Member Avatar for erinc7

I am new to the hard drive world, but would like to purchase a portable external hard drive to store music and video files. I will be on the road for long stretches (work related) and thought this would be the best way to take my entire cd collection with me.

I'm looking for about 250GB. I will be using a laptop PC.

I've noticed that you can buy a single unit or purchase the hard drive (insides) and then a case.

Can someone please explain the pro's and con's of each (single unit vs. drive and case)?

Can you please recommend some external hard drives that are very portable?

Thanks in advance.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Steveo_6464

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Member Avatar for nizzy1115

Ok basically there are 2 different kinds of hard drives. Laptop hard drives (which are 2.5 inches) and desktop hard drives (which are 3.5 inches). Laptop hard drives are much smaller in physical size, but are much more expensive, and the largest laptop hard drive i know of is 120 gb. Desktop hard drives are bigger in physical size, but are cheaper and can come in larger storage sizes (750gb). Each of these hard drives can be stuck in a case with a usb plug on them for portability. However, most 3.5" desktop hard drives in external enclosures need an extra power source (ac wall outlet) to power them so that makes traveling with them not so good (for size, and their power requirements). Laptop 2.5 hard drives can be bought and stuck in external inclousers or bought already in an external inclosure, and they do not require an extra powersupply to be pluged into them, the usb port is enough. So a usb 2.5" laptop hard drive in an external enclosure is probably your best bet for portability, but their sizes are pretty small.

example:

40 gb for $110 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822154406

60 gb for $115 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136019

80 gb for $135 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144344

100gb for $170 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822154407

120 gb for $215 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822101011

As you can see, the 80gb wd passport seems to be the best deal for price vs size. Hope this helped a little.

Member Avatar for Steveo_6464

I got a 250 gb hard drive, with an enclosure for $99 at TigerDirect.com. Pretty good deal. Works great so far!

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