Best External Hard Drives?

[lotsofstuff]

So I've looked into several companies to buy an external hard drive from, but I can't seem to find anything that seems to make one company better than the next. If I'm looking for a external hard drive 2-3TB, almost exclusively used on a mac, and in the $100-200 price range, what would you recommend? I have found several drives with similar specs and prices, but they're all from different companies. So, which do you recommend?

(oh, it isn't of the utmost important, but I'd like it to maybe have firewire 800, or at least can transfer things fairly fast)

 

[DustinT]

The most reliable hard drive is the one that is backup the most frequently. Other than that, they are all about the same.

 

[lotsofstuff]

The most reliable hard drive is the one that is backup the most frequently. Other than that, they are all about the same.

For me, if I can back it up every few days, I'm good

 

[DustinT]

Honestly, just get one with the interface options you need and a good cooling system.

 

[palpatine]

actually, it appears that the insides are all pretty similar, so i doubt it matters much. one suggestion, though. keeping all of your backups in one place will not do much good in case of fire or theft. i'd recommend buying a couple of the portable ones (i am partial to the western digital passports) and storing them in separate physical locations (car, office, parent's house, etc.).

 

[DustinT]

Crashplan is also a great application for that sort of stuff.

 

[MSM Hobbes]

In no particular order, and while in agreement with messages being shared in previous posts here, my preferences are: Lacie, Glyph, Buffalo, and G-Technology... Iomega has an attractive model also. Sweetwater Music has very good prices during their sales, btw.

 

[toxic]

buy your own hard drive and enclosure.

from personal experience and reading around, I would avoid Lacie and WD external drives. Lacie products look nice but seem to have high failure rates, while WD enclosures like to fail (hard drives are fine). for me, G-Tech is proving to be more reliable, so far, and the enclosure is the easiest to open if you want to swap in a different drive in the future.

 

[henry72]

buy your own hard drive and enclosure.

from personal experience and reading around, I would avoid Lacie and WD external drives. Lacie products look nice but seem to have high failure rates, while WD enclosures like to fail (hard drives are fine). for me, G-Tech is proving to be more reliable, so far, and the enclosure is the easiest to open if you want to swap in a different drive in the future.

I'm looking forward to get G-Tech hard drive. However, do you know what kind of hard drive do they use?
Thanks

 

[Gillespie81]

i have the g-drive mobile fw and it is hitachi. I'm not sure but i think all g-drives are hitachi portable and mobile. i plan on getting a desk setup soon but I'm waiting to see what happens with tb in the next few months

 

[toxic]

I'm looking forward to get G-Tech hard drive. However, do you know what kind of hard drive do they use?
Thanks

the G-Tech Mini I have came with a Hitachi hard drive.

 

[miles01110]

In no particular order, and while in agreement with messages being shared in previous posts here, my preferences are: Lacie, Glyph, Buffalo, and G-Technology... Iomega has an attractive model also. Sweetwater Music has very good prices during their sales, btw.

None of these companies make hard drives. They make enclosures and stick whatever drive they can get at a steep discount inside them.

 

[JerZyT28]

I just bought a goflex freeagent 1tb yesterday...not bad for the price...just need to upgrade to the firewall 800 cable

 

[thegoldenmackid]

This was supposed to sort of solve this question.