Need an external hard-drive - which one?

[NG708]

Folks,

Have to get an external hard-drive to back up my ailing laptop.

Any recommendations - it would need to be at least 80Gb to hold what is already on the laptop, so am thinking at least 160Gb.

Any speed/connection/format specifics to look out for?

Presume that they can all be plugged in via USB - is this usually fast enough or is there a minimum transfer speed needed?

Cheers for your suggestions.

[Conan the Librarian]

If you have it on your machine, a Firewire/USB 2.0 combo is a good one to go for. While you are at it, don't waste the effort with an 80GB unit. You will even fill a 250/300/400GB unit given time and the costs are disproportionate. the bigger the drive, the cheaper the Gigabyte cost.


Conan

PS search through this page and the one after - there is a thread there discussing Ext Hard Drives.

[Trip Switch]

NG708

Quite like the Maxtor range myself.

[NG708]

Thanks. Although I have firewire, I've never used it. Also, would it tend to be on new machines as well, or is it becoming redundant in favour of USB?

[AppleMacster]

The Lacie range of Hard Drives are reliable and are available in USB, Firewire and even Triple Interface USB 2.0, Firewire 400 & 800, which might be a consideration if you intend to change your laptop in the future. They also do a range of bus-powered mobile Hard Drives which need no external power adaptor, which may be a consideration for laptop users. Lacie drives are also "plug and play" for Windows 2000, XP and Mac, avoiding any driver frustration.

AppleMacster