Backup drive: portable vs desktop

[ScottR]

I'm finally replacing the NAS drive I've been using for Time Machine backups, having gotten fed up with corrupted backups.

I'm looking into a 4TB Seagate Backup Plus Drive. There are two models: a desktop and a portable (USB-powered) drive.

It seemed to be a no-brainer, as the portable is only $5 more and doesn't need a power brick. That has me wondering: why would someone choose the desktop model over the portable? As far as I can see, the specs are the same. I don't really need the portability itself, but not having to find a spot to plug in yet another brick seems compelling.

 

[Tomorrow]

Desktop drives are often faster (RPM) than portable drives, but if that's not the case here, then why bother?

 

[steve62388]

I have a Seagate Backup Plus Fast Portable drive and it's a really good bit of kit. Note the 'Fast' designation, it's two striped 2TB disks. Small size, no power adaptor required, decent capacity, speedy and a lot cheaper than SSDs. Best of all worlds if you ask me. I use it on my Xbox One and it's great for that (a disk failure is not that critical and it speeds up all load times).

 

[matreya]

The problem with Seagate and WD external drives is that they are all connected via a USB3 mini connector, which is prone to failure.

Even though it's more expensive, you're much better off with one of these:

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/ME3UH7T4.0/

1) It comes with a robust USB3-b connector
2) It has a 2nd USB3-A connector to daisy chain to another USB3 device
3) OWC uses Toshiba hard drives, which are more reliable than Seagate and WD desktop-class drives

 

[ScottR]

Even though it's more expensive, you're much better off with one of these:

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/ME3UH7T4.0/

I've had two (actually, three) of those, and the enclosures failed pretty quickly. Got one replaced, then gave up when the replacement and the other failed not long after.

 

[matreya]

I've had two (actually, three) of those, and the enclosures failed pretty quickly. Got one replaced, then gave up when the replacement and the other failed not long after.

That's unusual. I have 10 different kinds of OWC enclosures and all work brilliantly...

 

[ZMacintosh]

OWC's newer technology stuff is hit or miss. I went with a few USB powered 2TB drives as my archive and back-up drives. no need to dig out power supplies, etc just plug and back up. I even have USB powered drive on my time capsule...so far so good.
Toshiba drives are essentially Hitachi/WD as they were rebranded/bought out i believe.
Drive speed doesn't matter with USB, no mechanical drive can reach USB3 speeds currently.
The drive I recommend is the G-Technology 2TB Mobile Portable USB drive. about $99 or $179 for 3TB. this one is an actual drive connected to a sata board, not like the WD Passports where they are manufactured with the USB port on the disk itself. otherwise that seagate should do you fine.