Watch this video in order to get valuable information on how to pick the best external hard drive and then read this article till the end to find out more about external hard drives available.
Is your current internal hard drive unable to sustain the amount of data you’re trying to cram in? Why not try using external hard drives? For starters, external hard drives are smaller versions of internal hard drives (hard drives found in your computer).
Nowadays, there are numerous kinds of portable hard drives on the market, each varying in terms of dimension, weight, capacity, and transfer speeds. With this is mind, this article will be giving you a review on the top 6 bestselling portable hard drives so you will know which is the suitable one for you.
1. Western Digital WD Elements 2 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive WDBAAU0020HBK
Here’s a short introduction before we begin. The Western Digital Elements is a 3.5” 2TB hard drive that is compatible on both the Mac and Windows. This hard drive is packed in a box along with a USB 2.0 cable, an AC adapter and a user manual.
High Capacity – Looking for a place to store your gigantic library of songs? Your answer is here! This baby packs a 2TB storage space, with this immensely large amount of space; users will no longer have problem storing all their data and media files. Technically, a 2TB hard drive can store virtually anything; for example, let’s assume that 180 second song is takes up 5Mbs. A 2TB hard drive can easily store 400,000 songs, which is around 20,000 hours of music!
Quick and Easy – Are you facing problems installing drivers for your external hard drives? Worry no more, for this external hard drive features a plug-and-play connectivity! With this feature, users won’t have to run any complicated installers. Connecting your external hard drive to your PC is just a USB port away!
Performance – Despite its extremely large capacity, this portable hard drive is capable of constantly reading files at 30Mb/s and writing them at 24Mb/s. The USB 2.0 is capable of transferring files at 480Mbps but of course, this speed will rise or fall depending on the PC you’re using.
One thing some people might not like: The case is designed to sit flat (as pictured), not on its side. There are four small non-skid pads on the bottom corners, but none on either side… Installation was was truly “plug and play”. I simply took it out of the box, plugged it in, and it was immediately recognized by the DVR.
- portion of user feedback from Amazon.com
Design – The design of this external hard drive is simple but sleek. The entire plastic casing is painted in a glossy black while the top and bottom sides have an extra matte finish. With the USB port and AC socket closely spaced, the hard drive also features a rather compact look. On the other hand, customers should know that since the drive is encased with a plastic casing, it is wise not to lug it around too much as it wouldn’t be providing much protection against hazards.
What people say about this Western Digital WD Elements 2 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive:
This elements hard drive has a sleek and sexy, minimalist design. It is well built overall and constructed of durable plastic….When in operation, it is very smooth and quiet compared to other WD hard drives I own. This may be due to the fact that it is closed entirely and there are no holes for ventilation as in other WD models.
- portion of user feedback from Amazon.com
You might also want to invest in new solid state drive, that is much faster than normal external hard drive but also much more expensive.
2. Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB USB 3.0/2.0 Ultra Portable External Hard Drive WDBACX0010BBK
There are two types of Passport Essential; Standard and SE. In this section, we’ll introduce you to the SE version. What’s the difference? Basically, the difference between the SE and the standard version is the significant storage capacity boost.
USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interface – If you’ve been searching for an external hard drive that is compatible with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, this hard drive may be the one for you. With the flexibility of using both interfaces, you can try using USB 3.0 first, and if you’re not comfortable with it, you can change back to USB 2.0 anytime you want.
High transfer speeds – With USB 2.0 you can expect transfer speed up to 480Mb/s. However, with the USB 3.0, you can expect to achieve transfer speeds up to three times that of the USB 2.0. This feature allows you to shift files quickly from your PC to your external hard drive. If it takes 14 minutes to transfer a 2 hour HD movie with the USB 2.0, the USB 3.0 can achieve it in 5 minutes, a significant reduction of 280%!
Software - Other than the physical features mentioned above, this external hard drive comes with a Western Digital SmartWare. This software developed by Western Digital comes with an automatic backup option which works quietly in the background, users will no longer have to worry about losing their data!
Other features – 1 TB storage capacity – With 1 TB of storage space, this external hard drive provides users with ample space to store all their favourite movies, music, photos and data. Password encryption – Storing lots of confidential data in your external hardrive? Afraid of losing data to unauthorized personnel? This portable hard drive answers your worries with a password encryption software that can help protect your hard drive against unauthorized access.
Watch the interesting video that shows the unboxing of 2TB Western Digital External Hard Drive.
3. Western Digital WD Elements 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive WDBAAU0010HBK
Just so you know, this portable hard drive is the lesser version of the first external hard drive mentioned in this article. Just like its sibling, this is a 3.5” hard drive that is compatible on both the Mac and the PC. Customers buying a fresh copy of this hard drive can expect the packaging to contain a USB cable and an AC adapter.
The Casing – There’s nothing different to expect from this hard drive. Just like the WD Elements 2TB hard drive, this hard drive is given the plastic casing with the same black glossy finish. The USB port and AC adapter are also arranged in the same way as its sibling. With the glossy finish being such an effective dust and fingerprint magnet, the most frustrating thing about this series of hard drive is the need to clean your external hard drive every day.
Average Speed – Featuring a USB 2.0, this external hard drive is capable of reading and writing flies at considerable speed. However, if you’re searching for an external hard drive that is capable of transferring files at high speed, this hard drive may not be the one for you.
