1TB, 1.5 Terabyte, 2TB External Hard Drive

Most of the time, the hard drive capacity on any computer, whether laptop or desktop, is just not enough to hold all the files most of us have, and for that reason a Western Digital 3TB external hard drive is the best choice to keep all the photographs, music and other information or data. A Western Digital 3TB hard drive is the best choice for your storage needs, combining the most renowned brand with the highest capacity currently available to the public. This is an external hard drive that plugs in quickly to any USB port on your laptop or desktop. Once you insert the hard drive into your port, you can begin to save all the important files you will want to preserve.

The Western Digital 3 TB External Hard Drive is currently available for 22% off of the list price. You will have savings of over $55.00 off the list price. Discount via this link available for a limited time only. Click here to purchase on Amazon now!

Take a moment to check out all the features of the Western Digital 3TB external hard drive:

• You get the high quality of any Western Digital product, which is what has made any WD product the top seller in the world.
• Simple, easy to use technology; just plug it in and get ready to upload!
• The 3TB external hard drive will not drain your computer’s energy, as it turns on and off when your computer is turned off and on, and if you walk away from the unit for some time, it will make itself idle.
• Has 500 GB to 3 TB of storage capacity; this means that a lot of your favorite photographs and information can be saved.
• AC Adapter and a quick installation guide are included with your hard drive.
• Compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7

In general, for the Western Digital 3TB external hard drive, customer reviews have been highly favorable. What I love about this product is that the unit is so easy. It is hard to believe this product is just that simple; just plug it in and begin to save the files. An important thing is that the unit powers down to save energy, keeping the life of the unit in great shape for a longer period. In addition, the unit remains cool to the touch. It is absolutely amazing that an external hard drive can be used for hours upon hours, and it is still not producing any heat at all. This is a very important thing with the hard drive, as most electronics put off a lot of heat.

The 3 TB external hard drive is a powerful little engine that works with my computer. No matter how much I put on the drive, there appears to be more room to go. There is massive storage for my videos, photographs, music and letters, and I have included a lot of family memories on this external drive, so that it does not bog down my computer.
I always advise people to register their 3TB external hard drive when they buy one. This is to make them aware of updates that become available from time to time. These updates are critical to keep the unit working as it should. I also like the fact that this unit is small and compact, with gripper pads on the bottom to keep it from moving around.

With all this said, there are some things that I do not really like about this unit. One thing I don’t particularly care for, is that the Western Digital 3TB sits lying down on its back, and I would prefer one that stands up to maximize the available space of my computer cabinet. In addition, another downsize can be that some of the WD products tried in the past have not lasted. Of course, most external hard drives do not last for lengthy time periods, especially when there is a great deal of use. This factor alone does not discourage me from using a WD product, as the company has a great reputation for its products.

Pros:

Very quiet, almost too quiet!

Puts out little to no heat at all

Very hard working

Cons:

A little higher priced in some markets

Lies down, doesn’t stand up like other units.

Click here to read more reviews for the Western Digital 3TB external hard drive on Amazon now!

The Western Digital Elements 2TB External Hard Drive is the answer to all of your backup needs. With its monstrous 2tb capacity you can back up all of work, music, videos and any other miscellaneous data that you have. The Western Digital Elements 2TB External Hard Drive has operates via a plug and play USB connection. Whether you are a tech junkie or a technophobe you will be happy with how easy this device is to use. Even after being reviewed by over 2000 people the Western Digital 2TB has managed to maintain a very health 4 out of 5 point rating; which is something that many other similar external hard drives have not been able to do. This shows that there are thousands of people who are very happy with this product and you can be one of them.

The Western Digital Elements 2TB external hard drive retails is eligible for free delivery from Amazon.

The Western Digital Elements 2TB External Hard Drive boasts:

• A straightforward plug and play connection
• Sturdy casing
• Preformatted drive for ease of use
• A helpful capacity gauge

From the high quality internal parts, to the recyclable packaging, every aspect of the Western Digital Elements 2TB external hard drive is manufactured with an immense amount of thought and planning. Its enormous storage capacity means that you do not have to worry about running out of space any time soon, and with a brand like Western Digital there’s no need to have a backup of the backup, although, paradoxically, that is ALWAYS advisable, however famous the brand.

The Western Digital Elements 2TB external hard drive is a true plug and play device that does not waste your time with backup software. Once you have connected it to your computer via the USB cable you can start using it. The read and write speeds are very good, even when working directly from the drive, which is something that other external hard drives do not cope with very well. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about the drive spinning away while it’s not in use. This HDD will automatically power down after a few minutes of non-use; saving power and not working the drive unnecessarily.

Of course there are other Western Digital 2TB hard drives but most come with the backup software, which many people (myself included) find annoying. Also the smooth (nearly completely silent) operation of the Western Digital 2TB makes it a pleasure to use without the constant ‘whirring’ in the background.

One less pleasant factor about the Western Digital 2TB External Hard Drive is that it is intended to lie flat (wide) which takes up quite a bit more space. Most external hard drives will happily function on their side, or even upside-down, so chances are this one will work also. The problem is that the manufacturers at Western Digital have provided four non-stick pads on the intended base, which means that if you turn in on its side you may damage the casing. Also, operating it on its side is not how it is intended to work and could void any warranties or guarantees that you have with the product.

