USB vs. Firewire External Hard Drive...

[dspring]

I know there has been several threads on externals, but I am wondering about USB vs Firewire.

Looking to pick up an external hard drive... Looking at either a Western Digital or a Seagate FreeAgent... the Western Digital is USB 2.0 and the Seagate is USB 2.0 and Firewire... the stats say that the Seagates USB transfer speed is actually faster than it's firewire speed... is this generally the case? Aside from saving a USB port is there a benefit to having both? If you have a USB/Firewire drive what mode do you use?

cheers

[standard]

if i recall correctly, USB has a faster CONSTANT tranfer rate, and Firewire has a higher PEAK rate. how that applies to real life use, i honestly dont know. if you are using it for backup/storage, it honestly doesn't matter. if you are writing files directly to it from photosop or whatever, maybe go for firewire??

[VonDada]

I have a USB one and it's great.

Just make sure your power source can handle all the stuff you're connecting via USB. Sometimes it can get wonky with too much stuff connected.

Especially if you have your iPod connected the whole time. Big power drain.

[standard]

an external drive running off usb power is going to run slower. the transfer rates listed on the box refer to plugged-into-the-wall speeds. i think.

[dspring]

I will probably use it for music and photo storage mostly... so I will be playing itunes off of the drive... will that factor in?

[Brad]

both are fast enough for playing audio.

[dspring]

cool, thanks everybody...

[Brad]

i keep my .mp3s on two hard drives, i don't want to have to rip all my CDs again.

[mjc]

i keep my .mp3s on two hard drives, i don't want to have to rip all my CDs again.

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