External Hard drives

[sophia jane]

With the amount of stuff on my hard drive that's really important to me, it seems wise for me to get an external drive to back myself up. Are they all the same? What should I look for? (this is for a desktop computer, if that makes a difference). Price is obviously a consideration, too.

Thanks!

 

[impressive]

I e-mail documents & music to myself as a free means of backup (AOL's e-mail storage is unlimited now). All my photos are stored in private albums on Yahoo! (also unlimited). Private blog/journal entries store snippets & ideas.

The benefit (besides being free) is that I can access any of this from anywhere. I'm portable. *grin*

 

[sophia jane]

I e-mail documents & music to myself as a free means of backup (AOL's e-mail storage is unlimited now). All my photos are stored in private albums on Yahoo! (also unlimited). Private blog/journal entries store snippets & ideas.

The benefit (besides being free) is that I can access any of this from anywhere. I'm portable. *grin*

That's an interesting idea, and I have enough email accounts to handle most of it. Definitely have to consider that.

 

[Guest]

Periodically Compusa has 200 gig drives for $29 after rebates (and I got all the rebates). Also a USB enclosure for 29-59. Then you can hook the drive in to your usb drive. Cheap, effective, transportable backup!

 

[Liar]

I just bought one. Quality- and reliability-wise, they are all pretty much the same, as they contain regular hard-drives... so any known brand will do. I ordered the cheapest one I could find. A Maxtor External at 200 GB. Fast, simple, reliable, it even looks cool.

There's only one problem with it: I can't turn it off. It simply has no on-and-off switch. Such a silly little detail I hadn't thought of, but that means that in order to quiet it down, I have to unplug the power adapter. My workdesk is right beside my bed, and I can't sleep wiht that thing whirring in the background. Reeeally annoying.

 

[gauchecritic]

they did a test on a gadgets programme on TV recently using cd, dvd, hard drives and usb pens (chip storage).

They exploded them, burned them, froze them, drove lorries over them and baked them in pies.

Only the pen drive survived to give up its contents. So it seems that if it's files you're backing up (rather than systems data) then the pen drive is favourite. V.small. V.portable. V.safe.

 

[sophia jane]

they did a test on a gadgets programme on TV recently using cd, dvd, hard drives and usb pens (chip storage).

They exploded them, burned them, froze them, drove lorries over them and baked them in pies.

Only the pen drive survived to give up its contents. So it seems that if it's files you're backing up (rather than systems data) then the pen drive is favourite. V.small. V.portable. V.safe.

Are they tons more expensive, tho?

 

[hugo_sam]

Are they tons more expensive, tho?

NO SJ
The 'flash drives' are getting cheap
128 meg at wally is about 19+
256 is around 29+

They even have one gig ones at WW for about 59+
Hope this helps
Hugo

 

[matriarch]

they did a test on a gadgets programme on TV recently using cd, dvd, hard drives and usb pens (chip storage).

They exploded them, burned them, froze them, drove lorries over them and baked them in pies.

Only the pen drive survived to give up its contents. So it seems that if it's files you're backing up (rather than systems data) then the pen drive is favourite. V.small. V.portable. V.safe.

That's what I was going to go with.
I have used CDs' up to now, but use a memory stick/pen to transport/save smaller amounts, and particularly if you want to work on something on a different comp.

 

[matriarch]

Staples

 

[sophia jane]

Staples

Wow! Ok, so (I'm sorry if this is a stupid question). What's the difference between an external hard drive and a flash drive?

 

[matriarch]

This one from Office Max, is a real bargain!!

 

[matriarch]

Wow! Ok, so (I'm sorry if this is a stupid question). What's the difference between an external hard drive and a flash drive?

Flash drive/pen drive/ are tiny. Some of them no bigger than a large tampon, others like the ones shown, flat like a squashed pen. Literally the size of a pen.

The main difference is size and portability. A regular hard drive contains a hard-drive disc inside the protective box. Check out the OfficeMax link I just posted, then you'll see.

 

[hugo_sam]

Wow! Ok, so (I'm sorry if this is a stupid question). What's the difference between an external hard drive and a flash drive?