Once you have a little bit of extra room to lay it flat on your desk, you will be very happy purchasing the Western Digital Elements 2TB external hard drive. Its simplicity in design and operation will have your data safely backed up and you can do it without the bother of needing to learn the new software.

If you would like to read more on Amazon about the Western Digital Elements 2TB External Hard Drive, click here.

Another major player in the field of portable hard drives is the Western Digital Elements 1TB, manufactured by Western Digital, perhaps the most famous desktop data storage specialist, which boasts a huge storage capacity and is completely compatible with most systems through use of the relatively universal USB 2.0. The drive comes in various size configurations, such as 1.5 TB, 2 TB, 2.5 TB, 3 TB and 500 GB. Being one of the most purchased brands, it has almost 2,300 reviews on Amazon and even over such a colossal amount of ratings, manages to score an average of 4 stars out of 5.

Click here to get your own 8% discount on Amazon.

The Western Digital Elements boasts the following essential features:

• Highly affordable
• USB 2.0 hard drive
• Very simple usage
• 1 year limited warranty
• ATA100 hard disk interface
• Compatible with Mac OS X (Tiger or Leopard), Windows Vista/XP

One of the biggest advantages of the Western Digital 1TB drive is that it is truly “plug and play”. There are no fancy drivers to install before you can use it, you simply stick it into your computer and it functions out of the box as a mass storage device. This is a good solution for people who do not want to use the proprietary backup software that comes with the drive or that have fancy operating system configurations. The device also has a power-saving feature which functions extremely well and spins off when not in use and is available almost immediately when it needs to be used again. Some WD products come with a separate partition full of utility software that is difficult to remove, but this

Western Digital Elements 1TB drive comes with none of that and is a solution for people who are just looking for some plain old mass storage backup space and do not need any of the technical utilities that the other WD drives come with.

Another great feature that many users have noted is that the drive is extremely silent. Sometimes it’s difficult to decide whether their Western Digital Elements 1TB is actually running! Some users also found it handy that the indicator LED was on the back of the unit, because the flashing light can be annoying at night time, especially. Another great feature of the Western Digital Elements is that it does not heat up excessively – some users did extensive testing of data copying and transferring data at full-throttle speeds of 20-37 MBps did not even heat up the Western Digital Elements much at all.

Some users reported drive failures and bad sectors, but these are the kinds of problems that can happen to any user of any drive and therefore not specific to the Western Digital Elements 1TB in particular. Western Digital customer service is notoriously customer friendly and they will replace a faulty drive without questions if it is within the warranty period. Generally, a drive that has faults will start showing signs after just a few months so the 1 year limited warranty is perfectly suitable for this purpose. If you decide to go with a Western Digital Elements drive then you should continue to backup your data in another spot as well – it always pays to have at least 3 copies of your data. Increasingly now people are backing up their data using a service such as Dropbox or another cloud application, so it becomes less of an issue in case you are unfortunate enough to suffer purchasing a portable hard drive that has manufacturer’s mistakes.

Pros:

Extremely fast USB 2.0 speeds of between 20MBps-37MBPs

Compatible with Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista/7

Pure mass storage device without any fancy technical software or utilities

Cons:

Weighs more than other portable drives at over 2 lbs, so more suitable for a permanent desktop location

To read more about the Western Digital Elements 1TB on Amazon, click here!

Western Digital is one of the most trusted and well-known brands when it comes to portable hard drives. The Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1TB drive not only sports huge storage capacity which is increasingly becoming the norm for storing all your digital media, but is completely compatible with most systems through USB 2.0 and 3.0, has extremely fast transfer rates and comes with a 2-year limited warranty.

The Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1TB weighs barely 7 ounces, comes with encryption and password protection to take control of your data and on top of all this comes in an eco-friendly easily recyclable box for the environmentally conscious. The Western Digital My Passport Essential also comes in 750GB size and various other colors such as silver, metallic blue and metallic red.

Click here to buy on Amazon and get $33 off!

These are just some of the many features of the Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB:

• Automatic and continuous backup
• Dual USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility
• 1TB hard disk size
• ATA100 hard disk interface
• Three times faster rates of transfer with USB 3.0
• 6″ x 2″
• 0.75 lbs
• Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7 and Mac OS X

Most customers are looking for three things when it comes to portable hard drives: reliability, speed and security. The Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1TB delivers in all these areas and WD has been known for decades in the industry as one of the most trustworthy companies in the realm of storage capabilities. It should not be surprising then that the product gathered an overall rating of 4 stars on Amazon with just over 800 reviews. The Western Digital My Passport Essential is one of the most reliable. The worst thing that can happen is that a hard drive fails and all your data is lost, but the Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1TB allows you to manage your data extremely easily with the software that comes in the box. You can set it to do automatic backups and continuous backups. You can even set the time of the backups, so they can be performed when you are not using the computer and potentially interfering with other tasks.

The other factor that has impressed a lot of the reviewers with the Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1TB is that it uses the brand-new USB 3.0 interface, which is actually moving at a speed of 5GB USB. Only some of the latest computers will have this function built in, so you may not notice the increased speed if you have a slightly older computer, but the standard USB 2.0 is still lightning fast. But users with up-to-date computers were able to get the impressive speeds with the Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB drive.

