External Hard Drive Question

Hey Guys I have a question about an external hard drive.

So I decided i need an external hard drive for Leopard and Time Machine.
So i went on to 'TradMe' (Basically eBay in New Zealand) and looked for a 120gb external hard drive.

Let's say i wanted to buy this one.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/...ge/External-hard-drives/auction-121074274.htm

I noticed that all of them said USB.
And as most of you know, MacBook Pros only have 2 USBs and i didnt want to use one of them for an external Hard drive which i will probably have plugged in 24/7.

And I don't have anything that uses the firewire ports. So i want to use them instead of the usb ports.

So my question is: Is there a way to use firewire instead of the usb? Is there like a USB to firewire cable?

thnx. pls answer

You will have to get one with a firewire port. And external drives in the 2.5" form factor sporting a firewire are very hard to find cause they don't normally need speed.

Lacie has one that should fit your bill though...
http://www.lacie.com/uk/products/range.htm?id=10036

I have an older Lacie drive that is firewire. You can also invest in a USB expansion thingy...you know the ones that allow you to add additional connections.

these look like what i need.. but they are a little over my budget..

oh well i guess ill have to work more before i can get it.....

is there like an adapter for the ipod which allows it to use firewire?

The reason i really dont want to use the usb is... here is a scenario

I have the usb external hard drive plugged in for time machine, and my little reciever for my wireless mouse

Suddenly i want to get my iPod charged for a long car ride....

But That's 2 usbs used up already. But then, I want to move photos from my camera, which needs a usb port, and at the same time i also need to plug in my printer to print an important document?

you know what i mean? I could do them one at a time, but it would take too long...

any suggestions?

BTW do you think that link was an ok hard drive for time machine if i decided to get it?

ChaePod said:

But That's 2 usbs used up already. But then, I want to move photos from my camera, which needs a usb port, and at the same time i also need to plug in my printer to print an important document?

Click to expand...

Why not try a USB hub like this one from **** Smith Electronics?

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/470c745100fd2d14273fc0a87f330671/Product/View/XH1370