External HD without separate power supply?

kirsol wrote on 2/15/2004, 4:07 PM

Are there any external hard disks that don't require a separate power supply? If so I'm assuming it would need to be USB, since firewire doesn't supply device power, as far as I know.

I'm asking for my father. He wants to edit family videos on homebound plane rides on his laptop.

Thanks,
Mitch K

Comments

ScottW wrote on 2/15/2004, 4:17 PM

Could be firewire - 6 pin firewire does supply device power. You'll probably need to look at the 2.5" drives though, since the power supply ability of either firewire or USB may not be sufficient for the 3.5" drives.

Here's one such drive: http://www.kanguru.com/25quicksilverhd.html

ibliss wrote on 2/15/2004, 4:18 PM

6-pin firewire DOES supply power, but most PC laptops seem to come with the 4-pin variety, which don't. Not sure about USB- i know it supplies power, but I'm not sure it's enough to power an external drive.

Obviously in either case it's going to be an extra drain on the laptop battery.

I would think for the given purpose it might just be easier to use the laptops internal drive?