Apple voucher - which option should I choose?

[Sketch]

So, I got a gift voucher from apple worth 120 Eur, because I bought my MBP, obviously i can only use it in an apple store. So here are my choices:

1. Iomega 2.5" 80GB ext.HDD (http://www.iomega-europe.com/eu/products.aspx?productId=harddrive_port_silver_80gb&language=en&StaticPage=1) cost = 130Eur
2. Iomega 3.5" 160 GB ext. HDD (http://www.iomega-europe.com/eu/products.aspx?productId=minimax_160gb&language=en&StaticPage=1) cost = 130Eur
3. Buy a crumpler bag for my MBP, cost = 130 Eur
4. Buy another iPod nano 1GB, cost = 150 Eur


So, which one? oh... and i have to use it within a month. So if you think I should go for the iPod, is there a new one coming out within the next month? thanks for any help.

[chucker]

I'd go for the bag.

[709]

If it was me, I'd go for one of the hard drives. Personally, I'm not a fan of the look of the crumpler bags, and 1GB of music is just about worthless, imo. What's nice about the 160GB HD is that it has FireWire as well as USB2. What's nice about the 80GB HD is that it's bus-powered...shame it's got no FW though. In my experience, it's really nice to have a portable drive that doesn't need power cables, especially with a laptop, so I'd probably go with that. You could also format it so you could swap files between Windows and Mac if need be.

[FFL]

Definitely one of the hard drives - just a question of which is more valuable, the extra capacity of a 3.5", or the portabiliity of a 2.5"

[chucker]

I should note that I have no idea what that particular bag looks like and is like. I'm just speaking in general. I'm not very fond of iomega as a brand…

[709]

Nor am I. They're ridiculously overpriced as well. But, for a freebee, I'd take it.

[turtle]

I'd go for the drives. Bus powered is better if you are going to be portable, if you're gonna use your MBP as a desktop then go for size.

[Sketch]

alright so I guess it is the HDD then, like 709 said, 2.5" could be handy, but then agian less space, 3.5" more space, and i am portable to some extent. that is the whole point i am having a MBP. also, I always carry a backpack, so I guess the 3.5" wouldn't take so much of space. The backpack i have right now is not for notebooks and that is the only reason i am considering crumpler because those are the only ones in apple stores (friggin' expensive). How careful should I be with my notebook since i don't have a "laptop" bag? because in that case i would go for a bag and save my MBP. And i don't run, jump, roll, skate, ski, etc etc with my laptop on me.

[FFL]

look for an inexpensive "sleeve" type of case. then you can put your MBP in the sleeve, and then put the sleeve in your backpack.

[709]

If you're already carrying the MBP in some sort of bag, I'd suggest getting a sleeve. (What FFL said). I don't carry my laptop around in a padded laptop bag, but I do have it in a Vyper (http://www.booqbags.com/Detail.bok?no=93) sleeve when I'm not working on it. You can find less expensive sleeves than the Vyper, but I like mine a lot.

[Sketch]

709 man you tempted me with that vyper m2. Now i want to get one as well. Its 40 Eur here, so i guess i will go for that sleeve and HDD 160 GB. well since the backpack is there i guess it is not big of a deal. But still no wires on 2.5"... that's tempting as well.

[709]

Well, if you're not constantly on the move all the time the 160GB might be a better option for you. It's small enough to transport if you absolutely have to...and it does give you twice the amount of space as the bus-powered drive. It's probably 5400RPM vs 4200RPM in the 2.5" drive as well. It's nice that it's got FireWire too. I'd use that over USB any day of the week, given the option.

I'm assuming you've got the stock 80GB HD in your MBP, and that's going to get filled faster than you think, so I guess it really depends on your work/life style which drive would be better suited for you.

[Sketch]

well i am planning to buy an external maxtor 300GB HDD for 130 Eur. But unfortunately apple stores don't sell those. I will buy the 160 GB and i will get the 300GB later. And, yes I need space.