My friend bought an iMac that has only Thunderbolt and USB2 connections for an external backup up drive. I'm supposed to

[August West]

I'm with Ken (although in my transition I used firewire), a back up drive does not need to be blazing fast, just let it sit in the background and do its job.

[Robert M]

Gene,

My office used a USB 3.0 drive with it's '08 iMac that only has USB 2.0 and Firewire as its Time Machine drive for years. Worked like a charm. If USB 3.0 model did the job with an old iMac like that, then it'll definitely work well for your friend's iMac.

If she wants a drive that is "grab and go", cheap bus-powered USB 3.0 drives are readily available from the usual mainstream manufacturers.

Robert

[jdc]

Dude, you gotta try and stop making everything so complicated?

The last 4 posts are dead on. USB 1, 2 and 3 are ll backward compatible

Just get a simple USB drive -- screw firewire, forget TBolt. You dont need to look at the iMac again. Its got at least USB 2, which is more than fine for any use.

this one at staples is perfect. 1TB, $70. Plug in, start Time Machine, forget about it.

http://www.staples.com/WD-My-Passport-fo...uct_984730&cmArea=CIRCULAR

[davester]

If you have any firewire drives laying around, probably the cheapest solution is to buy a thunderbolt to firewire adapter.

[Robert M]

Gene,

A drive like the one in JDC's link ought to do the trick. She can use a staples.com or local store coupon to reduce the price further.

Robert

[RAMd®d]

Just get a simple USB drive -- screw firewire, forget TBolt. You dont need to look at the iMac again. Its got at least USB 2, which is more than fine for any use.

Agreed.