Seven picks of the best external hard drives

Looking for an external drive with a little bit of difference? Have a look at the Hitachi Lifestudio Mobile Plus drive. Fundamentally a drive aimed at the multimedia user, it helps to organise, collate and backup your photos, videos so that your life in the digital domain is kept safe and orderly. Read more here.

The Seagate Expansions 1TB hard drive is an excellent choice for those seeking a large capacity external drive that is quiet, compact, easy to use and great value for money. With a 7,200 RPM disk speed and built in power management to ensure the most efficient operation, this drive performs very well in all situations from simple drag and drop file copying to backing up of your internal drive. With Seagate having shipped over one billion hard drives, they are an established manufacturer in this field and you won’t be disappointed should you choose this model. See review here.

The Iomega eGo Portable is a very stylish drive that reflects the desire of a number of manufacturers to provide not just a reliable piece of hardware, but also one that is pleasing on the eye. The casing is solid enough to protect the drive should it be dropped and it has silicon protectors on each corner called the ‘Iomega Power Grip Band Protector’ for added peace of mind. Talking of extra protection, the eGo Portable also has a 256-bit AES hardware encryption controller to keep your data secure if the Iomega is lost or stolen. With a USB 3.0 micro port, this drive offers fast storage at a great price.

The Seagate Freeagent Goflex range is now available offering high capacity storage and automatic encrypted backup with it’s installed software. Not only does it come with an included USB2.0 plug and play adaptor for connecting to a PC or Mac, but you can upgrade to a GoFlex 3.0 USB or Firewire adaptor for up to 10 times faster transfer of your files. See the 1TB ultra portable version here at Amazonand watch a video of the desktop version.

The Neil Poulton design Lacie 1TB drive is one of our favourites. With its striking looks  emphasised by a blue LED diode on its underside that emits a calming glow, this  drive offers huge storage capacity and user friendly operation. And unlike most other external drives the  Lacie utilises a cooling system that dissipates the heat without the use of a  fan. This gives it a near silent operation which helps reduce noise in your  working environment. Connection is via Hi speed USB2.0 and plug and play operation make it easy to setup and start copying files.

Western Digital’s 1TB Elements drive is incredibly good value for money which is one  reason why it is so popular. Offering 1TB storage, USB 2.0 connectivity and  rubber sides on the casing allowing for good desktop grip, this drive is simple  and efficient. If you want a no frills good value drive for backing up those  important files then the Elements should be top of your list.

Another one of our favourite drives  is the Western Digital My Passport Essential 500GB model.  This portable drive has a very respectable  capacity and is powered via its USB connection so there is no worry about  finding a powerpoint if you are on the move. This makes it perfect for laptop  use and for general “on the go” data storage and backup purposes. It is easy to  carry and will provide invaluable use for those large files that need to be  moved from one computer location to another.

Synology is a company that provides some great network storage devices. These cost effective models give a backup solution and raid array protection for your files and data. Files can be shared over the internet on different platforms which makes the whole process more seamless with in built web applications and user privileges. These models are predominantly designed for business users so if you have your own small business with large data flows, then you will get peace of mind when it comes to your data storage.

Synology DiskStation 2-Bay (Diskless) Network Attached Storage DS212j (White) List Price: $199.99 Price: Too low to display Read Reviews

Synology DiskStation 2-Bay (Diskless) Network Attached Storage DS212 (Black) List Price: $299.99 Price: Too low to display Read Reviews

Synology DiskStation 2-Bay (Diskless) Network Attached Storage DS212+ (Black) List Price: $369.99 Price: $360.99 Read Reviews

Synology DiskStation 4-Bay (Diskless) Network Attached Storage DS411J (White) List Price: $399.99 Price: $358.99 Read Reviews

Why do you need a dual external drive?

As I inevitably seem to gather more information by way of data, mp3 music, video and photo digital files, not only do I need a larger external hard drive but also a backup for my existing external hard drive. The reason for this is that my internal hard drive is nearing capacity and whereby my original external drive was intended as a backup to this, it is now being used to store fresh information. My worry now is if this drive fails, data that is not on my internal drive will be lost. The obvious alternative is to buy a second maybe larger external drive to use for this purpose. However my one thought on this is do any manufacturers offer a “dual” external hard drive that would contain two separate discs so should one fail, then your data would still remain safe? As it turns manufacturers have identified this vulnerability and there are indeed dual drives now available.

