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An external hard drive is an essential piece of the modern computing puzzle. It's good not only for expanding your available storage, but also for backing up your data and shuttling files between PCs.
Okay, but what kind of drive should you buy? Are some brands better than others? What capacity do you really need, and how much should you expect to spend? Let's take a look at these and other important factors in making a hard-drive purchase.
Desktop or Portable? For starters, decide whether you want a "desktop" drive or a portable one. Portable drives are smaller and draw their power from your computer's USB port, meaning they don't require a separate power supply and an AC outlet.
On the flipside, they tend to have a higher price-per-gigabyte than their desktop counterparts, and don't offer the same mammoth capacities (though they're catching up). They also have shorter cords, something to consider if you plan to leave the drive plugged in and running most of the time.
Whether you go desktop or portable, look for a drive with a USB 3.0 interface. It's an increasingly common feature, but many drives still have the older, slower USB 2.0 technology. Even if your computer doesn't have a USB 3.0 port (and if it's older than 1-2 years, it may not), the drive will work--and you'll be able to take advantage of the faster performance with your next PC.
How Much Space? When it comes to drive capacity, you can never have too much. That said, if you're merely looking to back up a laptop that has a 320GB internal hard drive, a 500GB external drive will prove more than adequate.
But most desktop drives these days start at 1 terabyte (TB), and it's not uncommon to see deals on 2TB and even 3TB drives. Overkill? For many users, yes, but if you even plan on editing video or using your PC as a media center, it doesn't hurt to have that extra space--especially considering that it may cost only $20-30 more to bump up to the next size.
For example, at the time of this writing, Newegg has the Seagate Expansion 2TB USB hard drive for $119.99 and the Expansion 3TB drive for $139.99. That may be more storage than you'll ever need, but for an extra $20, why not spring for the extra space?
What Features? Don't go crazy worrying about drive specs. Although a drive that spins at 7,200 rpm will read and write data faster than one that spins at 5,200 rpm, you'll see much better overall performance by choosing a USB 3.0 drive and pairing it with a USB 3.0 port.
One feature you shouldn't overlook: warranty. Hard drives can and do fail (which is why you should always use a cloud-storage service for secondary backup), so look for the best possible coverage. Many drives come with a one-year warranty, but some are backed for two years or even three.
And if you're using the drive primarily for backup purposes, look for a model that's bundled with backup software--preferably the kind that runs automatically when you plug the drive in. Of course, if you've found a drive you love that doesn't include such software, there are countless backup utilities you can install for little or no money. (Indeed, Windows 7 comes with a perfectly serviceable backup program.)
By following these simple tips, you should have no trouble finding the perfect external hard drive for your needs--and your budget.
Veteran technology writer Rick Broida is the author of numerous books, blogs, and features. He lends his money-saving expertise to CNET and Savings.com, and also writes for PC World and Wired.
(Source: Savings.com)