A slight disadvantage of this product is that the cable is only 16” long, so you may need to purchase a Micro USB 3.0 cable if you need to put it in a computer that is further away than you expected. These cables are rather new and hard to come by, so it pays to take care of the cable that comes shipped with the box until they become more prevalent. As it is common with mass marketed software, the data-management application that comes with the Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1TB is not as intuitive as some highly technical users would like, and if you fall into that category then you might be just happy managing it as a raw data drive or using your own backup software. However, for most users of the drive, the native software is perfectly usable and acceptable.

All in all, the Western Digital My Passport is a great portable hard drive from one of the most trusted and used brands on the market. Whether you choose it over the SeaGate GoFlex, the LaCie Rugged or the Toshiba Canvio remains more a question of preference than being right or wrong, with each being a well respected leader in the portable hard drive category.

Pros:

Lightning fast USB 3.0 speeds or USB 2.0

Security and automatic backups

Compatible with all operating systems

Cons:

Cable may be too short for some people

Data management application may be non-intuitive for some users

For more reviews on Amazon for the Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1TB, click here.

The Western Digital My Book Essential External Hard Drive is an ideal solution for PC and Mac users who are looking for quality, affordability, and maximum storage capacity for data, photos, video, or any media that can be saved to computer. This unit’s ability to store a great deal of information at high speeds makes it a perfect companion for any laptop or desktop-model PC. It features both 2.0 and 3.0 USB compatibility for increased flexibility and added security with both a password feature and encryption of data. Whether you want to back up your computer or store a multitude of different files, the Western Digital My Book Essential external hard drive firmly deserves its status as one of the leading candidates for all your portable data storage needs.

The Western Digital My Book is available on Amazon at a massive 28% discount. Click here to buy on Amazon today!

Some of the features of the Western Digital My Book Essential external hard drive are:

• Automatic backup
• Ease of use—simply plug into any USB port
• Easy to transport—lightweight and slim
• Saves energy with automatic sleep mode and power-saving features
• Password feature—keeps your files safe and protects your privacy

The Western Digital My Book Essential is perfect for the desktop PC, as once installed, it will back up all files automatically. There is no manual backup required, which gives the user peace of mind that files are being saved quickly and securely. The supplied software is also very easy to use, and one of the best features of this software is that the user isn’t required to use all of its features. If there is a component that is not needed, the user is not forced to use the feature, unlike other software, which use a more “all or nothing” approach to their programs. Users will enjoy this feature, as it saves space on their hard drive and does not force them to download or use a feature they do not need. In addition, the unit features a quick and quiet transfer, and if a 3.0 USB hub is used, the data transfer is up to three times the speed of a 2.0 hub. This means that larger files, such as videos, movies, and high-quality media can be moved much faster, saving time and energy.

For users concerned about saving wattage and the environment, the Western Digital MyBook is a great choice because of its energy-saving features. The unit works with your computer and not independently, shutting off when the computer does and therefore, saving electricity. It also has a sleep mode that lowers the amount of power used when it’s not being used, and thanks to innovative, Western Digital environment-friendly technology, the external uses much less power than other external hard drives on the market. In this day and age, where many people are conscious of these issues, this is a definite plus. As for troubles with the unit, there have been reports of problems with the USB connections and some data loss after a period of heavy use, as well as some software conflicts on certain operating systems, but these issues are mostly reported on older or modified systems.

The Western Digital My Book Essential hard drive is an easy-to-use, affordable choice for any PC user who needs storage capability that is roomy and secure. Despite a few problems with connections on older systems, the external hard drive backs up files and stores information on both desktop PC’s and laptops as well.

Click here for more informative reviews on Amazon for the Western Digital My Book Essential.

A Western Digital external hard drive is perfect for those who are looking for quality, performance, and maximum storage capacity for TV, movies, gaming, home video recordings, and more. With its capacity to both store media and interact with other devices, such as camcorders and televisions, this device is not only a great solution for media storage, but playback is also quick and easy. Not only does this innovative hard drive work with a number of top DVR brands, such as Dish Network and Time Warner, its design is slim and easy to store, no matter how much space you have available in your entertainment center. This Western Digital external hard drive 1TB My DVR Expander unit is versatile and easy to use, and is perfect for anyone who wants to add hours of extra recording time on their DVRs and store their favorite movies and TV shows without having to delete the other material first.

This Western Digital external hard drive is featured now at an excellent 1% discount on Amazon.com. Click here to purchase now from Amazon!

Here are some of the amazing features of the Western Digital external hard drive:

• Seamless interface with a number of different devices (TV, camcorder, gaming systems)
• AV-friendly, making playback on any system rich and clear
• Easy to use, connect, and transport
• Quiet, space-saving, and affordable

The Western Digital My DVR Expander is very quiet and stays cool to the touch, even when it’s in operation. Also, the AV cables are included, so there are no extra purchases to make. It comes ready to set up, plug in, and use! Users will be very pleased with how simple it is to transfer the external hard drive to different devices and how much it increases the capacity to store data, especially on any DVR. For those who would like to record and store movies without having to erase other data on their DVRs, the Western Digital external hard drive 1TB is ideal. Playback is also very fluid, and there is no stuttering or buffering. One of the best features of this My DVR expander is the ease of how it transfers files from the TV or camcorder to the unit. It’s quick and there are no technical directions to puzzle out. It even records your favorite shows and movies in HD with same high-quality playback for TV shows, sports, and even music concerts.

