N800 usb port power and Hard Disk
 

Hi everybody. I want to buy an external hard disk for my n800, but before I do that I need to know if the device is going to support it. I'm thinking about a Western Digital Passport Usb HD, no so sure about the capacity because of the power that it draws from the USB port. Does anybody know how much power can the usb port of the n800 give to the HD to work?, also has anybody tried this HD with this device?.

Thanks in advance

Re: N800 usb port power and Hard Disk
 

Well, the N800 works great with any HDD, except for power. Power, unfortunately, is often trouble, especially with spin-up currents pulling the bus low. But see here for a success story, with documentation, and loads of discussion.

Re: N800 usb port power and Hard Disk
 

Thanks Benson for your quick reply. I just finished reading the thread you said. Now for what I see any HDD works great with the n800 but with some sort of external power hooked up with the drive. I've also read in the forum that some guys have managed to get a HDD work without external power, just the device. But I think the limit of the USB port was 100 mA (is this right?). So technically I need a HDD that doesn't consume a lot of juice from the n800. What I need then is to know exactly how much power the n800 can give, so I know what HD to buy.

Thanks!

Re: N800 usb port power and Hard Disk
 

I doubted it.

I managed to get a HDD work through a powered hub, it is completely portable, but it is NOT just the device, same thread #53.

One report suggested the use of a self powered HD, digimate III. It is a HD enclosure that comes with a rechargeble batttery. I bought one. No. It does NOT work.

And do not want to get your hope too high. For the big monster HD, those 3.5" using external AC power HD, they read/write fine. Whereas those small footprint, 2.5" using solely USB powered HD, they read fine, writing has been chaotic. Even flash drive also have problem in writing, reading is fine.

bun

Re: N800 usb port power and Hard Disk
 

My bad then. So now what I need to buy is a battery pack to power the HD, how do I know if its going to support it?, I mean what if it doesn't provide enough power?, how do I know before I buy it?.

Re: N800 usb port power and Hard Disk
 

Or if you take pictures you might want to look at the hyperdrive colorspace. It is photo back up solution which means it's a cardreader and hard drive with a screen and with its own internal battery. I was able to connect it to my n800 and watch a video from the hard drive of the colorspace. It is kinda expensive, like 200 dollars, but you can put any 2.5 inch hard drive in it.

Re: N800 usb port power and Hard Disk
 

I'm the one that tried the selfpowered digimate - but wouldn't recommend it. The power only lasts an hour - and all in all read was fine, but write failed when doing tests.

I would (never) go the HD way these days. A 32gb usb stick costs next to nothing and works flawlessly without external power.

Re: N800 usb port power and Hard Disk
 

@nikolajhendel: Hey, good to see you again. I got one of those digimate III. I cannot get it to work with the N8x0. It keeps on giving an error message upon hook up. It works fine with copying photoes or files to a HD. And that is all to it. What HD/capacity you put inside?
TIA,

bun

Re: N800 usb port power and Hard Disk
 

I own and use the 320 gig WD passport, (the form factor which you're referring to). In my experience with the n800 and this type of drive, if your intent is to exploit the portability (size) of the tablet, then I'd echo nikolajhendel and strongly recommend a large capacity SD card, (or two), instead of a portable drive. You will need to carry around either a hub or bunanson's setup, (what Benson linked to), so you lose the simplicity and beauty of pocketability, (everyday portability is the assumption I'm making because of the size of the drive you intially referred to).

On the other hand, if you need large picture storage capacity with portability for something like vacation travel, the drives are good for that purpose, though their durability is an issue. I read one magazine article (it's online somewhere, easy to find), in which the wd drive model line (not capacity) I use didn't even survive one drop from 5 feet of height.

Joe

After taking a look at bunanson's setup, that's a great way to manage it if you choose to go the HD way. Nice job on that.

Re: N800 usb port power and Hard Disk
 

How about connecting an older iPod as a self powered drive? I thought I had read something about that here before, but my searches have found nothing. Could someone point me the right way? When I connect my iPod it tries to charge, thus causing all sorts of issues, and no file transfer.