|
|
FireWire: Do You Use It?
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
Completely unscientific, completely fun.
Feel free to note if your usage falls more under a professional, rather than recreational category.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Boston
Status:
Offline
|
|
My external drives are FW800 and FW400 so I'm constantly using them. Both drives are also USB capable so if I opt for a new MB/MBP I'll still be able to use them. Still, I really like the performance of FW over USB.
|
~Mike
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
Here at work I have a FireWire Flash card reader, but at home the only time I've used FireWire is for target disk mode and migration to the MacBook I picked up this summer. I've never looked into buying a device that had it , though if I ever bought an external HD enclosure, that'd certainly be my preference over USB 2.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Union County, NJ
Status:
Offline
|
|
I have to use it for my podcast.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
|
|
I've used it... but it's not a regular thing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Vente: Achat
Status:
Offline
|
|
Yeah my HD enclosures are FW/USB so it wouldn't be the end of the world. Though I occasionally use Target Mode.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Status:
Offline
|
|
I use FW for my HDs on a regular basis, but they are also USB, so I could get by. Although the transfer rates and reliability seems to be worse using USB.
The biggest benefit that I would lose with no FW would be target disk mode. That has saved me many times when trying to repair hard drives or do installations.
|
"It's weird the way 'finger puppets' sounds ok as a noun..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
Constantly is mugging all the other options for their lunch money right now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
Rarely, but when I needed it it was reeeally nice to have it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
Status:
Offline
|
|
All the time. Audio interfaces and what not.
|
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Pacific Northwest
Status:
Offline
|
|
TM drive is FW800. Secondary backup drive is FW400. So constantly.
edit: Both drives are for my iMac 24" 2.8. I don't bother backing up my Macbook.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Ridgeland, MS
Status:
Offline
|
|
I constantly use FW800 for my external drive...and I occasionally connect with FW400 in TDM to transfer items between my and a colleague's computer...
|
MacBook Pro (15-in, 2.2Ghz, June 2007)
iPhone 3G (16GB, white)
iPhone (R.I.P. Sept 11, 2008, drowned in the rain)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
Of course the fatal flaw in poll is which of you would or can use a MacBook for FireWire necessities (as opposed to a Pro). That and those of you who only use it for backups, which there are alternatives for.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Nobletucky
Status:
Offline
|
|
I have a 250G LaCie external drive on the FW800 bus. I have it partitioned and use it for backup and as scratch space for Photoshop and Illustrator, which I use daily, all day. Additionally, I've used the FW400 ports for miniDV cams.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Boston
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Dakar V
Of course the fatal flaw in poll is which of you would or can use a MacBook for FireWire necessities (as opposed to a Pro). That and those of you who only use it for backups, which there are alternatives for.
Agreed, it seems the majority of people using FW are doing so for external disk access which means there's other solutions available.
|
~Mike
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Maflynn
Agreed, it seems the majority of people using FW are doing so for external disk access which means there's other solutions available.
Not better ones though - going from FW800 to USB2 is a huge step down. If there was an eSATA port on the laptop that would provide another high-speed connection, but there's not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Laminar
Not better ones though - going from FW800 to USB2 is a huge step down
I did note that in my first response, however.
I really should have anticipated the HD enclosure people would skew the poll.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2007
Status:
Offline
|
|
3 Firewire 400 hard drives and 1 Firewire 800 drive.
|
MacBook Pro 13" 2.8GHz Core i7/8GB RAM/750GB Hard Drive - Mac OS X 10.7.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Dakar V
I did note that in my first response, however.
I really should have anticipated the HD enclosure people would skew the poll.
That should have been a separate poll option. Good job ruining science.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Laminar
That should have been a separate poll option. Good job ruining science.
I'm so sorry that years of amphetamines and failure have done anything to improve my work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY²
Status:
Offline
|
|
I had an external drive that was USB and Firewire but I gave it to a friend. Now the only drives I have are all USB.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status:
Offline
|
|
I use TDM about every 6 months, but it is always on someone else's computer when I am trying to fix it. And even then about 90% of the time I end up just reformatting, tell them to keep better backups, and reinstall the OS. I have had good luck with USB2 and time machine. I start to have a problem with my personal computers and I usually just reformat and use my daily backups.
Personally, I don't need FW. I have one FW/USB2 combo drive and I'll just use the USB2 port.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
I forgot to note that the thread title should be read with Sam Jackson in mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status:
Offline
|
|
At my work we have several miniDV camcorders that only have Firewire. We use them all the time. I also use the Firewire to TDM and image one-off laptops. I hate the new MacBook.
|
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Dakar V
I forgot to note that the thread title should be read with Sam Jackson in mind.
That was actually the first thing that came to my mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Status:
Offline
|
|
TDM for cloning, backup or diskwarrior — twice a year or so.
|
"The road to success is dotted with the most tempting parking spaces."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: England | San Francisco
Status:
Offline
|
|
|
we don't have time to stop for gas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Peter
does a tattoo count?
In that case, its use is driving away women.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status:
Offline
|
|
What do you think cheap white t-shirts do?
(
Last edited by Railroader; Oct 16, 2008 at 12:05 PM.
Reason: adding grinning to indicate my jest)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
Complement Ford Contours.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2003
Status:
Offline
|
|
All. The. Time.
