How to Buy the Best External Hard Drive

Introduction:

The holidays are coming and with them the inevitable scramble to find the best deals on everything from electronics to clothes. If you need a new external hard drive, don't wait until the last minute! Here are some tips for buying the best external hard drive for your needs.

Storage size

Possibly the most important specification when selecting an external hard drive is the size. The size of the drive is generally measured in TeraBytes, TB. External hard drives are available in sizes of 1, 2, 4 and 8 TB. Larger sizes are available, but may be harder to find and may be more expensive. When selecting the memory size, make sure it is large enough to accommodate what is needed today, and also for the expected life of the external hard drive. For example, if you have a large photo and video collection that is constantly being updated, you may need a larger drive with more storage capacity. But if you only need to back up your computer once a week, a smaller drive will suffice.

Physical size

While the size of an external hard drive may not be the most important factor when making your purchase, it's still something you'll want to consider. External drives for computers are typically small and portable, making them easy to take with you wherever you go. However, there are a few different physical sizes to choose from, so it's important to know what will work best for your needs. If size is a major concern, most external drives will list their dimensions in the sales entry or on the product website.

Computer interface

When you're shopping for an external hard drive, the first thing to consider is the interface. This is the way the drive connects to your computer. The most common interface for external hard drives for computers is a USB. With USB 3 now providing much higher speeds, many drives come with USB connections. If your computer doesn't have a USB 3 port, you'll need to buy a different drive. Check the specs on the drive to make sure your computer can interface to the required connector. Some higher capacity drives may use a Firewire or possibly other interface, so whatever the drive, check what it can connect to.

Reliability

When it comes to an external hard drive, reliability is key. This is especially important if you're using it as a backup for your computer. In order to ensure that your data is always safe, you should look for an external hard drive that has a redundant array of independent disks (RAID). This essentially consists of two drives which mirror each other so that if one fails, the data is still preserved on the other and can be extracted. Obviously RAID drives are much more expensive, but might be worth the investment for critical data.

Security

When it comes to data security, encryption is key. If you're looking to store sensitive information on an external hard drive, then it's important to encrypt that data. This will keep it safe from prying eyes, even if the drive itself falls into the wrong hands. Luckily, there are many external hard drives that come pre-encrypted, and there are also plenty of drives that are compatible with a variety of software encryption solutions. This meets the requirements for most situations. However, if you need the highest level of security possible, then you'll need a drive that features hardware encryption. There are several external hard drives on the market that offer this as a solution. So be sure to do your research and choose the drive that's right for you.

Wi-Fi connectivity

Most external hard drives connect to a computer or laptop via a wire, but there are now a number of external hard drives that also have Wi-Fi connectivity. This can be very useful in some instances - for example, if you want to watch a movie or TV show that is saved on your external hard drive on your smart TV. The only downside of Wi-Fi-enabled external hard drives is that they tend to be more expensive than their wired counterparts.

Conclusion:

If you're in the market for an external hard drive, it's important to choose one that fits your needs. Think about how much storage you need, what kind of computer you have, and how often you plan to use it. We've highlighted five factors to consider when buying an external hard drive to make your decision easier. With so many different options available, we know you can find the perfect one for your needs.