Average Storage Capacity – The only significant difference between this external hard drive and its sibling is the difference in storage capacity. However, with 1TB of storage space, users can still expect to store plenty of things inside it. By having two versions of the same hard drive users are presented with a wide range of options; For example, if you’re a hardcore storage space user, the 2TB variant will prove the better choice for you. Conversely, if you’re running short on cash, you can settle for this 1TB variant instead.
Environmental-Friendly – Going Green? Western Digital Elements variants are fitted with a powerful Green Power Technology that allows users to save significant amounts of power without sacrificing efficiency.
4. Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB USB 3.0 Ultra-Portable External Hard Drive with Paramount
Upon purchasing this hard drive, you automatically save up to $30 for the USB 3.0. However, this external hard drive is not only limited to one cable; Seagate has taken a step forward to separate the drive from the bridge board, changing the native SATA to accommodate other interfaces. With this new design, users are able to use multiple types of cable depending on the module they require.
The Casing – In order to compete with Western Digital’s MyPassport series hard drives, Seagate designed this external hard drive to measure around 5.3 x 3.5 x 0.9 inches with a glossy black casing. Connectors also come in the form of attachments which can be attached to the back of the hard drive which unfortunately, doesn’t really snap on.
Paramount Function - Besides that, this hard drive comes packaged with a unique function; the Paramount. This feature allows users to view contents over a network of joined devices.
Plug-and-Play – Like all the latest external hard drives, this drive also Features a plug-and-play connectivity, greatly reducing the need of installing special drivers. A software for basic backup and password encryption is also included to ensure the safety of your external hard drive.
Fast Speed – Lastly, the external hard drive packs a 1TB storage capacity which is capable of spinning at 5400rpm. Tests indicate that it took the GoFlex around 134 seconds to read a large file probably around 3 to 4GB while and around 150 seconds to write that similar file. Depending on your budget, if you frequently transfer or backup large files, this may be the one for you. However, bear in mind that if you travel a lot and have to use different module units, you would have to purchase additional cables, such as FireWire800 ($40) and eSATA ($20) which will significantly increase the total cost of the device.
5. Seagate Expansion 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive
Compatibility – Own a Mac and a PC? Fear not, for one of the features of this external hard is compatibility. Being able to work in both Mac and PC systems, this hard drive allows you to transfer files from your Mac to your PC anytime you want.
Energy-Saving – The fact that this hard drive is USB powered makes it extremely energy saving. In fact, the meaning of energy saving is literally hardwired to the hard drive as it goes into ‘sleep’ mode after 10 minutes or so, this became an issue to some users while they were transferring their data to the hard drive. Technically, the transfer doesn’t stop but for your peace of mind you can download the Seagate Manager from Seagate’s official website. This special program allows users to overcome the sleeping issue by changing some settings and also opening up features such as backing up your data and syncing your computer.
Lightweight – Weighing around 160 grams and measuring 0.6 inch thick, users can carry this fancy little device in their briefcase pocket and maintain access to their files on-the-go. As for the design, a glossy black plastic casing shields the hard drive from external hazards. Due to its extremely thin structure, users have to take extra precautions while handling it as it is very fragile and is capable of breaking easily.
Connectivity – In order to keep up with the competition, the Seagate Expansion external hard drive also features plug-and-play connectivity with a USB 2.0 eliminating the need for complicated installation procedures while capable of reaching maximum transfer speeds around 480Mb/s.
To summarize it all, if you have a low budget and a lesser amount of data to store, this external hard drive might be the one for you. With a total storage capacity of 500GB and a price of $59.99, this hard drive is capable of providing users with just enough storage space to store their data for a fair price.
6. Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1 TB USB 2.0 Ultra-Portable External Hard Drive
Yet another variant! This external hard drive is one the variants in the GoFlex series. Hard drives under this series strive to provide users with total flexibility. What are the features? Let’s find out below.
Physical Specifications – Measuring 4.72″ x 3.54″ x 0.79″ and weighing a mere 0.62grams. This external hard drive is comparatively smaller than the GoFlex USB 3.0 version allowing users to carry it around and access their files and media on-the-go. Again, like its sibling, the hard drive is also enclosed in a glossy black casing while the connector attachments can also be attached to the back of the drive.
Performance – This 1TB drive is capable of revolving at the speed of 5400rpm thus resulting in a considerably high transfer speed. Being capable of using multiple cable attachments, users have the freedom to swap the basic USB 2.0 for higher end cables such as FireWire800, eSata and USB 3.0. However these extra cables are priced separately and some can cost up to $40.
Other features – Aside from the many physical features, GoFlex hard drives also provide a wide variety of software such as; the ability to continuously backup your data and securing your hard drive against unauthorized access with a powerful password encryption. Users can also connect their hard drives to the GoFlex Net media sharing device and access their data and media anytime, anywhere. With the GoFlex TV HD, users can also view movies and photos on the TV.
A final word of advice: if you’ve decided to purchase an external hard drive, compare the prices an make an educated decision based on your budget. Some hard drives are made available by manufactureres at lower prices than others without sacrificing quality, while some will cost you an arm and a leg without there being any kind of quality-related justification. Bear in mind that each hard drive also has its own pros and cons, depending on what you’re looking for and at the end of the day, the final decision is yours and only yours to make.
I hope you pick one from this list, feel free to leave comments about best external hard drives according to your opinion.
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