Best formatting for external HD for use with MacOS and Windows

RoguePacket

@scottalanmiller Yes, ad-hoc storage - I have a 1TB hard drive that I want to format in the most efficient way possible for use with both my work machines.

Big thought is where the Time Machine backup is. Not mandatory, but close. Keep in mind the ability for current OS X versions to have multiple Time Machine mount points (say, one at home and one at the office with each being encrypted as well as the laptop itself).

Best interfaces for an external drive between the two platforms would be Thunderbolt for OS X and USB3 for Windows 7/8. Partition one for OS X and one for NTFS. Main reason is to be able to encrypt both. Would suck to lose (or "lose") the drive.

Can get a 2TB rugged drive from LaCie with Thunderbolt & USB3—

http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10599
Yes, seeing the 1TB drive already available

Macally tends to have Mac friendly enclosures (FW800), but aren't on the cutting edge (Thunderbolt).

For the OS X NTFS utilities @nic alluded, check—

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/ ($20, more popular option & works well enough)
http://www.tuxera.com/products/tuxera-ntfs-for-mac/ ($31, haven't used)
http://osxfuse.github.io/ -and- https://github.com/osxfuse/osxfuse/wiki/NTFS-3G (haven't used)
http://www.catacombae.org/hfsx.html (old & haven't used)
Good perspective, http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1386199

Nic

Here you go, another possible solution:
http://www.geek.com/tablets/toshiba-canvio-adapter-makes-any-external-hard-drive-wireless-1588614/

RoguePacket

@nic Wireless hard drives are new-ish and have interesting promise. Have yet to try one.

Guess there are those OS X users which rave about their Time Capsule, Apple's own take on it.

scottalanmiller

@Nic said:

Here you go, another possible solution:
http://www.geek.com/tablets/toshiba-canvio-adapter-makes-any-external-hard-drive-wireless-1588614/

That's a seriously weird device.

Dashrender

@scottalanmiller said:

@Nic said:

Here you go, another possible solution:
http://www.geek.com/tablets/toshiba-canvio-adapter-makes-any-external-hard-drive-wireless-1588614/

That's a seriously weird device.

Agreed, why not buy an all in one product that has wireless built in? I suppose you could swap out drives, but what are the chances for that?

Nic

This is on sale if you want NTFS for Mac: https://deals.macupdate.com/deal/15648?utm_source=macupdate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=paragon

Katie

@Nic said:

This is on sale if you want NTFS for Mac: https://deals.macupdate.com/deal/15648?utm_source=macupdate&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=paragon

That actually looks interesting. Thanks, @nic!