iPod: Portable Hard Drive

TerryOS · 28-11-2003, 07:00

Hi, I'm thinking about getting the 20gb iPod. Someone told me that it can also be used as a portable hard drive, but on the apple website I can't find where it says this. Does anyone know if you can or has an iPod and if so are they any good?

Rich2k · 28-11-2003, 10:19

Yes you can enable it to be a hard disk (well over firewire, I'm not so sure about USB)

AndyM · 28-11-2003, 14:45

Yes you can but its a hassle. It will work fine on the system you originally installed it on, but you won't just be able to plug it in on another. This was done to stop piracy by Apple.

TerryOS · 29-11-2003, 11:17

What so not even if my mates have got iPod's installed on their computers I wouldn't be able to transfer data to their computers?

AndyM · 29-11-2003, 11:35

I'm not sure about that, and I can't really test it for you either. I know you can't just plug it in a machine without any iPod software installed to use as an external drive. Try www.ipodlounge.com - you might get a better answer from there.

Paul_7 · 29-11-2003, 13:44

Quote:

Originally posted by TerryOS
What so not even if my mates have got iPod's installed on their computers I wouldn't be able to transfer data to their computers?

Transferring data will work fine - the device will act just like an external hard drive (can't vouch for USB, but it does with FireWire).

Transferring music can be done, but not directly - a type of anti piracy measure, I suppose. If you transfer an MP3 to the iPod as data (using Explorer, say) , the iPod will store the MP3 file, but will not recognise it as a playable file - to do that, software such as iTunes/Ephod/MMJB should be used).

iPodlounge as mentioned by AndyM is an excellent resource, you can find out all sorts of stuff there. Apple also have a useful discussion forum.

I got my 40GB a few weeks ago, and am very pleased with it. The only major downside in my opinion is the poor battery life. With the most energy efficient settings, you can get 7-8 hours play, but start skipping tracks and it can fall to 5-6. When on the move, this is very frustrating.

Using it as a music player will be less battery intensive than as a HD, as it buffers about 32Mb of the playlist so the HD only spins to fill up the buffer. HD mode will spin whenever accessed, though will spin down after a period of inactivity (10 mins, maybe).

Out of the box, the units don't support USB either - you'll need to buy a special cable (£20). You should be able to get a FireWire card for less than this, meaning you can use the supplied cable.

AndyM · 29-11-2003, 18:53

Thats good news!
I tried using it as an external HD at uni via firewire, but couldn't get it to work. Perhaps it wasn't setup properly. The machine I was using still uses Windows 98. I'll have another try monday with a different machine.

28-11-2003, 07:00	#1
TerryOS Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London, United Kingdom Posts: 301	iPod: Portable Hard Drive Hi, I'm thinking about getting the 20gb iPod. Someone told me that it can also be used as a portable hard drive, but on the apple website I can't find where it says this. Does anyone know if you can or has an iPod and if so are they any good?

28-11-2003, 10:19	#2
Rich2k Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: UK Posts: 3,000	Yes you can enable it to be a hard disk (well over firewire, I'm not so sure about USB)

28-11-2003, 14:45	#3
AndyM Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lincoln Posts: 1,621	Yes you can but its a hassle. It will work fine on the system you originally installed it on, but you won't just be able to plug it in on another. This was done to stop piracy by Apple.

29-11-2003, 11:17	#4
TerryOS Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London, United Kingdom Posts: 301	What so not even if my mates have got iPod's installed on their computers I wouldn't be able to transfer data to their computers?

29-11-2003, 11:35	#5
AndyM Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lincoln Posts: 1,621	I'm not sure about that, and I can't really test it for you either. I know you can't just plug it in a machine without any iPod software installed to use as an external drive. Try www.ipodlounge.com - you might get a better answer from there.

29-11-2003, 13:44	#6
Paul_7 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: London / Herts Posts: 277	Quote: Originally posted by TerryOS What so not even if my mates have got iPod's installed on their computers I wouldn't be able to transfer data to their computers? Transferring data will work fine - the device will act just like an external hard drive (can't vouch for USB, but it does with FireWire). Transferring music can be done, but not directly - a type of anti piracy measure, I suppose. If you transfer an MP3 to the iPod as data (using Explorer, say) , the iPod will store the MP3 file, but will not recognise it as a playable file - to do that, software such as iTunes/Ephod/MMJB should be used). iPodlounge as mentioned by AndyM is an excellent resource, you can find out all sorts of stuff there. Apple also have a useful discussion forum. I got my 40GB a few weeks ago, and am very pleased with it. The only major downside in my opinion is the poor battery life. With the most energy efficient settings, you can get 7-8 hours play, but start skipping tracks and it can fall to 5-6. When on the move, this is very frustrating. Using it as a music player will be less battery intensive than as a HD, as it buffers about 32Mb of the playlist so the HD only spins to fill up the buffer. HD mode will spin whenever accessed, though will spin down after a period of inactivity (10 mins, maybe). Out of the box, the units don't support USB either - you'll need to buy a special cable (£20). You should be able to get a FireWire card for less than this, meaning you can use the supplied cable.

29-11-2003, 18:53	#7
AndyM Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lincoln Posts: 1,621	Thats good news! I tried using it as an external HD at uni via firewire, but couldn't get it to work. Perhaps it wasn't setup properly. The machine I was using still uses Windows 98. I'll have another try monday with a different machine.

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iPod: Portable Hard Drive