Recommendations for external HD

"Kevin M" wrote in message
...

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
...

"Kevin M" wrote in message
...

"PaulT" wrote in message
...
Any recommendations for a good external HD for backing up music and
Pictures? We have 3 Dell PCs in our home and I've been using a WD which
I installed on our oldest PC years back as our back up for our stuff
(it's installed as a second HD for the three since they are all
networked together). It is running low on space being only a 40gig and
my thinking is I will need a bigger one with my contemplating buying a
new Dell PC in the near future plus we bought our daughter a new SLR
Digital camera for Xmas with a 2 GB SD card so I have a feeling she
will be dumping lots of photos onto our computers soon .. I don't
want to spend a ton of money but still want a very reliable 100GB or
more external HD... Stupid question I know but do these external HDs
connect via USB? I would think transfer rates would be pretty slow via
usb but that's not a critical point..thanks all in advance..


They are a bit more expensive, but the Lacie Rugged series drives
receievd glowing reviews.

Not sure what brand of HD that Lacie actually uses. Anyone know? I too
try to stay far away from Maxtor.


The problem is that LaCie puts in whatever is cheapest at the time (like
Dell) so it could be a Maxtor


Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure what brand Lacie was using.
What is the most relaible drive these days? I tend to lean towards Seagate
because of their 5 year warranty.


Personally I'd go buy the Seagate external. Why bother with getting a
separate enclosure. Just buy it from them with the warranty.

I just went and picked up a couple Seagate 750Gb Sata300 internals.
Finally going to get rid of some machines acting as file servers by
consolidating.

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
...

"Kevin M" wrote in message
...

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
...

"Kevin M" wrote in message
...

"PaulT" wrote in message
...
Any recommendations for a good external HD for backing up music and
Pictures? We have 3 Dell PCs in our home and I've been using a WD
which I installed on our oldest PC years back as our back up for our
stuff (it's installed as a second HD for the three since they are all
networked together). It is running low on space being only a 40gig
and my thinking is I will need a bigger one with my contemplating
buying a new Dell PC in the near future plus we bought our daughter a
new SLR Digital camera for Xmas with a 2 GB SD card so I have a
feeling she will be dumping lots of photos onto our computers soon
.. I don't want to spend a ton of money but still want a very reliable
100GB or more external HD... Stupid question I know but do these
external HDs connect via USB? I would think transfer rates would be
pretty slow via usb but that's not a critical point..thanks all in
advance..


They are a bit more expensive, but the Lacie Rugged series drives
receievd glowing reviews.

Not sure what brand of HD that Lacie actually uses. Anyone know? I too
try to stay far away from Maxtor.


The problem is that LaCie puts in whatever is cheapest at the time (like
Dell) so it could be a Maxtor


Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure what brand Lacie was using.
What is the most relaible drive these days? I tend to lean towards
Seagate because of their 5 year warranty.


Personally I'd go buy the Seagate external. Why bother with getting a
separate enclosure. Just buy it from them with the warranty.

I just went and picked up a couple Seagate 750Gb Sata300 internals.
Finally going to get rid of some machines acting as file servers by
consolidating.


Actually, the Ximeta Netdisk is available with a drive already installed.
However, as you mentioned about the LaCie, you never know what brand of
drive you will actually get. The Netdisk drives are nice if one desires an
Ethernet interface. I was seriously looking at the LaCie Rugged (which comes
with a drive), but I was turned off by the one year warranty. Kinda
expensive for only a one year warrantly (IMO).

"Kevin M" wrote in message
...


Actually, the Ximeta Netdisk is available with a drive already installed.
However, as you mentioned about the LaCie, you never know what brand of
drive you will actually get. The Netdisk drives are nice if one desires an
Ethernet interface. I was seriously looking at the LaCie Rugged (which
comes with a drive), but I was turned off by the one year warranty. Kinda
expensive for only a one year warrantly (IMO).


My problem with drives with ethernet is almost all are 100BaseT. Doesn't do
me any good. I need 1000BaseT.

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
...

"Kevin M" wrote in message
...


Actually, the Ximeta Netdisk is available with a drive already installed.
However, as you mentioned about the LaCie, you never know what brand of
drive you will actually get. The Netdisk drives are nice if one desires
an Ethernet interface. I was seriously looking at the LaCie Rugged (which
comes with a drive), but I was turned off by the one year warranty. Kinda
expensive for only a one year warrantly (IMO).


My problem with drives with ethernet is almost all are 100BaseT. Doesn't
do me any good. I need 1000BaseT.


Not trying to sell you on Ximeta, but they are releasing a gigabyte Ethernet
external drive in Jan. 07.

http://www.ximeta.com/web/products/index.php

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
...
Personally I'd go buy the Seagate external. Why bother with getting a
separate enclosure. Just buy it from them with the warranty.

I just went and picked up a couple Seagate 750Gb Sata300 internals.
Finally going to get rid of some machines acting as file servers by
consolidating.
-----------------------------------------------
The Seagate externals only come with a one year warranty. If you buy a
Seagate internal and a separate external enclosure, you'll have a five year
warranty on the drive itself.