One of the unique features of the My DVR expander unit is its multiple interfaces. It has both USB and eSATA capabilities, so the connections to other devices are not limited to simply one or the other. With My DVR Expander, this convenience, combined with the very affordable price, makes it well worth the purchase. With multiple connections, there are no extra cables, ports, or plugs to buy, so extra trips to the electronics store are not necessary with this product. Just choose which connection goes with the TV, gaming device, or camcorder, and plug it in. Without this limitation, the user has a much bigger choice of what to save on the expander and has no need to buy any extra units with different plugs.

Cons

The only real con of the Western Digital External Hard Drive 1TB is that some problems have been reported with its compatibility to certain brand-name receivers, and that it is difficult to resolve those problems without constantly rebooting the unit, which has, in some cases, resulted in a loss of data for some customers. In most instances, Western Digital was very helpful in getting the unit up and running.

Overall, the Western Digital My Book AV DVR Expander is a great choice for anyone who is looking to increase their DVR storage without having to erase their favorite saved TV shows, movies, or sporting events.

Click here to read more helpful reviews on Amazon for this Western Digital external hard drive 1TB My DVR Expander.

If you are in the market for mass portable data storage, you won’t go wrong by purchasing a Toshiba external hard drive. Toshiba has managed to make the Toshiba Canvio 1TB E05A100BBU2XK have the finish of an iPhone with the capabilities of a very powerful backup and storage system. This no-lies approach to plug-and-play means that once you take it out the box and plug it in, you are good to go. Your computer immediately recognizes the Toshiba Canvio 1TB and is ready to start doing whatever you want it to do. There is no wasting of time with clunky software and installations. Also its sleek design and glossy finish means that it looks like the cool operator that it is.

The Toshiba external hard drive retails for $128.78. Click here to get your own $23.26 discount plus free delivery from Amazon!

It definitely shows that Toshiba did not cut corners with this product, and the features include:

• Add-on storage powered by 2.0 USB connection
• No software installation
• Internal shock sensors to protect against those unavoidable bumps
• Toshiba limited 3-year warranty

The Toshiba Canvio 1TB E05A100BBU2XK is Toshiba’s answer to SeaGate’s GoFlex or Western Digital’s My Passport, and let’s remember that Toshiba as a manufacturer is a general appliance and electronics brand, rather than a hard drive specialist. It’s therefore interesting to see how it fares against the bigger portable hard drive ‘heavy hitters’ as it were. Funnily enough, the Toshiba Canvio 1TB can really hold its own. It is a little device that packs a very big punch. With its no-nonsense approach to how it operates and very generous capacity, it may be something of an overstatement to say that this Toshiba external hard drive is in a league of its own, but for just over a hundred bucks you would be hard pressed to find a more reliable external data storage source. It does exactly what it says on the box which means that you get your data backed up easily and quickly without navigating through unfriendly software.

The Toshiba Canvio range of external hard drives comes in a range of capacities so that you can buy what you need. Admittedly, buying this Toshiba external hard drive probably ensures that you do not need to buy another external hard drive any time soon, but in case you need to top up with another smaller size, or you don’t need or want as much as a whole terabyte, there are 320GB, 500GB and 750GB options for you to choose from. At 1TB, the model which is the subject of this review, you will get ample space for personal storage and data transfers at a decent speed so that you are not waiting for hours while the device saves your information.

With regard to its portability, it is amazing that the manufacturers of the Toshiba Canvio 1TB were able to fit all the necessary parts into such tiny casing. This Toshiba external hard drive can almost be transported in your back pocket! However, if you are looking for something a bit safer, you can transport it in the Toshiba external hard drive carrying case. While it does look sturdy, the Toshiba Canvio is not designed to withstand massive impacts like, say, the LaCie Rugged, so make sure to use a sturdy carrying case, preferably using a metal frame with rubber on the outside, following the formula used by the LaCie Rugged itself (it really does work in terms of protection). It provides added protection against those inevitable bumps and falls.

Despite every effort to manufacture flawless products, there are a few that slip by with a few glitches. It has been reported that the device suddenly failed to work after a few months of usage. It is not apparent why this happens, and the occurrences are so few that there is limited research into the matter that can be done. The good thing is that Toshiba welcomes feedback and will investigate any problems as much as possible. In most cases, you will be able to get your hard drive replaced, and you can get on with your work. It is also worth noting that Mac users will have to go through setting up the device on their computer as the Toshiba Canvio 1TB is not automatically recognized on the Mac. However, once the (very short and quick) set-up is completed you can start using your Toshiba external hard drive.

Pros:

Very cheap, even compared to leading Seagate and WD hard drives

No compromise in quality despite the lower price

No installation required. It will start working on your computer immediately

Fast data transfer

Very portable

Very light

Cons:

Only made for the Windows computer

It should always be handled with care because it may stop working if it suffers any heavy impact with a hard object

Click here to read more reviews on Amazon for the Toshiba external hard drive.

This Seagate Goflex review may seem somewhat superfluous as we have already reviewed the almost identical USB 2.0 version. However, what that version lacked in speed, the STAA1000101 now has in copious amounts, largely thanks to its new USB 3.0 compatibility. While you will need to check that your computer can support the newer USB 3.0, if you are lucky enough to experience USB 3.0 file transfers first hand, you are most certainly in for a treat: The speed is quite simply blisteringly fast. Seagate ensures that the power of its latest USB 3.0 portable hard drive lives up to the hype.

The Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex is usually sold for up to $200 on many sites but click here to access your own $45.04 discount from Amazon!

Here are some of the incredible features of the  STAA1000101:

• Lightning fast USB 3.0 transfer
• Backup and encryption software that is pre-installed for you
• Gives you access to your content via TV or other network when paired with other GoFlex products.

If you are an ‘on the go’ type of person and need to have your information with you all the time, then this is the perfect hard drive for you. Not only does it provide you with ample space, it is built with travel in mind. Of course, no one is going to purposely drop, bang or throw their external hard drive, but accidents do happen; and the kind people at Seagate have built the STAA1000101 (through to STAA1000105, which refers to the colors) with accidents in mind. The sturdy build and solid material ensures that the device can survive the minor bumps and scrapes that are bound to happen when you are on the go.

In addition to the robust build, any Seagate Goflex review will tell you that this manufacturer keeps up with emerging technologies. The Seagate STAA1000101 has a connection that is backwards compatible with computers that still have the USB 2.0 interfaces. This shows a commitment to adapting to market changes and means that your external hard drive will be ‘current’ for a long time. So there’s no worrying about technology leaving you behind, and losing data due to advances in design. Not to mention, you won’t need to run out and buy another one in a hurry.

Of course, no product is perfect, and the Seagate STAA1000101 Hard Drive does have its shortcomings; although it must be said that the following is more a problem with the Seagate policy than with the hard drive itself. If you ever have the misfortune of buying a faulty device, which only becomes apparent after you start using it for backing up your work, you will need to purchase the Seagate recovery software, which retails at $100 to $150. One Seagate Goflex review states that the customer services advisor who informed them of this fact seemed not to care, but it should be said that these occurrences are very rare. And even though you need to navigate through a fairly long customer services menu, there are advisors available to help you if you experience any problems with your external hard drive. There is also a lot of guidance online to help you through any niggles, including setting it up and troubleshooting common problems.

All in all, the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex has been proven to work outstandingly, and has been designed with a daily use in mind. It is built for purpose and is among the best of its type.

Click here if you would like to read another good Seagate Goflex review on Amazon.

The SeaGate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB is the USB 2.0 version of the very popular STAA1000100 hard drive, recommended for all users whose computers do not have USB 3.0 functionality. Although USB 2.0 is admittedly a lot slower than USB 3.0, it is possible to upgrade to FireWire 800 via the use of upgrade cables which enable the user to access speeds double those of USB 2.0. Beside the Expansion range, the FreeAgent GoFlex is SeaGate’s most popular external hard drive with thousands upon thousands of satisfied users and an average 4/5 star rating on Amazon.

The SeaGate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB is available on Amazon with free shipping. Click here to get your $11.12 discount!

The SeaGate GoFlex 1 TB Ultra-Portable External Hard-Drive has the following features:

• Able to store all file formats, whether video, audio, documents or compressed folders
• Enables you to take all your data with you whenever you’re on the go
• Compatible with both PC and Mac computers
• USB 2.0 plug-and-play
• Upgradable to firewire 800 or eSATA using separate upgrade cables
• 1 TB of storage
• 5 1/4 inches wide x 2 1/4 inches high
• Weighs less than 1 lb

If you consider the tiny size of the SeaGate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB and then consider that it can store 1 terabyte of data, you begin to get an idea of how powerful this hard drive is, and how many resources the manufacturer SeaGate dedicates to improving the storage efficiency of all their hard drives. The FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB is only slightly larger than the competing Western Digital Passport, and can fit in your pocket. While I have read a few ‘horror stories’ on the net about failing drives and lost data (pretty much the worst scenario you could imagine), thankfully my experience with the STAA1000100 has been as you should expect for a $150 hard drive. And let’s face it, no matter what external drive you pick, for every 1000 happy customers there will always be one horror story; it’s just the nature of the product, it seems.

As soon as my SeaGate 1 TB STAA1000100 arrived and the postman gave me the package to sign in for it, I was amazed at the small size. I am accustomed to a large package when I order an external hard-drive, I was expecting to see what I usually see, a box that was twice the size of the hard-drive and a huge cumbersome power pack to power the drive. I was pleasantly surprised when I got the package. I had read about its light weight, less than half a kilogram, but whenever I think of an external hard drive I still think of bulky, heavy metal objects that draw massive power and make terribly loud sounds when in operation.

While my experience with the SeaGate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB has been overall positive, there are a few drawbacks to having such a small, lightweight portable hard drive. Due to the fact that the STAA1000100 requires only USB BUS power, it is slower than your conventional desktop hard drive, operating at 5400 RPM. Nonetheless, if I had to choose to lose a little speed in favor of portability, I would do so in a flash. Finally, I am somewhat skeptical of the claims on the sales page which state that simply upgrading cables to USB 3.0 will make file transfers 10 times faster. As the old saying goes, seeing is believing…

Pros:

High capacity to size ratio

USB 2.0 permits compatibility across the board (i.e. Windows, Mac, etc.)

USB BUS derived power eliminates need for external power source

Cons:

Only comes with USB 2.0 connection, have to upgrade to higher connection

Spins at a slow RPM relative to desktop PCs (i.e. 5400 versus 7200)

Click here to read more reviews on Amazon for the SeaGate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB.