One such drive is the Western Digital 1TB My Book Mirror Edition dual-drive storage system. With it’s RAID based system and software that automatically backs up your data, you are safe in the knowledge that should one drive fail then you have the other disk available to access your files. It works by “mirroring” or duplicating the data automatically so the disks have identical files and information on each. Each time you save a file it is mirrored on the second disk drive. Unfortunately this drive is not available for the time being.

However another one to consider with similar features is the Verbatim 47528 2TB RAID (2 bay) 3.5-inch External Hard Drive. It has user selectable RAID options to enable the drive to work as one large disk or two separate mirror disks.

PC Advisor magazine recently ran a group test to determine the top 5 portable external hard drives. As you would expect the well known makes featured with Western Digital occupying two of the five spots. What makes these drives so attractive is their size and portability, and whereas not so long ago capacities were limited, they are now offering huge storage for your data and files. Not only that but more and more drives are now supporting USB3.0 which makes file transfer considerably quicker than via USB2.0. And the winning drive provides both USB 2.0 & 3.0 as well as Firewire and eSATA giving you huge flexibility in usage. If you need a drive that you can fit in your pocket and take anywhere then check out these great options.

WD My Passport Essential 500 GB Midnight Black Portable Hard Drive (USB 3.0/2.0) Average Rating: 407 total customer reviews...

Hitachi LifeStudio Desk Plus Drive 2TB; (External) (0S02676) Average Rating: total customer reviews...

Western Digital My Passport Essential 640GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive - Black Average Rating: 1 total customer reviews...

Adata Nobility NH01 2.5 inch 750GB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive Average Rating: total customer reviews...

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1.5TB USB2.0 Portable Extarnal Hard drive - Black Average Rating: 3 total customer reviews...

For those people who have huge amounts of data to file, save and backup, a 2TB external hard drive or larger is the way to go. These drives are extremely large and should be able to store all the information you save on them for a long time to come. Cloning internal disks as large as 1TB will be easily achievable and and storing huge HD video files will be no problem either. If possible it is advisable to get a drive that has a USB3.0 connection so you are able to greatly increase the speed of transfer of up to 6 or 7 times faster than USB2.0. This will make a huge difference when backing up a whole disk.

If you are in the market to buy a 2TB external hard drive or possibly even a 3tb external hard drive, below are some of the best sellers.

WD My Book Essential 3.0 2 TB External Hard Drive (USB 3.0/2.0) Average Rating: 123 total customer reviews...

Seagate Expansion 2 TB External Hard Drive, USB 2.0 Average Rating: 043 total customer reviews...

Samsung S2 USB 2.0 1TB Ultraslim Portable Hard Drive - Black Average Rating: 37 total customer reviews...

WD My Book Essential 3.0 3 TB External Hard Drive (USB 3.0/2.0) Average Rating: 123 total customer reviews...

Seagate Expansion 3TB Desktop USB2.0 and USB3.0 External Hard Drive - Black Average Rating: 2 total customer reviews...

When it comes to a 1TB external hard drive, you are dealing with a truly large amount of disk storage capacity. This type of drive will keep your files saved and backed up possibly for years to come, if you are using it to store documents, mp3 files and other small to medium size files. If your computer’s internal drive is 500GB, then you can clone the whole disk and still have vast amounts of free space left to use. Many of these drives come with backup software already loaded so it is not necessary to go out and purchase stand alone programs.

When considering buying a 1TB external hard drive, you may want to see if it offers a USB3.0 connection. Although USB2.0 is still quick, version 3 makes quite a big difference, particularly if you are transferring very large files that can take a while to copy. A 1TB external hard drive will also be suitable for large audio and HD video files which can take up a lot of disk space very quickly.

If you are looking for a 1TB external hard drive, below is a list of some of the most popular sellers.

