Re: Which external portable HDD to get these days?

On 8/4/2008 5:43 PM PT, Rod Speed typed:

Ant <ANTant@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote

I am in a need to get another external portal HDD for mostly backups.
It can be a name brand bundled one or enclosure + HDD. However, it
has to be from cdw.com since my boss and employer said so (dumb,
I know -- I guess it is the contracts or discounts?).

Anyways, I need a big HDD that will carry lots of BIG files (usually GB sized)

You dont say what total size you need.

Um, smallest to biggest on cdw.com. I will narrow down once I have enough on my list.

Presumably you mean that the smallest are big enough, in which case the 2.5" drives are fine.

and will be used in mostly Windows XP, Vista, and future Windows.
Firewire is an option, but not required. I definitely need a
fast USB 2 connection (these machines are over three years old and
will get new machines eventually). I do NOT need those fancy
software, encryption, etc. I just need storage to switch between
many different Windows machines (mostly Dell). I don't care about
colors
and sizes either since they will be on the floor or desk). AC power
is fine if needed. The portable drive needs to be stay cool (hated
Maxtor OneTouch that got super hot even in AC environments and
many broke down in the past from others' and my experiences).

One approach is to get one that uses a 2.5" drive. Those run
much cooler than 3.5" drives but do have less total capacity.

So, please kindly list which ones (enclosures, HDD brands,
and bundled ones) are the best to get. In the past, I told
StarTech was good. Is this still true today?

Aren't 2.5" slower?

Yes, but if you are using USB2 drives, thats the main limit on speed.

Ah OK, what about ESATA, firewire, etc. options? Not that I need them but they are nice to have. I don't think I will ever need to use the HDD in the PCs, but you never know.


I am willing to sacrifice for bigger physical sizes
(disk space and dimensions) for faster speed.
Are there enclosures that can use both 2.5" and 3.5"?
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