The new Seagate external hard drive 1TB – ST910004EXA101-RK is the latest offering from data storage specialists Seagate. Boasting a maximum capacity of 1TB and a simple drag and drop file backup process, this Seagate 1TB External Hard Drive is one of the main contenders along with the LaCie and Western Digital 1TB models. The Seagate External Hard Drive ST910004EXA101-RK can be used with both Mac and Windows desktop PCs and requires no power source – that means no more lugging around cumbersome A/C adapters on your business trips.

The Seagate external hard drive 1TB is available at Amazon at a price of just $114.99 with no shipping charges. Click here to buy on Amazon today!

The Seagate external hard drive 1TB is simply feature-packed. Here are some of them:

• Huge storage space of 1TB
• Power management system that ensures working with minimum power consumption
• Compact and easy to carry with dimensions of 6 x 3 1/3 x 1 inches
• Compatibility with both Mac and PC
• USB connectivity and no need of external power
• No installation required. Just connect with the computer and start using
• 5400 RPM operation speed
• The product also comes with a two-year warranty
• Special sleep mode for less power consumption

Seagate has certainly made a credible attempt to live up to its name with an average Seagate external hard drive review of 4 out of 5 at Amazon as calculated by the rating given by over 700 customers who actually bought and used it. Among these reviews, it appears that the biggest advantage that the device offers is the fact that it requires no external power source as it operates merely through power derived from the USB BUS. This makes the Seagate 1TB external hard drive a fully portable option known colloquially as ‘plug and play’. All you need to do is to connect the Seagate external hard drive with you PC using the USB cable, and that’s it. There is no need to install anything, no installation CD, no drivers – nothing. Just a USB plug, drag and drop. Done.

Aside from the obvious convenience of having a terabyte of storage in your pocket, another great feature of the Seagate external hard drive is the sleep mode. Though some might take this in a negative sense, it is actually a great way to save power. A few kilowatts here and there may initially seem insignificant, but with frequent use, you would be surprised by how much it adds up. Being an experienced player in the portable hard drive field, Seagate really does understand this and the response from all the Seagate external hard drive reviews from all over the internet has been overwhelmingly positive. After about five minutes of usage it automatically ‘hibernates’. An important thing to note here is that the performance is not affected when the device shifts into sleep mode. Thus, the ST910004EXA101-RK is a great power efficient external hard disk. However, if you are not comfortable with the feature, you can easily remove it by using either the Seagate manager program which is available on the company’s website or by formatting the hard disk.

Pros:

Silent operation

Fast data transfer at around 30 Mbps

Compact and easy to carry

No external A/C power required

Cons:

For some, the sleep mode might be somewhat annoying.

This Seagate external hard drive is a great option for those who require a lot of disk space and also transfer the files very frequently. There are a number of helpful Seagate external hard drive reviews on Amazon. Click here to read those on Amazon as well.

The LaCie Rugged 500GB Hard Drive is specifically designed to withstand all the bumps and bruises of frequent travel and extensive use. As such, it is ideal for business men and women who need a compact, portable store of data without having to worry about damaging it in the packing, travelling and unpacking process. Apart from its famous strength, the most notable feature of the LaCie Rugged 500GB Hard Disk is that it is powered by the USB BUS, which means that you will not need an extra AC power cord to power this hard-drive. The LaCie Rugged 500GB is truly a plug and play device, yet a device with a huge amount of data storage capacity.

The LaCie Rugged 500GB Hard Drive is available on Amazon for $143.95. Click here to get free shipping!

Have a look at the features of the LaCie Rugged 500GB hard disk:

• 500 GB External Hard-Drive in shock resistant case
• BUS powered and plug and play operable.
• 3.6 inches by 1.0 inches by 1 inch in size
• Triple interface that includes USB 2.0 and both firewire 800 and 400
• Weighs 8.82 ounces
• Requires Windows XP, Vista, 2000, or Mac OS 10.5 Leopard or higher.
• Requires at least 128 MB RAM.

I personally got the LaCie Rugged 500GB for my somewhat dated Windows XP laptop and it has proven itself to be a lifesaver in situations where I needed to backup large files that my USB flash drives couldn’t hold. There are only so many 16GB, 32GB USB flash drives you can buy before you realize that it’s getting ridiculous and you need a different solution. I like the idea of the BUS technology and not having to pack away one of those cumbersome AC adapters to simply power the thing, thus it works much like any flash drive does, except that it is faster (even more so with firewire 800) and stores 20 times more! It does work very well and the super-fast firewire 800 connection is awesome!

All in all, I’ve been very happy with all the LaCie hard drives that I have owned. They seem to fail less compared to other brands, such as WD, SeaGate, and others. I especially like the LaCie Rugged hard disk, since I do travel often, and sometimes I go to some rather remote parts of the world. The fact that it runs on BUS technology means that I don’t need any of those annoying and bothersome adaptors that take too much space in my computer bag.

The transfer speed of the LaCie Rugged 500GB is satisfactory when using USB 2.0, and well above satisfactory when using Firewire 800. The versatility in terms of connection types is another plus; I get the impression that LaCie have really put a lot of thought into this drive being one of the leaders on the market for travelling data storage, with its rugged, shock construction, variety of connection types (USB 2.0, Firewire 400/800) and of course its self-powering ability via the USB BUS.

A lot has been said about the ‘rugged’ name and exactly how ‘rugged’ the LaCie Rugged 500GB actually is. The orange rubber bumper and aluminum shell design certainly make it very hard to break it if you drop it. Can it survive being thrown out of an aircraft flying at 20,000 feet? Probably not. But compared to your average Western Digital hard drive, I know which one I would choose on a trip to France.

