To the average computer user, an external hard drive can seem like something that was invented for diehard computer geeks only. But, the practical applications for external hard drives are something everyone can use to store back up copies of digital photos and important files. Before you make a purchase, evaluate your digital storage needs, learn how an external hard drive works and compare products by cost and digital storage capacity.
Who Can Benefit from an External Hard Drive?
Basically, anyone that has more than a few files stored on their computer’s internal hard drive can benefit from an external hard drive. External hard drives are the perfect solution for backing up family photos, digital videos, small business records, projects and countless other files. Computer files can get lost or corrupted for various reasons, from a computer virus to a house fire. If your computer is in need of servicing and you bring it to a professional, chances are, your hard drive will be reformatted and your operating system reinstalled. This will wipe out all of your digital files. Backing up your important memories and files on an external hard drive is a safety measure.
How Much Can Be Stored on an External Hard Drive?
An external hard drive can have anywhere from 160 gigabytes (GB) to 1.5 terabytes (TB) of memory. Depending on your storage needs and your budget, the smallest external hard drive may be all you need. For those with many files to back up, a larger drive may be required.
How Does an External Hard Drive Work?
External Hard Drives plug into the back of your computer with a link cable, through the USB port on a PC or through FireWire or a USB port on a Mac. All external hard drives have USB ports, but only some are able to support FireWire connections. External hard drives come with backup software, so saving files to the drive is simple. External hard drives are portable and can be easily transported for storage at other locations, carried with your laptop to an important business meeting, or moved from one computer to another.
How Much Does an External Hard Drive Cost?
Cost depends on your needs. The compact Western Digital Passport has 160 GB of storage space and costs around $140. The larger CMS Velocity RAID Backup System has 1 TB of storage space and costs around $1,200. The more expensive external hard drives generally have more storage space. The cost for a mid-priced external hard drive is soon justified if you are in the habit of buying new memory cards for your digital camera or burning files onto a CD as a backup. The more expensive external hard drives are easily justified when your files are worth money as well as memories. The one time expense of the external hard drive will quickly pay for itself.
External hard drives are for everyone, not just the computer savvy. Create a safety net for your family photos, digital videos, the novel you wrote last year or your small business files. An external hard drive will keep your important memories and files safe for all time.
Source: PC Magazine, June 5, 2007, Buying Guide – Portable Drives
