Good External HD that works with Laptop..

Is there anything I should be looking for in an external Hard drive if I plan on using it with my laptop? It will probably hold just pics and music. Also is it possible to run programs off an external?




Thanks, Bloke

 

Its possible to run programs from external drive. I think it depends on the program. Which drive is best for you depends on your scenerio. If your looking just to keep extra data and your near a plug in, get an IDE solution, as these are cheaper and require a power outlet. If your not near a power plug in get a portable drive with enclosure. Since these dont require power and use laptop hard drives they will be more expensive.
BTW: Ebay has IDE 120GB external drives for $70, I saw last week at Best Buy had WD passport portable 80gig drive for $90 GL

 

I guess sykotic made a bit of a confusing comment.

I'll clarify what he said. If you are next to a power plug when you are using it, get a 3.5", which are cheaper and have larger capacities. If you need to move it a lot and use it away from the power get a 2.5", these can run of the power of the USB port.

For both you can buy an external drive, OR you can buy an enclosure and a bare drive and build it your self.

There isn't really much to watch out for, just get the best deal you can find.

If transfer speed is important get a drive that supports firewire instead of USB, that's if your laptop supports it too (most laptops do)

 

Hey bloke I got an external hard drive that is a 3.5" drive in an external enclosure. I use it for music, pictures, and to back up all of my sensitive data. I also install all of my games onto it, and they run and execute fine. When you are installing programs usually if you click on the advanced tab or something like that, you can select the location you want to install it, sometimes it prompts you for it anyway. Yea, just look for the best deal you can get though! When I did mine, I found that it was cheaper to buy a drive and then an external enclosure, however, that may be a little different now, it all depends on the deal you can get!

 

My bad 2.5" and 3.5" are better identifiers. I use mostly a network share to store all my documents. I do have a 3.5" 120GB USB 2.0 that I have been using for portable use. But since it requires a plug, I figure, if I am near a plug, I am usually near a network. So I am getting this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8818480286
2.5" 40gig USB 2.0 $33.50 shipped, $110 on newegg

Oh yeah, it fits in my bag better also.

 

Just be careful with HD's off of ebay. If you have the money I would buy it new. HD is one of those things that you never know what the old user has done to them. It doesn't take much to screw them up. Just my two cents...

 

Thanks for all the advice! I think I'll go with a 2.5 and just keep my photos and music on it. I'll just keep games on my internal.


Thanks again!
Bloke

 

I recently bought an external Western Digital "My Book" 320GB 7200RPM hard drive and it works great with my Asus V6Va. The drive has firewire and USB 2.0 connectivity. I'm running all my games from it with no problems. I paid $160 for the drive from Dell.

 

Dang! That IS a good price. Was it you that won it? I was just looking at getting a 40-gig 2.5" off eBay and one just went for $51 (drive only). Presently have a bid in for another.

 

I have a Seagate 3.5" 160GB USB 7200 external, that I bought from Egghead. I know I could have saved a lot building one myself, but it's for backing up and I wanted to be sure of a good, rugged HD and too lazy to make it myself. A lot of the stuff on eBay looked fishy. I noticed the other day that Fry's was selling 300BG external USB/firewire Seagates for $150. Don't know if sale is still on.

 

i have a few external 2.5 & 3.5 HDs, 1 is 2.5" Seagate 40GB for my persoanl data such as pictures, mp3 songs and document. 1 is2.5" 100GB Samsung for application software and download program. 1 is unused for 3.5" WD 250GB with a firewire and usb2.0 external box, another is 3.5" Maxtor 200GB for movie and video, all of them are work fine and i like them.

 

Yea I won the drive. I won another drive 2 weeks ago but passed it on to my brother. it was a 30gig 4200rpm same price. I was just lucky to find either. The WD was new btw. The usb cord was still in its plastic and the drive still had the label on it. I stopped carrying my laptop around, just tote my drive. No matter where I am at, there is a computer. I just borrow a companions and use thiers, running the programs from the drive and saving it there.

I am sriously thinking about selling my laptop and desktop and getting an ultra portable or even a pda with wifi and usb.