Pros:

It operates on BUS technology, allowing you to use it anywhere without needing an electrical outlet.

Sturdy shock-resistant design makes it ideal for travelers.

Reliable and less likely to fail

Versatile high speed connectivity

Works on USB 2.0, fire wire 800/400

Cons:

Per gigabyte of storage space, the LaCie Rugged is more expensive than its competitors

If you need more information about the LaCie Rugged 500GB Hard Drive on Amazon, click here.

The LaCie external hard drive 2TB is a very efficient hard-drive for all computers which still have the old USB 2.0 connections. LaCie have delivered a product which caters to an increasingly frustrated section of computer owners who are not yet ready to purchase a new USB 3.0 compatible system, yet who wish to purchase a portable hard drive to back up their valuable data. The LaCie 2TB external hard drive comes with a stylish blue LED light that is both functional and creates great ambient lighting around the drive itself. The housing is a stylish black cube and designed to add a unique ambiance to your desktop, office, or workstation. The drive also comes with a smart fan-less cooling system for quiet operation.

Click here to get free shipping from Amazon today!

Here are some of the features of the LaCie External Hard-Drive:

• Sleek square shiny black box for elegant modern design
• Blue LED lighting for ambiance
• Smart fan-less cooling system for quiet operation
• A product of Neil Poulton
• 3.29 inches high
• 8.39 inches wide
• Weighs 3.10 pounds

I had originally bought the LaCie 2TB as an external backup system and it’s served me well so far. Although I do understand that aesthetics are definitely not the main priority with portable hard drives, the LaCie 2TB external hard drive really does look stylish and the way the LED light reflects on my glass desk adds that extra bit of atmosphere to my video editing sessions. The only thing is that the USB cable is a bit short, but I was able to work around that with a very cheap extension. Oh, I also like the fan-less cooling system. I’ve never seen this type of cooling system, and I am amazed at how quietly it runs. I’m also somewhat baffled as to how you can cool something without a fan, but I guess that will always be a mystery to me!

I have always bought LaCie external hard drives since my experience with this brand has been very positive in the past. I have numerous smaller LaCie drives which are all filling up, and thus I bought the LaCie 2 TB external hard drive to place all the data in my other hard-drives. Its rectangular shape is great since I have limited desktop space and I am able to stack this one with several others. This is important to me, since I am in the video business and I need to store many external hard-drives to store large files. The average consumer should note that 2 Terabytes is a huge amount of storage and it’s very unlikely that they will need more than 1 drive for all their data (past, present and future) unless they are into video editing like I am.

The one big issue I had with the LaCie external hard drive is that the cords were submerged, and I could not use them. I had no idea what cords I needed to get to plug into the LaCie 2TB external hard drive. The LaCie customer service was great and sent me a detailed email explaining what type of cords I needed, and I was good to go. While the customer service was of great help, I would recommend setting out things a little more clearly in the manual so that such requests for help would not be necessary.

If you don’t want to go the way of Western Digital or Iomega, then LaCie is without doubt the best option. The LaCie external hard drive is great for those, like me, who have USB ports, but if you have firewire, you should consider LaCie’s firewire alternative which is essentially of the same design as this one.

Pros:

Revolutionary fan-less cooling system allows for quiet operation

It holds a whopping 2TB of data

Sleek design looks good on your desktop

Cons:

Power and USB cables are too short

Only compatible with USB 2.0 (as the product name suggests)

For more information about the 2TB LaCie external hard drive on Amazon, click here.

The Iomega Prestige is the newest high capacity Iomega Hard Drive currently on the market, with a very considerable 2 Terabytes of storage. As with most modern portable hard drives out nowadays, the Iomega Prestige can accommodate the latest in USB technology (i.e. USB 3.0 connections) while at the same time being retrospectively compatible with previous, much slower USB 2.0 technology. The Iomega Prestige not only provides lots of storage space and high-speed delivery of data, it also comes in a stylish durable design that is both practical, durable and easy on the eye.

The recommended price for the Iomega Prestige is $189.99. Click here to get a $49.56 discount from Amazon today!

Have a look at some of the features of this Iomega hard drive:

• High Capacity 2TB Storage Space
• Unprecedented file transfer speed thanks to USB 3.0 integration
• Backward compatibility to USB 2.0, ideal for older computers
• Comes with free Iomega Protection Suite software
• Comes with AES 256 bit hardware encryption.
• Comes with a three-year limited warranty and registration.
• Size – 4 1/2 inches by 6 inches by 9 inches
• Weight – 1.5 Kg

Iomega Prestige Review

Although portable hard drive reviews are notoriously critical, there have been many positive Iomega Prestige reviews with customers generally pleased about the quick transfer speeds, low power consumption (0.1 kW) and long lasting construction, however there remains to this day a number of issues with Windows 7 that prevent it from being used with Windows Backup (for normal file transfer it’s fine).

The storage space of the Iomega Prestige is phenomenal. The fact that 2 TB is equal to 2,000 GB (in SI terms) or 2,048 GB (in standard binary terms) means that the Iomega Prestige is ideal for storing large video and graphic-design files. The sheer amount of storage space available on this drive still baffles me to this day, and I’ve only been able to fill about 500 GB with every single file I own. It’s also ideal for backing up your entire hard-drive and more, though as above if you’ve got Windows 7 please look at our other reviews as there are problems with Windows Backup.

