Contents[Hide]

External Hard Drives Buying Guide

So, you've finally amounted so much "stuff " on your computer you have nowhere to put it.  A video of someone belching his name while covered in Jello,  the entire collection of Wilson Phillips  CDs; these are precious files that you simply can't live without! That's just fine because external hard drives are a perfect solution for pack-rats like you.  They're easy to use, and if you own a laptop, they're cheaper than buying a new computer.  Use this guide to find an external hard drive that meets your storage requirements so you can continue to download the internet.

Featured External Hard Drives

Types of Interfaces

External hard drives interface with your system in numerous ways.  Here are the most common interfaces:

Firewire (IEEE 1394) 

  • These cables are a lot like USB (below), but can transfer data faster. (Note the differences on each end of the cable).
  • Some external hard drives use these cables, especially for larger hard drives.
  • Check your computer to see if it has a firewire port before buying a drive that supports it.

USB 

  • USB cables are much more common, however have a slower transfer speed.
  • Most external hard drives support USB.
  • Be sure to use a 2.0 USB port with any external drive.

Top Rated External Hard Drives

  • Here are some top-rated hard drives in the £60-£120 price range, which is an excellent starting point for extra storage without sacrificing quality.

  • 320GB storage.
  • USB or firewire interface (cables included).
  • 1-year warranty.
  • Compact, desktop design.
  • Power cable included.
  • 500GB storage.
  • USB interface (retractable).
  • Plug and Play (no power cable needed).
  • 2-year warranty.
  • Designed for travel.
  • 160GB storage.
  • USB interface.
  • Plug and play.
  • 1-year warranty.
  • 750GB storage.
  • Firewire interface (cable included).
  • 3-year warranty.
  • Desktop design.
  • Power cable included.
  • 1TB storage.
  • USB interface (cable included).
  • 1-year warranty.
  • large storage solution.
  • Power cable included.

Hard Facts for Your Hardware

  • External hard drives that rely on your computer for power (plug and play) generally have slower transfer speeds than those that are self-powered.
  • Many external hard drives come with security software that protects the data on the drive from unauthorized access.
    • Take advantage of this feature if you purchase a drive intended for frequent travel.
  • Higher RPM = faster access time (read time).
  • Most drives are non-discriminate to Mac or PC, but some  are designed to only work with one.

Related Products

Laptop Computers 

USB Hubs Buying Guide

Backup Software 

External Links