External Hard Drives

[SL65]

Hey all,

Well i'm running out of space on my H/D (again!!) and I need to buy a new one. Why external?? Well my motherboard (Dell) will support a maximum of only 147.7 GB's An External H/D is usually connected via USB or firewire and apparently it will work if it is USB

So Which one should I buy? I have my heart set on the new Maxtor OneTouch II (250 GB's) system. I made this thread to get your opinions...and I though it was an interesting topic. So what do you guys think I should get? Anyone had experiences with any of them or have another one they thinks better?? I have about a week to decide..
Maxtor OneTouch I
Maxtor OneTouch II
Seagate External
Western Digital DualOption USB 2.0 External

[hokiethang]

I have a 250GB Maxtor OneTouch II drive that I like. I also have an older maxtor 120GB external drive. As for which is better, I don't really know, I have never had problems with my maxtor external drives.

[fnorre]

I have the external Segate in your pictures. It's fine, not sure what features I look for / need in an external harddrive. Hardly ever use it. Has firewire and USB2, and some blue leds...

[ESPNSTI]

I think everyone and their dog knows my position by now:
Consider getting a DVD-RW drive.

[jasonchiu]

why dont u buy the ones u make urself? their much cheaper, considering ur a kid like me as well, u might as well spend the money on other things rahter than ur computer. in HK i cna make one my self for about 200 bucks ( the whole casing) and 600 HKD for the 160gb hd

[SL65]

Originally Posted by hokiethang

I have a 250GB Maxtor OneTouch II drive that I like. I also have an older maxtor 120GB external drive. As for which is better, I don't really know, I have never had problems with my maxtor external drives.

I'm surprised you don't have the 300gb system what with your FTP and all..So I take it the OTII is good?? I want it for its "system backup" function.

Originally Posted by ESPNSTI

I think everyone and their dog knows my position by now:
Consider getting a DVD-RW drive.

Yes that will really make my life easier when i'm trying to search for a file of some sort...Could you imagine over 210GB's of data on DVD's
Not a sensible solution really.

Originally Posted by jasonchiu

why dont u buy the ones u make urself? their much cheaper, considering ur a kid like me as well, u might as well spend the money on other things rahter than ur computer. in HK i cna make one my self for about 200 bucks ( the whole casing) and 600 HKD for the 160gb hd

Wait jason are speaking of a USB H/D?? I need it to be USB. btw how the hell do you make one lol!!

[jasonchiu]

yeah i am talkin bout that


in hk u can buy the box. which is cheap as dirt. comes with cooling fan and d/c plug whatver its called. then u buy the HD and thats it. u may also need to buy a ide to usb 2.0 cable.

i;m making one soon with a 8gb hd lol

[ESPNSTI]

Originally Posted by SL65AMG~V12~604BHP!!!!!!!

Yes that will really make my life easier when i'm trying to search for a file of some sort...Could you imagine over 210GB's of data on DVD's
Not a sensible solution really.

I have almost 3 times that amount on DVDs and searching for a file works fine with a simple cataloging program.
My point of view is that I can probably fill up any HD of any size, and I'd be too lazy to make a backup of anything, so if a HD crashed, I'd be SOL.
That's why I have a small HD with a DVD-RW, that way I force myself to backup files.
Been doing this for several years now and it works like a charm.

[bigfoot1942]

Originally Posted by SL65AMG~V12~604BHP!!!!!!!

Why external?? Well my motherboard (Dell) will support a maximum of only 147.7 GB's An External H/D is usually connected via USB or firewire and apparently it will work if it is USB

remember this thread: http://forum.finalgear.com/viewtopic.php?t=3473

Only if you want to boot from that drive you need your motherboard to recognize the HD.

As far as i know you can make a bootable partition on the disk and boot from that (with the size of that partition being under that motherboard limit) and formatting the rest of the drive from Windows.