As a career writer, I consider the Iomega Prestige to be a wise investment. Because I both write for fun and money, I need an external hard-drive on to which I can instantly backup my latest edits. The fact that this Iomega hard drive is compatible with the older USB 2.0 connections was the main selling point for me, as I have not yet bought a computer which has USB 3.0 connections.

Though the instructions say that USB 3.0 connections are the optimal connections for this hard-drive and are recommended for optimal performance, the Iomega Prestige works quite well on my older computer which has USB 2.0 connections. File transfer speeds with my text files are of course practically instant, and my movie files can be transferred within a few seconds. If you bear in mind that I am NOT using USB 3.0 yet, such speeds are more than satisfactory to backup hundreds of gigabytes within a few hours.

Although this particular Iomega hard drive is indeed stylish, we all know it wasn’t built for that. I was reminded of this while I was admiring how good my new portable hard drive looked, and it so happened that the hard-drive on my PC suddenly dropped dead. But because I had everything on my PC backed up on my Iomega Prestige, I did not lose a single bit of data. This is PRECISELY what we buy these things for!

Pros:

The Iomega Prestige is big enough to back up all your data, and then some!

Swift transfer speeds especially on new USB 3.0

The drive is made for USB 3.0 for optimal performance, but is also backward compatible with USB 2.0 for older computers.

Cons:

Windows 7 users might have problems backing up their entire system on the Iomega Prestige.

Built in software could cause problems.

Click here to read more reviews on Amazon for this Iomega Hard Drive.

The Iomega eGo 1TB External Hard Drive is the ideal accompaniment to your business travels. Capable of clocking speeds up to ten times faster than your typical USB 2.0 hard drive, the Iomega eGo Black Belt nonetheless maintains backward compatibility with computers which still have the older 2.0 USB ports, thus ensuring that your portable hard drive can be read wherever you choose to plug it in. The compact construction of the Iomega eGo 1TB External Hard Drive has been reported to be the number one contributing factor to current customers’ satisfaction since it allows them to transport vast amounts of data without the inconvenience of a large, bulky drive or multiple DVDs. The Iomega eGo 1TB External Hard Drive is constructed from extremely rugged materials, a quality which is certainly required for the rigors of day to day travel.

Click here to get $17.84 off the Iomega eGo 1TB External Hard Drive from Amazon today!

Have a look at all the features of the Iomega 1TB eGo External Hard Drive:

• Size – 2 1/4 by 6 by 4 1/2, Weight approximately 350 grams
• Ten times faster than the speed of USB 2.0 connections
• Transfer speeds can go up to 5GB per second
• 3.0 USB connection available with no requirements for extra power cable
• Super-strong housing that can protect the hard-drive from drops as far as seven feet
• Enhanced 256 bit hardware encryption for added security and peace of mind
• 3 year warranty upon registration of product

The Iomega eGo 1TB does have some redeeming features which make it worthy of its hefty $200 price tag, although it is not without its disadvantages either. The device writes rather quickly and retrieves data quickly too, though considering that it makes use of new USB 3.0 technology I would have expected it to be a little faster, as a few reviewers are quick to point out on Amazon. The total space is more than satisfactory, easily enough for all my video and graphic files, and unless you’re a serious movie buff you are going to have a hard time going over a terabyte of data. What I like the most about the Iomega 1TB eGo is having the peace of mind of drop protection. Since I’m in the architectural business, I often frequent construction sites and have to take my Iomega with me to show files to clients and inform them on how the design is being developed, and so forth. On construction sites as you can imagine, many things can go wrong, and my Iomega 1TB external hard drive has been dropped several times on the job site and still works like a charm! In fact, the whole reason I bought the Iomega eGo 1TB in the first place was the infamous video of a car running over the hard drive yet it still remaining in tact and fully functional. I haven’t tried that myself but, I am beginning to believe that they weren’t making it up!

The sturdy design of the Iomega eGo 1TB is second to none. Indeed, no other hard-drive I have ever owned could be dropped from a single foot, let alone seven, and still live to tell the tale! If you’re looking for portability plus sheer strength, despite its detractors, the Iomega eGo 1TB is surely the solution for you. The high-speed USB 3.0 connection is also a plus. I love being able to access my data stored on my Iomega eGo at such a high speed. Furthermore, the fact that I have backward compatibility with older USB 2.0 connections allows me to take the Iomega 1TB to work with me where the computers are considerably older.

There is one main negative of the Iomega eGo 1TB External Hard Drive, highlighted by many reviewers on Amazon, and that is the CD partition that requires Windows users to ‘install’ the Iomega software every time they plug it in. Although this is very quick, it’s a lot more obtrusive than a raw ‘plug and play’ USB drive which is what this portable hard drive should really be about.

Pros:

The Iomega eGo 1TB is drop-proof and rugged design can give peace of mind that data will not be lost

The high-speed connection is great for people who work with audio and video files

It has 1TB of storage space, which is equal to 1,000 GB

Backward compatible with USB 2.0 connections

Cons:

Has an annoying CD partition

Comes with unusually annoying software

Not good for keeping backup of Windows operating systems

Click here to read more reviews on the Iomega eGo 1TB External Hard Drive on Amazon.