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    External Harddrive

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by Iolas, Sep 24, 2010.

  1. Iolas

    Iolas Notebook Enthusiast

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    I need to get one for my computer organization class as we have to have lots of storage for using virtual box and what not. What is the best external interface to get for use with the m11x? usb 2.0 or the 1394a firewire? Anyone have any experiences between the two?
     
    Iolas, Sep 24, 2010
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  2. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

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    IMO, USB.

    newer portable external usb HDD (using laptop HDD) can run solely off of USB power, without needing an external brick.
     
    jeremyshaw, Sep 24, 2010
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  3. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

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    USB is a better interface, hands down.

    - It's easy to find and easy to buy inexpensive USB storage devices, whereas Firewire is being phased out.
    - USB storage devices run entirely off of USB power, which means you do not need an external power supply.
    - The new USB 3.0 spec is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 devices, so any USB device you buy today will still work on a notebook that you own 2 years down the road.
    - USB is ubiquitous. You can use any USB device you buy on any computer in the world made in the past 10 years, because they all have USB ports. Firewire devices will only work on computers with firewire ports, and even then you need to carry different cables for the 4-pin and 6-pin firewire ports that are available.

    Firewire may have a very slight bandwidth advantage over USB 2.0, but the convenience of USB 2.0 far far outweighs a little extra bandwidth.
     
    kent1146, Sep 24, 2010
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