External HD advice

[WhiteKnight]

I am looking for a firewire/usb 2.0 external drive to use for backups. Right now I am considering the Maxtor OneTouch and the WD Firewire external drive, both in the 200GB varieties. From the reviews I have read, it seems that the Maxtor's backup software has a slight advantage but the WD seems to run a bit quieter. However, I read a few user comments that the WD failed after only a few months, which of course is a major con. Does anyone have any experience with either of these drives? Thanks.

 

[TechnoPro]

Maybe not the answer you're looking for, but I would also consider buying an OEM HDD, external enclosure, and backup software separately, and then assembling a more customized backup solution.

This way, you can research a HDD that suits your needs and is welll rated. Keep in mind too, that commercial backup software will most likely be superior in all respects to the one that comes with either the Maxtor or WD.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Would that end up being more expensive? I need whatever I buy to be available at Best Buy because I have about $200 of store credit there and as a starving grad student I really can't afford to just pay out of pocket to order online right now.

 

[Sheriff]

Ahh you could just send me the $200 credit and I'll give you what you want Why not go there and see for yourself as the External Cases are $50 and up for USB Hi-Speed and I've seen 200 giggers as low as $99 after rebate. You'll notice the Maxtor external 200 gig's are running ing the $250-300 range so somethings gotta give

 

[WhiteKnight]

Based on Best Buy's prices I think that it would cost be just about as much to get an enclosure and new drive as it would to do the complete external drive. However, I guess one thing to consider is that I could user the enclosure with a bigger drive in the future. Thanks for the advice. Any more ideas?

 

[metalmania]

My buddy had a Maxtor one-touch failed after a few months. Well, he's rich and he did not RMA it, just threw it away.
I will go with WD if I have to choose, but I'd rather buy an external enclosure.

 

[biostud]

screw the software use it as an ordinary HDD....unless you actually do need to make backups
I have a Maxtor 5000XT and it runs flawless. (1YO)

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: biostud666
screw the software use it as an ordinary HDD....unless you actually do need to make backups
I have a Maxtor 5000XT and it runs flawless. (1YO)

WhiteKnight said he was going to use it as a backup drive...

 

[WhiteKnight]

I'm thinking with all of this talk about an external enclosure, why would I not just get a new internal drive and back up my stuff on there? Part of the reason I wanted the external drive was for the one-touch feature and because they come with backup software (like Retrospect Express), which I would have to purchase separately if I got an enclosure and new drive. Is there any reason I'd want an enclosure and new drive for it instead of just a new internal drive if I decided to go that route?

 

[TechnoPro]

Having a backup outside of your PC is always a good idea, because of things like theft, fire, etc.

As far as software goes, if you are dealing with a 200GB HDD, I would assume that you could simply run a full backup of your desired data. If this is the case, you don't need software. A simple batch file would do the trick. If running a differential or incremental backup, good software is the way to go.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Yeah, I was hoping to run incremental backups. I'm not sure whether it would be more cost effective to purchase one of these all-in-one drives that comes with software or whether it would be better to get an enclosure, HD, and backup software a la carte.

 

[BZ]

I have had bad luck with both firewire and regular IDE enclosures - it seems like in both cases the little board on the enclosures failed - simulating a very frightening HD failure. removing the enclosures solved the problems both times, so I won't be using external drives anymore

as for backups, how about doing incremental backups to dvd or cd? unless each backup is larger than a dvd, this is a nice way to get the same effect as having an external backup.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Backups to CD or DVD aren't really an option as I do video editing on my PC and right now need about 200GB of backup space. There's a $90 rebate on a WD 200GB available until tomorrow, so whatever I decide, it will have to be soon. Any more thoughts or opinions out there?

 

[WhiteKnight]

^

 

[WhiteKnight]

^

One more bump before I go to Best Buy to see what's up.

 

[p1800volvo]

I would get the Seagate drive. Very quiet and runs cool. USB2 and FireWire.

CompUSA has a great deal every month on them.