Is it worth getting an external hard drive with USB 1.0 ports?

Ms_MoneyPenny_2

Hi all techies!

I have a laptop that is a few years old and full of itunes and photos slowing it down.

Was looking to get an external hard drive to free up space, but have read a couple of reviews that say don't bother if you only have usb 1.0 - which is all I have - no high speed usb 2.0 ports.

Do I just have to face up to getting a new pc or laptop? or is it worth getting an external hard drive? if so what is good for windows xp for the storage of music and photos?

all help much appreciated.

bazzlad

USB 1 is slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow.
Too slow, especially for what you want to do.

You could consider a small ethernet linked NAS, which would do the same, and cost you fractionally more. But they're not as simple to set up.

bazzlad

Here we go, I've found you a good one.

Step 1
Buy this Nas enclosure from Maplin.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?TabID=1&ModuleNo=97390&doy=17m5

Step 2

Then buy this IDE hard drive from Scan to put in it: (500gb)
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=644048

Step 3

Connect it to your laptop via an ethernet cable (£5 max). Turn off DCHP in it's internal options. (instructions will talk you through it). Jobs a good one.

Step 4

You have a 500gb external hard drive, that will be very fast, for under £100.
Happy days.

isofa

Why not just add USB 2 to your laptop? Providing you have a free PC / PCMCIA / Cardbus card slot in your laptop (most have at least one of these slots), you can add USB to it that way, such as the Belkin USB 2.0 Notebook Card at Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000MFZ10C/

oldtoolie

I don't have any problem using an external harddrive with my old PC with USB 1.0. I suppose it is slower than USB 2.0 to move files to and from the external drive. Since I am using it for archive and backup, that isn't a problem. If I want to work with any of the files, I copy them to the PC first.

Ms_MoneyPenny_2

Hi thanks to all replys - I am learning lots of new info.!

oldtoolie? which brand of external hard drive do you use for your usb 1.0?

what other brands do people think are good for windows xp - are there any to avoid?

the more I read reviews it seems for every brand there are some horror stories?! so maybe its try it and cross my fingers???

bazzlad

I can't believe people are telling you USB 1 speed is fine - if it was WE'D STILL BE USING IT!

USB 1 speed = 12Mbit/sec
USB 2 speed = 480Mbit/sec

That means USB 1 is FORTY TIMES SLOWER.
If you're transferring any decent amount of data, either go for the NAS I suggested, or upgrade to USB 2 (if there's room on your laptop) like another poster suggested.

Don't go USB1.

bazzlad

"It was fine for years, and suddenly not?"

Mate the BBC Micro was fine for years.....

isofa

USB 1 was never any good for large data transfer especially to hard drives - the speed is atrocious, even USB 2 isn't the best, but at least it's almost 40 times faster!

USB was introduced as a peripheral interconnect, not for mass data transfer, "It was fine for years, and suddenly not?" - it was never fine for large data transfer, ever.

I wouldn't contemplate using an external hard drive to backup or move large chunks of data regularly over USB1, and it shouldn't be a recommendation IMO.

bazzlad

Here's a shovel.
There's your hole.

Seriously - it's upgrade, or ethernet transfer. USB 1, no, no, no.

(may as well use 50 floppies :P)

isofa

loaner wrote: »

By fine I meant adequate, not ideal. Suggesting it is a complete no no will push the op into buying a new laptop unnecessarily.

Or a £10 to £20 upgrade card as I suggested, no one has suggested buying a new laptop, but to say USB 1 is fine for transfering photos and music is misleading.

Both file sizes can be large, and once you have the external drive you'll be using it more and more.