If you have an external hard drive or USB flash drive that you’d like to use on both Macs and Windows PCs, choosing the right file system to format the drive can be confusing. Learn a few ways to make your drive Mac and PC friendly. Both Windows 8 and Mac OS X allow you to adjust the size of the format partitions on external hard drives. Set the number to the maximum to use the entire drive in a single partition. Dec 11, 2016 Question: Q: Partitioning an external hard drive for Mac and PC I want to partition an external hard drive (3TB) into 3 even partitions. I want to use one for PC storage, one for Mac storage and the last for Mac backup.
Holding up a tablet at a wedding or party to take snapshots: fair game, or just lame? The etiquette jury's still out on that score, but wherever you fall on the issue, we bet you've used your tablet or smartphone to create photos, videos, data, or files you just can't replace. And, just like any other bundle of bits you may have created on a desktop or laptop, our first question is the age-old one: What are you doing to back it all up?
If you're like too many of us, the answer is 'nothing.'
Now, if you have your tablet or smartphone configured to auto-upload your created media to the cloud or share it with your social-media accounts, maybe you don't need to worry. But if you take lots of video or photos with your mobile device, and you would be crushed to lose it all were the device stolen, broken, or dipped in the sea, you need a backup plan. Enter one possibility: a wireless drive.
Note that portable, wireless hard drives are not just for backup. Yes, they let you back up precious content from devices that don't typically take a direct>
Pros: Caches media lists. Responds faster than previous iterations. USM connector. Large capaicty wireless storage for iOS devices, Kindle Fire, and Android. Passes Internet through. Works with some smart TVs and DLNA devices. Can use drag and drop or Media Sync app. Works with browsers in laptops and desktops.
Cons: Easily misplaced USM port cover. Some videos play in browser, some in the Seagate Media app.
Bottom Line: Think of the Seagate Wireless Plus wireless media hard drive as a streaming photo, video, and music library for your family's phones, tablets, and laptops.
Read ReviewPros: Incorporates power bank, hard drive, NAS, wireless router, and speakerphone in a tiny stackable unit. Flexible, modular magnetic design. Components can be bought separately. Well-designed app interface.
Cons: Pricey, compared with separate, non-integrated alternatives.
Bottom Line: Road warriors and executives who travel with a team and need to share connections and conference calls will appreciate this uniquely integrated mobile-accessory set.
Read ReviewPros: Low price. Attractive design. Connecting to a phone is simple. Mobile app is easy to use. Reliable, consistent wireless connectivity on our tests.
Cons: Connecting wirelessly to a computer is still less convenient than plugging it in. USB 2.0 only. Middling transfer speeds in testing.
Bottom Line: The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick USB flash drive offers an affordable and simple way to transfer or stream files to and from your phone or computer.
Read ReviewPros: Durable. Built-in SD card reader and USB port. Plex support. Doubles as a power bank.
Cons: Expensive. No Thunderbolt support.
Bottom Line: The Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD is pricey, but this feature-packed drive can do much more than just wirelessly transfer files.
Pros: Integrated SD 3.0 card slot. Available in 2TB or 3TB capacities. Good battery life for a wireless hard drive.
Cons: Glitchy experiences, even after a WD firmware update. Bulky, non-traditional size. Bumpy software implementation.
Bottom Line: The My Passport Wireless Pro improves on its previous iteration in some ways and packs more bits than any wireless hard drive to date.