External drives--flavor significance?

[markg2]

Now that I almost have the new Win7 machine ready to replace my wife's XP I'm ready to start looking for an external drive to connect to one of her USB 3x ports for our additional backup media.

I use both Second Copy 8 and Acronis for backup so I do not require backup software on the external drive.

Any reason not to purchase the least expensive 2-3T model at Costco or is there some other consideration I'm missing?

Btw, I'm sure speed within the USB 3x range is a factor but these backup routines all run at night so time isn't that much of an issue.

Mark

 

[steve7777]

External drive

I have a WD 2T MyBook with usb 3.0 on both ends. I don't run the software on the device, rather I copy and paste lots big files when needed. So far it's been really good and very fast.

 

[Mark Phelps]

I used to be a WD fan -- and then three SATA drives failed me in the last year.

I now go with Seagate and have no problems with them.

 

[essenbe]

If you get an external with backup software on the drive, simply format it before use and it will remove all the software. Personally I prefer eSATA drives as they are much faster than USB 3.0 plus they have many advantages over USB. I personally prefer to use an external dock to connect to my computers. Any external drive will fit in them and can be changed out in less than 1 minute. They are very simple and quite versatile. The one I use primarially is the thermaltake Black X. It works on USB 2.0 as well as eSATA and they make models for USB 3.0. If you prefer portable ones, I have 2 Seagate FreeAgent Go Flex drives, that I have had for about 2 years and both work well. They come with backup software already installed, which, in my opinion, is useless. I simply formatted them and the software is gone. They come with USB 2.0 cables, but USB 3.0, firewire, or Powered esata cables are available. Many now come with USB 3.0 standard.

 

[steve7777]

I used to be a WD fan -- and then three SATA drives failed me in the last year.

I now go with Seagate and have no problems with them.

I hope you got lemons because I rely on this drive for data I definitely don't want to lose.:huh: