Seagate Backup For Windows Mac Version Comes

Our evaluation unit was an 8TB Windows version which comes out of the box in the NTFS format (the Mac version comes in the default HFS format).

Also in the box is a USB 3.0 cable with a Type A connection on one end for your computer and a Micro-B connection on the other end to connect to the drive.

There is also a power adapter which connects to the back of the drive and plugs into a standard 110V AC outlet and a Quick Start Guide.

Also not packed in the box is the Seagate Dashboard software.

The software can be downloaded from the Seagate site here, as well as its own 17 page User Guide which is available here.

Finally, for a limited time, Seagate is including 200GB of OneDrive cloud storage for two years, for free (a 95 value) when you register the drive.

The Mac version shares the same case design but comes in a white and aluminum finish and has the same single LED indicator, which, for both models, gives the same details as outlined below.

But FAT32 is designed for older operating systems and is not really practical for an 8TB drive since its maximum partition size is 32GB.

Technically, FAT32 will support partitions larger than 32GB but Microsoft has set that limit in Windows to promote the more modern NTFS format.) The Seagate Backup Plus Hub (Windows version) comes formatted in the more current NTFS format which a Mac can read but cannot write to.

We installed the Paragon driver and it does exactly what it says it does and provided write access to the drive.

But be aware that the software provided by Seagate will only work with a Seagate drive.

Seagate also provides a Paragon driver for Windows users that need to read and write from a Mac formatted hard drive to a Windows PC.

One of the biggest differences between the two machines is the fact that the MacBook Air has USB 3.0 ports while the MacBook Pro has the slower USB 2.0 ports.

An additional external hard drive attached through the hub also mounted in the same period of time.

Even more interesting was the fact that the additional external hard drive (formatted in the default HFS format) connected to the drives hub did mount on the desktop, even though the Backup Plus Hub itself, did not.

On one or two occasions, we connected the Seagate Backup Plus Hub with an additional external hard drive connected to the hub and then ejected the external hard drive from the Mac and found that the Seagate Backup Plus Hub would then mount on the Mac.

We could not establish a repeatable pattern for that connection and it was definitely hit or miss.

Once we did that, the Backup Plus Hub mounted on the MacBook Pro in about the same time it mounted on the MacBook Air, with or without an external hard drive attached.

Given that this issue appears to occur in a very specific situation, it may not be a concern to most of our readers and our opinion hasnt changed.

But, if youre only available Mac is an older model with USB 2.0 ports, you may want to buy the Seagate Backup Plus Hub for Mac, to ensure that drive works correctly when you get it home.

However the Protect feature for backing up your computer is intended for Windows PCs only and Seagate states that Mac users should use Time Machine.

The main screen has clearly marked sections for what you want to do.

Seagate Backup Plus For Mac Driver For Windows