EHD Shopping - What's Good? - Page 2

*Melissa* · 02-27-2009, 10:38 PM

Last one, I promise!

A LaCie:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=9729731

*Kathleen* · 02-27-2009, 10:41 PM

The Frontier Peace of Mind option sounds like a good one. Make sure to verify that their service works with an external hard drive as well (since that is where your data will be). Many of the online backups only work with internal hard drives. I checked their website, and they don't specify internal/external, but I would definitely check. Also, the base price I see is $7.99/month, which is almost $100/year, which goes a long way to that second hard drive. But there is also something to be said for having your files backed up off site and done automatically and immediately.

As for what is the best drive for you ... since it will be your main resource and connected to your laptop, portability (size, and probably getting power via USB, not an external plug) is a key factor. Personally, I think any of the name brands mentioned above are going to give you about the same performance. Almost everyone has had a bad experience, either with a drive dying or poor customer support, that is going to flavor their review. If you see a couple drives that fit your requirements, look at the RPM speeds too, the higher the better.

I thought this was a good write up - you can read the whole article, but here is a direct link to the section about portable hard drives, which is what I think you will end up with: Portable Hard Drives.

*Muma* · 02-27-2009, 10:44 PM

I've just gone to nextag and found these lisintgs

For LaCie
http://www.nextag.com/lacie-external...e/compare-html
For IOMEGA
http://www.nextag.com/IOMEGA-externa...ve/search-html

it seems you can get quite a high [even 1TB] volume EHD for under $200

idtwinmom · 02-27-2009, 10:48 PM

OK, you got me there! I would lean to the IOMEGA as a more reliable drive. But one thing to consider with both of those drives - I know the Maxtor's physical size is "huge"! How big is the IOMEGA? Maxtor may have connectivity issues (seems to be real sensitive to movement - this is direct experience by my DH)! Also look for an HP (Hewlette Packard)! They apparently have some new drives!

One other thing I will say: as soon as you go "cheap" you go poorer quality even with better name brands.

*Melissa* · 02-27-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathleen

The Frontier Peace of Mind option sounds like a good one. Make sure to verify that their service works with an external hard drive as well (since that is where your data will be). Many of the online backups only work with internal hard drives. I checked their website, and they don't specify internal/external, but I would definitely check. Also, the base price I see is $7.99/month, which is almost $100/year, which goes a long way to that second hard drive. But there is also something to be said for having your files backed up off site and done automatically and immediately.

As for what is the best drive for you ... since it will be your main resource and connected to your laptop, portability (size, and probably getting power via USB, not an external plug) is a key factor. Personally, I think any of the name brands mentioned above are going to give you about the same performance. Almost everyone has had a bad experience, either with a drive dying or poor customer support, that is going to flavor their review. If you see a couple drives that fit your requirements, look at the RPM speeds too, the higher the better.

I thought this was a good write up - you can read the whole article, but here is a direct link to the section about portable hard drives, which is what I think you will end up with: Portable Hard Drives.

Thanks Kathleen! I know I can be a pain when it comes to my research of these type of things.

When I logged into my account at Frontier, it showed their special pricing, so maybe that's why I didn't see the $7.99.

Perhaps that is why I have a hard time deciding: I listen to ALL reviews, and if there is just one bad one, I keep looking. I know I'm not going to find a product that has 100% good reviews, 100% of the time. Maybe I'm setting my expectations too high.

Thanks for the link to the article. I'll sit up tonight and read it (I'm a night owl).

As far as RPM's go, is an RPM of 7200 good or is there more?

For someone known as a tech geek to her family and friends, I sure feel like a tech dummy!

*Kathleen* · 02-27-2009, 10:52 PM

So, the Maxtor drive is big.If I were in your shoes (or your pants, sitting in your chair with your laptop, and a hard drive), I wouldn't want one that bulky. The LaCie is also big. I have an iOmega - I call it my flask drive. It used to be my travel drive, but then it got too small (mine is a 120GB), so it is kind of a back-up of a back-up drive if I need to dump some stuff on it.

I wish there was a perfect answer, but you are going to have to make some trade-off decisions

*Muma* · 02-27-2009, 10:53 PM

I also read in a review that ReBit is a good make but can't find the review atm ... thought I had bookmarked it ... but nope.

*Kathleen* · 02-27-2009, 10:53 PM

I know what you mean about researching things to death - I actually think it is a disease. But not that bad of one to have!

7200 is a good speed.

idtwinmom · 02-27-2009, 10:54 PM

OK, those are all cheaper because of the size and type of drive. They will be larger, less able to be moved because they are not "portable" drives! I was, however, quite shocked to see the LaCie among them! If that is you budget, I would lean heavily toward the LaCie! And then add the backup from the phone company for sure! Remember, these drives are all designed to sit on a desk, not be moved around!

*Melissa* · 02-27-2009, 11:01 PM

Ok, this one is portable. I'm leaning towards this one.

Is this the one you have Kathleen? It looks like a flask!

*Muma* · 02-27-2009, 11:02 PM

And don't forget 1 bad review means nothing ..... 20 bad reviews has more meaning.
Just because 1 person didn't get on with it doesn't mean its a bad product.

debilou · 02-28-2009, 07:15 AM

Have you checked the ratings on

www.cnet.com

I really not only value their ratings... but look at "what the customer reviews say"...

I get some really good opinions there on electronics...

that I would never have seen anywhere else...

Like there were I found some HORRIBLE info on Western Digital... about having to have an extra power cord... that they just forget to tell you about...

*Kathleen* · 02-28-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melissa

Ok, this one is portable. I'm leaning towards this one.

Is this the one you have Kathleen? It looks like a flask!

Sorry, I went to bed last night!

It is very similar to what I have. I have a smaller version (truly "portable" and smaller capacity) In this photo I have the little red one (.75" x 3.5" x 5.25"), you are looking at the bigger blue one (8.1L x 5 W x 1.65 H), .

When I look at iOmega's web site at the 1TB eGo Desktop Hard Drive it shows it comes with a power source, which I would assume you will need.

Could you maybe go with a 500GB portable drive, and store maybe photos on the laptop, scrap stuff on the portable (or the other way around)?

I guess I am stuck on the portability factor, and am putting my preference on you. So it comes down to how portable do you want to be, and how concerned are you about having to have two power sources (one for the laptop, one for the EHD) connected to your laptop.

debilou · 02-28-2009, 11:03 AM

I have the one that the top one...

*Raphne* · 02-28-2009, 12:37 PM

I have to agree with you on the portability issue, Kathleen, but then I do my scrapping on my laptop and I take it all kinds of places. If you leave it in one place most of the time, it probably isn't much of an issue. So your "style" really matters.

I also have to agree with you about one bad review-- or even 20, if the other 500 are positive. I think you have to actually read what the person has to say and decide if their experience is relevant. Customer service matters a lot to me, thus my bad review of seagate at the beginning of the thread lol. I guess I'm spoiled by my experiences with Apple

. I also feel that no matter how good the company, a bad device is going to pop up once in a while, and how they respond to that is really important.