What's up with that new macbook?
|
2002 Mac Mini i5 8GB 256GB SSD
2013 Macbook Air 4GB/128GB
iPad Mini A7 32GB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Madison, WI
Status:
Offline
|
|
I've got my backup disc connected to my Intel iMac via FW800. Daisy chained off that backup disc, again using FW800, is a smaller capacity drive for my Windows XP install (for Parallels 3).
I do a daily backup of my iMac's Users directory, and a weekly backup of the entire HD, to the external backup disc.
|
One should never stop striving for clarity of thought and precision of expression.
I would prefer my humanity sullied with the tarnish of science rather than the gloss of religion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Railroader
What do you think cheap white t-shirts do?
Show off my incredible body.
And I know I'm going to regret this one:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status:
Offline
|
|
See, no girls in those photos. I did see a dude though ... and possible sex toys...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Dakar V
Complement Ford Contours.
They do equal the cheap white t-shirt of the automotive world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
Dude, all I see is the giant girl in the center of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status:
Offline
|
|
Your right!
And is that Slim Shady in the bottom one?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2004
Status:
Offline
|
|
My Time Machine backup is a FW800 drive.
I'm recovering data from a borked G5 tower using FWTDM as I type this.
I couldn't do without it,which is why I would not buy a new MacBook. However lots of people will which will make life harder when recovering their data I guess.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy
I do a daily backup of my iMac's Users directory, and a weekly backup of the entire HD, to the external backup disc.
Why not use Time Machine?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
Less risk of temporal paradoxes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Madison, WI
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Laminar
Why not use Time Machine?
I don't like how it fills up the backup HD with multiple copies of everything. I use Carbon Copy Cloner's scheduled backup feature for the incremental backups of just the Users directory (it run at 8:00AM Mon-Sat) and the full backup of the entire HD (it runs at 8:00AM Sun).
As I am working on my masters thesis right now, I also backup my school files to the internal HD of another Mac in the house as well as post copies of my written thesis to the media directory for my blog. I know that is more than a bit paranoid but once the thesis is written and submitted I will reduce the number of backups I run to one or two incremental a week (while still keeping the weekly full backup).
|
One should never stop striving for clarity of thought and precision of expression.
I would prefer my humanity sullied with the tarnish of science rather than the gloss of religion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Dakar V
Less risk of temporal paradoxes.
That's cuz he's a newb with inverse tachyon beams.
|
"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy
I don't like how it fills up the backup HD with multiple copies of everything. I use Carbon Copy Cloner's scheduled backup feature for the incremental backups of just the Users directory (it run at 8:00AM Mon-Sat) and the full backup of the entire HD (it runs at 8:00AM Sun).
I partitioned my backup HD into two partitions - one Mac formatted with a couple hundred gigs for Time Machine, the other FAT32 to allow compatibility between OS X and Windows, and it's where I store any large media files or stuff I want to keep portable. This way Time Machine has a certain amount of disk space it can take up. I'm not sure what you mean by "multiple copies of everything." If I'm not mistaken, it only copies the updated files, and it backs everything up once an hour, minimizing lost data. If your hard drive suddenly died under your current process, you could lose an entire day's work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Status:
Offline
|
|
Professional usage (my Mac is my work computer), zero use of or even desire for Firewire.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Vente: Achat
Status:
Offline
|
|
I think it's time to get a firewire tattoo...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Belgium
Status:
Offline
|
|
All my external drives are Firewire (except one). I just upgraded a few USB2 externals to Firewire-enclosures. USB2 is SOOO much slower than FW400. I don't like the way this is going. I'll probably be forced to get a Mac Pro in the future. Since the iMac has a glossy screen and if the Macbooks are any indication it'll probably be without FW as well. I reallly don't like the way Apple is oversimplifying the machines lately. Not at the pricepoints they're at right now.
I've always been able to live with Apple's higher prices but now they are really starting to deliver machines with very bad specs for very high price points. Where's the eSata to replace FW ? Where's the ExpressCard slot ? Where are the matte screens ? High resolution screens ? Heck, even bluray etc. I don't mind cutting stuff out in certain models but at least give consumers a choice. The only way to get that stuff is by getting a PC. I really want a nicely designed Mac with OSX and I want to pay a premium for it but please, Apple, the specs and features are sub-par.
[/rant]
Can you notice that I'm very disappointed by the recent MB/MBP release ?
|
iMac 20" C2D 2.16 | Acer Aspire One | Flickr
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Dec 2000
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Dakar V
Of course the fatal flaw in poll is which of you would or can use a MacBook for FireWire necessities (as opposed to a Pro). That and those of you who only use it for backups, which there are alternatives for.
Not really. Time Machine is ridiculously slow even with FireWire 800. I don't even want to think about trying to use it with a USB drive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by CharlesS
Not really. Time Machine is ridiculously slow even with FireWire 800. I don't even want to think about trying to use it with a USB drive.
I do, and it's nothing noticeable. It's not as if I have to back up several gigs at a time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by CharlesS
Not really. Time Machine is ridiculously slow even with FireWire 800. I don't even want to think about trying to use it with a USB drive.
Whether you like the quality of the alternative doesn't preclude the fact that it's an alternative.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Rules
|
|
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|