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Top external hard drives of 2010 (so far)
Dong Ngo August 9, 2010
External hard drives are the easiest way to expand your computer's storage. More and more of them have the support for USB 3.0, making their throughput speed sometimes even faster than that of the computer's internal hard drive. In addition, external hard drives now often come with features and software that enhance their functionality beyond the storage space.
Here's the list of the top external hard drives that CNET has reviewed in 2010. Collectively, they are the best in regards to the amount of storage space, features, design, and bundled software applications.
| Product name | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.00 to $369.39 | $126.66 to $246.92 | $211.01 | $345.06 | Check Prices | $79.00 to $179.41 |
| CNET editors' rating | ||||||
| Average user rating |  | | | |||
| Release date | May 04, 2010 | |||||
| The Bottom Line | The Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk is the largest single-volume external hard drive on the market and has arguably the best combination of design, performance, and storage capacity. | Though other external hard drives offer a preset menu of ports, the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex cuts costs by letting you pick from a buffet of "personality cables" so that you buy only the connections that suit your system profile. We applaud Seagate for making data backups easier than ever, and recommend the FreeAgent GoFlex external hard drive for extra data storage now and easy upgrades in the future. | The 1TB Verbatim Acclaim portable hard drive may appear boring compared with flashier drives, but its sleek size, rapid transfer speeds, and generous seven-year warranty more than make up for its lack of fashion sense. The Acclaim's executive look will likely attract corporate professionals, but we highly recommend its versatility to anyone in need of a storage upgrade. | The Seagate BlackArmor PS 110 USB 3.0 is a well-designed external hard drive that is fast, portable, and future-proof. | The MiniStation Cobalt USB 3.0 makes a great storage addition to a laptop computer that already has support or USB 3.0. | The LifeStudio Mobile Plus is a good external storage solution that makes it easy to find what you need, when you need it, among your "digital mess." However, its lack of USB 3.0 support and the limited functionality of the LifeStudio and Backup software might make you want to keep looking. |
| Features | ||||||
| Packaged Quantity | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 1.7 in x 4.9 in x 6.2 in | 3.23 in x 0.55 in x 4.14 in | Info unavailable | 3.1 in x 5.1 in x 0.5 in | 5 in x 0.6 in x 3.4 in | 3.3 in x 3.2 in x 5.4 in |
| Capacity | 3 TB | 500 GB | 1 TB | 500 GB | 640 GB | 320 GB |
| Type | Hard drive - External hard drive ( Desktop ) | Hard drive - External hard drive ( Portable ) | Hard drive - External hard drive ( Portable ) | Hard drive - External hard drive ( Portable ) | Hard drive - External hard drive ( Portable ) | Hard drive - External hard drive ( Portable ) |
| Interface | USB 2.0 | Serial ATA-300 | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 | USB 2.0 |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs | 0.86 lbs | Info unavailable | 6.3 oz | 6.5 oz | 0.9 lbs |
| Product Description | Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk - Hard drive - 3 TB - USB 2.0 | Hard drive - 500 GB Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Pro - Serial ATA-300 | Verbatim Acclaim Portable Hard Drive Hard drive - 1 TB - USB 2.0 | BlackArmor PS 110 USB 3.0 Performance Kit - Hard drive - 500 GB - USB 3.0 | BUFFALO MiniStation Cobalt USB 3.0 Hard drive - 640 GB - USB 3.0 | Hitachi LifeStudio Mobile Plus HLSMPUA3201AFB - Hard drive - 320 GB - USB 2.0 |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 2 years warranty | 3 years warranty | 7 years warranty | 5 years warranty | 1 year warranty | 3 years warranty |
| Data Transfer Rate | 480 Mbps | 3.0 Gbps (SATA) | 480 Mbps | 5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0) | 5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0) / 3.0 Gbps (SATA) | 480 Mbps |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices | ||||||
1 comment
Join the conversation! Add your comment- Can't shake the feeling you've been paid by Seagate. Seagate and Western Digital are the top 2 manufacturers and there are 3 Seagates and not one WD. And 2 other not well known brands thrown in just so it's not all Seagate.
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