usb adaptors with portable external drives

LCPete

LCPete

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Hi I want to copy pictures from a CF card using a card reader to two or even three portable external drives on my retina macbook pro that's got two usb ports
Is this possible using usb adapters?
I'm going on safari to Africa for the first time and am working out the best way to backup the files
I'm expecting to take a lot of shots so will need to wipe the cards each day
I've been away for a few days with the macbook before and copied the files onto an external each day but didn't wipe the cards
this worked out really well but want to have at least two backups without messing about too much

EDIT just realised that I can connect a drive to the thunderbolt port, I thought it was for an external monitor
the portable thunderbolt drives are expensive though
 
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You can daisy change Thunderbolt devices. So you could connect two or three Thunderbolt devices . Actually the rMBP has two Thunderbolt ports. However as you say Thunderbolt drives are a bit expensive. You could connect multiple USB 3 drives via a hub, but get one that uses external power. many are Bus powered and that limits the amount of current that can be supplied to each drive. I've fond that Bus powered hubs generally don't have enough power to drive an external drive, once they have drawn there requirements. ( And I've tried a few) . running them from a mains adapter though seems to work OK.

If you are using Lightroom this will give you the option to save to an additional drive as part of the import procedure. So using one USB port for the CF reader and another for the external drive you can instantly save a copy of the images. You could then eject the CF reader plug in a second drive and then copy the back up drive to that. Shouldn't take to long as you are using USB3. If you want to save to a third drive then just substitute the drive you've just backed up to.

Check though that the the laptop will suport running two drives at the same time. I've known the odd drive want more than the 500mA that is available. you might want to see if you can get a separate 5V power supply. ( assuming that you will have mains power where you are going.

Also remember that taking power vis the MBP will reduce it's battery life as well, if you don't have the facility to recharge it.
 
Thanks very much John:)
i will probably go with a powered hub , I didn't realise that you could get one of those
and I've already got three portable external drives so that sounds like the best plan
I will have power where I'm going (Zambia) so should be ok
 
I do use lightroom but still import the shots off the card just by copying them into a folder
I don't always have time to look at the shots straight away
I go through them later on and just pick a few best ones from the folder and import those:):)
 
I use this one with my MacBook Air. Works great

[3*USB 3.0 + 1*Gigabit Ethernet Adapter] Inateck 3 Ports USB 3.0 Bus-Powered Hub with RJ45 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Converter LAN Wired Network Adapter for Laptops, Ultrabooks and Tablet PCs with USB Ports, Compatible with Windows XP/7/8, Mac OS-X, Linux https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ESVH4MO/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_GyHcub03KWFKW
 
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