Apple PowerBook Notebook 15" M9422LL/A (1.50-GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

Apple PowerBook Notebook 15

Apple PowerBook Notebook 15" M9422LL/A (1.50-GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)
Manufacturer: Apple Computer
Product Type: Personal Computer

Editorial Review:
Product Description
If you're one of those people who simply want it all, look no further than the new 15-inch PowerBook G4. Just over an inch thin, weighing only 5.6 pounds, and sporting a 15.2-inch (diagonal) widescreen display, this system incorporates all the best performance features of the PowerBook line tucked neatly into a sleek aluminum design.Built-in antennas make wireless networking a snap. With an AirPort Extreme Card, you can connect to an 802.11g wireless network at speeds up to five times faster than conventional Wi-Fi networks. Integrated Bluetooth technology extends your wireless capabilities with cable-free connections to the ever-growing roster of Bluetooth-enabled devices, including Apple's new wireless mouse and keyboard. The wired world is easily accommodated by a suite of high-speed digital connections, including Gigabit Ethernet, DVI, FireWire 800, and USB 2.0.With its intelligent combination of features, the 15-inch PowerBook gives you the freedom to edit video, deliver presentations, or analyze data on the go - in short, to get your work done, anywhere.

Average customer rating: 4.0

Mac Intel
Works good for me
RAID is fixed
Nice case, noisy hard drive, and a NEVER WORKED RAID software.

Buffalo HD-W500IU2-R1 500GB Drivestation Duo USB 2

Manufacturer: BUFFALO
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B000G6XZUA

Related Categories:

External Hard Drives

External Hard Drives

Product Description

The DriveStation Duo is a quick and easy solution to store, access, backup and transfer your music, photos and videos. Get a maximum storage with increased capacity of two hard drive or the extra security of automatic mirroring. In an age of digital storage, ensuring data confidentiality is a necessity. SecureLockWare encrypts and protects your important personal data from theft, misplacement and unauthorized access. Dual Interface USB 2.0 and FireWire SecureLockWare Software for Windows PC encrypts your data from theft, misplacement and unauthorized access Easy-to-use Windows RAID Utility for changing RAID Modes Memeo AutoBackup Software automatically backs up your files from your Windows PC 7200 RPM Rotation Speed Max 11 ms Seek Time IEEE 1394a Firewire Data Transfer Speed Max 400Mbps USB 2.0 Data Transfer Speed Max 4800Mbps Windows ME, 2000, XP, Server 2003 Compatibility Dimensions - 99 x 163 x 221mm Weight - 2.9 kg

Customer Reviews:

Mac Intel .......2007-06-02

I have a MacBook 2Gz Core 2 Duo. Getting the Drivestation to work on my Mac was easy :

1- Ignore the Mac utility that comes on the CD, it doesn't work.
2- Connect the drive to a Windows machine and install the windows setup application.
3- When you install the application, a new window will appear with "RAID Setup Utility". For some reason, when I ran the utility from that window it would walk me through a number of setup pages, but never let me pick the configuration I wanted for my drive (RAID1). If that happens to you, run the RAID Setup Utility from Start/All Programs/BUFFALO/... instead. That opened up the window letting me pick my configuration. I picked RAID1 ...
4- Connect the drive to your Mac (I chose Firewire), DONE. Works great ! It mounts every time, no issues.

The drive itself looks good, well built, silent. I only wish the cord was a bit longer.

Works good for me.......2007-05-23

I bought the 500G Drivestation Duo to use as a RAID 1 storage device for my photos. I'm using it with a MacBook Pro w/Intel 2.33 processor. The disc configuration software that comes with the device does not work with Intel Macs, but you can configure the drive with a PC using the version 1.01 software downloaded from Buffalo's web site and then run the drive on a MAC. This is what I did and it works fine. I called Buffalo support line to confirm the above details before I tried it and was able to get through after about a 5 minute wait, and the CSR was very polite and helpful. The drive seems quite a bit slower than my inernal drive, but it's not too bad. Overall, the setup was very simple and everything seems to be working just fine. So I'm quite satisfied.

RAID is fixed.......2007-03-05

I had trouble with the RAID utiltiy, too. But I just noticed that Buffalo released version 1.01 of their RAID tool in January. At least it doesn't through an exception when you try to run it now!

