Best External HDD?

Endurance Man · 12-01-2008 5:02pm #1

Need an external HDD soon, 400 to 500 gigs should do. Don't really want to spend a fortune, 80 to 100 if thats possible.
Any opinions on which is the best option. I like the look of the Seagate freeagent but then im basing that solely on how slick it looks

. Cant base the purchase on that.

Cheers
Endo

Creamy Goodness · 12-01-2008 5:07pm

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=343423

probably one of the best drives, not to mention doesn't look like a tacky pc with cathodes all over it.

although that being said seagate drives are notoriously quieter than western digitals.

Endurance Man · 12-01-2008 5:16pm

The Freecom drives any good? http://cgi.ebay.ie/NEW-Freecom-Classic-Hard-Drive-500GB-USB-2-0-Black_W0QQitemZ120205535757QQihZ002QQcategoryZ16178QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Price seem really good but doesn't say what drive it uses. Looked at the WD ones, reviews are mixed, few to many reports of failing drives. Personal experience would also lead me not to like WD drives.

Creamy Goodness · 12-01-2008 5:24pm

don't know how good freecom's are but just to be wary, in the description of that product it says that all prices are exclusive of VAT, so you may be buying/bidding a vat free price then 17.5% will be whallopped on top of that.

Endurance Man · 12-01-2008 5:32pm

Cremo wrote: »

don't know how good freecom's are but just to be wary, in the description of that product it says that all prices are exclusive of VAT, so you may be buying/bidding a vat free price then 17.5% will be whallopped on top of that.

Yup, you're right, always miss that ><. They are still the cheapest branded model on ebay. Search continues.

duridian · 12-01-2008 9:35pm

Cremo wrote: »

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=343423

probably one of the best drives, not to mention doesn't look like a tacky pc with cathodes all over it.

Seconded. I've the older 500GB model (with a green roundy light thing instead of the blue light on the one linked) and have had no problem at all with it in the 7-8 months since I bought it. Runs pretty cool and the whirring/sound level isn't much, certainly not enough to bother me anyway.

Edit: I think I saw someone on boards in the last couple of weeks complaining of a Seagate Freeagent that packed up in under a week, when he had over 400GB of stuff transferred onto it. Can't say I've had bad experiences from the various internal Seagates I own but never tried an external one. Maybe they aren't as good due to the housing or something like that.

yoyo · 13-01-2008 12:06am

Think Freecom use Maxtor hard disks in their externals which should be avoided imo, The WD should be fine but make sure not to drop it, knock it etc...

Nick

tman · 13-01-2008 12:27am

duridian wrote: »

Edit: I think I saw someone on boards in the last couple of weeks complaining of a Seagate Freeagent that packed up in under a week, when he had over 400GB of stuff transferred onto it. Can't say I've had bad experiences from the various internal Seagates I own but never tried an external one. Maybe they aren't as good due to the housing or something like that.

From memory, it was the housing that stopped working, not the drive itself.
I've got a 500GB freeagent and have had no problems with it myself, nice and quiet too...
I've only heard good things about the WD drives though, and will definitely be getting one of those next.

pcolan · 13-01-2008 1:26am

Have a look at this LaCie P3 500GB USB2 7200rpm 8MB @ Dabs.ie for €107 delivered.
Don't have one myself, but they're supposed to be very good.

Sad Professor · 13-01-2008 1:29am

I have two WD My Book drives, no problems either. Planning to get another one soon.

Gadgetman496 · 13-01-2008 5:22pm

pcolan wrote: »

Have a look at this LaCie P3 500GB USB2 7200rpm 8MB @ Dabs.ie for €107 delivered.
Don't have one myself, but they're supposed to be very good.

One reviewer for this drive on DABS reckons that the Power supply for the LaCie is roughly have the size of the drive enclosure. That sounds huge? it wouldn't make it handy for transporting (If you ever have the need to)

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Gadgetman496 · 13-01-2008 5:25pm

duridian wrote: »

Seconded. I've the older 500GB model (with a green roundy light thing instead of the blue light on the one linked).

Does anyone know if the newer version of the WD 500GB with the blue light instead of the "Green Circle" still incorporates the on/off switch?

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challengemaster · 13-01-2008 5:27pm

WD Passport are great for transporting.. mybook's are great too

the best external hdd ever though - drobo

Endurance Man · 13-01-2008 5:39pm

Reading about this freeagent and came across a large flaw, it has no on/off switch

. That means i have to unplug the power every time i switch my pc off? So thats a no no.
Like the look of the myBook, might just go for it, gonna look for something a bit cheaper first.

Gadgetman496 · 13-01-2008 5:47pm

That drobo is very impressive alright.

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Endurance Man · 13-01-2008 5:57pm

gadgetman496 wrote: »

That drobo is very impressive alright.

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Ye its fukin awsome, but very pricey. One day..

Gadgetman496 · 13-01-2008 6:05pm

Endurance Man wrote: »

Ye its fukin awsome, but very pricey. One day..

Yes, one day for sure

Available here:
http://www.expansys.ie/p.aspx?i=160451

I'm not too put off by the price though, I mean if you really Analise what it does, it's pure magic really.

By the time you populate it though, it's a fair bit.

I still love it to "BITS" though

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Gadgetman496 · 13-01-2008 7:00pm

Here's a handy storage calculator for the DROBO:
http://www.drobo.com/drobolator/

The DROB is available from the DROBO store for €340 if you could get around all the pitfalls associated with buying for the US.

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Best External HDD?

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