Found and bought a Seagate 500 GB external hard drive at Office Depot today for $90, supposedly on sale from $130. Looks like the same item at NewEgg is about $100. Also, says it has software that "automatically copies files..." The model is called "Free Agent." Does this seem like a reasonable way to go and a decent value? Was hoping to spend a little less, but if I can get a lot more storage for just a few more $, maybe better to have that flexibility for the future.
Thanks Randall On Mon, Sep 1, 2008 at 6:54 PM, Robert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Of course how much additional magnetic storage you need depends on your > requirements. I need about 1.5 terrabytes so I have several external hard > drives connected to my computer. I chose external hard drives instead of > upgrading or adding to my internal ones; there is not really a good reason > to justify one way or another as far as I know, but it was just easier for > me with external drives. Plus, they are more flexible -- I gave one of my > smaller 300 GB drives to my freshman daughter in college to encourage her > backups and to hold the music & videos she will soon be downloading like any > other college student. She knows how to plug in an external drive. > > If you are using an external hard drive for everyday storage to augment > your limited-size internal drive, I recommend one that automatically shuts > itself off when it is not needed (and on when it is needed). If you are > using it only for backups or for some data transfer that is infrequent, an > external drive that has a manual shutoff switch is better. > > If you have been happy with 110 GB internal storage, you probably don't > need more than 500 GB external. But it might be tight to get a 100 or 120 > GB external drive for backup. Comparing $80 with $100, the 500 GB drive is > a better choice. (The cost of name brands is at the higher end of the range > that I mentioned -- but, who knows, maybe the name brands are no better than > the unknown brands? I believe this is definitely true for DVD players that > I have bought.) > > Just my opinion, everyone has at least one. > > > > Ranbo wrote: > >> Even if my current hard drive is only 110? Maybe I should, at some point, >> upgrade that as well. Guess getting 500 for $100 vs. 100 or 60 is a much >> better deal. Any need to go higher than 500? >> >> Thanks >> >> Randall >> >> On Mon, Sep 1, 2008 at 12:27 PM, Robert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> wrote: >> >> >> >>> So happens that I was looking last night a Newegg for a USB external hard >>> drive, and I discovered that these drives cost about $80 -- $100 >>> regardless >>> of whether they were 300 GB or 500 GB; the 100 GB size cost about $60 -- >>> $90. If it were me, I would buy the 500 GB or larger at a cost of around >>> $100. >>> >>> >>> Ranbo wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>>> I need to get something for computer back up. Would an external hard >>>> drive >>>> be the simplest, most economical way to go? If so, what issues or >>>> features >>>> should I take into account? I have a 110 gig hard drive, so wonder how >>>> many >>>> gigs of back up I need. See some on sale that hold 300, 500 or, I >>>> think, >>>> 1,000 gig. At the moment, would mostly be to back up text, email and >>>> some >>>> photos, but guess I'd like some flexibility in the future to back up >>>> more >>>> photos, audio files and maybe some videos. I'd like to spend less than >>>> $100. Can anyone suggest a good product to meet these parameters and >>>> where >>>> to get it? >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> >>>> Randall >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> > > ************************************************************************* > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > ************************************************************************* > ************************************************************************* ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *************************************************************************
