External Portable HDD Suggestion

Normally this wouldn't bother me as I'd immediately know what to get, but certain elements came into play...

Anyway, my uncle will be coming in from abroad so I took the chance to have him get me another HDD for backup purposes. Now here's the thing, I'm pretty sure it'll be stuffed in the luggage and on a transatlantic flight at that - so, since it isn't SSD, I was wondering if you guys could offer me any suggestions on a good shockproof/rugged portable HDD brand+model (except Maxtor or any questionable brand with an error-filled history). Since it is just for back-up, I'm gunning for 250 gigs.

 

Freecom ToughDrive: http://www.freecom.com/productsubs.asp?CatID=8020&sCatID=1146257&s=ja

I think that's the toughest around; good reputation. As long as the drive is carefully packed, I'd have thought something more ordinary would do.

 

I've been scouting around and I've found a Plextor Shock-Proof Portable (which I am not so familiar with, save for their optical drives) and a Transcend StoreJet 2.5 Mobile (a brand that I know more for their SD/Flash Cards).

Guess that makes three. Thanks.

Wouldn't risk a regular though. Even though I trust the way its packed, the handling of the luggage from car to plane to conveyor to car might jar the HD.

 

Much as I like Plextor as a make, that drive doesn't look like it would withstand a 2 metre drop. But the Freecom is fairly expensive. Dunno if it's relevant, but the Freecom will take a power adapter for use with low power USB ports.

The Transcend claims: 'The standard indicates 26 drops from 1.2 m (4 ft) on 2 plywood using up to 5 units. The specification indicates no temperature' or from 36" depending on who you believe. Freecom: 'Max. drop height: 2 Metres free drop on flat surface'.

Interesting.