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Thread: Portable Hard Drive for Mac

  1. #1
    Master
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    Portable Hard Drive for Mac

    Anyone recommend a particular model from their personal usage?

    Looking at a 2TB capacity.

    Jim

  2. #2
    SydR
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    What connections do you have available?

  3. #3
    Master
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    New connex - usb-c

    J

  4. #4
    Grand Master Chris_in_the_UK's Avatar
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    I use this - bit expensive but very small.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Ext.../dp/B078T9SZ3K
    When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........

  5. #5
    I have two portable hard drives stuck to the back of my iMac - both are older models now and superceded but I would recommend

    Samsung T5 SSD if your budget can stretch to this

    G Technology G Drive (https://www.amazon.co.uk/G-Technolog...56&sr=8-3&th=1)

    This has pretty quick download speeds compared with other (non SSD) drives

    I've also used Lacie and Bipra in the past with Macs and they were fine. There is so much choice now with portable HDDs that it does become a matter of personal preference.


    Quote Originally Posted by Jimmcb View Post
    Anyone recommend a particular model from their personal usage?

    Looking at a 2TB capacity.

    Jim

  6. #6
    SydR
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    I have one of the LaCie Rugged range that’s been bouncing around in a pannier for the last couple of years and still going strong.

  7. #7
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    Thanks all of you. You’re right Shane there is great choice.

    Today I finally lost patience with my setup 2018 MBP with Toshiba 2TB device always plugged in but which never seems to have been ‘seen’ by MBP. Something I was too lazy to do anything about!! Calked Apple Support today for help as can’t get Catalina upgrade loaded and as a BTW told the agent about my concern. He went through all the checks and it eventually became clear my HD has actually never worked!!! Hey ho.

    My old MBP also had a Toshiba HD and it never missed a beat.

    Cest la vie

    Jim

  8. #8
    Grand Master Seamaster73's Avatar
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    I’ve been using one of these (albeit smaller capacity) for the last year with my iMac and it’s been good as gold. Works great right out of the box. Fast and reliable. Choice of connections (supplied).

    Seagate Fast SSD 2TB External Solid State Drive Portable (STCM200040)
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07F7112WG

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Shane View Post
    Samsung T5 SSD if your budget can stretch to this
    +1

    Had my eye on a T5 for a while, they seem to be the 'go to' choice:
    www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-MU-PA500B-Portable-SSD-500GB/dp/B074MCNDSK

    They then released the T7 which has increased security:
    www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Touch-Portable-SSD-MU-PC1T0K/dp/B082VVV926/

    T5 and T7 here:



    Both look great.

  10. #10
    I usually buy LaCie or G-tech from the Apple store for portables or Samsung/sandisk ssd’s and caldigit for desktop drives.

  11. #11
    Grand Master PickleB's Avatar
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    How about:


    ...?

    The need for a suitable cable adds to the list but I think the overall price compares favourably to other options.

  12. #12
    Craftsman Dean Learner's Avatar
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    Just another recommendation for the Samsung SSD drives. I've used them heavily over the years and they've been faultless.

  13. #13
    Master
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    Do all of these download from the Mac and can be uploaded onto Windows machines without reformatting?
    My Old MacBook is giving up the ghost and thinking I might shift over .
    I’m a tech idiot so need stuff to be simple.


    Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hood View Post
    Do all of these download from the Mac and can be uploaded onto Windows machines without reformatting?
    My Old MacBook is giving up the ghost and thinking I might shift over .
    I’m a tech idiot so need stuff to be simple.


    Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
    I have a Seagate external drive which shunts between my office PC and my various Macs. It's been formatted as exFAT and has been faultless. I'm not sure if you can buy a drive already formatted as exFAT but it's a straightforward process.

  15. #15
    Grand Master wileeeeeey's Avatar
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    Hood, any HD plugged into your Mac can be formatted using Disk Utility which is installed on every Mac by Apple. Simple process, takes not even a minute (assuming new, empty HD) and plenty of YouTube videos to help.

  16. #16
    I've always used LaCie with Macs never had a problem.

  17. #17
    I’ve been very happy with my Samsung T5 SSD.

  18. #18
    Master
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    Samsung , seagate , Toshiba , WD ...all much of a muchness as far as I've experienced , get the biggest , fastest drive you can for your buck or something you like the look of.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by wileeeeeey View Post
    Hood, any HD plugged into your Mac can be formatted using Disk Utility which is installed on every Mac by Apple. Simple process, takes not even a minute (assuming new, empty HD) and plenty of YouTube videos to help.
    This, and, this:

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.D View Post
    Samsung , seagate , Toshiba , WD ...all much of a muchness as far as I've experienced , get the biggest , fastest drive you can for your buck or something you like the look of.

  20. #20
    Grand Master magirus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.D View Post
    Samsung , seagate , Toshiba , WD ...all much of a muchness as far as I've experienced , get the biggest , fastest drive you can for your buck or something you like the look of.
    This. I have both a Seagate and a Western Digital (both 2TB) attached to my Mac for duplicate Time Machine back up and both have been fine, as were the 1TB versions before them.
    F.T.F.A.

  21. #21
    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.D View Post
    Samsung , seagate , Toshiba , WD ...all much of a muchness as far as I've experienced , get the biggest , fastest drive you can for your buck or something you like the look of.
    I disagree, spend your full budget on 2 drives. One back-up isn’t a back-up, it’s just a copy that might make itself corrupt or the drive may fail.
    If the data is irreplaceable then ideally you need 3 copies and one of them offsite.

  22. #22
    SydR
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    ^^^ this.

    3-2-1 principle of backing up your most important data.

    3 copies
    2 different media types
    1 copy offsite.

  23. #23
    Yes, this is exactly what I do for my photos plus I save my best images in TIFF format on Flickr, DropBox and Imgur. A third drive with the same content is kept at work.

    Quote Originally Posted by MrSmith View Post
    I disagree, spend your full budget on 2 drives. One back-up isn’t a back-up, it’s just a copy that might make itself corrupt or the drive may fail.
    If the data is irreplaceable then ideally you need 3 copies and one of them offsite.

  24. #24
    @Jimmcb what did you go for and are you happy with it? I'm still debating between the T5 and T7.

  25. #25
    Master
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    Hi everyone
    Turns out the fault was with my MacBook Pro.

    Took Apple to do complete reconfig of system to kickstart if again. In the interim I bought a 2TB Maxtor Port HD that sings sweetly. Well pleased and grateful to Apple techs.

    Jim

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