Other than that problem, I like this drive for the money.

Nice case, noisy hard drive, and a NEVER WORKED RAID software........2007-02-23

Duo pairs up with 2 WD HDs, which is simply noisy when operate. Speed passing though USB2 is alright, USB driver works like a charm. Security + backup software is a plus.

However, RAID never worked! I've been fighting with Tech support for days (It will take you about 50 mins. waiting on the phone to get to them each time.) and nothing works. Tech support simply push back the problem to customers and indicated it's your "windows" problem.

1. Raid driver can't find the USB hard drive. On the first public version of driver, it creates C++ error. The newest version simply can't find the hard drive.

2. If you are looking for mac support, there is none. The newest driver "README.TXT" indicated that, newest driver only works under PowerPC chip with OSX. So if you have intel core duo, good luck to find the RAID driver.

3. When I first spoke with tech support about RAID problem, they said it might be my windows. Actually, I've tried 7 computers with 3 of them are clean installed. Nothing works! the RAID software simply CAN NOT FIND ANY DEVICE on the USB, even your hard drives are working and running.

4. Tech told me the RAID is hardware raid, however, it requires "THE DRIVER" to work. Where, most of people on the net will tell you, "THE DRIVER", never worked. So, if you are unlucky just like me, you have to run 2 USB drives at same time instead of any RAID/MIRROR support on this thing. they simply don't have it yet. The newest driver 1.01 was dated as far back as June 2006, and there is no newer driver existing so far.

Buffalo's linkstation gaves me nice experiences (only down side was the transfer rate), but this Drivestation Duo turns me away. I'll never going to be business with Buffalo ever again in my life. It's too painful to call in and gets no results whatsoever.

============== UPDATE Feb/27/07 ==================================
After a few weeks of problem solving, I am able to make the RAID work now.

Since the utility came with CD or "buffalo" tech support suggested version was never worked. (RAID utility simply can't find the Hard drive itself), and MAC raid utility only support OS 9 or older.

Instead of killing myself without a RAID feature which I paid for, I went to Japanese website to download the newest RAID utility. First of all, if you have the connection problem like I do, and you only have windows machines, I have to tell you the sad news. Even Japanese (NEWEST update) RAID utility still won't work under windows XP SP2.

Instead, You need an IntelMac (like macbook/pro), hook up with firewire (only works under firewire connection), and fire up the Japanese version of the RAID utility. It will find the Drivestation Just fine.

If you don't read Japanese, basicaly, there are 3 options under the RAID menu, and once you opened up the utility, you see 2 partition (2 separated HD on the list), and you will have 3 options. 1st, remain 2 Partitions. 2nd, Make them into one 500GB partition. 3rd, make into RAID 1 configuration.

Here is the tricky part!! Since windows RAID utility didn't work, You have to make your RAID configuration on MAC through firewire. However, You HAVE TO USE USB2.0 connection to the Windows machine after this. After you configured your DriveStation into 500GB or RAID 1, You will either see a 500GB HD after reboot the Drivestation on Mac, OR!!! You will see nothing (Partition worked, but MAC has no longer access the right partition.)

So, You need to use USB 2.0 connection back to Windows, and fire up the "Format program" that came with original CD. (Sorry! No MAC utility here!). Here! You can delete/create/format a partition. And after format the Drivestation into FAT32, both of your PC/MAC will see it and work perfect after that.

Since the front pannel did indicate 1, 2 as first and second hard drive in LED. If your RAID 1 worked, they both will access almost at same time when you are using the Hard Drive. Fully RAID 1 baby!!

If you made them into a Huge 500GB, it works the same too.. 2 Hard Drive will access at same time (Almost). It is much better than 2 separated Hard Drives.

============ WARNING ===================
This is personal testing result. Actual procedure might facing difficulty I haven't encountered. So, if this method don't really work for you, please don't contact me. Just call Buffalo-tech then.

Be honest, I think Buffalo-USA did a bad job of re-writting the entire utility. They simply didn't do a full testing on it. Japanese one didn't work as well. You will also see FW update.. I didn't try that at all. This is the catch.. if FW fails.. You never gotta know how to get back to the original FW in the first place.

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