What's a good external HDD to buy these days?

Hello.

What's a good external HDD to get these days for Windows (2000 SP4 (9x
might be needed though) to the latest), Mac OS X (10.2+ to latest), and
Linux? It will mainly be for storage/backups and carrying between places
with multiple computers so I'd like it to be light and small. It doesn't
need the bundled softwares and backup feature (will do it manually with
Explorer, Finder, etc.). It would be nice to not to carry its annoying
power adapter (have seen a tiny one that doesn't use one and use power
from USB connections, but was told this is not good).

Any good ones (on sales) from
http://www.salescircular.com/ca/computer/hdiskp.shtml (local retail stores)?

Thank you in advance.
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Check the user reviews for 2 1/2" external drivers at newegg.

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"Ant" wrote in message
m...
| Hello.
|
| What's a good external HDD to get these days for Windows (2000 SP4 (9x
| might be needed though) to the latest), Mac OS X (10.2+ to latest), and
| Linux? It will mainly be for storage/backups and carrying between places
| with multiple computers so I'd like it to be light and small. It doesn't
| need the bundled softwares and backup feature (will do it manually with
| Explorer, Finder, etc.). It would be nice to not to carry its annoying
| power adapter (have seen a tiny one that doesn't use one and use power
| from USB connections, but was told this is not good).
|
| Any good ones (on sales) from
| http://www.salescircular.com/ca/computer/hdiskp.shtml (local retail
stores)?
|
| Thank you in advance.
| --
| "Did the ant fall off the toilet seat because she was ****ed
off?" --unknown
| /\___/\
| / /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| | |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
| \ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: NT
| ( ) or
| Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

I have an earlier version of this Buffalo Mini
http://www.frys.com/product/5987934?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG
and really like it. Not sure of its OS compatibility but certainly works on
XP/Vista and doesn't require an AC adapter.

Ant wrote

What's a good external HDD to get these days for Windows (2000 SP4 (9x
might be needed though) to the latest), Mac OS X (10.2+ to latest), and Linux?

I still prefer to assemble them myself to get the full warranty on the drive.

In fact I use hard drive docking stations, but thats because
I now have so many 1TB+ drives for PVR overflow.

Those arent a great idea with little kids and cats around tho or for technoklutzes.

It will mainly be for storage/backups and carrying between
places with multiple computers so I'd like it to be light and small.

2.5" drives are ideal for that.

It doesn't need the bundled softwares and backup feature (will do it manually with Explorer, Finder, etc.).

And you can use True Image later if you change your mind on that.

It would be nice to not to carry its annoying power adapter (have seen a tiny one that doesn't use one and use power
from USB connections, but was told this is not good).

Its fine with 2.5" drives. The main downside with those
is that they are significantly more expensive per GB.

Any good ones (on sales) from
http://www.salescircular.com/ca/computer/hdiskp.shtml (local retail stores)?

Too lazy to work out which are the 2.5" drives.

Ant wrote:
Hello.

What's a good external HDD to get these days for Windows (2000 SP4 (9x
might be needed though) to the latest), Mac OS X (10.2+ to latest), and
Linux?

Basically any eSATA/USB drive will work. eSATA vs. USB is a speed
issue and whether eSATA supports hotplug depends on your computer.

The rest is a case/disk quality question, with the disk quality
not being different because it is external.

It will mainly be for storage/backups and carrying between places
with multiple computers so I'd like it to be light and small. It doesn't
need the bundled softwares and backup feature (will do it manually with
Explorer, Finder, etc.). It would be nice to not to carry its annoying
power adapter (have seen a tiny one that doesn't use one and use power
from USB connections, but was told this is not good).

Power from USB is basically the only option for not having
to carry a power adapter. The problem here is that not all
USB ports provide enough power and even then some disks require
more that a high-power (0.5A) USB port supplies, which can
(but need not) cause problems.

Any good ones (on sales) from
http://www.salescircular.com/ca/computer/hdiskp.shtml
(local retail stores)?

Looking what is on sale is probably not the right approach if
you are looking for high quality. There are my criteria:

- Stay away from offers that do not give the disk type and
model inside.
- Stay away from disks with more than 0.5A (2.5W) startup rating
if you want to do wothout power adapter.
- Try to get something with real padding on the outside
or something were you are sure there is real padding on
the inside. These _will_ be thicker and heavier.

Anyways, maybe your money would be better spend on a USB Flash
drive. They are typically in the 0.1A power class and whould work
on practically every USB port.

Arno

On 10/4/2009 8:25 PM PT, Arno typed:

Anyways, maybe your money would be better spend on a USB Flash
drive. They are typically in the 0.1A power class and whould work
on practically every USB port.

Thanks Arno. Aren't Flash drives really expensive and limited with disk
sizes (only have seen 64 GB and really expensive)?
--
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impressed by the fact that they are doers and not just believers." --CR 1967
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On 10/4/2009 8:17 PM PT, Rod Speed typed:

Ant wrote

What's a good external HDD to get these days for Windows (2000 SP4 (9x
might be needed though) to the latest), Mac OS X (10.2+ to latest), and Linux?

I still prefer to assemble them myself to get the full warranty on the drive.

Is it still five years warranty and only with Seagate? I have been out
of HDD area lately. I recalled Seagate dropped its five years warranty?


In fact I use hard drive docking stations, but thats because
I now have so many 1TB+ drives for PVR overflow.

