PDA

View Full Version : External Hard Drive

CTdadof3
07-09-2009, 01:33 PM
I need something to back up my 6yo Dell desktop. (A search here reminded me of Jeffus' problems of a year ago). I'm looking for brand recommendations (and what to avoid). A quick search showed plenty of 250GB units for $70-110. Any suggestions are appreciated.
jeffb
07-09-2009, 01:46 PM
Don't go with the cheapest. You want something that will work. I bought something at BJ's and it stops in the middle of coping files. Almost didn't work. So don't get that. Newegg.com has sales/free shipping all the time. Might be the best place to look. As for brand, Seagate, Western Digital are the bigger names..

And you want to go with more storage then you think you'll need.
troy00690
07-09-2009, 04:24 PM
If you live by a frys go with this

http://www.frys.com/product/5613901?site=sa:Hard%20Drive%20&%20Memory%20Pod:Pod1
jeffus
07-09-2009, 04:28 PM
If you have a local computer shop, go there and get something from them. They will recommend something that they know works well cause they don't want you coming back angry. The consumer level stuff (ala 1 TB for $100) is junk and they are useless if there's a problem.

Or you could just buy 2 cheap ones and alternate between them thereby reducing your chances at total data loss.

Or Mozy, on-line back-up. Or you could buy another internal hard drive (since they tend to be more robust).

Happy backing-up.
jeffb
07-09-2009, 04:49 PM
Or you could buy another internal hard drive (since they tend to be more robust).

Happy backing-up.

well, then you can buy any external hard drive case you like with any hard drive you like and put the two together.
There by getting the best....
jeffus
07-09-2009, 05:05 PM
well, then you can buy any external hard drive case you like with any hard drive you like and put the two together.
There by getting the best....

That's what the computer shop did for me.
Don-Dad
07-10-2009, 02:40 AM
Stay away from the WD external drives, thye often get bad reviews.

head over to newegg, http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=414&name=External-Hard-Drives lots of good drives for under $100 and free shipping.

That deal at frys is pretty good as well.
TheFoulFrog
07-10-2009, 06:28 PM
I'm looking for brand recommendations (and what to avoid).
People tend to have a bad experience and then (understandably) badmouth that brand for the rest of their days. But the fact is that their really isn't much difference between the brands when it comes to reliability - so be sure to ignore MTBF ratings which are completely and absolutely meaningless! How long a particular drive will last is more a matter of luck (good or bad) than anything else. The important thing is not to put all your eggs in one basket - don't just backup to the external, backup online too using a service such as Mozy (http://mozy.com/) or ElephantDrive (http://www.elephantdrive.com/), both of which are pretty good value. Should online/offsite backup not be an option, you may wish to consider an ioSafe Solo (http://www.iosafe.com/3). They're a bit more expensive than a standard drive (not too much) but, as they're fireproof and waterproof, will do more to protect your data.

HTH.
Don-Dad
07-10-2009, 11:07 PM
I also agree about the mozy backup, let me know if you want to try that service, I might have a coupon code plus they pay this site a kick back :) But if your looking just to get the info off the drive and onto another drive, mozy is not a great option. It takes days to backup a whole drive (depending on your internet connection)

I'm ultra paranoid since the last hard drive crass. I use mozy and crashplan to back up to a hard drive in my basement, plus time machine, yep, 3 separate back ups.

I like the seagate drives (to better answer your original question)
CTdadof3
07-20-2009, 07:21 PM
I went with the Seagate Free Agent Desk, 500GB, $85 at Staples. Took about 10minutes to set up (software included), small and does what I need. And I get some peace of mind that our pix and stuff are backed up.
57plymouth
07-20-2009, 09:07 PM
I just bought a Western Digital 250gig from Wal-Mart for $60. It works like a champ.
Hockeyfan
07-20-2009, 09:18 PM
I went with the Seagate Free Agent Desk, 500GB, $85 at Staples. Took about 10minutes to set up (software included), small and does what I need. And I get some peace of mind that our pix and stuff are backed up.

Welcome to this century. :icon_razz:

They are a great little asset though. I have my MAC backed up with Time Machine every so often.