Need a new computer setup

[MikeZip007]

Right now I have a PC desktop and a MacBook Pro laptop. Currently, I'm sick of having the two machines on different platforms.

I want to go all Mac because all the places I'm working are on Macs. I don't know if I need a desktop though. I am doing video editing (though not too much at home) LOTS of photo editing, and I need a lot of storage room. I also like the ability to access storage, like external drives, from around the house both wirelessly and physically connected to the network.

I hate having a desktop around just to be a host for additional hard drives so what are my options here?

[Vascilli]

Try the Drobo (http://www.drobo.com/) with DroboShare, the result is a NAS with loads of storage with a little more brains than a hard drive connected to a router. Hopefully I can have one someday.

[ejicon]

here ya go?

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/features-17inch.html

and the drobo will be one of your best storage options... second would be a nice G-drive raid

[MikeZip007]

So the drobo only connects to a network via USB? That seems amazingly slow. Am I missing something about this?

What about something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136308

but mac compatable?

[Grentz]

The Drobo connects to your computer via USB, if you want it to be a network storage device (NAS), you get the drobo share addon that connects it to the network via ethernet.

USB is not slow at all in most situations.

[tim]

USB is pretty slow, I would never put working files on it - backup only. The drobo network option makes it useful.

[MikeZip007]

USB is pretty slow, I would never put working files on it - backup only. The drobo network option makes it useful.

But doesn't the drobo connect to the network with USB? The network cable goes into the Network base plate, and the base plate connects to the Drobo via USB?

[tim]

But doesn't the drobo connect to the network with USB? The network cable goes into the Network base plate, and the base plate connects to the Drobo via USB?

No idea, if it does it's a terrible implementation.

[MaxxuM]

I hate having a desktop around just to be a host for additional hard drives so what are my options here?

Well, that limits your choices. You could convert your computer to a NAS server via something called FreeNAS. Just fill up your old computer with as many drives as it can take (you can add a RAID card to increase drives) - connect it to a wireless router and wallah, instant wireless storage/backup. It will waist a little more power than a DROBO, but in the shortrun it will be much cheaper. A fully loaded (all drives) a DROBO will cost around $900 whereas with a computer you'll only be out around $400 (four drives). The biggest questions is, is there only for backup/storage or will you want them as work drives.

[MaxxuM]

But doesn't the drobo connect to the network with USB? The network cable goes into the Network base plate, and the base plate connects to the Drobo via USB?

No. There is a separate network port on all NAS DROBO's that I'm aware of. They have other connection types to increase accessibility options.