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(Aug 19, 2009)
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.
Iomega eGo Portable Mac Edition (500GB, USB 2.0, FireWire, cherry red)
Mac and PC users alike will appreciate the Iomega eGo Portable's triple interface connectivity that lets you choose from USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800. Combined with a rugged enclosure, free data protection software, and a robust three-year warranty, this drive is a great example of well-rounded hardware. We thoroughly recommend it both for average consumer as well as data-hounds on a budget.
Price: $126.00 - $149.99 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 22, 2009
Excellent
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Transcend StoreJet 25f (500GB)
While other external hard drives offer built-in backup software, automatic data encryption, or rugged casing protection, the Transcend StoreJet 25F only promises, and delivers, the fastest data transfers at the lowest price. The missing FireWire prevents us from giving this Transcend an Editors' Choice award, but we still highly recommend this drive to storage hounds who don't mind USB 2.0.
Price: $106.95 - $118.99 (check prices)
Review date: Feb 20, 2009
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: $187.63 - $201.99 (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: $388.99 (check prices)
Review date: Sep 26, 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: Sorry, pricing not available
Review date: Mar 31, 2008
Very good
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Transcend StoreJet 25 Mobile (500GB, red)
The Transcend StoreJet 25 Mobile stomps the competition and lives to fight another day, thanks to its rugged military-grade exterior. It also delivers chart topping transfer speeds and offers the cheapest cost per gigabyte on the market today. We fully recommend this tough little drive.
Price: $97.95 - $132.99 (check prices)
Review date: Mar 25, 2009
Excellent
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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: $138.99 (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: $128.07 (check prices)
Review date: Jul 11, 2008
Excellent
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Clickfree Portable Backup Drive (320GB)
Small business and personal users with large amounts of data will appreciate the Clickfree's painless backup drive that practically automates all the work through the embedded software. People running older Windows operating systems are out of luck, but the lightning-fast transfer speeds and excellent performance scores secure the Clickfree a solid recommendation for up-to-date Windows and Mac users.
Price: $115.00 - $118.19 (check prices)
Review date: Jan 22, 2009
Excellent
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Transcend SSD18M solid-state drive (128GB)
Although the Transcend SSD18M solid-state drive is astronomically expensive, the price is balanced with its tiny footprint and impressive transfer speeds. It's easy to geek out on the beauty of the design, and even though hardcore nerds will love its versatility, the simple fact is that bargain-hunting consumers can get much higher capacities for a lot less, at least for now.
Price: $375.00 - $434.99 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 11, 2009
Excellent
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Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive w/ Protection Suite (320GB, silver)
The eGo Portable continues Iomega's tradition of slim, feature-rich external hard drives, this time sporting a sleek new design and an extended warranty. The bundle also includes a suite of three different software solutions that back up your data and protects your computer, and at an affordable 30 cents per gigabyte, we're happy to endorse the Iomega eGo Portable once again.
Price: $79.59 - $94.99 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 15, 2009
Excellent
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