Also, the Seagate 250GB external goes for around $135 with a one year
warranty and an 8MB cache. The internal goes for around $75 with a five
year warranty and has a 16MB cache. Add a dependable enclosure for around
$35, and you have better specs and a longer warranty and save around $30 to
boot.

Russell
http://tastycomputers.com

"Kevin M" wrote in message
...

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
...

"Kevin M" wrote in message
...


Actually, the Ximeta Netdisk is available with a drive already
installed. However, as you mentioned about the LaCie, you never know
what brand of drive you will actually get. The Netdisk drives are nice
if one desires an Ethernet interface. I was seriously looking at the
LaCie Rugged (which comes with a drive), but I was turned off by the one
year warranty. Kinda expensive for only a one year warrantly (IMO).


My problem with drives with ethernet is almost all are 100BaseT. Doesn't
do me any good. I need 1000BaseT.


Not trying to sell you on Ximeta, but they are releasing a gigabyte
Ethernet external drive in Jan. 07.

http://www.ximeta.com/web/products/index.php


Right now I use old, used Dells (4550, for example) as file servers. Dirt
cheap.

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
...

"Kevin M" wrote in message
...

"Tom Scales" wrote in message
...

"Kevin M" wrote in message
...


Actually, the Ximeta Netdisk is available with a drive already
installed. However, as you mentioned about the LaCie, you never know
what brand of drive you will actually get. The Netdisk drives are nice
if one desires an Ethernet interface. I was seriously looking at the
LaCie Rugged (which comes with a drive), but I was turned off by the
one year warranty. Kinda expensive for only a one year warrantly (IMO).


My problem with drives with ethernet is almost all are 100BaseT.
Doesn't do me any good. I need 1000BaseT.


Not trying to sell you on Ximeta, but they are releasing a gigabyte
Ethernet external drive in Jan. 07.

http://www.ximeta.com/web/products/index.php


Right now I use old, used Dells (4550, for example) as file servers. Dirt
cheap.


10-4.

Happy Holidays

PaulT wrote:

Any recommendations for a good external HD for backing up music and
Pictures? We have 3 Dell PCs in our home and I've been using a WD which I
installed on our oldest PC years back as our back up for our stuff (it's
installed as a second HD for the three since they are all networked
together). It is running low on space being only a 40gig and my thinking
is I will need a bigger one with my contemplating buying a new Dell PC in
the near future plus we bought our daughter a new SLR Digital camera for
Xmas with a 2 GB SD card so I have a feeling she will be dumping lots of
photos
onto our computers soon .. I don't want to spend a ton of money but
still want a very reliable 100GB or more external HD... Stupid question I
know but do these external HDs connect via USB? I would think transfer
rates would be pretty slow via usb but that's not a critical point..thanks
all in advance..

Don't buy an external drive, buy an external case USB or firewire whichever
your system has or you prefer. Then buy your own drive and stick it in the
case. That way you know what your getting and can easily upgrade it later.

If someone is the least bit handy with a screwdriver, I agree completely that
buying your own external case and drive is the best approach. Most of the
external drives sold at retail are closed systems. You can't open them up
easily, and troubleshooting becomes difficult... Ben Myers

On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 18:06:14 -0500, Eugene wrote:

PaulT wrote:

Any recommendations for a good external HD for backing up music and
Pictures? We have 3 Dell PCs in our home and I've been using a WD which I
installed on our oldest PC years back as our back up for our stuff (it's
installed as a second HD for the three since they are all networked
together). It is running low on space being only a 40gig and my thinking
is I will need a bigger one with my contemplating buying a new Dell PC in
the near future plus we bought our daughter a new SLR Digital camera for
Xmas with a 2 GB SD card so I have a feeling she will be dumping lots of
photos
onto our computers soon .. I don't want to spend a ton of money but
still want a very reliable 100GB or more external HD... Stupid question I
know but do these external HDs connect via USB? I would think transfer
rates would be pretty slow via usb but that's not a critical point..thanks
all in advance..

Don't buy an external drive, buy an external case USB or firewire whichever
your system has or you prefer. Then buy your own drive and stick it in the
case. That way you know what your getting and can easily upgrade it later.

"Eugene" wrote in message
news:5_SdnQEi3qtmmhLYnZ2dnUVZ_trinZ2d@wideopenwest .com...
PaulT wrote:

Any recommendations for a good external HD for backing up music and
Pictures? We have 3 Dell PCs in our home and I've been using a WD which I
installed on our oldest PC years back as our back up for our stuff (it's
installed as a second HD for the three since they are all networked
together). It is running low on space being only a 40gig and my thinking
is I will need a bigger one with my contemplating buying a new Dell PC in
the near future plus we bought our daughter a new SLR Digital camera for
Xmas with a 2 GB SD card so I have a feeling she will be dumping lots of
photos
onto our computers soon .. I don't want to spend a ton of money but
still want a very reliable 100GB or more external HD... Stupid question I
know but do these external HDs connect via USB? I would think transfer
rates would be pretty slow via usb but that's not a critical
point..thanks
all in advance..

Don't buy an external drive, buy an external case USB or firewire
whichever
your system has or you prefer. Then buy your own drive and stick it in
the
case. That way you know what your getting and can easily upgrade it
later.


Why go to all that trouble?