Is that the enclosure case types or something else? I am curious about
this one. Got any examples online?


Those arent a great idea with little kids and cats around tho or for technoklutzes.

None for me, but nice to have if useful to do backups, restoring, moving
drives, etc.


It will mainly be for storage/backups and carrying between
places with multiple computers so I'd like it to be light and small.

2.5" drives are ideal for that.

Yeah, I have this heavy Kingston case with a Seagagte IDE HDD inside. It
is an annoying to get all its cables to unplug, carry, replug, etc. And
it's heavy and annoying when taking it (not so portable to me)! It's
fine for not moving around!


It doesn't need the bundled softwares and backup feature (will do it manually with Explorer, Finder, etc.).

And you can use True Image later if you change your mind on that.

Yeah or whatever imaging programs. I use Ghost.


It would be nice to not to carry its annoying power adapter (have seen a tiny one that doesn't use one and use power
from USB connections, but was told this is not good).

Its fine with 2.5" drives. The main downside with those
is that they are significantly more expensive per GB.

That, I noticed. I'd love to get a SSD but still too expensive and don't
think it will work well with older Windows and computers.
--
"Applied mathematics will always need pure mathematics, just as
anteaters will always need ants." --Paul Halmos
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| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: NT
( ) or
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

On 10/4/2009 7:19 PM PT, iws typed:

| What's a good external HDD to get these days for Windows (2000 SP4 (9x
| might be needed though) to the latest), Mac OS X (10.2+ to latest), and
| Linux? It will mainly be for storage/backups and carrying between places
| with multiple computers so I'd like it to be light and small. It doesn't
| need the bundled softwares and backup feature (will do it manually with
| Explorer, Finder, etc.). It would be nice to not to carry its annoying
| power adapter (have seen a tiny one that doesn't use one and use power
| from USB connections, but was told this is not good).
|
| Any good ones (on sales) from
| http://www.salescircular.com/ca/computer/hdiskp.shtml (local retail
stores)?

I have an earlier version of this Buffalo Mini
http://www.frys.com/product/5987934?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG
and really like it. Not sure of its OS compatibility but certainly works on
XP/Vista and doesn't require an AC adapter.

Wow, $59.99 sale vs. regular $104.99. Probably all gone by now though
("Cannot connect to the store." for store locations right now). OS
support said "Windows Vista®, Windows®XP, Windows®2000, MacOS® X 10.4 or
later".

I am not sure if I want this one since USB power usage from what I read.
I will probably get one with AC adapter.
--
"The Hunam Tiger ant has been known to consume an entire meal before the
picnic guest arrive." --12th century Tang Dynasty proverb.
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: NT
( ) or
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

Ant wrote
Rod Speed wrote
Ant wrote

What's a good external HDD to get these days for Windows (2000 SP4
(9x might be needed though) to the latest), Mac OS X (10.2+ to latest),
and Linux?

I still prefer to assemble them myself to get the full warranty on the drive.

Is it still five years warranty and only with Seagate?

Nar, some Samsungs have 5 years too.

I have been out of HDD area lately.

I recalled Seagate dropped its five years warranty?

Not entirely.

In fact I use hard drive docking stations, but thats because
I now have so many 1TB+ drives for PVR overflow.

Is that the enclosure case types or something else?

Its something else. The drive is bare and drops into the docking station like an SD card but bigger.

I am curious about this one.

Dont forget what that did to the cat.

Got any examples online?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ion+hard+drive

Those arent a great idea with little kids and cats around tho or for technoklutzes.

None for me,

Arent you a cripple or something like that ?

but nice to have if useful to do backups, restoring, moving drives, etc.

It will mainly be for storage/backups and carrying between
places with multiple computers so I'd like it to be light and small.

2.5" drives are ideal for that.

Yeah, I have this heavy Kingston case with a Seagagte IDE HDD inside.
It is an annoying to get all its cables to unplug, carry, replug, etc. And it's heavy and annoying when taking it (not
so portable to
me)! It's fine for not moving around!

Yeah, nothing like those 2.5" external drives portability wise.

It doesn't need the bundled softwares and backup feature (will do it manually with Explorer, Finder, etc.).

And you can use True Image later if you change your mind on that.

Yeah or whatever imaging programs. I use Ghost.

You should use TI, leaves it for dead.

It would be nice to not to carry its annoying power adapter (have seen a tiny one that doesn't use one and use power
from USB connections, but was told this is not good).

Its fine with 2.5" drives. The main downside with those
is that they are significantly more expensive per GB.

That, I noticed. I'd love to get a SSD but still too expensive and
don't think it will work well with older Windows and computers.

Presumably.

On 10/5/2009 12:47 AM PT, Rod Speed typed:

Got any examples online?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ion+hard+drive

Those arent a great idea with little kids and cats around tho or for technoklutzes.

None for me,

Arent you a cripple or something like that ?

Yep, a virgin and never had a date (even blind type) either and probably
will never get one. Oh well.


Yeah, nothing like those 2.5" external drives portability wise.

Yeah, still need to think about the USB power issue that you and others
mentioned. However, I have never ran into that issue before though
even with five years old PCs.
--
"Ants can carry twenty times their weight, which is useful information
if you're moving out and you need help getting a potato chip across
town." --Ron Darian
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/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: NT
( ) or
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.