Overview
We often refer to this external hard drive as your “Media Drive” because it will be functioning as a scratch disk for Final Cut Pro, Protools and other professional applications. This means that the data that is captured and/or saved directly to this HD will reside solely on this HD. With that in mind, its important that you choose a reliable HD that has a firewire 800 connection and that you backup the contents of this HD regularly. For your purposes here at the JSchool, a minimum speed of 7200 RPM and Firewire 800 port of your external HD is required.
Portability Factor
In addition to your laptop, you will find yourself working at different stations at the school and for the purposes of collaboration have to share/transfer your files/sessions with other classmates. We find the portable bus-powered HDs to be more convenient for this reason. This way you won’t have to seek out a power outlet or have to remember to bring the power adapter when you are shuttling from place to place.
Proper Care
You have put a substantial amount of money into your equipment, so it take care of it. Many failures of portable equipment often have to do with improper user practices than they do with pure hardware failure. When traveling with your HD, it is important that you:
- Do not walk around/travel with your HD while it is is spinning.
- Remove any attached cables before storing.
- Make sure it is in a safe and secure location during transport.
- Do not put weight on your HD .
Portable Hard Drive Recommendations
Glyph-Technologies 500GB PortaGig 50 Portable Hard Drive
Enclosure: Aluminum
Capacity: 500GB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Connectivity: eSATA, FireWire-800, USB 2.0
Warranty: 3-Year Warranty, 2-Years of Free Level I Data Recovery, and 1-Year of Free Overnight Advance Replacement
List: $175
G-Technology G-DRIVE mini High-Speed Portable Drive
Enclosure: Aluminum
Capacity: 500GB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Connectivity: eSATA, FireWire-800, USB 2.0
Warranty: 3-Year Warranty
List: $140
Desktop (AC Powered) Hard Drive Recommendations
Glyph-Technologies 1TB GT-050Q Quad Interface Hard Drive
Enclosure: Aluminum
Capacity: 1TB (1000GB)
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Connectivity: eSATA, FireWire-800, Firewire 400, USB 2.0
Warranty: 3-Year Warranty, Warranty: 3-Year Warranty, 2-Years of Free Level I Data Recovery, and 1-Year of Free Overnight Advance Replacement
List: $175
G-Technology 1TB G-Drive External Hard Drive
Enclosure: Aluminum
Capacity: 1TB (1000GB)
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Connectivity: eSATA, FireWire-800, USB 2.0
Warranty: 3-Year Warranty
List: $150
Quick links: Technical Requirements, Laptop Information, Financing Your Laptop, Archive Drive Info, Software Installation, Recommended System Options
