External Hard Drive

[rwethereyet (Premo)]

I want to get an external hard drive to copy my files on. Amazon.com has an Iomega 500GB for $109 or close to that amount. Has anyone else use an Iomega or have any recommendations? TIA!!

[Mousebaby (Premo)]

Originally Posted by rwethereyet

I want to get an external hard drive to copy my files on. Amazon.com has an Iomega 500GB for $109 or close to that amount. Has anyone else use an Iomega or have any recommendations? TIA!!

I just bought a Seagate Free Agent Pro 500gb. This particular one uses the firewire to connect to my computer and it does not drag my computer down when it is running and it is a heck of a lot faster when you are copying files to it. This one I got for 149.99 but I'm sure with a little homework you could probably find it cheaper.

On the side note. I used to use a 250gb Iomega usb and it drug my computer way down while it was on. I wouldn't even have to be using it and it would slow everything down. My computer is running with 4gb of memory and has a dual core processor. It should not ever get that slow. Just giving you some info that I have experienced. I hope this helps.

[MrX (Premo)]

May try checking Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more! and TigerDirect.com - Computers, Computer Parts, Computer Accessories, PC Components, & Electronics as well.

[Gwydion]

Aye, get Firewire, especially if you are using it as a backup drive. The difference between the speeds of USB and Firewire are negligible when dealing with small files (i.e. word documents, photos, etc.), but increase dramatically when you start transferring video, songs, programs, etc.

Just make certain your computer is firewire compatible. (The connector kinda looks like a box, as opposed to a rectable that the USB uses)

From there, the HD speed comes into play, although there is probably little reason you need a 10k rpm. 5400 or 7200 will do fine.

And, of course, size. I have 3.2 TBs of HD space, and they are all Seagates...

[rwethereyet (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Mousebaby

I just bought a Seagate Free Agent Pro 500gb. This particular one uses the firewire to connect to my computer and it does not drag my computer down when it is running and it is a heck of a lot faster when you are copying files to it. This one I got for 149.99 but I'm sure with a little homework you could probably find it cheaper.

On the side note. I used to use a 250gb Iomega usb and it drug my computer way down while it was on. I wouldn't even have to be using it and it would slow everything down. My computer is running with 4gb of memory and has a dual core processor. It should not ever get that slow. Just giving you some info that I have experienced. I hope this helps.

Thank you. I never thought about the speeds and glad to know Iomega will slow me down. Looks like I will look at the seagates! Thanks again for all the responses.

[Gwydion]

Originally Posted by rwethereyet

Thank you. I never thought about the speeds and glad to know Iomega will slow me down. Looks like I will look at the seagates! Thanks again for all the responses.

No no, it has nothing to do with the brand. It has to do with the connection...USB versus Firewire.

[dn0121]

Originally Posted by rwethereyet

Thank you. I never thought about the speeds and glad to know Iomega will slow me down. Looks like I will look at the seagates! Thanks again for all the responses.

does your pc have a firewire connection? if you have a MAC then you have firewire.

[Mousebaby (Premo)]

Originally Posted by dn0121

does your pc have a firewire connection? if you have a MAC then you have firewire.

Mine is a Dell and it has firewire, why would you think only Mac's have firewire?

[dn0121]

Originally Posted by Mousebaby

Mine is a Dell and it has firewire, why would you think only Mac's have firewire?

Oh, I don't think that. MACs have them as standard, not all PCs have do.

[GWguy]

Originally Posted by Gwydion

No no, it has nothing to do with the brand. It has to do with the connection...USB versus Firewire.

Actually, if you do research these, some DO have better transfer rates than others, USB being equal. Sometimes it's significant. Combination of the drive used (Maxtor vs Seagate vs Hitachi....) and the electronics used. Different vendors use the same drives, so find out what drive is actually being used.

I have LaCie drives (Seagate HD). Been using them for years with no issue. Currently have 3 500 Gb D2 drives and a 250. And I put one of the 500 Gb drives to the acid test last night. I was moving things around and knocked one drive off the table onto the floor, 3 feet. It was not a gentle drop. Powered it up and ran diagnostics, all was fine. Didn't skip a beat. It was powered off when it fell. If it had been spinning, I'm not so sure I would have been so lucky.