Portable Hard Drive

[kia027]

What is a good brand & size to buy.

Should I worry about compatibility with newer Operating Systems such as Vista? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

Please and Thank You

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is a good brand & size to buy.

Should I worry about compatibility with newer Operating Systems such as Vista? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

Please and Thank You </div></div>

Anything through a USB should be good.
How portable you want to get....size and space?

[kia027]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

I have a desktop pc that we hardly use because we use the laptop more so am thinking of taking the data off the pc and then accessing it via the laptop as needed..

Also since laptop a stawt act up, I thought it a good way to store (ie backup) the laptop applications, data & perhaps even load applications on the portable hard drive?? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a desktop pc that we hardly use because we use the laptop more so am thinking of taking the data off the pc and then accessing it via the laptop as needed..

Also since laptop a stawt act up, I thought it a good way to store (ie backup) the laptop applications, data & perhaps even load applications on the portable hard drive?? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

</div></div>


Fortunately you have a number of options:

<ul>[*]you can file share between the desktop and laptop.[*]you can also backup from the laptop to the desktop if the drive on the desktop is large enough.[*]you can buy a USB shell for hard drives, which will convert your old drive to a portable storage media.[*]you can get up to a 4Gig Flash Based Storage, that will be solid state and less prone to destruction (although I have had a few Compact Flash Cards that has suddenly lose data).[*]you can if you are brave do like me buy a few bummed out Hard Drive based DAP. Strip them, get the drive and just stick it into a Compact Flash Type II Card Reader. So you can get up to 30GB for a steal if you look long and hard enough.[/list]

The list of options is by no mean exhaustive.

[kia027]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a desktop pc that we hardly use because we use the laptop more so am thinking of taking the data off the pc and then accessing it via the laptop as needed..

Also since laptop a stawt act up, I thought it a good way to store (ie backup) the laptop applications, data & perhaps even load applications on the portable hard drive?? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

</div></div>


Fortunately you have a number of options:

<ul>[*]you can file share between the desktop and laptop.
<span style="color: #FF0000">the desktop is old and is taking up space so the plan is to donate it.. it is a windows 2000 OS</span>[*]you can also backup from the laptop to the desktop if the drive on the desktop is large enough.
<span style="color: #FF0000">Want to eliminate clutter, streamline and reduce the offensive noise of the desktop when on</span>[*]you can buy a USB shell for hard drives, which will convert your old drive to a portable storage media. <span style="color: #FF0000">That is an interesting solution</span>[*]you can get up to a 4Gig Flash Based Storage, that will be solid state and less prone to destruction (although I have had a few Compact Flash Cards that has suddenly lose data).
<span style="color: #FF0000">Am feeling this idea looks the best so far </span>[*]you can if you are brave do like me buy a few bummed out Hard Drive based DAP. Strip them, get the drive and just stick it into a Compact Flash Type II Card Reader. So you can get up to 30GB for a steal if you look long and hard enough. <span style="color: #FF0000">Not that brave anymore but will keep you in mind when deciding what to do with the desktop</span>[/list]

The list of options is by no mean exhaustive.
</div></div>

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body">you can buy a USB shell for hard drives, which will convert your old drive to a portable storage media.</div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is an interesting solution</div></div>

You can get them in various flavours:

3.5 for desktop
2.5 laptop

Firewire, USB, other!

Be careful don't drop, no matter what they tell you in the blurb. I have destroyed two drive with important data on them.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body">you can get up to a 4Gig Flash Based Storage, that will be solid state and less prone to destruction (although I have had a few Compact Flash Cards that has suddenly lose data).
[quote=Kia]Am feeling this idea looks the best so far</div></div>

Like I have said I have had a few Compact Flash Cards lose data, but it was all during Camera-PC reading and writing. I think it was incompatibilities between the OPSys on the Camera and the Computer.
I think overall this is least path of resistance as it is very portable and stable and shockproof.

[j-kid]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Be careful don't drop, no matter what they tell you in the blurb. </div></div>

Soh how shi ah goh kno if it durable, if yuh noh bounce it off di floor ah few time? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/desdentado.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J kid</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Be careful don't drop, no matter what they tell you in the blurb. </div></div>

Soh how shi ah goh kno if it durable, if yuh noh bounce it off di floor ah few time? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/desdentado.gif[/img] </div></div>

Mi already do dat .... an Iam here to advise har or anyone else not to!

[kia027]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

Thank you Gents [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img] Now I know what to get

but now is what kind and from where? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/helpsmilie.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thank you Gents [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img] Now I know what to get

but now is what kind and from where? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/helpsmilie.gif[/img]

</div></div>

eBAY
eBay
eBay

China-Direct or Local-China there are the choices!

[kia027]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

ebay [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

but what about brands.. should I really care? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ebay [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

but what about brands.. should I really care? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img] </div></div>
Put it this way if rub too hard on the item the name will disappear.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Portable Hard Drive

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ebay [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

but what about brands.. should I really care? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img] </div></div>

I went back and look at the two HDD Enclosures I own and I could not find a manufacturers name beyond USB 2.0.
Which only confirm what I was trying to say.

They are mostly made out of a few large factories, with disposable names stamped on.
I suppose I could look @ the ID on my system and try to track down a name that way.

In any case here is my layman's guide to buying enclosures and cards.
<ul>[*]make sure it is USB 2.0 (it is backward compatible to USB &lt;sser)[*]make sure the enclosures for drives are made of metal (which can include plastic end caps/decoration, etc).[*]Card readers make sure the ports match the card(s) you want to use[*]pay no more the say US$0-25 for hdd enclosures[*]make sure the seller has a good feedback and a good sales track record for the items he/she is selling[*]some seller lists at a very low rate but inflated shipping, this is not really bad if the math work out[*]try not to buy a used card unless the seller has a really good feedback (it is hardly likely that someone is going to get rid of a Flash Card, unless...?)[/list]