Buffalo DriveStation 1.0TB USB 2.0 External Hard Disk Drive Average Rating: 83 total customer reviews...

Western Digital Elements 1TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive - Black Average Rating: 316 total customer reviews...

Buffalo Ministation 1TB USB 2.0 Slimline Portable External Hard Drive - Black Average Rating: 156 total customer reviews...

Western Digital Elements 2 TB External Desktop Hard Drive (USB 2.0, Black) Average Rating: 316 total customer reviews...

Samsung S2 USB 2.0 1TB Ultraslim Portable Hard Drive - Black Average Rating: 37 total customer reviews...

There is a huge selection of you are looking to buy a 500GB external hard drive. All the major manufacturers produce drives with this capacity which is a very sizeable amount of storage to have at your disposal. For the average computer user who is browsing, storing photos, videos & music, a 500gGB external hard drive should last for some while. These drives come as both desktop and portable models so if you are a person who does a lot of travelling, a 500gb portable hard drive will serve your needs very well.

Prices for these drives are extremely competitive with various models offering USB3.0, security encryption, ultra portability, shockproof and preloaded backup software. Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba and Buffalo are amongst the major suppliers. See below if you are looking to buy a 500GB external hard drive.

Buffalo Ministation 500GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Disk Drive Average Rating: 268 total customer reviews...

Seagate 500GB Expansion Portable USB 2.0 Hard Drive Average Rating: 426 total customer reviews...

Toshiba PX1624E-1HC2 StorE Alu2 2.5 Inch 320GB External Silver Hard Drive Average Rating: 14 total customer reviews...

Toshiba PX1626E-1HE0 StorE Alu2 2.5 Inch 500GB External Silver Hard Drive Average Rating: 4 total customer reviews...

WD My Passport Essential 500 GB Midnight Black Portable Hard Drive (USB 3.0/2.0) Average Rating: 407 total customer reviews...

If you are looking for a really large storage solution, then the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 3TB Desktop USB 2.0 External Hard Drive is definitely one to consider. Big in capacity but small enough to sit easily on your desktop, it offers automatic and continous backup of your data on its preloaded software. It also has an upgradeable interface allowing you to connect via USB 3.0 or Firewire 800 for up to ten times quicker performance.

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 3TB Desktop USB 2.0/3.0 External Hard Drive with Capacity Gauge Average Rating: 1 total customer reviews...

USB 3.0 drives can in theory offer up to 10 times faster transfer rates than USB 2.0 drives. In reality and in practical use you are most likely to see something around 3 or 4 times faster. If you are copying or backing up large files then the time saved can be quite substantial. More and more drives now incorporate a USB 3.0 port as this becomes the standard transfer protocol.

See below for some of the best selling USB 3.0 drives.

WD My Passport Essential SE 1 TB Black Portable Hard Drive (USB 3.0/2.0) Average Rating: 407 total customer reviews...

Western Digital Elements 1TB Portable USB 3.0/2.0 Hard Drive - Black Average Rating: 3 total customer reviews...

Seagate GoFlex Satellite 500GB USB 3.0 Portable Rechargable Wireless Hard Drive - Black Average Rating: 19 total customer reviews...

Seagate 1TB External USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive, Up to 5 Gb/s Powerful Portable Storage - Black Average Rating: 1 total customer reviews...

LaCie P'9220 USB 3.0/ USB 2.0 1TB Porsche Design Mobile Drive Average Rating: 3 total customer reviews...

The Transcend 500GB Storejet Mobile 2.5 Inch SATA Portable External Hard Drive is an excellent choice if you are looking for a rugged, good quality, compact portable drive. It weighs only 206g so is very easily transported and should it accidently fall, the US military drop test standards will come to your rescue with its anti shock technology. The Transcend utilises a USB2.0 interface which enables it to achieve data transfer rates of up to 480MB per second. The “one touch” auto backup button provides a very easy method of protecting your data and the bundled software provides scheduling and security.

Transcend 640GB StoreJet Mobile 2.5 inch USB 2.0 Portable Hard Disk Drive Average Rating: 17 total customer reviews...