albeit smaller) and also have sudden motion sensors, but still, the majority of failures seem to come from the "pick up and go" crowd.

Is that true when the MB/MBP is closed hence (presumably) asleep? Or does the 'Book have to be completely shut down? Number Two Son likes to carry his MB around without shutting down.

/Mr Lynn