Topic: Latest and greatest in external HDDs?

[acidjack]

My Iomega UltraMax 1.5TB is finally full after two years worth of taping.  Can probably clean some files up, but the bottom line is, it's probably time for a new HDD anyway.  I have a 2TB RAID drive that I use for backup also.   I need either Firewire 800 or eSATA as I use the USB 2.0 slots on my macbook pro for other things.

Looking around at IEEE1394b (aka Firewire 800) drives in the 1.5TB to 2TB range it looks like Iomegas price out around $165 for a 2TB on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_26?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=iomega+external+hard+drive&sprefix=iomega+external+hard+drive#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=iomega+external+hard+drive+firewire+800&rh=n%3A172282%2Ck%3Aiomega+external+hard+drive+firewire+800

or a bit more for this Western Digital drive on Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136501

Any reason not to go with the Iomega at that price?  Is anything better/cheaper around?

[mattmiller]

I prefer internal hard drives mounted in external enclosures.  For 2 TB, here's an enclosure for $35 and a 2 TB drive for $80 (after rebate):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817173042

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136514

Or, if you envision yourself needing more storage in the near future, get two of the drives and one of these 2-bay enclosures for $99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817392024

I have this enclosure and it's flawless for RAID mirroring (I have two mirrored 2-TB drives in it).  But you can also use it in JBOD mode.

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

I prefer internal hard drives mounted in external enclosures. 

X2

Internal drives usually come with a 3 year warranty. Externals usually have just a 1 year warranty. I've never had a drive die in a year...but frequently kill them before they are 3.

FWIW, I love the Western Digital warranty process. Super easy, and you can even have them send a replacement drive before you send them the drive.

Installing the internal drive into the case is about as difficult as legos.

[H₂O]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817347025&cm_re=macally-_-17-347-025-_-Product


This is the enclosure I have with a 2TB samsung drive installed - works great with my Windows desktop with esata and my macbook pro via firewire 800