Looking for a new external HD [solved]

isapiens · Post by **isapiens** » 23 Dec 2008, 12:54

Hey guys, i was going to buy a new external HD. My good old 160GB WD is just not working out anymore lol.

So i was looking at getting a 1TB one. I was thinking about sticking with Westernal Digital cuz i was rather pleased with their product that i previoulsy owned.

Here are the HDs i found on newegg. Let me know what you think.
Also let me know if you have any other suggestion!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136321

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136299

One other thing i was wondering about. Do they have 1TB HDs that dont need a power supply? My friend has one of those but it is only 160GB.

ulysse · Post by **ulysse** » 23 Dec 2008, 13:05

Actually, i think you have a pretty good deal if you stick to newegg this time. Even Ebay doesn't have it at 110$!
Plus free shipping... That's pretty cool too. Personally i would choose the first one just because its cheaper than the first one.

Post by **DNR** » 23 Dec 2008, 13:40

I like the company and the price. The only hesitation I had was only buying one HDD. The old rule of not relying on one device for storage made me consider - Why not buy two devices? I considered buying two 500 GB external HDD and make it function as a RAID, one HDD backs up the important data from the other. BUT, price wise - you might as well buy two TB HDD - as the price is only $20 more than a 500 GB HDD.

You get what I am saying? Don't invest in one HDD and put all that time and work into downloading gbs of data and then lose it all when the ONE device fails on you. The second HDD is your safety, mirroring the first HDD. I looked at a 4- bay Western Digital WDA4NC20000N 2TB Network Storage Here : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136307 But you can find your own RAID software and build your own system for half that price

The internal HDD in your box should only have the OS, drivers and commonly used apps. The internal HDD should be considered temporary and easily replaced, formatted and reinstalled if infected or just bogged down from too many installs/uninstalls. The External HDD should be secured from the internal HDD, isolated to protect it from infection or intrusion.

DNR

isapiens · Post by **isapiens** » 23 Dec 2008, 13:43

Totally agree with you DNR. I dont have the money for that now, but eventually that is my goal.

What do you think about this bad bow?!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136136

From what i understand you can set up RAID with it. I am not sure if it as safe as just buying 2 hds.

Post by **DNR** » 23 Dec 2008, 14:05

Looks good, but its almost an extra $200 for two things - the software for RAID included, and basically a box with a fan. If you think about it, you can build a RAID using a empty computer case. The computer case can provide a PSU, fans, and bays for your HDD, slots for USB or ethernet, all for cheap. So really you have to consider how much do you want to pay for the software or can you get it for free?
This is a good example of how hacking your own system can save you some money, about $200 to $400.

From what i understand you can set up RAID with it. I am not sure if it as safe as just buying 2 hds.

Remember, its not -just- two HDDs, but a storage system we are talking about. The RAID is that storage system - I would only discuss RAID because you are probably planning on putting hundreds of movies, thousands of music and pictures, - GBs of data into storage, and that is worthy of the protection of a RAID type storage system.

DNR
*sorry about so many edits today, I am too busy and forgetful today..

Lyecdevf · Post by **Lyecdevf** » 23 Dec 2008, 14:26

Yes setting up a RAID could be another solution to store data safely. Another one would be to set up a computer on your LAn with several 500GB or 1TB HD's and install FreeNAS.

Post by **pseudo_opcode** » 23 Dec 2008, 16:16

i am happy burning dvds, dropping them wont make them useless and they're dirt cheap

isapiens · Post by **isapiens** » 23 Dec 2008, 18:02

my games are bigger than normal dvds... recently every game is like 7-8GB
PS: i just noticed that link DNR, now thats a monster. one day .... one day...

rhysh · Post by **rhysh** » 23 Dec 2008, 19:41

go for it!

my friend was like "im gunna get a 320 gig external hdd at 140 bucks" and i was like "fuck that,i just got a 500 gig one for 89 bucks,in the end i got him a western digital one which was slightly better in looks and speed for 109 bucks and he was very pleased,cos he payed 109 bucks for a 500 gig instead of 140 for a 320 gig,so yeah go for it,i would if i didnt owe my frend 400 for a pda i bought of him

Still_Learning · Post by **Still_Learning** » 23 Dec 2008, 22:11

I recently got a 320 gig external Western digital MyBook esata, and would defintely NOT recommend the Western digital mybook to anyone.

Reason: It does not file share on a network. Ive called WD tech support they also advised me you can not share files on a network with it, not even a local network. Ive looked for hacks and tried many diffrent things to get around it and make it work on a network , googled , it seems to be impossible. There maybe some way to hack it, or flash the firmware or something but it would just be easier to do what DNR advised
if you are going to use them on a network dont get an external drive. They are useful for backing up your HD, or apps, movies, music though (main reason i got mine)

rhysh · Post by **rhysh** » 24 Dec 2008, 02:43

wy did you buy those mybook things,they look bulgy,i read a review in a magazine,i think "pc user" or "pc authority" anyways,if u wanna use a webserver software on one basic computer and share your files with that,i suggest wamp

Still_Learning · Post by **Still_Learning** » 26 Dec 2008, 12:50

rhysh wrote:wy did you buy those mybook things,they look bulgy,i read a review in a magazine,i think "pc user" or "pc authority" anyways,if u wanna use a webserver software on one basic computer and share your files with that,i suggest wamp

I have always been happy with the internal Western digital HD's , so decided to try out the external one. At the time of purchase i checked reviews on pc magazine, nu egg and others and they all recommended the my books highly. Not really needing a webserver file sharing software, the my books dont share files at all on a network. There is some chip or something in them which blocks it from being shared on a network. Lesson learned, will not buy another mybook. thanks though

isapiens · Post by **isapiens** » 23 Jan 2009, 15:54

btw totally forgot to tell you guys i got my 1 terra byte external HD by Wester Digital. Pretty happy about it so far. Its awesome. cheers

Post by **computathug** » 23 Jan 2009, 16:27

Nice one Isapiens.

Just out of interest, how much did you pay?

Hope you got a good deal on it