In basic terms a external HD is justlike your internal one just separate and attachable
A flash/pen drive is more like your computers memory. It is electronic and stores the data in circuits. There are pretty much universaly usb where I have seen ext HD in usb,parallel, and series.

Hugo

 

[sophia jane]

Flash drive/pen drive/ are tiny. Some of them no bigger than a large tampon, others like the ones shown, flat like a squashed pen. Literally the size of a pen.

The main difference is size and portability. A regular hard drive contains a hard-drive disc inside the protective box. Check out the OfficeMax link I just posted, then you'll see.

Ok, I "see" the difference. What I don't understand is if a flash drive is so much cheaper and more portable, what's the benefit of an external? I need something to hold pics, documents and music- is a flash drive going to work for me?

 

[matriarch]

Ok, I "see" the difference. What I don't understand is if a flash drive is so much cheaper and more portable, what's the benefit of an external? I need something to hold pics, documents and music- is a flash drive going to work for me?

Probably not, unless you have separate flash drives for each category. One for music (larger capacity), one for pics (large, but not as large as music), and one for documents (smallest capacity). If that's too much bother, then it might be simpler to just buy an external hard drive, with a much large capacity, and keep it all on there. For you, the main driver is going to be cost. After working out how much space you need to store the stuff you currently have, you need to then look around and see what's available in a size to cope with that and more, and simply compare prices.

 

[hugo_sam]

Ok, I "see" the difference. What I don't understand is if a flash drive is so much cheaper and more portable, what's the benefit of an external? I need something to hold pics, documents and music- is a flash drive going to work for me?

A flash is generall smaller
I am sure they come bigger now but the biggest I have seen is 1 gig
Whereas a ext HD can be like a regular 100/200/500 gig etc

Hugo

 

[sophia jane]

Probably not, unless you have separate flash drives for each category. One for music (larger capacity), one for pics (large, but not as large as music), and one for documents (smallest capacity). If that's too much bother, then it might be simpler to just buy an external hard drive, with a much large capacity, and keep it all on there. For you, the main driver is going to be cost. After working out how much space you need to store the stuff you currently have, you need to then look around and see what's available in a size to cope with that and more, and simply compare prices.

Ok, gotcha. My music alone is nearly 3 gigs. A flash drive is definitely a good option for my schoolwork, tho.

 

[Liar]

Wow! Ok, so (I'm sorry if this is a stupid question). What's the difference between an external hard drive and a flash drive?

A hard drive is bigger. If you need to store a lot of data (like a huge MP3 collection or something), that's what you need.

A flash drive, or pen drive, is smaller and more expensive per megabyte. But if you only store stuff like Word files and occatinal pictures, it's a smart choice. Much more portable, doesn't need a power adapter, and has no moveable parts, so it's less likely to break if you drop it.

 

[matriarch]

A hard drive is bigger. If you need to store a lot of data (like a huge MP3 collection or something), that's what you need.

A flash drive, or pen drive, is smaller and more expensive per megabyte. But if you only store stuff like Word files and occatinal pictures, it's a smart choice. Much more portable, doesn't need a power adapter, and has no moveable parts, so it's less likely to break if you drop it.

Wot he said.

 

[R. Richard]

You might consider writing backup data to DVD. It is simple and cheap. The problem is that once written, thats it; you can't rewrite.

 

[gauchecritic]

If you're storing your stories or just word docs (good for transferring physically from puter to puter) my son gave me a handy tip.

If you have one you can use an mp3 player.

 

[minsue]

!!!

Who are you and what have you done with gauche?

 

[gauchecritic]

!!!

Who are you and what have you done with gauche?

Haven't laughed quite so much since Pete Griffin's choice of four consonants and a vowel on Wheel of Fortune.:

Z. 4. Q. Q. and Bat signal

 

[elsol]

Get an IPod or a similar device...

I've got a 40 Giger; dual purpose

a) Store and play my music
b) Backup drive for my stuff (Mostly I just dump a folder on there and keep my stories).

Sincerely,
ElSol