250GB portable hard drives? (Or smaller)

seachto7

Is there such a thing. I already have a 500GB hard drive which is only half full. I'm looking for something small and portable but don't need 500GB to be honest.
I know it's cheap enough to just buy a 500GB one.

Are there smaller sizes? I can't seem to find any online. I use a 4GB USB stick for most stuff, but something bigger to transfer raw audio files and some work folders etc would be dead handy....

eamonnq

http://www.tdkperformance.com/en-eu/Storage-Media/Solid-State-Drive/USB-3-External-SSD/

These ?

KeithTS

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BIPRA-250Gb-External-Drive-Portable/dp/B004LGLL6G/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_6

That the kind of thing you want?

seachto7

Stupid me had only being looking on ebay, dabs etc. Had not even tried Amazon.... Thread can be closed if it suits....

Zillah

USB sticks go all the way up to 64GB+ these days if that would suit. You can get 250GB hard drives still but the price difference between them and 500GB is negligible and there's virtually no difference in physical size. These 500GB drives are tiny, for example.

seachto7

I guess so. I have an "old" Maxtor 500GB external drive. A bit bulky to be carrying around with a laptop, and requires power. However, it's good to use it with a desktop.

So looking for something small to carry around if necessary...

riclad

i got 350 gig drive, usb 2.0 , in aldi, needs no power unit,
uses usb power.
Just buy a 350, or 500 gig drive, make sure it does,nt need a power unit.

seachto7

never thought of checking aldi!

bonzodog2

I would be wary of some of these super compact portable 2.5 external drives, some don't have the same disks inside as fits in a laptop, but have the USB connector built onto the drive's circuit board. This makes it difficult to do data recovery if necessary in the future. I'd get a standard 2.5 SATA and source my own enclosure.

seachto7

That bit goes over my head, but I'll bear it mind

riclad

YEAH maybe, buy a 350,or 500gig drive, place inside an enclosure.Lidl or aldi sometimes have drives ,in a glass case,in the shop,with sdcards etc now and again.
See aldi ie , lidl.ie,
it means usb soldered, drives ,cant be opened placed inside a caddy,
The usb connector is soldered to the drive.
2.5inch caddy sata is 14 euro approx.

seachto7

That's too much hassle no? I'm just looking for something I can store stuff on and bring it around. Preferably something I don't have to plug in....

riclad

http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/catalog_v2.cgi?type=product&id=29192

THIS looks good, usb 3.0 ,needs no power supply .
Look in maplins , shop,see what drives they have there.

bonzodog2

You'll probably get a used one on ebay for less than 25. Find one with free UK delivery and use ParcelMotel. Probably get an enclosure for under a fiver from HK, or under 15 from PCWorld etc

seachto7

Something like this could be fine?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/80GB-Hard-Drive-External-Portable-Pocket-Sized-2-5-USB-2-0-Black-Slim-/271201242338?pt=UK_Computing_HardDrives_RL&hash=item3f24da8ce2

riclad

ITS fine if 80gig storage is enough for you.

seachto7

I think this would be best for a few more quid:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Core-Retail-Boxed-250GB-External-Portable-2-5-USB-Hard-Drive-Fat32-Format-/330717121427?pt=UK_Computing_Other_Computing_Networking&hash=item4d0046cb93