(Dec 04, 2008)
Justin Yu
An external hard drive is an easy way to expand your PC's storage capacity as well as a simple way to backup your data. You need not worry about networking configuration settings as you do with a NAS drive. Simply plug it in, drag over your files, and you're done. Some external drives use 3.5-inch desktop drives, while some use 2.5-inch laptop drives for greater portability. You connections options will include one or more of the following: USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, and eSATA. Here are our current favorites.
Seagate FreeAgent Go (blue, 320GB)
The Seagate FreeAgent Go is our favorite portable hard drive to date and takes our award for Editors' Choice. The drive is well designed and fast, and you won't find a better value for the price.
Price: $118.80 - $143.99 (check prices)
Review date: Sep 26, 2008
Excellent
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Lenovo ThinkPad USB Secure Hard Drive (320GB)
We're impressed by the Lenovo ThinkPad USB Secure Hard Drive's burly security features and rigorous performance results, but the bloated price tag prevents us from recommending it to anyone other than business consumers. If you're shopping for an external hard drive, competing drives give you a cheaper cost per gigabyte in a fancier package.
Price: $219.00 (check prices)
Review date: Dec 3, 2008
Very good
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Seagate FreeAgent Xtreme (1TB)
The Seagate FreeAgent Xtreme offers three interface options, a useful software bundle, and a lengthy warranty for a fair price. We like this direct-attach external drive.
Price: $169.99 - $261.52 (check prices)
Review date: Sep 26, 2008
Very good
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OWC Mercury On-The-Go (500GB)
It's big, and it's fast. The OWC Mercury On-The-Go offers fast throughput via USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800, and it's the biggest compact hard drive, at 500GB, you can get right now.
Price: $214.99 (check prices)
Review date: May 13, 2008
Very good
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Iomega eGo Helium
The Iomega eGo Helium is a cost-effective solution for MacBook Air users who need additional data storage and don't want to sacrifice form for function.
Price: $123.70 - $149.99 (check prices)
Review date: Nov 14, 2008
Very good
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Vox V1 (750GB)
The Vox V1 is a simple, straightforward external hard drive. We liked it for its high performance and ease of use as an external hard drive. However, the drive is bundled with underdeveloped backup software so if you want to use it as an automatic backup solution, you will need to spend a little more for a third-party application.
Price: $129.99 (check prices)
Review date: Mar 31, 2008
Very good
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SimpleTech (Re)Drive
Made from bamboo and recycled aluminum, the SimpleTech (Re)Drive is the most environmentally friendly external hard drive we've tested. It works well as a USB 2.0-only storage device and offers a unique ownership experience.
Price: $74.46 - $156.25 (check prices)
Review date: Aug 13, 2008
Excellent
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Iomega eGo Camo portable hard drive (250GB, camo)
The eGo Camo portable hard drive is Iomega's first attempt at a "ruggedized" drive--it can withstand a beating thanks to its Power Grip band. Despite it lacking a few accessories, you'll be satisfied with its competitive price and quick transfer speeds.
Price: $98.35 - $109.99 (check prices)
Review date: Jul 11, 2008
Excellent
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Maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini (160GB)
The Maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini is a great option for working on the go, with fast write speeds as well as backup and restore software.
Price: $69.99 - $84.99 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 19, 2007
Very good
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Western Digital My Passport Studio (320GB, Mac)
Whether you use a Mac or a PC, the 320GB Western Digital My Passport Studio is the perfect compact external drive with a low cost per GB, a compact design, decent performance, and a surprisingly lengthy warranty.
Price: $122.00 - $322.21 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 12, 2008
Excellent
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