USB Hard disk recommendation for MMI

[ScottyUK]

This seems ideal especially with the MY2010 glovebox net to hold it in.

http://www.memorybits.co.uk/shop/ext...501s500g/12922

500Gb for £79.99 delivered

Only 110 x 73 x 10mm !!


Any one got any thoughts on this ? e.g. why I shouldn't buy one.

Any other recommendations?

[ScottyUK]

Actually I've just realised that I'm getting 3G MMI which will have 10GB on the HDD and HDSC slots so maybe I don't need it...... but it would be nice to get ALL my music back in the car

[troc]

I've a Western Digital USB mini-drive thing which I bought with a 320Gb disk in it to swap out the old 80Gb one in my laptop which I was going to use as an 80Gb music drive but I reckon I'll be fine with the 10Gb in the MMI and my iPhone.

Still not sure exactly how I'll arrange things.

Anyway, hopefully our cars are now built, tested and waiting for a trip to the UK. Them might even be lorry buddies

John

[Jop]

Its just GOT to be an iPod.
My reasoning.

Itunes:
You can use iTunes to manage your library, and IMO its a GREAT library manager
Use of the iTunes Music store (and its fantastic money spending genius button)
Seamless syncing from CD-> library -> ipod
Genius Playlists
Smart Playlists: playlists created by satisfying certain conditions. (IE, recenly added blues tracks not including bb king)
The ability to rate tracks so that the dynamic playlist can use them in shuffle mode to keep you interested

IPOD:
Slim design
ALAC (lossless) support
You can get an Ipod engraved for free.

Using a USB harddrive means your basically using an explorer (or finder) type interface to manage your music, which is a bit... well... 2003 Although you do get alot more giga for your green with a USB HD.

[ScottyUK]

I get all what you're saying and I do use my Nano in the car occasionally. However at the moment the USB stick is winning as I take my Nano with me to work .... on my motorbike hence it's a pain popping it in and out the car all the time.

My S4 had a Phatnoise in it and I had all my music on th 80Gb drive. It'd be nice to have it all there. My Nano's 8Gb is a long way from that.

With regards synching - it's a peace of pish to get the USB disk mirroring whats on your home PC/server/NAS etc.

With regards the Western Digital - not sure I could cope with the exta 5mm x 5mm x 17mm dimensions

It could be an option I'll wait and see how I get on first I think.

[Jop]

Nano? Nano?!?
Get yourself a classic for the motor. 120GB for 175. And free engraving.
Then no need to swap things about. and you can hold all your music.

I think its safe to say that Im an apple fan as everything i have of their's just works.

I started with a USB HDD, but quickly moved to an ipod
A. for itunes
and B. i wanted a shiny new gadget with personalized engraving

Ive stopped recommending Wester Digital drives ever since both disks in one of their Raid:1 units failed on me and I lost most my music collection.
Thankfully, I still had all the old torrents (i mean receipts) so was able to recover my data if not strictly legally.
WD were however very quick to replace the faulty unit FOC.

[ScottyUK]

£175!! Do you think I'm made of money !!

[Jop]

but.... You can get it engraved!!

Or get one from ebay that someone else had engraved for someone who doesn't love them any more.

Can you use playlists on USB HDD, or are you restricted to Artist/Album only?

[smellster]

I picked up a 160GB black ipod specifically for the car off ebay for £130, it even came with a load of (mostly naff and quickly deleted) music. The advantage of this is that I have most of my favourite albums in the apple lossless format now playing over the B&O, and it sounds great!

[73kingstonroad]

I too was going for a HDD soon after getting my car but for two things.

1. iTunes is so easy to manage your music on. Just plug your iPod into your laptop and sync. Job done.
2. I have a MacBook Pro Laptop and when I copy files from my Laptop to a SD Card I get a copy file of 4k for each track I put on. I have research this and found it is normal for all Macs to do this. So this would mean me going through each album and deleting these files. On the MMI it shows up as a file but unplayable.
Also I'd have to buy a new lead to the AMI at a cost of £25.
I'll be sticking with my iPod for now as I'm well impressed with the sound coming from it.

Martin