External Hard Drive suggestion... ...

Question #1... ... What's a good external FireWire HD for Mac? 1TB would be ideal. I've read mixed reviews about the Time Capsule. Would this one I'm looking at be just as good?

Seagate - FreeAgent Desk 1TB External USB 2.0/FireWire Hard Drive for Mac - ST310005FJA

I don't care about the router capabilities Time Capsule has. I just want a faster transfer rate and I would mainly use it with Time Machine to back my Macbook HD up.

Question #2... ... Would external HD's for Mac, the ones that are specifically made for Mac, work with Windows as well?

1. My recommendation. LINK This one by the way is highly rated by MacWorld Magazine.

2. Yes. A hard drive is a hard drive. The only thing to be concerned about is what file system format to use.

FAT-32 is universal; OS X, Windows, Linux. The disadvantage of using it is that it is not a journaled file system and file size is limited to around 4 GB.

HFS+ is OS X only unless a third party driver is used from Windows.

Windows NTFS can be read by OS X but not written to. Third party driver needed. There is also a free driver which can be used provided you're using Snow Leopard.

Regards.

HD Macbook upgrade question... ...

I’m looking to upgrade my 250GB 5400RPM internal HD on my 2010 Macbook Pro 13” to a 500GB 7200RPM HD. Simply-Mac, a local Mac certified retailer, sells them for $179.99 + taxes. For them to install it, they charge $45.

Question… … Is it worth paying the fee for them to do it? Or is it something I could do on my own, being rather simple? I would do the data transfer myself using the Time Machine back-ups I have on the external HD I am using.

Thanks CHSAG

You really need to start a new thread as this has nothing to do with your original one. However, since you coat tailed it.....

IMO, no it's not worth paying someone to do the installation since it's an easy do it yourself project. And.. I would purchase the drive elsewhere. His prices are high. Take a look at the on line reseller I referred you to in my first reply. They are Mac specialists and sell only the best equipment.

Regards.