[andyhui01]

I agree with ESPNSTI... after my 120Gb HD crashed, I've been using 40gb on both my computers and just backing stuff on DVD-R's... it is much more reliable as well... and plus DVD-R's are dirt cheap, like a quarter for each DVD... if you manage to organize and categorize it properly, as ESPNSTI said, it would work

But if you still insist on an external one SL55AMG, I suggest you build one, go to any computer mall, buy a External HD casing and separetly, buy a HD of capicity of your choice, plug it together and walla, you have a External HD and you save yourself alot of money

[jasonchiu]

true but i dont do that coz i never file my disks and they go on the floor and i walk on them and they dont read lol.

[hokiethang]

Originally Posted by SL65AMG~V12~604BHP!!!!!!!

I'm surprised you don't have the 300gb system what with your FTP and all..So I take it the OTII is good?? I want it for its "system backup" function.

I actually bought the 250GB before I started with the FTP, plus I use it at home mostly to back up my stuff at home. I haven't used the system backup function on it, mostly because I only backup certain data and do it manually when it changes.

On the building one yourself, I have never had good luck with those, the mass storage controllers in all of the ones that I found were crap, and would lose connection with my PC in the middle of a file copy. My Maxtor drives have NEVER had problems like the ones I had with the build yourself ones.

[TechZ]

I got myself a good case w/fan, and an IDE HD, does the job perfectly.

Get a good box and a Seagate (5yrs warranty)

Making an internal HD an external one is alot cheaper and not much work.

Plus more choice as to the case for it.

[///M]

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...215799&CatId=0

I have this enclosure. Cheap and it works great. there's no fans but there's mesh all around it so it still runs pretty cool.

[evoWALO]

I would think Windows XP SP2 would solve that barrier. My Mac was limited to 128GB til I upgraded from 10.1 to 10.3. Some people might find this unacceptable but maybe deleting a few vids would solve your problems.

[SL65]

Originally Posted by andyhui01

I agree with ESPNSTI... after my 120Gb HD crashed, I've been using 40gb on both my computers and just backing stuff on DVD-R's... it is much more reliable as well... and plus DVD-R's are dirt cheap, like a quarter for each DVD... if you manage to organize and categorize it properly, as ESPNSTI said, it would work

But if you still insist on an external one SL55AMG, I suggest you build one, go to any computer mall, buy a External HD casing and separetly, buy a HD of capicity of your choice, plug it together and walla, you have a External HD and you save yourself alot of money

SL65!!
yeah I wouldnt mind saving a few hundred bucks...i still like the Maxtor though

Originally Posted by ESPNSTI

I have almost 3 times that amount on DVDs and searching for a file works fine with a simple cataloging program.
My point of view is that I can probably fill up any HD of any size, and I'd be too lazy to make a backup of anything, so if a HD crashed, I'd be SOL.
That's why I have a small HD with a DVD-RW, that way I force myself to backup files.
Been doing this for several years now and it works like a charm.

Thats the beuty of this thing,"one touch" and everythings' backed up* including system settings.

On the building one yourself, I have never had good luck with those, the mass storage controllers in all of the ones that I found were crap, and would lose connection with my PC in the middle of a file copy. My Maxtor drives have NEVER had problems like the ones I had with the build yourself ones.

Thats why i'd like to stick to a pre-made one...i'm no good with computer hardware

Plus more choice as to the case for it.

Oh c'mon, the Maxtor case is pretty cool 8)
Anywayz, i'm going to "Capitol City" today which is Sydneys equivalent to Tokyo..maybe i'll find a better alternative

[Overheat]

Best external hard disk for me is:

LaCie 250GB USB 2

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/labs/70463/la...0gb-usb-2.html

It's quiet and compact and is even better value than many internal hard disks!

[jasonchiu]

wow, wonder how long they took to design that case lol

[bihus]

Originally Posted by jasonchiu

wow, wonder how long they took to design that case lol

Simple is good.

[TechZ]

LaCie always have great looking stuff, they even have a 1000gb model as I recall