What is a portable hard drive?
A portable hard drive is a storage device that allows you to use a USB cable to plug into nearly all PC's and access your data, or add to your data.
They come in two standard sizes: 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch. Shown is a 2.5 inch western digital unit. The sizes refer to the hard-drive inside rather than the housing.
2.5 inch Models
The housing for these is usually the size of a very small paperback book, requires no external power supply - with power being supplied by the USB cable - and comes in capacities of up to 160gb. It weighs about 250g (1/2 lb)
3.5 inch Models
The size of a large paperback but requires an additional external power supply. This is generally slightly smaller in size. It is also is a lot heavier with combined weights of about a kilogram (2lbs).
How do they work?
They are basically a USB interface to a standard hard-drive that you would find in a computer, 2.5inch being the hard-drives found in laptops, 3.5inch being those in desktops. You plug a USB cable from them to a computer. The built in mass storage device drivers included in Windows XP (and similar in other Operating Systems) recognise the device and allow you to browse and add to the contents.
Why is this useful?
You can back up all your photos on the road - any time you find a PC - with this and a card reader. See some suggestions on how to
organise your digital photos.
How much does one cost?
At the present time one of these little beauties will cost around $100 US - there are 120GB models listed on Amazon for around this price. That is a lot of value for your money - and they will only get cheaper.
Flash based models are bound to appear in the next year or so - these will be even better - as they have no moving parts they are more robust.
Remember - theft happens while travelling - burn and send copies of your photos home on DVD as regularly as you can. Reply to this Hi Ali. What a fantastic idea! Of course I'd thought of thumb drives, but a portable hard drive would be so much better (and bigger). From your experience, is there a brand that's particularly good?
Reply to this I like the Western Digital model - the image posted - but they are a little more expensive - and the cheaper ones have been great as well.
Reply to this Portable drives are good for peace of mind, but for sturdiest-back-up results (and best bang for buck), I would suggest just burning DVDs. Or stocking up on a few pen drives (now can hold 2GB, maybe more by the time this goes to press). The problem with "portable" external drives is that they aren't any less prone to crashing and smashin. They have just as many moving parts as a regular external drive. The only real difference is that the casing is sturdier, sometimes with a rubber grip, but that doesn't provide any safeguard against the drive's parts slipping or breaking inside. Drop a portable drive or a regular external drive from a tabletop and you'll get the same results--nothing (no more data and no more heartbeat).
... in my experience.
Reply to this Patrick: I disagree on a few points.
They are not excessively fragile or prone to failure - no more so than an Ipod. But don't drop them!
Burning DVD's from the road will be slightly more pricey than first appears - the reasons: very rarely will you fill a DVD exactly, DVD burning costs vary from $1-$5 in internet cafes.
So based on 3GB per DVD at $3 each ($120 for 120GB) verses a 120GB portable hard-drive at $100. Of course you can run these costs either way - but they come out in the same region.
I still recommend burning copies of the photos and sending home as often as possible though!
Reply to this Another good alternative is backing up to your ipod. If you have the 80GB model, it'll be tough to fill. Or if you are into videogames, the Playstation Portable (which also plays music and videos), can copy files from a digital camera without the need for a computer!
Both are much smaller and lighter than most external hard drives.
Of course, back up other ways too, because these things, like the hard drive, may get stolen.
Reply to this Another idea is to get the new ipod classic 160gb, 80gb for your music and movies and the rest for your photos and important travel files.
Just an idea😊
Mike;0)
Reply to this Well just an update i so i got one of these gadgets...........got myself a segate 2.5 inch 120gb drive......................i blame ali...............lol, wont have any room for clothes with all my gadgets....lmao
Thx Mike😊
Reply to this These are quite a nice option for backing up your photo's. Use by a lot of pro's!
http://www.hypershop.com/category-s/119.htm
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