External HDD or Large Capacity USB?

[Darthshearer]

Just a bit of advice if you may please?

I am looking at getting some sort of portable storage device to use to a) backup all my work at work as I am leaving soon and want to keep some stuff to take with me and b) use at home for backing up pics etc.

So.....do I get a small size (phyisically) external HDD or a USB pen type of thing of about 8Gb or so?

I wouldnt mind the HDD but dont really know what to go for.

Over to you

TIA

 

[nath]

Never use USB pen drives for backups - they're not nearly reliable for that. Fantastic for carting data back and forth, but not for keeping stuff. Get yourself a nice external HDD - not sure on what brands are better than others, but I 'spect some other freddies will know.

 

[Kryten]

Bought a 2.5" usb/esata caddy for myself a couple of weeks ago thinking it might run a 3.5" drive out the case, but doesn't, so for the meantime have fitted a 60gb 2.5" sata drive to it. Ideal for this sort of thing, not too large like the 3.5" enclosures and not too small to provide space issues or reliability issues. Plus of course laptop drives are built to withstand portability shocks more than 3.5" counterparts.

The case cost me just under a tenner on Ebay, the drives you can pick up a 100gb 2.5" drive for 40 or so quid.But then again for similar money you'll pick up a 400-500gb 3.5".

Personally I'd go for a drive for backup - if you've the capability to use eSATA you'll certainly notice performance difference too.

 

[Bob007]

Just echoing whats been said use USB pendrives for transfering files, moving/taking data around, they not great for storage.

The HDD would be a better option but not knowing anything about where you work and the kind of restrictions based on drivers and such like you might come accross problems useing external HDD units that you wouldn't get useing USB pendrives.

Been to a fair few places where admin restrictions wouldn't allow me to use an external drive unit but would allow me access to USB pen drives. Might be something you need to consider. Might be worth transfering to USB pendrive to get data home then from there transfering to a backup media (read HDD) for storage.

 

[Darthshearer]

We dont have admin just tow muppets who "know" IT. Ie they can change a floopy drive and format a PC.

Thanks for the info guys