Caldigit VR or eSata drives?

[DChang]

I'm looking for a storage solution for running FCP off a MBP. Yes single external drives are not dependable, although I see a lot of people with the orange rugged Lacie drive. And their latest triple interface external drives have not failed on my desktop...yet.

So I'm looking at a raid setup for the MBP. Currently it is either the Caldigit VR Raid1 via eSata expresscard or GRaid.

I just read Shane Ross's great shootout (http://lfhd.blogspot.com/2009/03/g-raid3-vs-caldigit-vr.html) between the VR and Graid3.

I'm looking to use these drives as scratch disks and storage for Soundtrack media.

So my question shifts to experience with either brand and drive failure. Sure Raid1 is good for safety but I read you can't swap out the drive yourself? And has anyone had a Gtech Raid0 die after X months/years? What did you do?

Also what eSata expresscard do you guys use?

Thanks in advance.

[Shane Ross]

I have had an original G-Raid die on me. Twice. First time was recoverable, second, nope. But this was after 3 years, so that isn't too bad. Although I still have 7 year old EX Quest drives in use.

And I did have an issue with a CalDigit S2VR Duo...wouldn't copy large amounts of data at a time. IT was a bad controller card...replaced and resolved. No further issues.

When G-Tech enclosure dies, you send to them if you are in warranty and hopefully they'll fix it. There is no replacing of drives yourself...firmware is tied from drive to inner hardware. And yes, CalDigit drives can only be replaced with other CalDigit drives...same reason...firmware matching with hardware.