External HD up-grade

[Rex]

Hi there,

I want to add an external USB hard drive to back up my image files. Thinking of about 160gb +.

But have been told by a friend that I need to look at whether my T22 is SATA, ATA, IDE or whatever. I have no idea what all these letters mean (apart from something to do with HD's)

Figured that any external USB HD could be plugged in. Am I wrong? What should I be looking for?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Rex

[Orevin]

If you buy the drive and the enclosure seperatly, then you have to look for compatibility.

I also would suggest to get a USB 2.0 PCMCIA adapter (and drive). The T22 runs on 1.1 only and transfering large files can take quite some time.

-Orevin-

[Rex]

I have a USB 2.0 PCMCIA adapter but my question still is, will any external USB drive (SATA, ATA, etc) work when plugged into the US port.

I was told that the USB is just the plug; the drive must match whatever the computer needs (SATA,ATA, or whatever)

I have to admit that I don't understand!

Rex

[Orevin]

Yes, any drive will work.

[Rex]

Thanks; that's what I thought but was obvioulsy given a bum steer by a collegue!

Rex

[LtTPfan]

Unfortunately your collegue has confused the issue for you. USB is the compatibility factor between your TP and the external enclosure. The drive must be compatible with the enclosure but that is not an issue if you are buying an enclosure/drive combo ready to go. It would only be an issue if you were buying the two seperately, or for instance if you wanted to use an existing drive you have and want to put it in an external enclosure.

[jdhurst]

Another approach, if you are amenable to it, is to purchase an ultra-bay for a hard drive and install the hard drive in it. Speeds are native (fast) and you can use the type of drive that comes with your laptop (and possibly others, but I don't know that for sure because I have not done it).
... JD Hurst

[Rex]

Again, may thanks.

I like the UltraBay idea but there is a 'but.' (isn't there always?) I supply photographs to photo libraries and they require 50mb + files. My T22 is not really up to the task, nor is the screen. I have quite a number of images on the TP but will have to get a desktop with more power/space/better screen in the near future. Consequently, the external HD must be pluggable into either computer.

For the moment, an external USB/Firewire HD seems to be the way to go.

Rex

[LtTPfan]

another but. . . but they are just now coming out with laptop drives of 160gb+ and they are rather pricey. The last time I was at Fry's I saw a pallet of complete external 250gb for on $89 which included a Maxtor drive in a USB 2.0 enclosure with one button backup feature.