Good external HD?

[alyssastep]

As a side note, what is your budget (the amount maximum) you are willing to spend on an external HDD enclosure with hard drive?

I wish I knew. It all depends if I get this job I'm applying for. I'll keep you updated though. For now, let's pretend less than 300 bucks.

[PrOLifIC_onE]

Originally Posted by screwballl

thats the thing.... it may take 2-3 hours to transfer 200GB over USB where it would take 10 minutes over eSATA.
If I copy a 1.5GB file from PC to USB thumb drive using USB2.0, it usually takes 15 minutes or so. Copy the same file from the same PC to the eSATA drive takes around 30 seconds.

Portable USB drives are good for transporting files around but do not expect fast access to large files.

At work I use a Maxtor 160gb external USB2.0 HD (USB powered) and it transfers about 1gb per minute (or a little faster). So with the right purchase the transfer speeds aren't that bad.

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by alyssastep

I wish I knew. It all depends if I get this job I'm applying for. I'll keep you updated though. For now, let's pretend less than 300 bucks.

Well holy hell,for less than $300 bucks you can certainly buy just about the best external enclosure there is, which includes a SATAII hard drive with an enclosure that offers eSATA capabilties. In any event, you indicated that these considerations are important to you (let me know if any of these are incorrect):

1. Saving money
2. Hard drive with good storage properties (250GB or more)
3. Storage device that operates via USB 2.0
4. Portability
5. Doesn't negatively impact your notebook battery

In my opinion, you should consider pretty much anything in this list at Newegg. Or hell, if you really wanted to, you could buy a 320GB Scorpio for $129, then buy an external enclosure like any of THESE for less than $20, and you'd basically have the same thing for potentially cheaper with better performance (if you went with the dual eSATA and USB interface route), located HERE.

In any event, you could most likely buy a separate hard drive and external enclosure and have both eSATA and USB interfaces and have it be cheaper than buying your external storage device as one unit.

[screwballl]

I remember seeing a few recently that use power from USB and eSATA for data, so no need for a external power brick... I don't remember the models but newegg should have the info under Specifications...

[PrOLifIC_onE]

Originally Posted by screwballl

I remember seeing a few recently that use power from USB and eSATA for data, so no need for a external power brick... I don't remember the models but newegg should have the info under Specifications...

Yes. Just like the one I mentioned a few posts above, they usually list them as "portable" external hard drives, but not always. You have to look at the specs to see if they are USB powered.

[drew and not u]

I thought we already determined she had no eSATA port and was not interested in purchasing a card.

[alyssastep]

In any event, you indicated that these considerations are important to you (let me know if any of these are incorrect):

1. Saving money
2. Hard drive with good storage properties (250GB or more)
3. Storage device that operates via USB 2.0
4. Portability
5. Doesn't negatively impact your notebook battery

Correcto you are. $300 is a huge budget actually, and under $200 would have probably been more accurate, but I'm pretty sure my parents would front me 100 bucks.

I really do like the Western Digital stuff, and have narrowed down the search to something likely from this batch at New Egg, if i can't get it for cheaps on ebay.

Which I suppose leads me to another question. Is buying a HD on ebay smart? Specifically, a used one.

Also...what exactly does a HD external enclosure do?

[screwballl]

when it comes to most computer hardware including and especially hard drives, I refuse to buy anything that is not from a trusted vendor such as Newegg, ZipZoomFly or geeks.com... buying it used from ebay can mean you buy a dead hard drive that he has some tiny print somewhere that says "for parts only, not a working drive, no returns". Buy it new and it will have the manufacturers warranty plus a certain timeframe for return for defective from the vendor.

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by drew and not u

I thought we already determined she had no eSATA port and was not interested in purchasing a card.

Who says she'll always be using a laptop that doesn't have an available eSATA port?

Originally Posted by alyssastep

if i can't get it for cheaps on ebay.

I would highly discourage you from buying your external drive off e-Bay.

Originally Posted by alyssastep

Is buying a HD on ebay smart? Specifically, a used one.

No, never. Please see above.

Originally Posted by alyssastep

Also...what exactly does a HD external enclosure do?

An external HDD enclosure is basically an empty box in which to install your hard drive in. Basically, you buy the box then buy the hard drive, insert the hard drive into the box, and presto! You have an external hard drive enclosure. =)

Please see this review for an explanation of what I am referring to: LINK

[alyssastep]

When, if I ever, get a new laptop, it will be at least three more years down the road. Don't want to buy something that far into the future! haha. I'm assuming technology will advance in that time, and who knows, maybe eSATA will be obsolete at that point. No need to spend the extra 10 bucks where it isn't really necessary.



So, I've decided what to do. I'm making a portable HD with this and an enclosure to be determined at a later date. And...if I screw it up...I expect Drew to fix it. Then you guys can explain to me how to work bittorrent when I have memory to store media!

Thanks for all the super awesome help, and I'll keep you posted on things =)